St Mirren: Stephen Robinson eager to build on 'fantastic start'
- Published
Mikael Mandron is St Mirren's leading goalscorer with six in all competitions
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson is happy to deal with higher expectations as he targets holding on to third place in the Scottish Premiership.
The Paisley side are three points off second with a game in hand as they prepare to visit leaders Celtic.
Robinson steered the club to a first top-six finish last term and they have lost just once in nine league outings.
"There's no reason why we can't," he said when asked if St Mirren can stay ahead of the chasing pack.
"That's the toughest bit. Expectations have risen and it's down to myself and the staff to maintain those.
"We've proved so far we can. You need a little bit of luck along the way, injury-wise.
"We've had a fantastic start. The players need to take the plaudits but at the same time I remind them it is a start. It is not finished, we have not achieved anything."
St Mirren ended last season with a negative goal difference but have been potent in attack with eight players scoring more than once this term.
"We needed to change aspects of our forward play, have a few more options in the squad," Robinson explained.
"The players that aren't starting are the ones who drive the standards in training."
The Northern Irishman took Motherwell to third place in 2019-20 and sees similarities, albeit within a different style of play.
"In terms of attitude, work ethic and wanting to improve, yes," he said when asked to make a comparison. "That's the key to success, no matter what level.
"Success comes from togetherness and players pulling in the right direction - and time allows you to build something.
"By no means are we the finished article. There are lots of things we can improve on."
'We can cause Celtic problems'
St Mirren earned four points from Celtic last season and are the last team to win in the Premiership at Celtic Park, although that was in January 2021 before Robinson's time at the club.
"We're doing something right, so we don't have to go and change a whole lot," he said of Wednesday's challenge.
"I've learned from experience when you change everything you do in fear, you end up getting nothing anyway.
"We'll go and do what we do and try to do it better because we will need to, to get any kind of a result.
"We know they'll dominate possession but when we land on the ball you need to be brave or else it will be wave after wave of attacks.
"We have to be very disciplined but we have a lot of belief in the players and we believe we can cause them problems."
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