THERE is an air of caution rather than optimism surrounding the St Mirren players as they prepare to take their leave of Love Street this coming weekend, albeit a win over Motherwell may be sufficient to propel the team into the top six.
A remarkable transformation in fortunes has seen St Mirren win four consecutive SPL fixtures in December, a record for the club, to move to within two points of sixth-placed Hibs.
Substitute Craig Dargo struck in the 79th minute of a largely unin
spiring encounter to secure a further three points.
St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson praised his team's workmanlike performance and the fact that Saints succeeded in keeping another clean sheet, their third in successive matches, on a difficult surface.
"We tried to win the match and the full-backs, Franco Miranda and Jack Ross, kept pushing forward," said MacPherson. "This win has set us up nicely for our final match at Love Street which will be an emotional occasion."
Midfielder Andy Dorman orchestrated much of St Mirren's best play despite fearing that he might have cause to regret missing an early chance.
But Dorman, who joined St Mirren a year ago following a spell in America, warned against the players and the club's fans losing sight of reality. He said: "We have done well recently but the situation could change just as quickly."
Dargo was naturally delighted, but the striker was keen to compliment Dorman and Ross for their part in his goal after stressing that St Mirren's achievement in again denying the opposition was equally pleasing.
"It was an excellent result and one that puts us in a good position," said Dargo. "I don't think we can start looking at achieving a top-six place just yet. We just have to try to retain our winning mentality and if we do that for the next half-dozen games we can then start talking about the top six."
Dargo does not expect his goal to guarantee him an automatic starting place against Motherwell after conceding: "When the team is playing well and achieving results you cannot expect the manager to change a winning side."
Billy Reid, the Hamilton manager, added: "Conditions were not brilliant but we did not play well. It was a bit of a midfield battle and we lost it in the second half.
"We were missing influential players and I think that showed because we lacked a wee bit of experience. But no excuses, we did not do enough to deserve anything from the game."
The full article contains 436 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
