Stephen Robinson backs St Mirren to find form after recent slump

Stephen Robinson is adamant St Mirren have not suddenly become a “useless” team and has vowed that they will soon be back on track.

The Buddies made a bright start to the campaign to move clear in third place in the Premiership.

But since beating St Johnstone 4-0 at the end of October, they have recorded only one win in seven and have lost each of their last three, including Wednesday’s rematch with the Perth side at McDiarmid Park.

Despite their recent dip, St Mirren are in fourth place – a point above Hibernian – and Robinson insisted there should be no cause for alarm.

“If we’d have been up and down – won one, lost one, won a couple, lost a couple – it would have been viewed differently but what we’ve done is win a lot then lose a lot, so it’s gone up and then it’s gone down,” said the Buddies boss.

“It’s an emotional game so people now think we’re useless whereas before we were absolutely brilliant.

“I didn’t ever think that. I thought we were a team going in the right direction and we will do again. I have total belief that we will turn it round.”

Robinson’s side had the better of the chances on Wednesday but they left frustrated after St Johnstone substitute Chris Kane struck the only goal in stoppage-time.

Robinson acknowledges results are not up to scratch at present but he is adamant his players do not deserve lambasting for their display in Perth.

“Nobody’s not committed, nobody’s not trying,” he said. “The group of boys we’ve got are very committed. It’s just a moment in time where I have to keep them believing.

“We know we didn’t play poorly (against St Johnstone) and we’ll come good.

“When we play poorly, I hold my hands up. We were poor against Ross County away and deserved zero out of that game. But this was different.

“I’ll probably take stick for saying that because people are emotional and only see the result. Half the people criticising probably won’t have watched the game, they’ll only look at the result.

“Arguably we played better than what we did in the game where we won 4-0 but we were clinical that day and took our chances.”

Saints defender Scott Tanser will be checked ahead of Saturday’s match at home to Ross County after going off with a cut head on Wednesday, while Robinson admitted the hamstring injury that forced Ryan Flynn off was slightly more worrying.