St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson has a clear “belief” his side can deliver more cup miracles after safely progressing to the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
First-half goals by Jake Young and Dan Nlundulu proved the difference, withstanding a second-half Partick Thistle fightback to win 2-1 at the SMISA Stadium
Ahead of a Hampden rematch with Celtic, whom they defeated in the League Cup final earlier this season, Robinson is looking forward to the challenge.
“There’s a belief that we can do it. We need to be the best version of ourselves that we haven’t been in recent weeks. “We found a way to win tonight. We have an opportunity to go to Hampden, which, for this football club, is incredible.
“We’ve got injuries galore. Marcus Fraser is out for eight weeks, Mika Mandron is out for six or eight weeks, and Kion Etete got injured in the warmup, so we had no strikers to bring on. But we found a way.”
The manager praised goalscorer Young, whose second goal in two games doubled the Buddies’ advantage in the first half.
“We got the opportunity to get him up, and we knew it would take time for him to hit the ground. “But he’s the most natural goalscorer we have. And, for a club like St Mirren, that’s difficult to find.
“He scores out of nothing, two great finishes and, when you’re not on top of your game, good strikers win games for you.”
Speaking on the game, Young expressed his anticipation for facing the Scottish Champions at the National Stadium
“Just excited about tonight, happy to get to Hampden and looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Sitting precariously above the relegation playoffs, St Mirren will shift focus to a crucial home clash against Rangers this weekend. However, Buddies fans will dare to dream, having already lifted a domestic trophy this season.
