Alex Gogic hails St Mirren for Dens Park display as they close in on Europe

Alex Gogic insists European football is within reach after St Mirren dominated in Dundee.

The Cypriot international netted the opener to set his Buddies on their way to a 3-1 Premiership win on Saturday.

Scott Tanser and Toyosi Olusanya were also on target for the Buddies who surged five points clear of the Dark Blues in fifth place.

Saints will qualify for Europe for the first time in 37 years if they beat Kilmarnock next weekend and Dundee fail to beat Hearts.

It is going to be a pivotal week in Paisley with the town’s top-six heroes so close to an incredible achievement.

And fans’ favourite Gogic — who was outstanding on Tayside — is eyeing a Euro party after jubilant celebrations with 1,800 Buddies fans after the final whistle at Dens Park.

He said: “The performance is certainly up there but I think that was the case from the whole team. Straight away, we had a couple of chances and showed that we wanted it more.

“It was amazing. I think we owed the fans one after Kilmarnock away [5-2 defeat] where we were brilliant in the first half and then in the second half it went downhill.

“This time we showed character and football is about learning from your mistakes and that’s what we did to get the three points.

“It would be a great achievement to get into Europe. I was with Hibs when we went to Europe and I’ve told the boys these times don’t come around often.

“Our main target was to finish top six again which we achieved but we had to do better than we did last year.

“I think we just got two points so we know we can’t lose this. It’s right there in our hands.”

Gogic has seen Saints’ entire transformation under Stephen Robinson first-hand having been at the SMiSA when the Northern Irishman arrived in February 2022.

The 30-year-old knows the path to success has not been without obstacles but is adamant the right people have come together at the right moment to create something special.

“There are no egos,” he said. “We are just one big family. We’re just brothers who are enjoying every minute together and enjoying every win.

“I think you have to give credit to the gaffer and the staff because they got the recruitment right.

“The manager believes in us and he makes demands of us because he knows how good we are. When we drop our standards, we definitely know all about it.”

As well as being a colossus at the back, Gogic has chipped in with a few important goals and his close-range strike against Dundee made it four this season.

He said of his effort: “It was like pinball! It landed to me and I was just happy the ball hit the back of the net.”

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