St Mirren prepare to host SMiSA Stadium European party as Stephen Robinson demands winning finish

Stephen Robinson is demanding victory tonight so Europe-bound St Mirren can sign off an incredible season in real style.

The Buddies have been in the Premiership top six for pretty much the whole campaign and entertain Hearts in their final home game.

Saints qualified for European competition for the first time in 37 years last night after Dundee's 5-2 defeat to Rangers at rain-lashed Ibrox sealed fifth place in the Premiership.

Boss Robinson wants to send Paisley punters, preparing to get their passports stamped for a UEFA Conference League adventure, into the summer on a winning note this evening and celebrate the progress of a campaign to remember.

“We want to win the game and finish the season on a real high,” Robbo said at the club’s Ralston training ground yesterday morning.

“But no matter what happens, we want to celebrate with our fans as it has been a tremendous, successful season from this group of players and the backroom staff.

“We want to go out and enjoy it but we want to win it as well against a tough, tough Hearts side.

“The fans have been nothing but fantastic with us and deservedly so because of the players, the style of play and the improvements that we’ve made.

“It’s nice to finish in style with a party atmosphere and you do that by not losing the game. We want to win the game and are desperate to win the game.”

Back-to-back top-half finishes in the top flight have catapulted Saints into the national conversation and now the club will reach a new level as a result of playing in Europe.

However, Robbo has never forgotten the backing he received from Buddies legend Tony Fitzpatrick when results were patchy – and how he always believed the club was capable of mixing it with the big boys.

“I’ve set out to try and give the people of Paisley what they wanted,” the manager added. “They wanted top six. They dreamt of playing in Europe.

“People laughed at Tony when he said stuff like that so a special mention to him as well because he has been a massive support to me since I have been at the football club.

“When we weren’t winning games at the start, he never stopped texting and supporting me. We’d like to make his aspirations come true.”

Saints have certainly done that and now Robbo wants the Buddies faithful to pay tribute to the whole squad as some players look set to be making their SMiSA Stadium farewells this evening against the Jambos.

"There will be players leaving as there is every season," he said. "We have done our best to keep people but there’s a limit to where I can go to with our resources.

“We will thank them for their service and everybody who leaves the club has been excellent for me – over numerous years in some cases.

“We will move on and replace them but I think it’s important the fans acknowledge how good the players have been, both the ones who are leaving and the ones who are staying."

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