Stephen Robinson dedicates win over Aberdeen to St Mirren snow shovellers

Stephen Robinson dedicated his side’s success over Aberdeen to St Mirren’s band of super snow shovellers.

The Buddies gaffer admitted the club staff and volunteers who swept the pitch clear were the heroes as the Paisley outfit ran out 2-1 winners at the weekend. Toyosi Olusanya and Richard Taylor netted either side of a Jamie McGrath goal to make it three wins in four matches.

Referee John Beaton gave the green light for a 4pm kick-off after enough hard work was done to prepare the surface and make surrounding areas safe.

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Robbo is grateful to everyone who stepped up when it mattered most — and was thrilled his players rewarded them with a great performance and three points.

“We have to dedicate the win to all the volunteers that came in and worked tirelessly,” he said.

“We said the amount of effort and work that’s been put in to get this game on from people that aren’t getting paid, we owe them a performance.

“The staff, Tommy the groundsman. The work they put into it — there were ladies out there in shorts and T-shirts sweeping the pitch.

“It just shows what the club is about. Everyone was together. There wouldn’t have been a match without them.”

Robbo admitted he wasn’t confident this Premiership game would survive Storm Bert when he arrived at the ground and as he watched events unfold.

“With a three o’clock inspection,” he explained, “I still didn’t think we were going to play. We didn’t think at any stage there was going to be a game. Credit to John for being patient.”

Robbo insists he didn’t have a failure as sixth-placed Buddies clipped the Dons’ wings.

“Aberdeen have had an incredible start to the season which makes this result against a top team even better,” he said.

Meanwhile, Robbo says Richard Taylor is on his way to the top after opening his account for the Buddies.

It was the 24-year-old’s first for the club after his effort in the 2-1 win at home to Hearts in September went down as a Gerald Taylor own goal.

Taylor – who was snapped up from League of Ireland side Waterford two years ago – is out of contract at the end of the season.

The centre-back’s play has earned rave reviews and Saints having offered him fresh terms. What happens next is up in the air, however, Robbo is convinced Taylor has what it takes to step up.

“He’s chilled,” Robbo said. “He’s horizontal, a lovely boy, but so much potential and we believe that he can play at a really high level. We demanded more from him. Richard’s got absolutely everything.

“Sometimes his mindset is what costs him but he’s got so many good physical attributes. And he should be scoring more goals which he’s started to add to his game.”

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