It's a classic tale for St Mirren, starting off a season riding high only to face a stark reminder of the ruthless nature of football. St Mirren's recent encounter with Kilmarnock was like taking a punch in a boxing match you thought you had under control—a sudden jolt that sends you spinning.
Last March, it seemed we had exorcised our 'Killie curse' with a spectacular 5-1 victory, showing a glimmer of what the Saints can achieve when the gears mesh perfectly. However, the latest clash was a dose of harsh reality handed down by Kettlewell's crew, who seemed eerily adept at turning our own tactics against us.
The match saw St Mirren dominating possession, a strategy that backfired spectacularly. With Kilmarnock employing a deep defence and relying on quick counters, they exploited the high line and blustery conditions better than we did. Goals from David Watson and Marcus Dackers felt like they were out of our own playbook, originally designed for our forwards like Killian Phillips and Mikael Mandron.
Stephen Robinson’s post-match commentary didn't sugarcoat it. Our play was lacking in direction and killer instinct—"We passed without purpose, didn't deliver balls". It's a simple yet tough pill to swallow for the Buddies faithful.
Despite the setback, it's essential to remember that a single defeat doesn't define a season. St Mirren stands at a reasonable spot in the league, and there's still plenty of football to be played. Let's look to muster our spirits, regroup, and return to the form that can genuinely challenge for the Premiership—where St Mirren belongs.
We need to treat this defeat like the blustery storms we often get—it should pass through quickly, not causing too much lasting damage, and certainly not strong enough to knock over our wheelie bins of hope. Next up, we'll have a chance to put things right and aim for a march towards Scottish FA Cup glory.
And now, for a bit of levity at the expense of those who are probably chuckling at our misstep—our dear rivals.
"How many Greenock Morton fans does it take to change a light bulb?"
"Just one to change it and the rest to talk endlessly about how the old one was better, even if it had long since burnt out!"
Here’s to brighter days and turning the tables when we next meet. Go Buddies!
