We’ve won, that’s it, all over – Stephen Robinson jokes after St Mirren go top

By Sports Desk September 02, 2023

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson praised his players for digging deep to claim a late equaliser at Livingston and move to the top of the cinch Premiership.

Luiyi de Lucas had given the home side the lead two minutes before the end of a scrappy game only for Stav Nahmani to cancel out that advantage deep into stoppage time.

The result left Saints top of the table by a point after four matches and Robinson joked it would be a good time to declare the season over.

He said: “The league’s getting cancelled – all done! We’ve won, that’s it, all over.

“That would be nice wouldn’t it? But it speaks volumes for the start we’ve made. It’s full credit to the players.

“They’ve been fantastic throughout the cup competition and now they’ve taken that into the league form.

“We weren’t at our best today but good teams don’t get beat at venues like Livingston. And we’ve proved we’re a good side.

“It wasn’t pretty on the eye. It wasn’t as fluent as we have been but the character of the boys showed and to get a point was fantastic.

“That was probably what we deserved. I didn’t think we deserved to win to be honest.”

Livi manager David Martindale admitted he thought his team had done enough to win the game before being pegged back.

Asked if he felt the points had been secured after De Lucas’ strike, he replied: “Yes, I’ll be honest with you.

“We’ve got to deal with the ball into our box better but I don’t think Jamie (Brandon) should be giving the ball away there at that point in the game.

“I think everyone and their dog heard me shouting ‘spin it and put it in the corner’ and the game dies at that point.

“But he takes a touch and even the crowd are nervous at that point. He gives away the foul and that leads to an entry into our box and we don’t defend it well enough.

“At that stage of the game St Mirren just flood your box and they get their joy from doing that.”

Livingston lost Andrew Shinnie to a head knock midway through the first half that led to the midfielder being stretchered off.

But Martindale gave a positive update, saying: “He’s OK. He was in the changing room at the end there.

“I thought the medical team dealt with him very well. He walked into the medical room at half-time. He’s a wee bit groggy but he’s OK.”

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