Thomson: 'We need to stay alert to bag three points'

Apr 17 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

ST MIRREN midfielder Steven Thomson admits the Buddies can’t afford to be caught sleeping on the job if they want to win all three points against Motherwell tomorrow.

Thomson is concerned that Saints dozed off on the stroke of half-time in Monday night’s game against Hibernian, allowing Steven Fletcher to grab an equaliser for the Edinburgh side.

It wasn’t the first time this season that a lapse in concentration has cost the Paisley men dearly.

And ‘Thommo’ knows the Buddies will need to be wide awake for the full 90 minutes at Fir Park tomorrow as they go in search of crucial SPL points to haul them away from the relegation zone.

The 31-year-old midfielder told Express Sports: “We’ve been losing goals at vital stages of games and we need to look at that.

“It happened against Aberdeen last month when they scored with the last kick of the ball to get a 1-1 draw and also against Falkirk recently when we dropped another two points after losing a goal with five minutes to go.

“Then it happened again when we played Hibs on Monday night just as we were about to go in at half-time with a 1-0 lead.

“Basically, we need to learn to close games out when we’re on top and take three points instead of just the one.”

In recent weeks, Thomson has been showing the type of form that convinced Saints boss Gus MacPherson to lure him to Paisley from English side Brighton in January.

The former Falkirk ace admits the Buddies were disappointed not to claim all three points against Hibs on Monday night but is confident they can take out their frustration on Motherwell tomorrow.

Thommo said: “We felt we did enough to win that game against Hibs but slackness towards the end of the first half cost us.

“We can take positives from the way we performed on Monday night and take that into this weekend’s game with Motherwell.”

Thomson admits St Mirren’s passing game suits him right down to the ground and he is convinced MacPherson’s men have enough firepower to sink ’Well at Fir Park in tomorrow’s SPL showdown, which kicks off at 12.30pm and is being broadcast live on Setanta Sports.

And he reckons in-form midfield Buddie Andy Dorman could well be on the scoresheet against the Steelmen again.

Thommo said: “Our style of play suits us because we have Jack Ross bombing down the right and Mo Camara bombing down the left. We’re looking good.

“Since I joined St Mirren in January, I’ve watched Andy Dorman play really well. He’s able to get into dangerous positions and he’s a great finisher too. Give him half a sniff and he’ll score.”