Take nothing for granted, warns Buddies gaffer

Apr 21 2009 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

BUDDIES boss Gus MacPherson last night urged his players to give one final push as the SPL season reaches a dramatic climax.

With SPL chiefs unveiling the post-split fixture list on Sunday, St Mirren now know the details of their remaining five league games.

They will start the SPL run-in on Saturday, May 2, with a home game against Inverness Caley Thistle.

And MacPherson insists he is not taking anything for granted as his side seek to secure SPL safety for the third season in succession.

He said: “We expected three games at home and two away and that’s what we’ve got in order to make up the 19 home and 19 away calendar.

“But it really doesn’t matter which way the fixtures come out or whether they’re home or away matches, as it’s still going to be tough.

“We played extremely well against Hibs at home last week and only managed to get one point.

“Then, on Saturday, we went away from home to Fir Park and managed to get a fantastic result and win three points, so that tells you something about what this level of football is like.

“These remaining ties are going to be extremely difficult.”

Meanwhile, MacPherson believes midfield maestro Steven Thomson, above, is now beginning to show the form that convinced him to bring the former Falkirk player back to Scotland.

Former Brighton ace Thomson turned in an assured display at the weekend and capped things off by scoring his first goal for the Buddies.

MacPherson said he is happy with what he is getting from ‘Thommo’.

He added: “Steven has been frustrated because he came in and played out on the side of midfield, which is not his favoured position.

“But, in the last three or four weeks, you can really see that he’s a central midfield player and we’re delighted to have him on board.”