The Buddies could sneak into fifth place which would be enough for a spot in next season’s UEFA Conference League.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson(Image: SNS Group)
Stephen Robinson wants his brilliant Buddies to sign off in style at the home of the Premiership champions.
A campaign which began at the end of July for St Mirren in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik ends almost 10 months later in Glasgow’s east end.
There will be a Parkhead party on Saturday afternoon as Celtic celebrate four-in-a-row, with the trophy presentation following the full-time whistle, and the champagne corks will be popping in the Saints dressing room if their Euro dream is realised.
A point will be enough to secure back-to-back continental adventures should fifth-placed Dundee United lose to Aberdeen.
Victory would mean the Tangerines – bossed by ex-Buddie Jim Goodwin – have to pick up three points against the Dons at Tannadice to defend their UEFA Conference League position.
Europe, however, was the last thing on Buddies boss Robbo’s mind on Friday at Saints’ Ralston training ground as he prepared his men for battle one final time this term.
The Northern Irishman is determined to go through the top-six campaign without defeat. Saints are unbeaten in five games and have lost just one of their last eight.
He said: “We’re not going to deny it; this is the hardest way to get points in Scottish football and it is the hardest venue to go to. They’ve proved that over time.
“There is a chance and a belief that we can do it. We’ve not been a million miles away so it’s up to us to get it over the line.
“It would be a nice way to sign-off for everybody to not be beaten in the top six with the highest points tally in St Mirren’s modern history.
“All we are concentrating on is not being beaten in the top six which would be a fantastic achievement. Europe will take care of itself if that’s what happens.
“To get Europe two years in a row would be incredible but we want to go off with a very good performance. A point may be enough but we can’t control the other game. We’re going to try and enjoy it as much as we can.”
Meanwhile, it will be a Saints farewell for centre-back Richard Taylor and midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce. The pair are out of contract this summer and have turned down new deals to pursue opportunities elsewhere.
Robbo added: “Both boys were projects. Caolan was a reserve player at Middlesbrough and Birmingham but he had attributes and was a technically-gifted footballer.
“We needed to show him the defensive side of the game and to be more mobile about the pitch. He has done that tremendously well, added goals to his game, got fitter and more athletic, and then his talent is able to shine.
“We plucked Richard from relative obscurity really. They both came in on £600 a week which is buttons in the football world. Richard has immense natural talent.
“He is still working on the defensive side of his game and you can see how much he has come on. Both boys have a lot of interest in them. They’ve decided they will move on and we wish them nothing but the best. They have been superb.”
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