IAN MURRAY insists that his side’s 5-0 friendly humbling at Sheffield Wednesday will act as the perfect preparation for St Mirren’s trip to Ibrox on Friday night.
The Buddies have endured a difficult pre-season programme, but new boss Murray says that it has been designed specifically to toughen up his young squad for the Championship challenge that lies ahead.
“We knew when we took all the games, Bradford, Burnley, Inverness and Sheffield Wednesday, that’s a really tough pre-season for us,” he admitted.
“It was a good eye-opener for the guys, especially the younger ones who have aspirations to go and play in England.
“Without disrespect to Sheffield Wednesday, at the moment they’re a lower-end Championship team, and they gave us a real tough lesson.
“We’re not too concerned about it or too downbeat though, and hopefully it will set us up well for Friday.
“We can’t wait to get started now. The anticipation is nearly over and the planning’s pretty much done.
“Playing Rangers is going to be different, they’re nowhere near as physical as Sheffield Wednesday were against us, and they’re nowhere near as quick either being brutally honest, but they’re still a very good side.
“They play a good style of football with a good new manager, so it’s going to be tough.
“Ibrox is hard whoever is playing for Rangers, but Friday night is their opening league game with a new manager, and it adds to the pressure.
“It’s a great game to start the season with. It’s a cut-throat league, there’s no room for error and if you start badly you’ll find it hard to claw your way back in.”
Despite the opening match of the league season being a matter of days away, Murray said that it is still a possibility he will add to his squad before the showdown with Rangers.
“We’re still looking,” he said.
“We’ve said all along that we’re carrying a very light squad and a very young squad, so we’re going to need more and we’re trying just like everybody.
“We’re very hopeful and if we can get two in this week it would be great, maybe three at an absolute push and if we get anymore then that then great.
“We need strikers. We’ve got guys at the moment but we need another couple more that can try to complement them.
“We need to add a goalkeeper because it’s just Mark on his own and he needs competition.
“We need a wee bit of cover at the back as well, but as far as midfield goes we’re done."
One man who was thought to be close to joining the club was Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield, but Murray was cool on the question of a deal for the experienced stopper being close to completion.
“Jamie’s name has been bandied about for that long, long before we’d even spoke about him”, Murray said.
“But he fits our category, he’s an experienced guy that can coach and play and help Mark [Ridgers] out as well.
“There’s not too many out there. Jamie’s obviously played at a very high level in the SPL in a good side as well.
“So of course, we’re looking and we’re interested, but as far as getting a deal done I’d say we’re still a wee bit away.”
Murray was speaking after his side drew Livingston at home in the second round of the League Cup, a tie that will be played just days before the clubs face each other in league duty at the same venue.
“It’s a home draw, that’s all we can ask for,” he said.
“Although there were easier draws in the hat, looking at the positives it’s a tie we feel we can win.”
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