Samson: St Mirren can still reach top six

Tuesday 26 February 2013

St Mirren goalkeeper Craig Samson insists the Buddies can still reach the Clydesdale Bank Premier League top six - but only if they make their move now.

Saints bounced back from a demoralising 4-1 home defeat to Ross County in January to embark on a four-game unbeaten run that also saw them shock Celtic and snatch a place in the Scottish Communities League Cup final.

But recent defeats to Hibernian and St Johnstone have halted their run and taken the fizz out of soaring confidence in the Saints changing room - as well as leaving them with a huge nine-point gap to bridge to make it into the top six.They now face Hearts in a dress rehearsal of their Hampden decider - scheduled for March 17 - when they host the Jambos in Paisley tomorrow night.But with just six games left until the league split, Saints number one Samson believes a victory over John McGlynn's men could yet keep their ambitions of breaking into the top half of the table for the first time in the SPL era alive for another week.He told Press Association Sport: "The top six is still a live issue for us. Just look at Ross County. They were only a point above us when we played them here. They beat us 4-1 and have not been beaten since."Now they are sitting three points from second place. So if we go and do the same as that - push ourselves on, get wins on the bounce, put pressure on teams - then we can get in the top six."I'm not saying we have not made it difficult. We've made it very difficult for ourselves, but it is possible."In saying that, it's now or never. The games are running out. We have to win tomorrow night to have a chance to do that."If we don't, it will just be a case of finishing as high as we can."Following consecutive victories over Celtic, St Johnstone and then Inverness, the Paisley men have managed only a goalless draw with Aberdeen before notching two more blanks in defeats to Hibs and their Perth namesakes.Former Scotland international Gary Teale sat out both those losses after being laid low by a back problem and Samson admits the winger's absence has curtailed Saints' creative streak.He said: "You can't get enough of someone who is creating goals for you. He is a big outlet for us but is also a big miss while he is out."He's a really, really fit guy and it doesn't matter what age he is, he'll always look to take defenders on and get balls in the box."People looked at him when he came here and people thought he was just coming here to see out his career. But he's one of the best professionals I've ever worked with."He's in the gym every day and looks after himself really well. That shows on the pitch with his physique, his pace. His fitness is incredible for a man of his age."Teale's former international team-mate Steven Thompson has missed the former Wigan winger's contribution especially but Samson says it is time for the club's midfield understudies to step up.He said: "Big Thommo loves playing with Tealy because they have known each other for a long time. When he's fit, Tealy is always firing crosses into the box for Thommo to get on the end of, so he will be missing him especially."But this is a chance for other boys to come in and cement their place while he's not there. We've got Dougie Imrie, Graham Carey, Esmael Goncalves who have all been playing wide - so if these boys can step up to the plate, that's what we are looking for."

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Samson: St Mirren can still reach top six

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