St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has declared his side's dramatic Scottish Gas Scottish Cup victory over Livingston as the perfect moment to reset their season and mount a charge for the Premiership's top six.
Penalty Drama Seals Cup Progress
The Buddies edged through to the fifth round after a tense 4-3 penalty shootout success at the Home of the Set Fare Arena in West Lothian on Saturday. The match had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes, with Roland Idowu firing St Mirren into a third-minute lead before Scott Arfield's first Livingston goal levelled the tie shortly after.
With no further goals, the tie went straight to penalties, where Malik Dijksteel converted the decisive spot-kick to send the Paisley side through.
Robinson Eyes Fresh Start and Top-Six Push
Robinson immediately framed the cup win as a catalyst for change, challenging his players to view the remainder of the league campaign as a fresh 12-game season ahead of the split. The two sides are set for a quick rematch in the Premiership at the same venue on Tuesday night.
"What we've done is reset the season," Robinson stated. "You can get bogged down worrying about what happened the week before. We started with a cup competition and let's see how far we can go in it."
He added: "Our league season is now 12 games before the split, so we start our league season again and we aim to be a top six side within those 12 games. It gives you a real goal as opposed to always looking back. You can't change what's happened."
Martindale's Focus Shifts to Crucial League Clash
Livingston boss David Martindale was left frustrated, believing his team controlled enough of the game to deserve victory in normal time. However, he conceded that Tuesday's league encounter now takes precedence.
"I feel like a madman sometimes," Martindale said. "At least this week, we lost the game through our own undoing... Tuesday is a big game for this club. I said I wanted to win both games, but, if I had to choose, I'd have chosen Tuesday."
In a significant update for Livingston fans, Martindale revealed the club is close to strengthening its squad. A new left-back is due to arrive imminently on a six-figure transfer, with the deal expected to be completed before Tuesday's match.
"We're bringing a left-back into the country. We know we're light at left-back," he confirmed. "Calvin Ford has backed us and is building a group at the club. I have no doubt in the next six to 12 months, we'll be an established Premiership club with the infrastructure and resources."
