St Mirren start strongly using relegation scare as ‘fuel’Image source, SNSImage caption, Killian Phillips’ second-half penalty earned successive opening Premiership wins for St Mirren ByMartin DowdenBBC Sport Scotland Senior ReporterPublished17 minutes agoThe start of a new season offers the chance to reset and St Mirren are taking full advantage. They are top of the table after two opening Scottish Premiership wins having defeated Falkirk and now St Johnstone without conceding.It is in stark contrast to last term, when the Paisley side flirted with relegation, coming through a play-off to retain their top-flight status.Off the back of that, there seemed little confidence among supporters and observers ahead of this campaign that a new dawn and return to the punching-above-their-weight campaigns of Stephen Robinson’s tenure would be forthcoming.It is very early days, of course, but the signs are St Mirren have regained many of the elements that have made them a real force in recent times.McLeish’s back to basics message is keyImage source, SNSImage caption, Craig McLeish is in his first full season in chargeGetting back to basics seems key for last seasons’ League Cup winners, according to manager Craig McLeish. That and using the negative feeling that play-off last season brought as motivation.”I’m still using that as fuel,” he told BBC Scotland. “I don’t want to be involved in that. “We’ve got a massive journey ahead of us and we have to keep building. Six points out of six is a great start.”It helps with the belief in each other. I’ve reported to the boys I have confidence in them. “Last season, we had two horrendous play-off games – even the emotion about it, there were so much nerves when we stepped on the pitch.”We have to be horrible to play against. Two clean sheets sets us up well for that. “We want to be really good at the basics and not get bored of that.”The running, energy and desire. We want to be fit and strong and relentless this season against whoever we play. We have to keep those standards really high. We did it last week and lived up to it again.”It is a sentiment shared by new goalkeeping recruit Jacob Chapman, whose penalty save early in the second half laid the platform before Killian Phillips converted from the spot.”Defenders throwing their bodies on the line; [Alex] Gogic throwing his head here and everywhere,” he told BBC Scotland.”Even the attackers coming back and helping defend.”It sets the tempo for the season. It doesn’t mean you’re going to win every game or even have a great season, but it definitely helps.”And it’s what a great season looks like at the start. We’ve started well. “A bit scrappy in some areas and we need to clean that out, but there was still some really nice football getting played in certain areas.”St Mirren beat St Johnstone to maintain winning start
