St Mirren start strongly using relegation scare as 'fuel'
St Mirren is enjoying a strong start to the Scottish Premiership season, currently sitting at the top of the table after two wins. Manager Craig McLeish credits the team's success to a 'back to basics' approach and using the frustration of last season's relegation scare as fuel for improvement.
Why it matters
This highlights the narrative of resilience in sports and how teams can leverage past failures to build momentum in new seasons.
Image source, SNS Image caption, Killian Phillips' second-half penalty earned successive opening Premiership wins for St Mirren
The 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.
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