It’s the draws that kill you.
St Mirren supporters know this only too well after stalemates ultimately cost them a top-six spot last season.
Three successive home draws with Hamilton, Livingston and Motherwell in February in the countdown to the split contributed hugely to the Buddies missing out on an historic top-half finish on goal difference alone.
Now Saints boss Jim Goodwin fears draws might derail their current campaign in the wake of their disappointing goalless clash with St Johnstone.
The Paisley club have already dropped points against the Perthshire side this season in a match Goodwin believes they should have won.
And it’s a trait he fears is becoming an unwanted characteristic of his team after the Buddies left Perth on Saturday with just a point to show for their dominant performance.
Goodwin told Express Sport : “I think anyone that was there, even the most diehard St Johnstone fan, would agree that we were the better team.
“Callum Davidson was kind enough to say so after the game and he probably feels lucky that they came away with a point.
“I am disappointed that we haven’t found a way to get our noses in front. If we had got the first one we would have gone on to get more.
“The frustrating thing is that it has happened too many times already this season where we are talking about us being the better team but we are not picking up maximum points.
“I think back to the 2-2 draw with Motherwell. We battered them and then last week against Dundee we should have had all three points as well.
“These draws are killing us. That is our second 0-0 with St Johnstone and we should probably have won both of them.
“Those four points make a massive difference in the table.
“It is something we have to put right and we need to do it quickly.”
While ultimately disappointed not to leave McDiarmid Park on Saturday with three points that would have pushed St Mirren into the top six at Hibs’ expense, Goodwin was keen to praise his players for yet another strong performance away from home.
The Buddies have lost just once on the road so far this season, a sore defeat at Celtic Park, and the Saints manager feels his side are simply missing a killer touch in front of goal to take them to the next level.
Goodwin said: “I have to be complimentary to the group.
“We defended very well and the players were well-organised.
“St Johnstone caused us very few problems. We were in total control of the game and we carried a threat.
“It is just another one of those days, but we need to find a bit of quality to put the ball in the back of the net.”
