Stephen Robinson paid tribute to flying young winger Jay Henderson for helping keep St Mirren’s top six dream alive.
The Buddies were struggling to carve open Dundee last night before the recently turned 20-year-old substitute skipped past his marker before producing a pinpoint cross to set up Connor Ronan’s dramatic late winner.
It topped a wonderful day for the Saints academy graduate, having been called up to the Scotland Under-21 squad for the first time ahead of kick-off.
That late victory has put the Saints on the cusp of a top half finish, with Robinson’s side now sitting joint-sixth and just one point behind Hibs and Livingston in joint-fourth.
The manager, who was relieved for the players to pick up their first win since Jim Goodwin’s departure, was pleased to see his side push right to the end as the clock ticked down into extra-time.
Robinson told Express Sport: “The boys have been fantastic since I’ve come in.
“It’s a great cross from young Hendo and a brilliant run and finish from Connor.
“Hendo is buzzing after being called-up, it was a great day for him.
“We’ve got him, Ethan Erhahon and Dylan Reid, a lot of great kids coming through.
“It’s up to them now over the summer months to come back and be first team ready, because I’ll throw the young boys in if they’re ready.
“We’re starting to get our message across about being patient and switching the play. There’s still work to do, but we’re right in the mix for the top six again.
“We’re not just lumping the ball up the field and when you get finishes like that to a game, hopefully the fans enjoyed it.
“I thought we deserved the win. It would have been cruel not to get all three points with the amount of chances we created.
“We told the boys to keep moving the ball and passing the ball and we did that a lot more than we did against Ross County.”
Robinson admits he wishes there wasn’t a split this season, given how many teams there are within touching distance of a Premiership top half finish.
The Buddies are right in the mix though, and the manager is determined to steer his side over the line after last season’s near-miss.
Robinson said: “I wish there wasn’t a split because we would give ourselves a chance going all the way through.
“St Mirren haven’t been in the top six for a long time but now we have given ourselves a chance.
“We have given ourselves hope of being in there.
“We have Motherwell, Dundee United and Rangers before the split. It is an opportunity and now it is up to us to take it.”
Having suffered three defeats in his opening three games in charge, Robinson found himself under some early pressure in his St Mirren career.
The experienced gaffer is adamant he can handle that pressure, but was pleased to see the players get over the line again ahead of a huge Scottish Cup tie with Hearts on Saturday night.
Robinson added: “Football is a funny game. I was a good manager and I was a rubbish manager five days later.
“I am an alright manager now and I could be anything after Saturday!
“That is what football is. People have gone home buzzing with our winner and now we have a chance of progressing on Saturday.
“I have been in it at a long time now. I was getting stick being third with Motherwell. You can never make everybody happy.
“It is nice to get the win more for the players than myself, I can deal with the pressure.”
