Instead of being afraid of the result, Stephen Robinson says he and the St. Mirren team need to “embrace and enjoy” the challenge of playing in Europe.
The Saint’s Conference League qualifier between Icelandic team Valur and Paisley is scheduled to play to a sell-out crowd on Thursday.
The boss is eager for the match as he hopes to advance their European campaign after their goalless draw in Reykjavik last week.
In addition, he believes that the crowd’s enthusiasm is just as crucial to the outcome of the game as that of the players, and he wants his side to capitalise on this.
“I said before the first game that we wanted to make sure we were still in the tie,” Robinson stated in a statement on Wednesday.
We hope to limit the amount of defensive blunders that made the first leg so transparent. Despite this, we are confident coming into the match and know that we will pass this difficult test.
“There were reportedly 200 people there, and they certainly raised a lot of noise, so if 6,000 St. Mirren supporters show out for this one, it will be incredible.
“I have stated time and time again that the fact that the fans are coming in large numbers is a compliment to the players and staff here because we have given them something to cheer about and they are clearly enjoying what they are seeing.
It serves no purpose to minimise it.
We will play our game, rally the supporters, and take the match to Valur because the players have earned the right to be here and the right to be in the tie from the first leg.
“We can’t win the game in the first five minutes; it’s going to be over 96 minutes, maybe even longer. So, it’s important everyone stays together and realises that we are playing a very good side as well. Everyone will be given everything they have to get to the next round.” The audience is equally as important as the players in terms of patience.
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