Simo Valakari hailed a milestone performance following St Johnstone’s 1-0 win over St Mirren which breathed more life into their William Hill Premiership survival hopes.
Defender Bozo Mikulic struck from close range in the 71st minute in Paisley for a second-successive winner following his counter against Motherwell last week.
It was a third-successive victory in all competitions for the Perth side, who are bottom of the table but looking up at second-bottom Kilmarnock, Ross County and Dundee with growing confidence.
Valakari – who took over as Saints boss last October – said: “We played our best away match so far.
“We were solid and as comfortable as you can ever be against this opponent for 90 minutes. We knew that they wanted to come and press us.
“We had two choices – to go into this basketball game with them and try to go vertically, quickly in behind them or we are brave, take the ball and take their momentum out.
“Under pressure we kept passing, side to side and got through their pressure.
“Against any team you have to defend in moments and we did that when we needed to.
“Our chance came through a set-piece again.
“I’m very, very proud of my players.
“It was tight margins but when you do enough of these good actions, you deserve your win.”
St Mirren dropped down from seventh to eighth and dejected boss Stephen Robinson blamed himself for the defeat after sticking mostly with the same players that won 3-0 against Aberdeen at Pittodrie last week, with Elvis Bwomono back in the side at right wing-back and teenager Callum Penman dropping out.
He said: “It’s totally my fault, not the players. We had an incredible result at Aberdeen last week. I stuck with the same players, but we lacked creativity.
“We played with fear. So that’s my fault because it’s difficult to change a team when you win that well.
“But ultimately we have to and we have to put more inventive players on the pitch earlier.
“I didn’t do that today because I stuck with boys who had a fantastic performance last week.
“Ultimately you shouldn’t lose the game. We shouldn’t lose the game. I don’t think St Johnstone got in our half, I think it was once out for corner at the end of the first half.
“And then breakaways, which we have to deal with. We have to come out with a draw on a game like that.
“That is why we’re in no man’s land. We’re not in the top six. We’re looking over our shoulder now. We’re looking five points this way, five points that way, because of the lack of consistency throughout the season.”
Robinson could still add to his squad before the transfer window closes on Monday but revealed one transfer target had been thwarted.
He said: “One of the boys that we agreed a loan deal from, from the Premier League in England, he broke down with an injury on Monday.
“So unfortunately that’ll be something we’ll have to look at again next season.
“We’ve got two that we’re trying to get in. But again, to try and make the squad better with the limitations we have with resources, then it’s very, very difficult.”
