St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson deflected praise onto his team and staff following their impressive 3-1 victory over Celtic in the Scottish League Cup final on Sunday. Robinson, who has now guided the Buddies to their second League Cup title in the club's history, emphasized the collective effort behind the triumph.
"In terms of coaching staff, playing staff, admin staff, we've got the smallest in the country," Robinson said. "And for the level of work they put in, I'm delighted for them more than myself. Obviously, I'll sit back and enjoy it at some stage. But for the people that put all the hard work in and the players that have to go in the arena, they're the ones that deserve all the credit."
St Mirren's victory was secured with a dominant performance against Celtic, marking a significant achievement for the club and a third successive defeat for Celtic under their new manager, Wilfried Nancy. Marcus Fraser opened the scoring early in the game with a header from a corner, and Jonah Ayunga's second-half double sealed the win for St Mirren. Robinson's tactical approach, which involved clever pressing and stifling Celtic's attack at its source, proved highly effective.
Robinson acknowledged the personal significance of the win, particularly for his family. "It's hard to put into words," he said. "I was looking for my family. My two boys are over from Belfast. My wife was here, she doesn't go to lots of games because she doesn't like the stick that you get. My sister's here, her husband. So it's brilliant for them." He highlighted the emotional toll that criticism can take on the families of managers and players, expressing his delight in providing them with a special day.
Robinson also lauded the St Mirren fans for their unwavering support. "The fans have been fantastic to me. Even when we went six games without a win or something, at no time did I hear any criticism," he noted. "They're just behind the group. They believe in what we do and that's very refreshing in an era of football where you don't get a lot of patience."
Looking ahead, Robinson aims to build on this success and secure European qualification for St Mirren, alongside competing for more trophies. This victory marks St Mirren's first major trophy since 2013 and underscores the significant progress the club has made under Robinson's leadership. He has led the team to three consecutive top-six league finishes, a European qualification, and now a major trophy. Following this League Cup triumph, Robinson's legacy in Paisley is secure.
