There are few more satisfying moments in football than seeing your team thump the side your former boss left to manage.
While almost every Buddie still has a huge amount of respect for the impressive job Jim Goodwin did on and off the pitch in Paisley as a player and a manager over several years, that certainly won’t stop them celebrating a St Mirren win on Sunday should they dish out yet another defeat on the dismal Dons.
Few could argue that Goodwin made the wrong decision to chase - and subsequently bag - the Aberdeen job.
The opportunity to take over a club with a much bigger budget, and that until recently were a Premiership top three staple, was difficult to turn down, no matter how much love and respect he has for the Saints.
It’s fair to say things haven’t gone quite to plan for the former St Mirren captain since taking the reins at Pittodrie.
There is serious discontent growing within the Aberdeen support after a string of unimpressive performances and results.
St Mirren can rub some salt in those wounds with a victory this weekend, knowing even a draw would ensure the Paisley club finish above the Dons in the table.
That would be a sweet result for the Saints supporters who still feel a pang of anger and regret about the timing of Goodwin’s departure.
Seeing Motherwell and Dundee United clinch European football on Wednesday night was tough for the Paisley club’s fans.
Both of those clubs have endured miserable spells during the season but have still managed to bag a Europa Conference League berth for next season, with their supporters already looking out their passports.
Had Goodwin stayed in Paisley, there’s every chance that could have been St Mirren supporters buying in sun cream and dreaming of midweek trips on the continent once again.
It’s no secret that the timing of Goodwin joining Aberdeen seriously harmed the Buddies.
As chairman John Needham rightly pointed out recently, no club would choose to lose their manager mid-way through the season - unless they themselves wanted to give an underperforming boss the chop.
While Stephen Robinson’s Saints are just about turning the corner now, the damage and disruption was unfortunately already done.
Given the minimal difference between the clubs from fourth downwards in the top flight this season, there’s no reason the Buddies can’t dare to dream about a top six finish - and maybe even European football - next season.
Robinson has proven he can achieve both in Scotland at Motherwell already.
And with Keith Lasley set to start his role as chief operating officer on Monday, he’ll have his right hand man in place as they look to repeat the feat they pulled off at Fir Park in Paisley next season.
For now this weekend’s clash with Aberdeen brings an end to an eventful and often painful season for the Saints.
While it will likely be most remembered for Goodwin’s departure to Aberdeen, hopefully in the future it will be recalled as a significant moment that Robinson took charge too.
If his new signings can hit the ground running early next season, he could yet be the man to finally deliver St Mirren a top six spot after yet another near-miss.
An impressive win over Goodwin’s stuttering Aberdeen on Sunday will certainly go even further to endearing himself to his new club’s supporters too.
