Curtis Main believes St Mirren have turned the negative of their League Cup campaign into a Premiership positive.
The Buddies headed into the top-flight season under pressure after a lacklustre effort in their group.
Victories over Edinburgh FC and Cowdenbeath counted for nothing as defeats to Airdrieonians and Arbroath sent them tumbling out of the competition at the first hurdle.
However, Saints have been on an upward trajectory ever since and go into the new year fifth in the Premiership after Wednesday night’s 1-1 draw at Livingston.
There is an infectious feelgood factor on Greenhill Road after the best start to a top-flight season in 34 years while the club is also buzzing from Keanu Baccus’ star turn for Australia at the World Cup in Qatar.
As Main – fresh from his equaliser which secured a point at the Tony Macaroni Arena – reflected on a magic few months, he reckons the cup games were a chance for the first-team staff to see what wouldn’t work when shaping the side for the challenges which lay ahead.
“Those games are always difficult as a Premiership team,” he said. "A number of sides struggle, a couple of teams went out early doors as well, so it wasn’t just us.
“I personally wasn’t involved on the pitch as I was still recovering from the post-season surgery. But there were a few tweaks in terms of the shape and the tactics.
“I think that decided a few things in terms of what we were not going to do moving forward and we were able to focus on what work.
“To be honest, we’ve been pretty solid with it throughout the season and it has given us something to build on.
“We just need to keep putting in strong performances and doing what has got us here in the first place.”
The Saints players are very aware that the club hasn’t had it so good in the Premiership since 1988. But Main thinks it could have been even better with the forward pointing to the midweek trip to West Lothian as an illustration of what might have been.
The Lions were reduced to 10 men in the first half when Scott Pittman was sent-off.
Saints failed to take advantage but the home side didn’t miss out when Mark O’Hara was red-carded with Cristiano Montano on target.
Main, however, rescued a point when he converted substitute Eamonn Brophy’s cross from close range. The 30-year-old said: “We’re obviously all aware that we have had a strong start but there have been examples, including this one here, where we’ve come away from games really disappointed.
“It’s always difficult when a team goes down to 10 men. It sometimes becomes harder as the team with 11 maybe start doing things they don’t really need to do.
“But I don’t think we moved the ball quick enough when we had the advantage. We didn’t make it count so they were able to sit in their shape and slide and manage the game pretty well to be honest.
“It took us going down to 10 men and conceding a goal before we started playing with a tempo and that’s something that’s disappointing.
“We should have been able to do that earlier on. If we’re able to capitalise on those moments, then we’d be looking at being in an even healthier position. We’re not satisfied with where we are but we have to be content with what we’ve got.”
On being back among the goals for the first time since August, Main added: “I’m always pleased to get on the scoresheet but just disappointed that we didn’t take three points.
“This is a difficult place to come but we take the point and move on. The conditions were tough but that’s the case for everybody at this time of year.
“There was a little adjustment in terms of the surface, which we’re not used to, but you know it’s coming and have to get on with it.”
Main might have had a double at Livi – but in the dying minutes, Brophy blasted wide rather than square to his better-placed team-mate.
“I was screaming at him and if he lifts his head I’m unmarked in the box for a simple finish,” Main recalled.
“It’s frustrating. I know he is a striker and wants to score goals but it’s decision-making in the final third. Apart from that, he was excellent when he came on and set up my goal.”
All roads now lead to East Ayrshire for the Buddies who first foot Kilmarnock on Monday. “The games are coming thick and fast,” said Main. “Hopefully there are no postponements and we’ve got a couple to catch up on. There are points to be won.”
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