It’s time to make history

Mar 16 2013 by Ricky Gillies, Paisley Daily Express

The time has finally come ... St Mirren are about to face their Hampden date with destiny.

I’ll be at the national stadium tomorrow to cheer on the Buddies in the Scottish Communities League Cup Final and my wife and two children will be there too.

The boys witnessed the 2010 final – you know, the one we don’t speak about – and we’re all hoping for a rather different outcome this time around.

A few players from that game, such as Lee Mair, Graham Carey and David Barron, are still at the club and no doubt they will want to lay that previous disappointment to rest.

For me, the key could lie in how well St Mirren cope with Hearts defensively.

In my opinion, Saints are one of the best SPL teams in an attacking sense but they do have a tendency to leak goals at the back.

The possible return of Jim Goodwin could prove pivotal and Danny Lennon has to decide whether to play him in the back four or sitting just in front.

Big decisions have to be made and I’m sure that’s one Danny must have given a lot of thought to.

I’m told that around 15,000 St Mirren fans will be at Hampden and I’m sure they will make themselves heard.

It’s just a pity that only around a third of them attend home matches at St Mirren Park every other week.

However, I can understand that lots of people want to see a bit of history in the making and I truly hope it happens.

My concern is that Hearts are still a strong team.

There’s really nothing to choose between the two sets of players but, providing St Mirren can keep it tight at the back, they’ve got a great chance of winning.

A goal for Saints early doors would be fantastic but if we have to wait until late in the game or even into extra-time, I’ll take that.

The best I did in this competition was a semi-final, where we lost a midweek fixture to Kilmarnock at Hampden.

The current crop of St Mirren players have the chance to do something that no other Paisley team has ever done.

I wish them well.