At this exact point last season, St Mirren had 18 points in the bag and a goal difference of +5.
A four-goal destruction of St Johnstone in their ninth fixture fuelled the fire of European fantasies and kept the Buddies level with second-placed Rangers going into November.
A year later at Tynecastle, despite European memories having since been made and treasured, it was the Saints’ turn to take a four-goal pasting and face up to some tough questions.
Characteristically, Stephen Robinson opted not to mince his words post-match. Taking the responsibility on his own shoulders, he nevertheless urged his side to get back to basics, defend better and make smarter decisions.
A once resolute St Mirren back five has become a makeshift back four, hindered by both injury and off-field drama. Several seasons of a heroically dependable goalkeeping conveyor belt have met their first sustained blip. A once irrepressible counter-attacking side have lost their mojo.
Any conversation of pressing a managerial panic button should be banished to the fringes of Facebook nonsense, but tough questions are tough questions. In seasons gone by, short-term thinking might then take those questions and roll those little snowballs down the mountainside until they gather weight.
However, the noises emerging on long-term thinking are far more promising. Initial suggestions are making print that a longer-term deal for the manager is in the works. Consistency and stability have so often neglected football in Paisley, and two years of relentlessly positive development in that direction should not be ignored.
Robinson worked minor miracles with Motherwell not too long ago before third-season struggles moved him to tender his resignation. Motherwell have yet to reach those levels again in the four seasons since.
The apparent thinking in Paisley is to rally behind the man who brought consecutive top-six finishes and European travels, and make sure he’s backed through stormy weather to continue that long-term march of progress.
The manager is determined to deliver on that commitment, the club are seemingly working to demonstrate that commitment too – now it’s for the fans to vocally follow suit.
Mark Jardine can be found at Misery Hunters
