STEPHEN ROBINSON hopes winning their mind games can see his St Mirren side end the club’s 13-year wait for three points against Rangers.
The Saints boss revealed he has called on his partner’s mother to help boost their mental strength.
Stephen Robinson has called on his partner’s mum to help his players[/caption] He hopes it will give his team the edge against Philippe Clement’s side[/caption]His Buddies head into Sunday’s visit from the Ibrox side, having failed to beat them in the league since Christmas Eve 2011.
Boss Robinson, who has sealed another top-six finish, is a big believer in the psychology of the game.
It’s why he brought in Robyn Lauchlan’s mum Kirsteen Templeton, a psychotherapist, to work on that.
He said: “I certainly don’t think we lack belief. We’ve got a group of boys who believe in each other, the staff and the club as a whole.
“But I do think it’s mental. Concentration-wise, when you’re playing against top quality players who wear you down, you only need one moment where you switch off.
“It’s about training your mind and not getting casual. It’s not ability, it’s a mental strength to get through things, and we’re improving at that.
“We have to be right at the very top of the mental side, and obviously the physical and technical side too.
“Have we brought in some psychologists?
“We’ve used people with individuals, not as a team. You’re dealing with young men who have lives and problems outside football.
“It’s actually my partner’s mum who we’ve used. She’s been fantastic.
“I have to give her a very special mention because two or three of the boys have seen her and benefited massively.
“That’s in terms of things sometimes that go on outside football.”
Robinson admits it’s a lot easier to get modern players to buy into the mental methods than it was back in his day as a player.
He added: “It was unheard of when I played. Back then you were looked upon as a weak person if you needed any help and outside support.
“Thankfully, society’s moved on and everybody needs help.
“The mental side of football is massive. Everyone’s got ability, everyone’s got good athletic qualities.
“But mentally you have to be so strong to deal with a lot of criticism, and you have to go again every week through disappointment or success. Even when you have success you can’t drop those standards.”
Robinson’s methods are also in stark contrast to some of the tactics he was on the end of.
He said: “If I managed the way I was managed I’d probably be in jail now! Society’s changed, times have changed.
“You have to manage a lot differently.
The Saints are chasing a European spot[/caption]“I spoke to Brendan Rodgers about it. You evolve as a coach.
“You’re dealing with individuals, you are dealing with a different generation, and that changes year-on-year.
“It has become a generation that wants coaching, they want answers to why they are doing well, why they are not doing well and how they can improve.
“You have to do it with a more softly, softly approach. Ultimately, I tell them the truth.
“Their agents, their mums and dads, their partners, never tell them the truth.
“We do that to improve them, but we do it in the right manner. We do it in a way that is constructive criticism.
“Is there still a place for the hairdryer? It doesn’t come very often, but I believe those days have gone.
“There are moments — the players at St Mirren might have had that once during the season, and it’s premeditated to maybe get a jolt at half-time or something.
“But I don’t believe that people respond to criticism. If you go to work and people tell you you’re rubbish every day, they don’t encourage you.
“So you can become disillusioned and stop believing in yourself.
“You have to give players belief. I want my players to walk on to that pitch on a Saturday and believe they are the best in the country.
“Mentally they have to believe that and you can’t continue to criticise people and expect that.”
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