Alex Gogic fully focused on getting St Mirren into Europe after Aberdeen win
Alex Gogic maintains St Mirren have targeted back-to-back European campaigns after piling the pressure on Dundee United.
The Buddies defensive stalwart helped keep out Aberdeen on Saturday as a 1-0 Premiership win thanks to Mikael Mandron's goal sent the SMiSA Stadium into ecstasy.
While Saints were edging out the Dons, United slumped to a 3-1 loss to Hibernian in Edinburgh. These results set up a crunch showdown on Tayside next Saturday with Stephen Robinson's underdogs taking on Jim Goodwin's troops with five points separating the sides.
And Gogic says his gaffer is adamant the Buddies are not in the top six just to make up the numbers — with the chance of another crack at Europe on every player's mind.
The Cypriot international said: 'Europe is the aim. Once we've got to top six, mathematically, it's not over, so we've got to do our best until it's over. I think we were always playing well throughout the season and then obviously now we're getting the reward for it.
'The clean sheet was very important [against Aberdeen]. We defended, I don't know how many corners, but just had so much character. We had Mika hitting the ball in the corner. You know, we defend first and then he gets his goal.
'I think we were always on form, we just couldn't pick up results. We were losing games at the end of the 90th minute and little things we could have got — probably draws — we lost.
'Getting top six for the fans means a lot and then for this game to be nearly a sell-out; it's amazing to hear them. Their support is very good.'
French forward Mandron penned a new deal at Saints which sees him extend his love affair in Paisley by another year. He followed up the news by being the hero at the weekend and Gogic says he is delighted to see the striker stay put.
The 31-year-old added: 'Fair play to the club. They get him to sign and they offer good contracts to players, trying to keep the squad relatively the same for next year.
'It's a big success for him to sign here for another year. He does the job in both boxes as well. I think he's upped his game, especially in the last two months.
'He's been working on it every single day, holding up the ball, and I think that's very important for us, especially as defenders. If he doesn't hold the ball, we can't squeeze up. But he's become a different player.'
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