Steven Thompson laughs off John Brown’s ‘banter’

ST Mirren manager Danny Lennon is confident his men will stay up, despite the fact they are making heavy weather of it, and he’s not the only one.

While Dundee manager John Brown has been playing mind games, trying to get the Paisley side to doubt their ability to get the solitary point required to doom his men to the drop, striker Steven Thompson says Brown’s words have provoked a few laughs but no wobbles. “To be honest with you I know Bomber well and if anybody is trying to make more of [his comments] than just a bit of banter, that’s sad. I found them quite amusing and knowing him the way I do, it’s tongue in cheek.”

But he admitted there is growing frustration in the Saints ranks as they fail to put matters to bed. “Of course we are because it has been in our hands for weeks now and we haven’t managed to put an end to it and that’s the most frustrating thing – when you have the power to do something and you don’t take advantage of that.

“But I’m pretty sure everyone in the changing room is very aware of the situation but it’s still all about what we do.” Yesterday they didn’t do nearly enough and, while the Paisley players would prefer to sort out their own fate, Thompson confessed they would all be content to see Dundee slip up this afternoon.

“We started the game poorly and Hearts showed more appetite in the opening encounters. We will now keep an eye on Dundee’s game but the whole situation is still very much in our own hands and that’s the message we have to remember. But, if Dundee lose, then that’s great.”