Lennon wants Saints fans to enjoy top six

The club’s last top-half finish was in 1985 and, with only eight games before the split and Saints two points behind sixth-placed Aberdeen, manager Lennon is keen to end the long wait.

He said: “A whole generation of St Mirren fans have not seen their team in the top half of the league and that’s very much on our minds,” said Lennon. “It’s going to be a race between four teams to get that place. We know it will come down to who can hit the best form.”

Lennon is without Hugh Murray for tomorrow’s home clash with Stuart McCall’s Motherwell after the defender was ruled out for a month with a calf injury. And the Saints boss said: “Hats off to Stuart McCall and his staff, they have firmly established themselves in third place. Their recent away form hasn’t been great recently though and, hopefully, we can continue that by taking all three points.”

Lennon believes his team must be more clinical to turn draws into victories. He said: “We have had the lion’s share of possession in a majority of our matches but haven’t always been able to make that count.

“It is important that we find a more ruthless streak in front of goal.”