Squad unity is secret of Saints success says Gary

ST Mirren winger Gary Teale believes the close-knit ties in the Paisley dressing- room are the reason why the club has got off to a flyer in the SPL.

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St Mirren manager Danny Lennon (left) and striker Steven Thompson joins kids from Gryffe High School ahead of their 3k fun run
St Mirren manager Danny Lennon (left) and striker Steven Thompson joins kids from Gryffe High School ahead of their 3k fun run

Saints take on Kilmarnock tomorrow, fresh from their 2-0 win over Hearts last weekend.

And Teale, who clocked up his 50th appearance for Danny Lennon's side against the Jambos, believes that the unity within the squad is among the best he has ever known in football.

St Mirren are currently third in the table after a solid start to the season and Teale has hailed the camaraderie.

"I'd say that it is quite similar to what it was when I was with Wigan," said Teale. "There is no-one in there who thinks of themselves as better than anyone else, there are no cliques and everyone is in it together.

"Off the pitch the lads get on very well, but on it we know that we have to work together and all stick to our jobs if we are to progress as a team. It helps that training is good and varied and there is always a good atmosphere around the club.

"And now, having clocked up a decent start to the season, there is a fair bit of confidence. When you are winning games there is always a feel-good factor but it is also the case that you do get into a winning habit.

"The manager refreshed things a bit in the summer with a few new faces and that, coupled with a lot of good, young talent, has kicked us on that little bit again, I think.

"We are all enjoying our football and I think that has been reflected in the kind of results that we have enjoyed so far this season."

While St Mirren have made a decent start to the campaign, it has been a more inconsistent beginning for Killie.

HOWEVER, with tomorrow's game at Rugby Park on the horizon, Teale is wary of underestimating the Ayrshire side, and has also applauded boss Kenny Shiels for the way in which he tries to get his side to play football.

"They have been a bit up and down, but I have to say I am a big admirer of Kenny," he said.

"I think his ideas about ~ football are great and you can count on his sides to get the ball down and try to play a bit.

"You have to remember that as well as getting results we also have a duty to try and entertain. It is football, it's about sport and getting people off their seats.

"I think any manager who is looking to play the game in the right way deserves a lot of credit.

"Because of that I think the games between us are always relatively open and I am sure this weekend will be no different. We would love to get another win, but we know that it will be hard.

"If we can take our chances then you never know, but we are certainly going there with a lot of belief in our own ability and a lot of confidence."

The problem last season for St Mirren was the number of draws they clocked up in the middle of the campaign.

Teale, though, believes there is a cutting edge to the side just now and the fact that the results are coming means there is less pressure on players going into games.

"Once you get that momentum going it really helps," he said, "because you go into matches expecting to win."

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