Momentum doesn't always win games

20/04/12: JJ - "All we need to do is to make sure that we get nine points more than Hibs between now and the end of the season.

Saturday's match at St Mirren is just the first post split fixture but with his side seven points behind Hibs, Jim Jefferies feels that the other four games will be irrelevant if Dunfermline can't win and Hibs win on Sunday at home against Kilmarnock.

"We have got to win hoping that the result elsewhere goes our way. If we win and Hibs win its a big advantage to them because that is another game less for us to close the gap on them. We need to concentrate on ourselves, get a win and see where it takes us. Then we will go into the next game with the same thoughts.

"All we need to do is to make sure that we get nine points more than Hibs between now and the end of the season. That will not be easy because they have got a bit of momentum. Credit to them for the season that they are having that they have managed to get to the Scottish Cup final. It will boost everybody. They have got cup final places to play for; the momentum is all with Hibs now but momentum doesn't always win games.

"It will be up to their manager to come in and play his part to make them aware that it is more important to stay in the top league. Yes, they would love to be the first Hibs side in 100 odd years to lift it. The fans would probably take the cup before staying in the league but I think the club would think differently."

So could there be any chance that Hibs could concentrate on the cup final too early? Jim thought not:-

"The Hibs manager will use the cup final as I'm sure I would - if you want your place in the cup final, make sure you keep doing your role and get us out of this mess and over the line.

"Sometimes in sport whether it is World Cup finals no matter whether it is snooker, golf etc getting over the line is the hardest part. They are not there yet and that is what we have to cling on to."

Jefferies views St Mirren as a hard team to beat and one that could have had a top six places given the way they started this season.

"Everybody was talking about them and the style of football that they played. Style doesn't always win you enough points to get you where you are. They have been very good to watch but it is the end of the season and you won't know what frame of mind they will be in. Danny Lennon will be asking them to finish as high as possible up that league. If they finish third bottom it will be a big improvement but Danny will maybe want to push on and finish on top of the rest."