Goodwin Pleads For One More Chance

Photo By Jeff Holmes St Mirren player-coach Jim Goodwin has begged the Buddies support to give him one last chance to prove he can behave himself on the pitch. The Irishman copped a three-game ban after he was caught on camera elbowing Dundee United's Aidan Connolly last month. It was the third time the former Celtic, Hamilton and Huddersfield battler has been retrospectively punished by the Scottish Football Association for lashing out off the ball. Goodwin also missed Saturday's 1-1 William Hill Scottish Cup clash Inverness as a result of a suspension hanging over from last year's tournament but will return for Tuesday night's fourth-round replay. The 33-year-old knows the Saints faithful are running out of patience but the former skipper has pleaded for the opportunity to show he can finally mend his ways. Goodwin - whose side can clinch a last-16 trip to Partick if they see their way past Caley Thistle - said: "I'm still going to be the same in terms of my playing style. I'm too old to change. "But the stuff off the ball has to stop. It can't happen again. "I'm disappointed with myself that I'm back in this position, especially with it being such a difficult time for Tommy (Craig, manager) and the players with the number of injuries we have had. "I've not helped by any stretch. We needed all the bodies we could get." Goodwin's clash with Connolly was not his first run-in with a United player. Last December, he was banned for two matches after elbowing Tangerines midfielder Stuart Armstrong during a clash at St Mirren Park. In December 2011, he accepted another two-match ban for throwing a punch at Motherwell's Steve Jennings during a league match at Fir Park. He also kicked the season off with a red card in the Buddies' opening-day clash with the Steelmen. "There is no getting away from it," admitted Goodwin. "It has happened once too many. I've been told that by a number of people but I don't need to be told. I've gone too far this time. "I wouldn't blame anyone out there who has lost patience with me. I have apologised to the fans at a meeting last week. But if anyone has lost patience with me I would ask them for one more chance. "It's very hard to explain why it happens. It is a split-second decision but I don't mean to do it. I don't know if it is because I grew up playing Gaelic football, where these things are 10 a penny over there. "I'm old enough, though, to know it is wrong and not acceptable. "At the end of the day it's only me who can change it. "I know I sometimes let my emotions get the better of me. I'm a terrible loser but I don't mean to go out to hurt anybody. I only want this team to do well but sometimes that takes me over the line."