Buddies manager Ross plays down title nerves

ST MIRREN boss Jack Ross has played down the pressure on his team after they missed the opportunity to win the Scottish Championship.

Billy King’s early strike was enough to give Dundee United a hard-fought 1-0 win over the Buddies, who need just a point to seal the title and a return to the top flight.

It was a first defeat in seven for the Buddies — a run that stretches back to mid-February — and they were not at their best at Tannadice despite hitting the woodwork twice in the first period.

They still have four games to lift the title, starting at home to Livingston on Saturday, and Ross was keen to play down any suggestion it could be viewed as a nervous display from his side.

“I think with the manner of the performance, people here won’t think we looked like a nervous team,” he said. “This team has dealt with worse pressure than that last year in trying to stay in the league.

“They have dealt with the pressure of trying to win this league from day one and then dealt with it for a long time being at the top of the league, so I don’t have any qualms over their ability to handle that and I don’t think it was reflected.”

St Mirren are currently top of the table by 12 points — a dramatic turnaround from last season when they were left fighting relegation.

Despite last night’s defeat, Ross was not downhearted and is confident they can get the job done soon.

He said: “Last night was our first opportunity, and that’s passed us by but we will dust ourselves down.

“We have four more, three at a home venue that we have only lost once at in 14 months and that’s not a bad position to be in, I will take it.”

Billy King