Boss Ross relishing an Ayr of uncertainty
ST MIRREN manager Jack Ross admitted the do-or-die relegation clash with Ayr United is his favourite type of game.
It would not be wrong to describe this match as the biggest in years for Paisley’s football club who sit on only 14 points in last place in the Championship behind today’s opponents.
Anything less than victory is going to make survival hugely difficult.
As for Ayr, they would go 11 points ahead of St Mirren if they win and potentially three behind some of the teams above them.
A quick glance on social media will tell you that the St Mirren supporters don’t feel confident. Indeed, they come across as plain, old scared. The manger, however, has no fear.
“In a perverse way I actually enjoy games that mean something a lot more than others,” said Ross. “So there is excitement wrapped up in anxiety.
“It’s the same for every game. I look forward to them. It’s why I have been in this profession for so many years and why I’ve stayed in it.”
Some 1000 Buddies will make their way to Ayr. Neither team could be said to have lit up the Championship this season; however, with Somerset Park set to be all-but full, few games in the league will match this in terms of atmosphere.
“The fans have been really good to me and the players all through this,” said Ross. “They always travel in big numbers and we need to use that on Saturday.
“We need to work off the atmosphere they will create, get a buzz out of so many of them being there and use it on the park.”
What relegation means for St Mirren as a club is downsizing. There are supporters who fear the worst if their team had to spend more than one season in League One.
“It’s not hyperbole to suggest this match against the one team they realistically can catch is the biggest for years.
Ross said: “We haven’t shied away from what this game means. All week we haven’t protected the players from what this means. It’s been there in our preparation. Nobody is deluded about what this can do for us.
“Look, I still say nothing will be decided on Saturday. I have said that in the build-up but in terms of this season it’s our biggest game so far, although that keeps changing.
“The players are well aware of the responsibility they hold. It’s up to them to go out and show how good I know that they are.
“Our form hasn’t been too bad. We’ve lost three times in the last 12 games but, of course, many of them were cup matches. So the players can feel confident about going into this game.”
Ayr boss Ian McCall admitted he did not expect to be in a battle with the Buddies.
He said: “When you look at the squad St Mirren have you would expect them to be in the top four so we know they have a lot of quality and are playing better than earlier in the season.
“We are at Somerset Park, we have to start winning games here and will be picking the team accordingly.”