DERBY BOUNTY
Points mean prizes as Buddies and Ton have it all to play for
THERE is no such thing as a meaningless Renfrewshire derby but it would be difficult to top tonight’s fixture in terms of meaningfulness.
A win for St Mirren at Cappielow would take them out of the play-off place and above Raith Rovers to within a point of Dumbarton.
Morton would return to second spot if they emerged victors and at the at the same time would keep their old Paisley pals in second bottom place.
So there is an awful lot for everyone to get excited about.
St Mirren at long last moved off the Championship basement for the first time since last September after drawing with Dumbarton on Saturday.
Starting with Morton they have to play the top four teams in their last five games, so it won’t be easy. It is, however, doable.
“I believe we can win every single one of them,” said St Mirren’s manager Jack Ross. “It’s not being foolhardy, our results and performance levels over the last three months have been great.
“Our record going back for a long time now has been good. Yes, there’s frustration over where we should be as a club but we’re breeding a mentality that is stronger, we’ve still got a bit to go but we’re making small steps. We’re off it, do we want to go back there? No. Do I believe we’ll go back there? No.
“But we’ve got to continue to prove it on the pitch. I don’t want to finish in the bottom two, so there is still pressure on but there’s been pressure on us for the last three months and they’ve handled it.
“The game against Morton is away from home and it’s against a team that I think will come and have a go at us. I think that suits us.
“It will be a very different type of game, as will all our remaining games of the season. People have commented on them and said they’re difficult but I actually think they’ll suit us.
“I’m looking forward to them and the players are looking forward to them as well.”
ST MIRREN lost 3-1 at Cappielow in November in only Ross’s third game in charge and the 40-year-old admits that setback was one of his l owest points i n management.
He added, however: “That was one of those nights but I think we’ve rectified it, we’re a far different group but you’ve still got to go and do it on Tuesday.
“I also understand the significance to people that follow the club and it’s my desire to make sure there is a group out there on Tuesday that will give absolutely everything to put that night right.”
For their part, Morton are having a brilliant season. It is far from outwith the bounds of possibility that they will make the Premiership play-off. When you think about where they came from it is an incredible feat. They held Hibs to a draw,
again, in Greenock and Jim Duffy, the club’s talismanic leader, is happy one big Championship game is followed by another. Duffy said: “It is great to have this one so soon after the Hibs game as it avoids anyone feeling flat. We had a lot of attention in the build up to Saturday and there was a big crowd at it as well. “Sometimes when you move on to the next game things can feel flat. However, that is not the case especially as St Mirren have turned their season around and it is a local derby with something at stake for both clubs.” “We want points on the board to keep our positive season going and they want points to climb the table.” Cappielow will be rocking this evening. These games are always feisty and while Morton will be favourites, it would as brave man to pick a winner. “I am pleased for them as they have drawn twice with Hibs in the space of ten days and shown that they can compete against good teams,” said Duffy. “To match the best in the league twice is good for confidence.” A derby wins does wonders as well.