We know it’s not job done
Ross insists his men aren’t taking their foot off the gas
St Mirren manager Jack Ross insists he has total trust in his side ahead of this weekend’s final league clash with Hibernian.
Barring a massive swing in goal difference, the Paisley side require just a point at Easter Road to complete a miraculous escape, having spent the vast majority of the season in the bottom two spots of the Championship.
The weekend hammering of Raith Rovers ensured that Saints can no longer finish at the foot of the table, but Ross is adamant that his side will not take their foot of the gas for the final game of the campaign.
Ross said: “There is no danger of the boys thinking that it’s job done.
“They clearly understand what their target is.
“I trust them, I keep saying that to them, and I think they trust each other.
“They are desperate to go to Easter Road and perform on Saturday and they will respond to that.”
Defeat for Saints, coupled with a win for Raith Rovers at home to Ayr United, would see Saints finish the season in the relegation play-off positions.
Ross has no worries if faced with the worst case scenario, having seen his side turn in a string of impressive perf o rmances to drag themselves off the bottom of the table.
Ross added: “It is unusual because usually when you finish in the play-offs, it is because you have a downward momentum. But we are very much on the opposite.
“We haven’t just been like that for three or four games — we have been like that for 12, 13, 14 games now. Probably for a third of the season now we have been producing that type of form and results. “I believe we can go and win.” One man who could play a pivotal role this weekend is Stevie Mallan, with the midfielder having netted two stunners away to the Hibees over the course of the past year.
Mallan is the man of the moment, having scored a sensational strike against Raith on Saturday as part of a hat-trick.
Some quarters disputed that he had, indeed, found the net on three occasions, but boss Ross is crediting his deflected free-kick as Mallan’s.
Ross said: “His goal was outstanding and everyone in the stadium was excited by it.
“We have got a lot good players in there and they continue to show that, but it was an outstanding goal.
“I’m giving him the hat-trick and I think he deserves it.
“Certainly, from my angle, the free-kick was on target, so it is a hat-trick in my eyes.”