Jack: It’s business as usual

Boss wants Airdrie win

Jack Ross insists Saturday’s dead rubber clash between St Mirren and Airdrie is crucial for the Buddies despite the fact they are unable to qualify.

The Saints and the Diamonds go head-to-head at the Paisley 2021 Stadium on Saturday in the final game of League Cup group stages, although neither side is able to progress from Group H.

Despite that, Ross reckons it is a critical tie for his side as they look to enter the Championship season in the best shape possible following a tough start to the competitive campaign.

The 5- 0 defeat at the hands of Partick Thistle put the skids on dreams of League Cup silverware for another year, but the Saints gaffer has no doubts that his side will be focused on the task at hand come 3pm on Saturday afternoon.

Ross told Express Sport: “It is still important for us to go out and win the game this Saturday. We need to put ourselves in the best frame of mind possible for the Falkirk game the following weekend so this is still important for us, and just as important as it would be if we needed to win to qualify.

“Regardless of how the League Cup went, it would be hypocritical at the start of the competition to say you are going to take it seriously, and because it doesn’t work out the way you want then you change your mind on it.

“I don’t change my approach whether we have won or lost the game. We adapt our training towards what we need to do better.

“We were back in training as normal on Monday morning and the players have been fine.

“They understand the areas that they let themselves down at the weekend but the great thing in football is you have always got the chance to put it right and that starts again on Saturday.”

The Saints boss has been left frustrated by the number of injuries picked up by his side in recent weeks which left him with a threadbare squad for the outing at Firhill last weekend.

Ross conceded that the outlook doesn’t look any better for the game with Airdrie, though has high hopes that a number of players could return for the clash with Falkirk on the opening day of the season.

He added: “Squad-wise we are still not going to have anyone else available this weekend, though they might be available the following weekend so there are going to be differences in what we can do for the Falkirk game that we can’t try this Saturday.

“We are a bit limited with what we can do in that respect.”