I’M NOT UNDER STRAIN

Ryan: Staggies party will see us flying again up the league

Ryan Strain was gutted his third goal for the Buddies didn’t help the club pick up the three points they were hunting at Fir Park.

But the flying full-back insists Saints will bounce back this weekend at Ross County where they look to retain their top-six spot.

The goal-hero defender admits it was tough to fall 2-1 at Motherwell when they knew a win would have rocketed them back to fourth in the Premiership table.

Now three points at County on Saturday could yet lift them to the same place – depending on results elsewhere involving Hibs and Livingston.

And the 25-year-old Australia international is determined to put things right tomorrow when St Mirren are back on home soil against the struggling Staggies.

Strain told Express Sport: “It was disappointing. We didn’t come out strong enough and from there we were chasing the game.

“We got back into it, but just weren’t good enough on the night. I’ve no idea why we didn’t start well.

“It was maybe just the mindset and it wasn’t good enough from us.

“We knew it was a great opportunity to go into fourth. That’s what we believed we could do. We went there to win and to come away with zero points is very disappointing.

“It’s always nice to get on the scoresheet, but it doesn’t mean anything when you don’t win. Obviously it’s good for my own personal tally, but it doesn’t mean much now. It’s massively important to bounce back quickly. A win on Saturday could still take us to fourth. ”

Strain revealed he and his teammates were told in no uncertain terms by boss Stephen Robinson that Wednesday night’s performance was unacceptable.

Strain said: “He [Robinson] definitely let us know it was unacceptable and we knew that ourselves.

“We’ve had high standards this year and been playing well. To get no points is tough, but we’re still sixth. We’ve got a huge game on Saturday and we need to go and win it.”