Ross: We must show same spirit in league

JACK Ross has told his St Mirren players they will have to replicate the performance they produced against Celtic in their William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final at Parkhead if they want to avoid relegation this season.

Ross said his team, five points behind Ayr United at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Championship table, had been disappointed not to defeat the Scottish champions yesterday.

The Paisley club had led 1-0 at half-time courtesy of a Harry Davis goal in the 13th minute and nearly went 2-0 in front when Stephen Mallan had a free-kick turned on to the underside of the crossbar early in the second half.

The St Mirren manager, whose team defeated second-tier leaders Hibs 2-0 at home last Wednesday night, wants to see the same level of commitment from now on, starting in their league meeting with Raith Rovers at Stark’s Park on Wednesday evening.

Told that Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers had labelled St Mirren the toughest opponents they had come up against domestically in the 2016/17 campaign, Ross said: “It’s a good compliment for the players. They should take satisfaction from that, realising what a good team they are.

“But, equally, they need to have a desire to prove it game in, game out. They need to take the level of performance from our last few games into Wednesday and beyond.”

He added: “The first emotion for us after the game was disappointment because we did come here to win. People might think that was foolhardy, but that was our ambition. There is pride in how we performed and in how well we made Celtic have to play to win the game.”

Ross said things could have been different if Mallan’s free-kick had found the net. “If it had gone in, we possibly could have progressed. But it didn’t and thereafter it was difficult for us.

“I’m pleased the two goals towards the end (Dedryck Boyata and Leigh Griffiths had goals chalked off by referee Steven McLean) were disallowed because it would have put an unfair reflection on things. I think 4-1 is even a bit harsh on us but that’s what can happen when you play Celtic.”