ROSS AIMS HIGH AFTER SAINTS’ GREAT ESCAPE

Saints secure safety while Hibs raise their trophy

Not only did they avoid the relegation play-off, they actually ended up finishing in seventh place.

Of the ten signings that were made in January, none were more important than the acquisition of Jack Ross as manager back in October.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Ross insisted: ‘It has been an unbelievable few months and no one can ever take this achievement away from us but I’m not satisfied with seventh in the Championship.

‘I will be satisfied when I take this club back into the Premiership and I truly believe we can challenge for that next season. Why not? You need to be ambitious.

‘Over the second half of the season, we have beaten every team in the league, so there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t carry that into next season.

‘Every game we have played over the past few months has been a must-win. I am so proud of the players in terms of how they have handled that pressure.

‘I think a lot of them want to stay because they can see we are building something positive at the club. I hope to retain a lot of them.

‘We will have a couple of days off now because I think everyone has earned themselves a celebration. After that, we will sit down and assess things with a view to next season.’

Andrew Shinnie missed a glorious chance to give Hibs the lead after just three minutes. From Grant Holt’s knockdown, Shinnie blazed the ball over the crossbar from eight yards.

In a repeat of that slow start to the first half, Saints did the same again in the second period and found themselves behind on 49 minutes.

Born and bred in Paisley, John McGinn probably wouldn’t have wanted the assist but he got it anyway. From his cross, Grant Holt outmuscled Gary MacKenzie and poked the ball past Billy O’Brien from ten yards.

At that point, Raith Rovers were ahead against Ayr United at Stark’s Park and St Mirren were staring the relegation play-off square in the face.

But, testament to the character that Ross has instilled in his players, they came out swinging after taking that blow flush on the chin.

Lewis Morgan must take huge credit for the part he played in the

equaliser on 60 minutes. A blur of pace and deception, the little winger jinked his way from the left side of the Hibs penalty area all the way across to the right.

He carried the ball the best part of 40 yards before laying it off to Kyle Magennis.

The ball was then slipped infield to Stevie Mallan. But, desperate to get his shot away, he got his feet in a tangle and the ball broke loose.

On the prowl, Rory Loy pounced to strike it first-time low across Ofir Marciano and into the bottom corner.

As the net rippled, the Saints fans sat behind it were consumed by unrestrained euphoria.

‘We are staying up,’ they chanted. ‘We are going up,’ came the retort from the Hibs fans. The party atmosphere had become infectious. Everyone was invited and everyone was giving it laldy.