Hero Baird says he’s still feeling the pressure
JACK BAIRD insists St Mirren’s fraught fight for the title is giving him sleepless nights. However, after spending his fledgling career battling the drop, this new pressure is a blessed relief.
The 21-year-old was the Buddies hero on Friday night, volleying home the decisive goal in a 2- 1 triumph over Dunfermline which tightened their grip at the summit of the Championship.
Baird admits there is plenty of stress in Paisley as they chase a return to the Premiership but, given his first two campaigns since breaking into the senior side have been spent seeking to stave off relegation, the promising defender is ready for anything.
Indeed, the St Mirren academy product feels like pinching himself when he considers the progress made by Jack Ross’s side in the past 12 months. On this day in 2017, they had just been beaten 2- 1 at home by Falkirk and were seven points adrift at the foot of the table.
“The transformation in the last year has just been incredible. It’s a totally different type of football,” said Baird.
“It’s mad. To go from fighting for your lives at the bottom of the league to trying to build a lead at the top just shows how far we have come.
“It’s a different sort of pressure – I still can’t sleep at night, but it’s more enjoyable. When you lost a point last year, you’re in massive trouble. This time, when you gain a point, you are delighted and think you are creating a bigger gap.
“It was hard for me when I first came into the side. I was quite young and playing in a position that is really tough when you are inexperienced, but I think I’ve grown into it.”
Baird’s tidy volley finish was just his second goal of the season – and sixth of his career – as he benefited from some woeful Dunfermline defender to creep unmarked to the back post and meet a pinpoint Kyle Magennis delivery.
“I looked at Kyle as if to say, ‘Do you see what I’m seeing?’” continued Baird.
“He found me perfectly, although I’d rather it was a header – there was a bit of pressure trying to volley it!
“That goal couldn’t have been any bigger. It’s probably the most important goal of my career in terms of where the club wants to go. It was a massive result.”