Call-off suited us, says boss Ross
Jack Ross admits that he was relieved to see last Friday night’s clash with Dundee United postponed.
St Mirren’s preparations for the clash were thrown up in the air due to last week’s weather – resulting in the gaffer having to resort to emailing out pre- match analysis to his players as not all of them could make it to training.
In the end the clash was postponed on Thursday afternoon, and Ross concedes that he was happy with the decision.
He said: “We had enough time to realise that it was probably going to be the case that the game would be off.
“It was probably on the plus side for me as a manager because I had hardly seen my players.
“I was like everybody else – it was very difficult last week to go about things in their normal manner just because of the weather.
“We would like to have played the game, but I think given the lead- up to that game we were happy to see it postponed just simply because of the preparation.
“We tried to deal with it as though the game would be on. We sent all our analysis out by email because not everyone could make it in.
“We just had to prepare like the game would go ahead.” Craig Ritchie
Liam Smith had to dig his car out the snow to make it into training last week but insists it will be worth it if Saints finish top of the pile.
And although the game ground to a halt in many parts of the country, the Paisley side was unstoppable as a number of players still powered through to the training ground despite the wintry weather conditions.
The whole side returned to Ralston yesterday morning as the focus turned to this Saturday’s clash with Dunfermline.
The disappointment of Friday night’s postponement at Dundee United has all but gone, but Smith reckons the excitement of the run-in is evident among the squad.
Smith told Express Sport: “We managed to get in a couple of days last week. I had to dig the car out but I made it in.
“The mood remains positive. We know where we are and we know where we want to be so we just need to roll our sleeves up.
“We just wanted to keep going and it will all be worth it if we can match our targets at the end of the season.
“The United matches are the types of games you look forward to, playing against the teams that are chasing you up near the top of the division.
“But everyone saw the weather so we knew they had to call it off. Even if the weather was fine in Dundee, getting there would have been treacherous for the supporters so I think it was the right decision.
“We want to play as much as possible because of the good form that we find ourselves in. We want to keep pushing as we start going in to the later parts of the season so it was a shame that the game was off.
“We now just need to focus on the week coming, in what is another big game for the club.”
Smith and the rest of the Saints squad are now gearing up for the visit of Allan Johnston’s side this weekend, looking to build on five consecutive home clean sheets for the defence.
Saints triumphed 2-1 the last time the sides went head-to-head back in January. And Smith admits he would take a repeat of that scoreline come Saturday.
He added: “We know how strong Dunfermline can be. They might not have been on the best run of form recently but every game we have played against them has been tough.
“It was a big win for us at East End Park back in January, but if we play how we know we can play then we can get a positive result.”