Stand-up row that kicked off a revival
For Jack Ross, 2017 was the year of living dangerously. It began with a 3-0 home defeat by Queen of the South, a result that meant he had won just two of 11 Championship games since replacing Alex Rae as St Mirren manager.
The result left the Paisley club rooted to the foot of the table, nine points off the sanctuary of eighth place.
However, it was what happened in the immediate aftermath of that defeat that is best remembered. Ross responded to criticism from supporters behind his technical area by going head-to-head with them in a heated debate that he believes transformed not only Saints’ fortunes but his own.
They would lose only three of their remaining 16 Championship matches and Ross, pictured, now believes that his decision to confront his critics galvanised the entire club.
“I didn’t feel I had anything to hide in terms of the work I was doing and what we do on the training ground. I suppose some people might look upon what I did as a gamble but it wasn’t pre-planned – it was my gut instinct.”
The supporters – not only those who were addressed that day – appreciated Ross’s courage and honesty. Fortunately for him, his squad had the same reaction.
“Whether my group of players saw that I was prepared to put my neck on the line… I think there was a little bit of that but I’m happy to be in the firing line,” he said.
“I’ll take that but I’ll also have an open discussion with them. There’s nothing wrong with having a sensible conversation and most fans are sensible; they just get caught up in all the madness.”
Saints hit rock bottom against Queen of the South on 7 January but from then on produced promotion form from a relegation position.
“The results we produced just to stay in this division were remarkable. I told the players during pre-season training that if we could maintain that momentum – which we have done – we’d be in with a shout.
“The number of people who are coming to see us now is fantastic as well and the relationship between the people who support the club and those who are involved in it is a lot stronger and that’s helped us as well. “Of course, there’s been nothing tangible to show for that yet but that calendar year yielded a lot of points. Our total for 2017 was 68 points and I’d imagine, if you could do that during a season, you’d be close to winning the title.
“That’s our aim now for 2018 – to carry on where we left off. If we can do that then we’ll give ourselves a real chance. We can see that there has been progress, but nothing has been achieved here and, until it is, I won’t be satisfied. That’s our ambition for the second half of this season.” The winter break could hardly have come at a better time for Celtic. From their return to action against Albion Rovers in the Scottish Cup on 27 January through to their 0-0 draw with Rangers on 30 December, the champions played 61 competitive matches (their closest challengers, Aberdeen and Rangers, played 51 and 48 respectively).
Brendan Rodgers’ players have been granted just seven days of rest and recreation before leaving tomorrow for Dubai and a training camp in a more forgiving climate.
There is little doubt that Celtic ran out of ideas and energy last month, as was underlined by their 4-0 defeat by Hearts at Tynecastle and the Glasgow derby.
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon, however, believes that the winter break will see them hit the ground running when they return for their Scottish Cup tie at home to Brechin City on 20 January.
“I’m 42 games into my season,” he said. “Kieran Tierney has played the same amount as I have and, when you add the internationals, it’s a lot of football. This will refresh everyone and recharge the batteries but the important thing is that it also allows the manager to work on the training ground too and do a bit of coaching.
“When there are so many games then you have to
0 Craig Gordon has already played 42 games this season recover, you have to prepare for the next game and there isn’t the same chance to do much in the way of detailed work.
“So this is a good coaching week for the players. It will let us refocus and look at the things we are good at and have another think about the way that the manager wants us to play.”
With the Betfred Cup already in the trophy cabinet and an eight-point lead over the Dons in the title race, Celtic are short odds to become the first club to win back-to-back trebles.
Having been parachuted into the round of 32 in the Europa League from the Champions League, Rodgers’ men will start their entry into the sudden-death phase of the competition with a first leg against Zenit St Petersburg next month.
Having gone three years and 11 games without a home win against Continental opposition (qualifiers excluded), Gordon accepts that they cannot reach the later stages unless Celtic Park once again becomes the intimidating venue it was under Jock Stein, Martin O’neill and Gordon Strachan.
“We need to get back to winning games at home,” he said. “If we are going back to twolegged ties then we really need to start winning games at home.
“In the qualifying campaigns over the last two seasons, when it has been the two-legged, knockout games, we’ve done quite well.”