Neilson piles pressure on St Mirren ahead of final

Robbie Neilson has warned St Mirren the pressure is all on them as they prepare to fight for their top-flight lives against his Dundee United side.

The Tangerines host Oran Kearney’ s Buddies in the opening leg of their Ladbro - kes Premiership play-off final tomorrow.

United are looking to end their three-year stay in the Championship wilderness, while the Paisley men are determined to avoid dropping back down a year on from winning the second-tier title.

Both sides have a lot riding on this week’s double-header but Neilson switched up the mindgames by insisting his Tannadice squad are the underdogs.

The former Hearts boss said: “The pressure, the expectations and the favourite tag are always on the Premier ship team. There is no doubt about that because they’ ve spent their season at top-flight level playing tough games.

“Although the Champion - ship is tough, we’re not facing games that are as hard as going to Ibrox, Parkhead, Tynecastle and Easter Road.

“S o we’re going into this as the underdogs but that’s a tag we’re happy to take as we have belief in the team. There are no nerves at all in our camp.”

Kearney, meanwhile, believes there is a big argument for the Premiership playoff final being played over one match.

Saints and United fans have been waiting in long queues for tickets for this week’s two games and both legs look set to be sell-outs. And Kearney feels one match at a bigger neutral venue might also better suit players after a long season.

He said :“I think there’ s a big argument for the one -off game, possibly at a neutral venue. If you look at England, when it comes to the final they have seven to ten days to prepare for a one-off game.

“I’m sure both sets of supporters have their gripes, our fans not able to get enough tickets for the away game and vice-versa for Dundee United.

“But it is what is and we just have to go and prepare.”