MIND GAMES
Ross fires up Saints stars by revealing United’s woe
JACK ROSS revealed he fired up his St Mirren players to see out victory over Inverness by telling them that title rivals Dundee United were losing at Falkirk.
The Saints boss leaked the halftime information that United were 2-1 down while his men held a 1-0 advantage at Paisley 2021 Stadium.
And they were stunned to return to their dressing room to learn that United had crashed 6-1 — handing them a six-point advantage at the top of the Championship table.
‘I was surprised but I knew the score at half-time and that was something we used,’ said Ross.
‘You’ve got to use these things to make sure that we continued to try to press home our advantage in the second half. Players want to know what’s going on elsewhere, especially if it may affect them.
‘So, we will enjoy this feeling this weekend then get back to work.’
Jack’s disclosure flies in the face of traditional managerial speak about concentrating entirely on your own job.
For the Paisley boss, the momentum shift set St Mirren sights bearing down on the home straight of the promotion race.
‘United still have the game in hand but, even when you take into account goal difference, there’s a wee shift in that today,’ he said.
‘It’s encouraging for the players. I think psychologically they will enjoy that. There’s a long way to go. But, equally, you can’t over-estimate the fact that can grow belief.
‘Every time you win, it’s another fixture down to the end of the season. That’s 16 to go now.’
Ross strode forward from his dugout, to centre stage of a joyous Paisley 2021 stadium, and enjoyed a mini lap of mutual appreciation with his people.
What a difference a year makes. He had turned on his heels 12 months earlier, after a 3-0 reverse to Queen of the South, stepped into the crowd behind the bench and straight into a heated debate with a group of furious supporters.
Back then, Saints were nine points from safety and sinking fast towards the third tier of Scottish football.
On this form, Lewis Morgan’s teammates look like they will be joining him in the top flight next term.
The man of the moment was influential, as always, and in no way affected by his media duties at Celtic Park 24 hours earlier.
‘There was probably a period about five weeks ago, when he was going through the decision-making process and we’d allowed him to go and meet other clubs, where I thought it did affect him a little bit which I can understand,’ said Ross.
‘Since he made that decision, he’s been back to his best. It has given him a bit more confidence. There’s a little bit of controlled arrogance to his play right now.’
On match-winner Gavin Reilly reaching a 20-goal milestone, Ross added: ‘I’m pleased for him. He works very hard at his game and is very conscientious.
‘Sometimes because of that he can be quite hard on himself. His finish was reflective of how he feels about himself. You don’t score goals like that if you don’t feel good.
‘Twenty goals at this stage of the season is a brilliant return.’
The enviable task of shackling Morgan fell to David Raven and, as the game wore on, he increasingly began to resort to foul means. No wonder, as this was a hard shift.
Morgan was responsible for St Mirren’s first chance, forcing Mark Ridgers to save low to his left. Then he ghosted past Brad McKay with ease to tee up Cammy Smith whose drive was charged down.
For the goal, it was terrific play by Stephen McGinn to force the issue in the middle of the park and drag Saints up the pitch.
Smith again was involved, this time providing a cutback for top scorer Reilly, whose work was that of a striker at the peak of his confidence curve.
The controlled touch took out Inverness defenders and allowed him to size up a preferable angle before cracking home a right foot finish at the near post. After the break it was almost 2-0 when Stelios Demetriou cut inside on to his right foot to unleash a dipping shot which had Ridgers toiling but the bar came to his rescue.
Inverness were on a mission to level and they thought they had on 51 minutes. Liam Polworth’s cross was allowed an unchallenged path across goal and cannoned off the far post.
Craig Samson clawed behind his line to scoop the ball away but the linesman deemed the ball hadn’t crossed the line.
The linesman was none other than Sean Carr — who was in Neil Lennon’s line of fire for the Oli Shaw ‘goal’ in last month’s controversial Edinburgh derby.
‘Our players are convinced it was over the line,’ said Inverness boss John Robertson. ‘I asked the assistant and he was honest and said he wasn’t sure. That summed up our luck.’