Earlier today St Mirren were pulled out a home draw against Ayr United in the last eight of the IRN-BRU Cup and manager Jack Ross is pleased that the tie will be played in Paisley.
“I know it’s cliched but I think the home draw is important for all the teams that are left in the competition so you have to be pleased with that in the first instance. There’s a number of Championship teams left in the competition so there was a fairly high probability of getting one, I think ideally you would want to avoid it in terms of facing difficult opposition.
“We’re coming up against a team that hasn’t only managed to come up a division but have also had a fairly decent start, they had a good result in the last round of the competition as well. So I’m pleased it is at home, it is still a difficult match but I think for me coming into the job when the club has got to this stage of the competition then the ambition has got to be to win it. Having a home draw is pleasing in that respect as without a shadow of a doubt the aim now in the competition is to go and win that trophy.”
There is still a fair crop of Championship sides in the tournament but Jack reckons Saints should still be one of the front-runners.
“When people look at the size of the clubs that are involved in it, and obviously with no Premiership teams in it to begin with, I think people looked at our tie in the previous round as being the biggest tie in the competition in that round so whoever won that tie was giving themselves a positive chance of winning it just purely based on the team that they were knocking out.
“We have got another Championship team which means that we have to do well again to progress and there is every chance that the way the draw is that we could face another team from our league in the latter stages again so to win there is no bigger or lesser challenge than there is for us on a weekly basis in league games because it’s similar opposition. But I think when you get to this stage, when you get to the last eight of any competition, your absolute ambition should be to go on and win it.”
Jack took Alloa down to Wales at the weekend, was he glad to avoid another trip to Wales?
“I enjoyed it. There was a whole lot of logistical issues with it but it was enjoyable. I wouldn’t have been too bothered but I’m just glad that we are at home. I think if we had to travel to South Wales we would have had to do it but I’m not going to complain the fact that it is at home.”
Jack also admits he was happy to avoid his previous club Alloa
“I think a lot of people expected that that would be the draw that would come out but I don’t think about it too much from my point of view. It would have been a different tie again but I’m just pleased that I’ve got a home tie and that in itself gives us a realistic opportunity to progress and I’m looking forward to it when it comes around. The incentive to get to a cup final should always be huge and that is the case in this competition as well.”
The draw primes up St Mirren with a run of three home games in November which is hoped can be used for the side to start stamping its authority at home.
“I think the challenge for the players starting from this weekend is that you have to treat your home stadium like your own home in that people should not come in to it and leave with very much if not asked to, that is the case when you play opposition teams. So when you have a run of home games like that it is a fantastic opportunity for you to set markers and set standards in that respect. That is something the way the fixtures are panned out will allow the players to do that.
”We trained together this morning and there is so much for me to be positive about in that sense so when that comes around it is a perfect opportunity but hopefully before then we will have put down markers in terms of our home form but that again gives you an opportunity to strengthen when it comes around.”
Jack was pleased with the first full day of training.
“It was great. I was down at the training ground yesterday as well for a few hours and then in again this morning. I was really excited about it and it feels very comfortable which is good, and I mean that in not a lazy way. It just means that working with the players felt right which is good and I think they enjoyed it this morning.
“I was delighted with how it went, the response from the players was great. We talked about a couple of things about training in a way that will become the norm for them and I think they are all desperate to buy into that. I was really delighted to get the first one in and I look forward to watching it develop with the team later on today and then back in again tomorrow morning. I’m delighted to have started the job as it’s been a long time coming but I’m now very much looking forward to it.”
Jack and his assistant James Fowler also got to know their backroom team a bit better today as they start to plan the road ahead.
“It was good and we had Allan McManus heavily involved with it as well. I want to do that moving forward, out-with his work with the development team to have an involvement in what we are doing as well.
“I’ve got relationships with these guys from previously anyway so that in itself felt quite seamless as well and over time they will have more responsibility once we all fit into our routine of work, that will go for all the other support staff. It feels right and positive and I’m looking forward to it and hopefully the results reflect in that as well.”
