St Mirren star Steven McGinn believes that pressure has been lifted slightly after coming off the foot of the Scottish Championship table.
The Buddies moved from the bottom after picking up a point against Dumbarton on Sunday.
While some may have been frustrated at not being able to take all three points McGinn was pleased they have finally moved up a place in the table.
He said: “We didn’t play well, and we weren’t nearly as good as we have been but we could have lost it and that would have been a disaster. Dumbarton made it difficult for us today, that’s why they’ve stayed in the league for the last three or four years. But they don’t carry the same expectations and pressure that comes with playing for St Mirren.
"I would have snapped your hand off to be in this position when I joined the club. Not only to get into the play offs, but to finish eighth or above, so I’m absolutely delighted with the standings.
“Before going into these two home games I didn’t see them as a must win, I saw four points as absolutely essential. It would have been good to have six but you can’t win every week.”
Saints had been stuck on the bottom since September, and McGinn thinks getting off the foot of the table will psychologically boost the side moving forward.
We had a fantastic win at Queen of the South, and to come here and not play great to get the point and be off the bottom of the table by goal difference and hopefully we will push on from now starting from Tuesday.”
With the derby against Morton coming up tomorrow, both sides will be looking for huge wins in the final push towards the end of an eventful season.
The Ton currently sit in third place and two points behind Falkirk as they aim to secure second place. While Saints know a win would see them climb up to eighth. And McGinn admits it's a game he is relishing.
Tuesday will take care of itself and it’s a massive game for both teams," he said. "I love playing in the derby even in the Renfrewshire cup, never mind a must win league game.
"One of the reasons I signed here was to take them on and I can’t wait for it to be honest. We will give a better performance than what we did today.”
The former Sheffield United player also insists that the game against Morton will suit the side better as they'll look to attack Saints from the off.
I don’t think they will give us respect in terms of playing style. Dumbarton sat off and let us play whereas Morton will take the game to us. But with the pace we’ve got and the way we play we are capable of going there and scoring goals.”
