Jack Ross says St Mirren won't be going to Easter Road tomorrow to make up the numbers. The Saints travel through to the capital to face league leaders Hibernian and the manager wants his side to be positive and show belief in their ability to take something from the game. The last visit to Edinburgh for the Buddies was a mere three weeks ago with goals from Stevie Mallan and David Clarkson giving the visitors a 2-1 win to progress to the quarter-finals of the IRN-BRU Cup.
Speaking to stmirren.com ahead of the match, Ross admitted it will be a tough match but one in which the side should be capable of going and giving a good account of themselves.
He said: "When you go away from home to the team that is top of the league then it's stating the obvious that it's going to be a challenge. I think, though, we go there with belief - not just the fact we have won there recently, but the fact we have players that have proven themselves at that level and beyond in the past. That's something we need to tap into to bring them back to that level of self-belief in their own abilities.
We'll go there to play on the front foot," he continued. "The message this week is not to go there and sit in and hope for the best. I believe that we are a club and a team that should be looking to go and win these games. It's easy to say it, but it's another thing going and doing it."
With no game for St Mirren last weekend, it gave the manager an opportunity to go and see tomorrow's opponents in the flesh along with Morton, who the Saints will play at Cappielow on Tuesday 1st November.
He said: "I went to Hampden and watched the first hour of Morton and then went to East End Park to see Hibs. That was good from a personal point of view because it allowed me to see them with my own eye which I think is always helpful. We'll be prepared thoroughly for the two games but naturally it's easier to prepare for the Hibs game as you've got longer."
The next game is always the most important one and the biggest one so everything we've been doing this week has been working towards Saturday. Once that game is finished the focus turns to the next one."
Ben Gordon returned to St Mirren this week following an emergency loan spell at Alloa. Saints will be without the services of centre-halves Andy Webster and Gary MacKenzie for the trip to Hibs but Ross was insistent that Gordon would have come back regardless.
I wanted to come here and assess the players and squad that I had," he said. "There's also been circumstances with injuries. But regardless, I would have still looked to have brought Ben back. I know his capabilites as a player, I know his character, his attitude and I know how - even while he was with Alloa - keen and determined he was to be successful here. He is a good defender and he will get an opportunity now."
Jack's full interview will be available on St Mirren Radio tomorrow as we bring live commentary from the game at Easter Road.
