Jack Ross believes that last weekend's win over Ayr United has given the players a lift ahead of tomorrow's match against Dunfermline Athletic in the Ladbrokes Championship.
Saints are still looking for their first league win of the season, but a good performance and result against Ayr United in the IRN-BRU Cup has given the players a boost according to the manager.
Speaking to stmirren.com, Jack admitted that the last couple of weeks have been encouraging as the team head into a big match against the team sitting directly above in the league.
I think it's natural that they have a lift from achieving a positive result," he said. "I spoke post-Dumbarton about how the reaction in training had been from a good performance in the main so the last two weeks have been really encouraging in that sense. There's definitely been an increase in quality in training which has been encouraging as well.
"I think that the players are beginning to adjust to the way we would like them to try and play," he continued. "That required a certain change in tempo at training and I think they've adjusted to that. I think now they are starting to see the rewards from playing that way, all be it that the Dumbarton result didn't go our way, but the performance deserved a better result.
"We showed a lot of analysis post that game that reinforced that so I've been really pleased with the last two performances because I think we've dominated those games. We still want to get even better particularly in the final third and we've worked a lot on that in training. But they go into the game in a good frame of mind and they've been really buoyant in training and they've been really responsive to what we've wanted them to do."
While the manager understands the importance of tomorrow's match, he believes every match is significant at the moment as Saints look to start climbing the table. However he doesn't downplay the impact that a positive result could have on the team. He said: "Every game is hugely important for us because of the position we find ourselves in.
I don't think the fact that [Dunfermline are directly above us] makes it any more important, I just think they're all hugely important for us and every game for us now is of massive importance. I think the benefits of a positive result can't be ignored because we know that will take us closer to the team that are immediately above us and those teams are our first target if you like.
So from that sense we know what kind of reward there is if we win the game. It's not to say that we don't think it's of huge importance because it is but every game is of huge importance. It doesn't matter who the opposition is, there needs to be this motivation and desire to go and win every game.
Jack expects a tough match against a side he believes has "quality" in key areas though feels that if Saints performance the way they can, and have done in the last few weeks, then they will have a good chance of getting a positive result.
I think they're a team who, perhaps like ourselves, will feel like they've underachieved this season in terms of some of the quality that they have in their squad," he said. "I've been fortunate with how our fixtures have panned out that I have managed to see them a couple of times personally which has been helpful. I'm familiar with a lot of their players anyway and we know they have a lot of quality in the forward areas that can provide a goal threat like we seen in the reverse fixture at East End Park. We are confident if we play in the manner we have done in the last few games we can create and cause problems for them as well."
Goalkeeper Scott Gallagher came into the side for the win over Ayr United last week and the manager said he was happy with his performance and hopes he can go from strength to strength.
I was pleased with him," he said. "I think we played well as a team so we limited the work he had to do, but I thought what he did do was really positive. Considering it's been a difficult season for him personally with the way it's panned out with the goalkeeping situation it was a good starting point for him mentally and in terms of performance level. We believe he can kick on from that.
Saints will have almost a full squad to choose from tomorrow though the manager believes that the game has come too early for Andy Webster and Rocco Quinn who both returned to training.
"They're both joining in training today for the first time but obviously tomorrow will be too soon for them. With no reaction they'll train tomorrow with the 20's and train with us from next week. We have one slight doubt but hopefully he'll be alright."
