ST MIRREN manager Jack Ross admits he will have a job picking his players up after Saturday’s 3-2 defeat to Dundee United but has backed his squad to handle the pressure in a crucial tie with Raith Rovers.

Saints were left gutted as Blair Spittal’s last-minute strike denied them a point and dropped the Buddies back into the relegation play-off spot.

St Mirren had levelled twice after going behind and were on the wrong end of a poor refereeing decision in the build-up to United’s opener.

They go into the home clash with Raith on Saturday one point behind the Kirkcaldy club, with Raith to play a game in hand against Hibs on Wednesday, and two points ahead of Ayr United in the automatic relegation place, with two games to go.

Ross insists his side deserved something at Tannadice and says with their Championship status in the balance, his squad will cope with a nerve shredding afternoon when John Hughes' men come to Paisley.

He said: “It is my job to pick this group of players. They have to realise where they are as a group. They came to the team that has got the best home record in the league and were good.

“The importance has not changed, the Raith game was always going to be important regardless of the weekend's result. It didn’t matter what happened on Saturday, that was always going to be the biggest of the big games that we have had recently.

“The players have to remain focused that they have left everything in their own hands in that regards so we will prepare properly this week. I love working with that group of players. I enjoy coming to places like Tannadice because I believe that they can go and win games.”