BY KYLE GUNN 

ST Mirren defender Jack Baird says going to places like Ibrox is a massive occasion.

The Buddies face a trip to Steven Gerrard’s Rangers today and, while he admits Saints may have more important games in terms of staying up, Baird wants to right the wrongs recent of the 4-0 defeat to Celtic at Parkhead.

He said: “When you are younger it is the places that you dream of playing in but for us this isn’t as big a game as, perhaps, Hamilton at home.

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"It is another chance for us to get points more than anything else, although it is against someone not that close to us in the table.

"It is not as big a game as some others but going to Ibrox is still a massive occasion.

"Celtic Park was a tough one for us because we lost a few goals early on. It would be nice to try and sit in a bit and make it hard them rather than leave ourselves exposed."

Despite quite a few managerial changes since he made his debut under Tommy Craig in November 2014, the 22-year-old has gone on to make 142 appearances for Saints.

And the academy graduate insists despite new defenders coming in during that time, he just needs to concentrate on his own game. 

He continued: "With new managers and a transfer window comes along and they bring in new centre backs I just try and keep working hard and just try and make sure I’m at least in with a shout of playing. 

The Gazette: Baird has found his place in the team challenged by the likes of Anton Ferdinand this season Baird has found his place in the team challenged by the likes of Anton Ferdinand this season

"If I don’t always play I’m always kind of there and if something ever goes wrong, you are always hoping the manager can trust me to put me in.

"I seem to get on alright with most people. Somebody has never come in and I’ve thought ‘Oh no I’m in trouble here, he doesn’t fancy me at all’.

"Even if they’ve come in and not been sure about me I’ve managed to kind of turn it around eventually. 

"I just try and work hard and make sure the manager knows I want to be here and I want to play all the time."