BY KYLE GUNN

St Mirren boss Jim Goodwin has urged his side to deliver him a belated birthday present with a win against Ross County tomorrow.

The Irishman turned 38 on Wednesday and with the Buddies playing host to the Stags at the Simple Digital Arena, the gaffer is hoping for a big three points to round off a celebratory week.

“It would be lovely to get the three points as a belated present," he told Gazette Sport. "I had a nice day on Wednesday but we are focused on Ross County now.

"The Hearts game seems like a lifetime ago now and we are hoping to redeem ourselves after that result and put on a good show. We came in on the Monday and went through the game and we agreed it was a bad day at the office and it can’t happen again. 

"It was one of those days that everything Hearts got on target went in and that’s not like us. They had six attempts on target and scored five. The keeper and the defenders have had a lot of praise up until now but unfortunately that was a bad game for us. Too many of the lads had it in that match. Hearts deserved the win and we have dusted ourselves down and we have to look forward."

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Saints might have been battered 5-2 at Tynecastle against Hearts last time out before the international break, but Borna Barisic's stunning free-kick for Rangers back in August remains the only home goal Goodwin’s men have conceded so far in the league this season. 

And the Paisley gaffer says it’s games like tomorrow's that his basement side need to take maximum points from.

He added: “We have lost one goal at home in the league and that was a fantastic free-kick against Rangers.

"We are confident at home and they enjoy playing there. The fans have created a fantastic environment and they are so positive and they have been brilliant and hopefully that continues on Saturday.

"Those positive vibes do help the players and long may it continue.

"Everyone wants to be strong at home and I am no different. It is important anyone coming to Paisley knows they won’t have an easy afternoon. 

"We have to make sure we get in their faces and are hard to beat and be horrible to play against. I want my team to be entertaining and free flowing going forward but out of possession I want us to be difficult to play.

“It is probably the most important game of our season so far. We have played Ross County up there and there wasn’t much between the two teams. A draw would have been a fair result but they got the winner right at the end to win 2-1.

"They have a cushion on us at the moment but if we win on Saturday then it closes to three points with a game in hand. I don’t want to say it is a must win game or do or die, it is too early for that.

"The table is so tight right now and anything can happen. We are going into a really important period as a club in the build up to the winter break.

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"We have some good games to look forward to. There are three of four teams in the league who are a cut above the rest but that comes down to a manner of things. 

"You can look at budgets, the strength and depth of the squads but I don’t think there is a great deal between the likes of ourselves, Ross County, St Johnstone, Hamilton, Livingston and Kilmarnock.

"We know where we are, that’s not having the best squad or budget but we make the best of what we have. If we can continue with the organisation before the Hearts game, the guys up front are showing glimpses of clicking which is good.”

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