ST MIRREN legend Hugh Murray once scored the goal that saved the Buddies from dropping into the third tier of Scottish football – now he’s hoping the current crop can dig deep to pull off a similar escape act.

The midfielder’s stunning strike against Stirling Albion back in 1998 saved Saints from tumbling into the old second division for what would have been the first time in their history.

Now Murray, who spent 16 years at St Mirren, is praying his former club can start to find a bit of form after starting the campaign with 10 league games without a win to lie rock bottom of the Championship.

Now four points from complete safety, they will look to finally break their duck away to derby rivals Morton tonight.

Murray told Times Sport: “It’s frightening how quickly things can change as when I left St Mirren four years ago they were an established Premier League team and now they’re sitting bottom of the Championship. I just hope they can find a way out of it.

“I still remember the Stirling game and the relief around the place when we won. If we had gone down you don’t know what could have happened as the club was in a bit of debt back then and might have gone part-time.

"But I managed to pop up with that goal – and I didn’t score many! So that was huge for the club and it’s a similar story now.

“Given the position they are in at the bottom it’s important they can get a win from anywhere. Hopefully they can get it soon and then start to work their way up the league.”

Murray played alongside new Saints boss at Jack Ross at the Paisley club, then worked under him when Ross became Ian Murray’s assistant at Dumbarton. He remains confident that the new manager can turn things around.

The 37 year-old added: “Jack will need a bit of time as he’s just in the door but I’m sure he’ll bring about an improvement.

"He’s a very good coach and I’m sure he’ll get them up the table, hopefully sooner rather than later.

"Even when I was playing with him you could see he was the kind of guy who would likely to go on and become a manager as he spoke really well and had strong leadership skills. And that’s what St Mirren need now.”

Saints go into tonight’s derby boasting a proud record of not having lost a competitive match against their Renfrewshire rivals since April 1999.

Murray retains fond memories of those jousts, in particular season 1999/2000 when Tom Hendrie’s side won three and drew one on their way to the first division championship.

He added: “As a young boy coming through the ranks, Morton seemed to always be beating us. And then we turned it around and they haven’t won since. St Mirren will be desperate to keep that going.”

Murray was a guest of honour at the recent St Mirren versus Dundee United game, his first time back at the stadium since leaving the club in 2012. “It was brilliant being back.

" I hadn’t been there since I walked off the park against Inverness four and a half years ago so it was great to see some old faces again.”