St Mirren manager Jack Ross has saluted the way his players have handled the pressure at both ends of the table as the Buddies attempt to clinch the Championship title tonight.

Saints only need to claim a point at Dundee United to seal their return to the top flight for the first time since 2015.

It has been a remarkable turnaround in the club’s fortunes from being six points adrift at the league basement on New Year’s Day 2017 to being 12 points clear at the summit with five games left.

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The Paisley outfit only avoided the dreaded relegation play-offs on goal difference last term and Ross, whose side beat Brechin City at the weekend, has praised the team for refusing to buckle under the weight of expectation as they bid to take the chequered flag this evening.

Ross said: “For a long time now the core of that group has dealt with pressure in different circumstances. 

“We’ve dealt with must-win games, we had to do it during the latter part of last season and it’s the mentality we tried to instil from day one this season. 

“They’ve led the league for a really long time now so they’re used to dealing with it; 22 wins out of 31 is outstanding and the recent record of 13 from 16 is fantastic – there is no other way to describe that.

“I am immensely proud of them, you don’t have any given right to win football matches. 

“They’re resilient even when they’re not playing at their best and to get to 70 points with five games remaining is brilliant, it’s a tough league to win and we’re edging ever closer. 

“The good thing for the players now is that it’s within their control.

“It’s an exciting time for the club and hopefully we can go and finish the job.”

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United were St Mirren’s promotion rivals for long spells during the season and Ross reckons Csaba Laszlo’s side will be desperate to avoid playing host to a title party.

He added: “When you’re in the circumstance of being closer to leaving the Championship you appreciate how teams do not roll over and and let you win it. 

“We saw that in the latter part of the game against Inverness, we saw on Saturday and this will be the same. 

“No team wants another team celebrating against them, that’s the nature of this game.

“They’re difficult opponents for us and it will be a difficult game.”