St Mirren legend Tony Fitzpatrick says that Ian Murray’s side are finally ready to show the Championship what they are all about.

The Buddies earned a creditable draw at Easter Road on Sunday, and Fitzpatrick says that his former side are starting to get the results that their play deserves.

He is sure that they can now get their play-off challenge back on track after a difficult start to life in the second tier.

“I’ve been there a few times in my management career!” he said.

It’s a very lonely job when you’re on a bad run, but the only way you can change it is with hard work on the training field.

“I’ve got great belief in Ian Murray, I think he’s got a lot about him. He did a fantastic job at Dumbarton, and you can start to see him putting his own stamp on the team.

“The players he’s brought in have been quite exciting, and he’s now getting a response from them.

“He went to Queen of the South and won 2-0, and everybody was writing St Mirren off yesterday, but they went and got a deserved draw.

“I’ve seen everybody in the division and apart from maybe Rangers, there’s nobody there that is better than this St Mirren team.

“You’ve got to give Ian time, and even under the likes of Danny Lennon and Gary Teale the fans were very patient.

“They can see that there are young players coming into the team and they can see what Ian is trying to do in terms of how he is trying to play.

“It’s still early in the season, and we’re capable of putting four of five wins together in a row to get us up there challenging in the play-off spots. And we will. I’m a great believer in the team.

“We’ve got a good side, make no mistake about it.

“I’ve been at all the home games and although there has been some disappointing results, you can see some good signs there.

“Watching the team, I think we’ve got the right blend of youth and experience.

“We’ve got real top class professionals as well as some exciting youngsters coming through at St Mirren, so if they go on a wee run now, and St Mirren are capable of it, then they will be right back up there.”

The experience provided by the likes of Jim Goodwin was vital to St Mirren withstanding a second-half barrage from Hibs at the weekend, and Fitzpatrick believes senior pros like him will be critical to St Mirren’s hopes.

“I’ve always been a big Jim Goodwin fan,” he said.

“He would never be out of my team. He’s an old-fashioned throwback from the seventies or eighties.

“He’s so invaluable. He can pass it, he can win the ball, and he’s a great motivator. I really, really rate him.

“The young players there I honestly believe are good enough. Away back many, many years ago when I played under the Fergie era, we had Jackie Copland, Jimmy Bone and the likes providing the experience which was vital that young players respond to.”

Fitzpatrick revealed that he is hoping to produce a follow-up book to his popular children’s story following the adventures of Babakoochi Bear, ‘The Promise, Together Again’, which he wrote in memory of his son Tony who sadly died at the age of six.

“It’s been a wonderful journey, and we’re still trying to push it out there,” he said.

“A lot of businesses in Paisley have been great, sponsoring books to go into hospices and hospitals and things like that for kids to get acquainted with Babakoochi and his adventures.

“It’s been a wonderful experience and hopefully I’ll be bringing another one out with a football story soon.”