JAMES DAYTON today thanked St Mirren boss Gary Teale for believing in him as he looks to inspire the Buddies to Premiership survival.

The former Kilmarnock winger arrived in Paisley on loan during the January transfer window and has quickly become an important part of Teale's plans.

He was once again instrumental for the Saints as Steven Thompson's goal clinched all three points in the 1-0 win over Hamilton Accies.

Victory for St Mirren was their first league triumph on home soil this season, but it wasn't enough to take them out of the relegation zone as Motherwell and Ross County also clinched important wins.

Dayton has made the most of his chance to fill one of the wide berths vacated by boss Teale after he made the move into the dugout, and he reckons the former Scotland star's experience will stand him in good stead during a crucial run to the end of the campaign.

Dayton said: "The gaffer has given me confidence and just urged me to get on the ball and be positive. He has told me not to worry about losing it or giving it away. That's all he's said to me and that's all I try to do.

"It is good that I have him behind me. It is good to have the freedom to play and express myself. He did the job before me. He knows how it is as a wide man.

"Some days you might not touch the ball and it's not your fault. It's just the way the game goes. It's a bit like being a centre-forward. If the service to you isn't great then you will struggle. The manager knows how it is and it is good he has my back."

St Mirren were worthy of their win against an out-of-sorts Accies as Thompson's strike just after the hour mark proved decisive.

It was a Dayton cross the Paisley hero turned home to clinch the win, and the winger is relishing his role in the Buddies forward line.

Dayton said: "He (Thompson) is the perfect target man to hit. He handled both of their centre-halves. It was two against one, but he coped with both of them. It is brilliant to play with him because he is such a great target man. He is great in the air, but also has good feet for a big man.

"To have Gowser (Alan Gow) in the hole as well is great. He is a proper footballer. You can get it in to him and play off him. He is brilliant."

Despite finally ending their home hoodoo and earning a deserved and much-needed Premiership win, it wasn't quite the perfect day for St Mirren as their two relegation rivals added points to their tally.

Motherwell's triumph at home to Inverness and Ross County's win against Dundee mean the Buddies remain second bottom.

But Dayton reckons Teale's side have shown they have what it takes to preserve their Premiership place as the battle to beat the drop gets set to go down to the wire.

He said: "We will go again. We have got Kilmarnock away in the next game and we will go there with confidence. We have played what I have heard is a good Hamilton side, although they maybe didn't play at their best.

"But we have taken three points from them, so we will go into the next game with confidence. We will take every game as it comes. I don't look at the table or read the papers. That's just how I am. I just like to play the games.

"If performances are good and you have eight or nine of you performing, then you give yourself a chance of winning a football match.

"We performed well, but then the teams around us won as well. But if we perform as a team then we will give ourselves a chance of winning games and retaining our place in the Premiership."