ST MIRREN gaffer Danny Lennon has warned his Paisley troops they must turn around their dreadful home form or risk becoming isolated in the relegation play-off spot.

Saints were consigned to second bottom slot after losing 2-1 at Ross County on Saturday in a defeat that saw the Staggies, who also have their game in hand on St Mirren against Inverness Caley tomorrow night, leapfrog them, while Partick Thistle's first home win of the season against Aberdeen also took the battling Jags on to the 25-point mark alongside Derek Adams' side and one above the beleaguered Buddies.

Now Lennon's faltering side face Kilmarnock at Paisley this weekend having won just three of their 13 previous home bows and the St Mirren manager knows it is a case of stand and deliver for his side.

Lennon said: "Each game now has an increasing importance but the most important one is the next one and that is Kilmarnock at home for us.

"We know that, in terms of results, we have not achieved what we would have liked at St Mirren Park, but this is a game where we have the opportunity to do that and to get back to winning ways.

"It is going to be about showing a bit of character but I believe we have the quality and the desire in the dressing room and within this group of players at St Mirren to come through this.

"With Kilmarnock just three points above us we can have no greater incentive to get the win."

It was County who went in at the break one up thanks to a Yoann Arquin header only for John McGinn to level things after the interval with a superb 66th-minute strike.

But, seven minutes from time, Melvin De Leeuw's rising left-foot shot brought the roof down on the Buddies.

The damaging defeat in Dingwall was also marred by an unseemly touchline spat between Lennon and County gaffer Derek Adams, after the latter had taken exception to a challenge by Buddies' captain Jim Goodwin on De Leeuw, resulting in a clash of heads between the Country striker and Goody.

With the Victoria Park boss Adams, who has a history of singling Goodwin out for criticism over his wholehearted approach, unleashing a tirade Lennon's way, the two gaffers became entangled in the verbal crossfire.

But the Saints coach played down the spat. Lennon said: "There was nothing in Jim's challenge. Both players went for a 50/50 and that was that and Jim has taken a sore one that has ultimately led to him coming off with a head knock.

"Obviously passions ran high after that and for my part I regret getting sucked in but feelings got heated, football is that type of sport.

"It's one of those ones where you are left wondering why things boiled over."

For his part, Adams was adamant Goodwin was to blame but revealed he'd patched things up with Lennon.

The County boss said: "He's incensed our players. It was a difficult match but it's plain to see. I don't have to say anything because it's there on the television pictures.

"I've spoken about it before and I've made my thoughts known. I've said my piece and I feel the television pictures tell the whole story.

"I'm glad to say Danny and I are friends again, it's just the nature of the business we are in."