JACK BAIRD rates helping St Mirren avoid relegation to League One as one of the best moments of his career – but reckons it will be even sweeter doing the same in the Premiership.

The long-serving defender was part of the Saints squad who pulled off a miraculous escape two years ago to avoid the drop out of the Championship on the final day of the season.

The task facing the Paisley side is not as mammoth this time around – they trail 11th placed Dundee by just a point – but Baird believes surviving in the top division would rank as an even greater achievement.

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He said: “Coming from so far back two years ago to survive in the Championship was amazing. I still consider it one of the best moments of my career although it was also really stressful at times.

“Now we’re up against it again this year – we always seem to be under massive pressure either trying to win a league or just trying to stay in it!

“Two years ago people talked about The Great Escape but I think if we do it this time it will be even better as we’re in the Premiership now and the standard of teams we’re up against has been a lot higher. If we can keep our place in the top division for another season then I think that will be a massive achievement.”

Saints’ 1-0 victory over Livingston on Saturday was their first league win of 2019 and a first clean sheet since December. Baird admits it was extra special to finally have another shut-out to celebrate.

He added: “As a defender if you were to offer me a 0-0 before most games I’d probably take that! You just want to feel you’re doing your bit at the back to help the team.

“We’ve got a new-look defence with a new goalkeeper too so it’s just been about getting everyone bedded in and settled into the side. So it was good to get a win at last and also a clean sheet as these are the things you take pride in as a defender. We’re unbeaten in three games so we just have to keep this mini-run going.”