ST MIRREN defender Jack Baird has been impressive as he has helped to keep the ball out of the Buddies’ net of late, but it was his goalscoring prowess that got Jack Ross’s men a crucial three points at Dunfermline on Friday night.

Baird hit the winner for the Saints after Nicky Clark had cancelled out Cammy Smith’s opener, giving the visitors their first victory at the venue for 16 years.

The triumph helped the Paisley side open up an 11-point gap on second-placed Dundee United, albeit having played two games more than their Tayside rivals.

Baird was delighted to put that clear daylight between the sides at the top of the table, but he revealed that there was no grand plan behind his moment of glory.

"We work a lot on set pieces, but that wasn't one of the ones we had,” Baird told the club website.

“We made it up on the spot - I was trying to look at them without giving it away. I was kind of hoping for a header, but a volley will do. I don't often score, so it was really enjoyable for me.

"But the main thing was getting the three points, because it's a massive push towards creating a big gap hopefully at the top and put a bit of pressure on the teams round about us. But we still have a fair bit to go."

The 21-year-old is humbled by the reception he has been getting from the St Mirren support this year, and he is over the moon to have been honoured with his own song by the Buddies faithful.

“You can't beat [having] my own chant, it's brilliant,” he said. “It brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.

“So many people travelled through, and I know it’s not easy on a Friday night when you're coming straight from work, but I do appreciate it and so do the rest of the boys."

After three games on the road, St Mirren will make a welcome return to home soil on Saturday against Queen of the South, and Baird is relishing the prospect.

“I do like playing at home,” he said. “We don't often give up points there, which is good and is obviously a good mentality to have as a team. It makes it hard for people to come there."