TOMMY CRAIG admits St Mirren's shocking home form could become a mental barrier for his under-pressure squad.

The Buddies' barren run continued on Saturday as Partick Thistle became the latest team to leave Paisley with all three points.

Craig's side have lost six of their home Premiership fixtures this term, with a 2-2 draw against Ross County hardly something to shout about for the Saints supporters.

And, when asked if the home form was having a psychological effect, Craig said: "I think I would be lying if I said to you 'no'. That is one point out of seven home games and that is poor reading.

"The staff will try as much as we can to alleviate any pressure but it will be getting to them.

"But you also know that if we could hit two home games and go 2-0, 2-0, all of a sudden the pressure is dissipating so we will see how it goes."

St Mirren got what they deserved from their latest Paisley performance at the weekend as Christie Elliott netted the only goal of the game to give Thistle a deserved three points.

It was an inexperienced Buddies outfit that took to the field to face Alan Archibald's side on an afternoon that the Saints saw relegation rivals County earn a surprise 3-0 triumph at Kilmarnock.

And boss Craig has sympathy for his young stars as they carry the weight of expectation on their shoulders through the current injury crisis.

He said: "You have got Plummer, you have got Goodwin, Osbourne, Gregg Wylde all out, guys who I know could make things a bit better and take some of the pressure off the younger lads.

"We are relatively young and that is not great when you are in this position.

"But these young players will come in and they will learn from this."