ST MIRREN looked all-but down only a few weeks ago and now could be three games away from transforming a relegation season into a remarkable one.

Their 2-1 win at Queen of the South, a fourth victory from the last six league games, did not take Paisley’s finest off the bottom of the Championship, results elsewhere saw to that, but it did bring the other clubs closer to them.

Ayr United sit one point better off, Dumbarton a further three ahead, and it’s these two rivals that are due at St Mirren’s home after next Saturday’s Irn-Bru Cup Final against Dundee United.

Win both of those league games and the Buddies will get off the foot of the table for the first time in what must seem like decades.

Ayr and Dumbarton play each other next week so someone will drop points and with Dunfermline and Raith Rovers being pulled into the battle at the bottom, it has to be said that St Mirren have more than a chance of saving themselves from a situation which looked desperate not so long ago.

“The belief and confidence has always been there for me and now I can see that within the players,” said Jack Ross, the St Mirren manager, who to his credit has never lost faith when maybe the supporters did.

“I stressed to the players after the game that they should enjoy this run, they should enjoy winning games.

“This league has changed very much in recent weeks. We have got closer to more teams. It’s gone from only two being in it, Ayr and ourselves, to four and maybe fives sides. All we can do is to keep performing because out form is as good as any side in the league.”

Winning at Queen of the South is no mean feat. Stephen Mallon and Rory Loy with a penalty scored in each half of a game in which St Mirren were far from great. Not that Ross cared. Point trump performance every time.

He said: “I was delighted with them. We showed real resilience and desire to win the game and that we came through a test like this on a difficult pitch is a great testament to what the players are giving to the club.

“I’m not going to pretend we didn’t carry fortune in the first-half; however, the players worked hard and without being brilliant. We didn’t have a lot of control in the game, but it was so pleasing to keep this momentum going.”