CAMMY SMITH believes it is an indication of the renaissance of St Mirren under Jack Ross that they are unhappy with collecting four points from two of the toughest venues in the Championship.

Saints were just 13 minutes away from following their stunning derby success at Cappielow with a win over Falkirk when Bob McHugh struck opportunistically.

Two additional points would have made life much more comfortable for the Paisley side, but the survival bid remains in their hands with three matches remaining.

In the remaining rounds of fixtures, they need to match or better the points totals accumulated by Dumbarton and Ayr United and they will be safe.

Smith said: “At the start of last week if you had offered us four points from two tough away fames – Morton and Falkirk – we would probably have taken it.

“But it shows you how far we have come as a team that we’re disappointed with a draw on Saturday.”

Rory Loy, formerly of Falkirk, fired Saints into the lead after only six minutes only for Lee Miller to level on 20 minutes with a close-range shot.

Stephen McGinn produced a quite stunning finish in 59 minutes as his curling shot ripped into the top left corner.

However, Saints were slack as Fraser Aird’s free kick arrived in their penalty area in 77 minutes and McHugh, who had only been on the field for 10 seconds, reacted quickest to score.

Next up for Jack Ross’s side is Dundee United and a return to Tannadice is something Smith is relishing after an indifferent spell on loan there in the first half of the season.

Revenge would be too strong a word but let’s say Smith will be determined to do well, not least as his Aberdeen contract expires in the summer and St Mirren’s status may be contingent on his next place of employment.

He said: “We know there are three cup finals to play. We have been doing well but it will count for nothing if we don’t get over the line – whichever way we do it.

“Going to Tannadice is a big game and a good place for us to go and hopefully we can come away with three points.

“I don’t feel I have a point to prove at Tannadice. When I did play I felt I did quite well.

“I managed to score five goals – including a hat-trick – but when Tony Andreu came in I just seemed to go out the team and I never really got back in.

“I still keep in touch with the lads and I get on really well with Willo Flood.

“I felt I was good enough to play there but for whatever reason I just didn’t work out and I had to move on to get regular game time and I haven’t looked back since joining St Mirren.

“I’m out of contract at Aberdeen in the summer but there are one or two options. It won’t be decided until the end of the season.”

While Smith and Saints seek to maintain their Championship status, Falkirk retain aspirations of going one better than last season and winning their way back to the Premiership through the play-offs.

Striker McHugh feels they are better equipped to do it this time after hitting the wall in the second leg of last season’s final with Kilmarnock.

Although he admits that Falkirk should have pushed Hibs closer in the race for the title.

He said: “There is a wee feeling in the dressing room that we have let them off the hook a few times this season.

“So there is a bit of disappointment there on our behalf.

“However, if we can seal second spot – and that will be tough in the final three matches – then it will be a good season for us.

“Second makes all the difference so we need to make sure that if we achieve if then we can go one step further than last year,

“Having two fewer games we will have a better chance.

“I think we just ran out of steam last year but hopefully with a stronger squad this year we can get over that line.”