THE DARK days of January when St Mirren were struggling to retain their Championship status seem like a lifetime ago as they sit proudly at the top of the table with justifiable belief that they can stay there.

Their refusal to accept anything other than victory over Inverness on Saturday was a glaring indication that they have the qualities needed to become champions.

Of course, we are only five games into the campaign but the signs are more than encouraging for the Paisley public who are brimming with optimism.

Defender Adam Eckersley holds the same view and believes there is a relentless nature about Jack Ross’s side that makes them such dangerous opponents.

Twice they were pegged back by the Highlanders but instead inducing self-doubt it inspired a powerful finish with Cammy Smith and Ian McShane goals sealing the victory.

Eckersley said: “We have that winning mentality which stems from how we operate in training – and it’s the least the fans deserve.

“We bounced back not once but twice from their equalisers, which shows just what a good side we are.

“That's what we’re all about this year. We’re just going to keep coming at teams relentlessly, no matter what the score is.

“If we continue to defend well then we have the ability to devastate teams.

“We have quite a few flair players at the top end of the pitch who can really damage teams. We know to give them the ball and let them work their magic.

“It is still a long road to the end of the season. We just want to make sure we are still there at the top when it’s all over and finished.

‘We were rock-bottom of the league in January so to be where we are now after a long break and so many new additions to the squad is really great.

“The way we fought back has just carried on into this season and there’s definitely a ruthless attitude among the lads.

‘It does give you a huge psychological boost when you’re top of the league, but it can also be quite difficult.

‘If you’ve ever played poker, then you’ll know how difficult it can be sometimes to be the chip leader!

“But with the mentality we’ve got in the squad we’ll keep pushing on.”

There was an element of fortune to St Mirren taking the lead in 31 minutes as Lewis Morgan’s shot took a considerable deflection off Brad McKay to wrong-foot Mark Ridgers.

John Baird produced an equaliser in in 61 minutes, then Gavin Reilly restored the lead three minutes later from close range only for the Highlanders to come back again when Liam Polworth raced through to score in 69 minutes.

Then the Paisley side sourced that extra desire and clinched the win with two terrific goals in a two-minute burst.

Cammy Smith netted with a great strike in 73 minutes after good work from Reilly then Ian McShane hit the goal of the game two minutes later – a terrific hit from the edge of the box.

Eckersley added: ‘The goals are coming from all over the park and I think we have that ability to really devastate teams, especially on the counter-attack.

“The gaffer works hard with us throughout the week on defending and finishing. We piece if all together and then apply it at the weekend so it’s working well right now.

“If we can continue to show the character and desire we showed in this match, then I think we’ll stay at the top.”

It was a painful day for ICT boss John Robertson who reckons his side could have won had it not been for poor defending

He said: “We should never have lost the game. We were on top early on and we had so many chances but you can’t defend the way we defended against a team like St Mirren.

“The only encouragement for me is that we showed we’re just as good as the team that’s now top of the league.”