Craig not feeling the pressure

Tommy Craig has dismissed the pressure surrounding his quest for a first point as St Mirren manager by comparing his predicament with the plight of families in civil war-torn Syria.

Craig's team have only secured one goal in five Scottish Premiership games since he stepped up to succeed Danny Lennon in the summer.

But he is able to put his difficulties into context by thinking of others in far more testing circumstances.

"Pressure is being in Syria at the moment, not knowing where your next meal is coming from,'' the 63-year-old said.

"I've tried to square that with myself a long, long time ago. There is football pressure, I understand football pressure, but it's nothing like the real pressure.

"I don't say this glibly because I'm very conscious of how the fans feel. They are frustrated, angry, disappointed, and I fully understand all of that.

"But when it comes to myself being under pressure, I really don't feel it.''

Craig's problems have intensified though ahead of Friday night's Scottish Premiership clash with Partick Thistle after Steven Thompson was told he needed surgery that will rule him out for up to 12 weeks.

The 35-year-old captain, who was the team's top scorer last season with 13 goals, has only made two appearances this season after being troubled by a groin injury.

"It's a massive blow,'' Craig said. I've tried hard not to talk about Stevie because it would sound like an excuse.

"But we now know he is going to be out for quite some time and it's a kick in the guts because the people I brought in during the summer, Ross Caldwell, Callum Ball and James Marwood, they were brought in to play alongside him so that he could educate them and they could take a bit of the weight off him.

"All of a sudden the talisman is not there but we just have to crack on.''