MacPherson's side look set to remain in the SPL for a fifth straight season

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson hailed the "outstanding" efforts of his side after a draw with Falkirk all but clinched safety from relegation.

Saints are four points clear of the Bairns and Kilmarnock.

And, with Falkirk and Kilmarnock still to face each other once more, only a huge turnaround in goal difference can send St Mirren down.

"I'll say we're safe because I think our goal difference is far superior. I just thought they were outstanding."

The match looked to be slipping away from Saints when they trailed 1-0 at half-time having had a man sent off.

Chris Innes conceded a penalty, from which the hosts scored, and was dismissed for violent conduct following an off-the-ball altercation with Falkirk's Brian McLean.

But Stephen O'Donnell headed a late equaliser to secure the visitors a point.

"A moment of madness nearly cost us but it probably, in a way, galvanised us as well," MacPherson told BBC Scotland.

"We've run out of adjectives to use from the positive sense - they were outstanding.

"It just shows us what they could achieve. I'm extremely disappointed that we find ourselves in this position but I think they're a credit to themselves, every single one of them."

There were some heated exchanges on the touchline during the game and Falkirk manager Steven Pressley was unhappy with "bad language" he claims was aimed in his direction.

When asked if he could take any enjoyment from the match, MacPherson replied: "I took great pleasure from that because I've thought long and hard about what I should say after the game because there were things and bits and pieces said that shouldn't be said.

We know we've got deficiencies, we know where our strengths and weaknesses are, but I think as a group, they've shown what their qualities are all about Gus MacPherson

"But there's people that have got to learn that side of the game if they're just new into it. You learn the hard way."

And MacPherson added in his post-match news conference: "There is something you have to learn in the game and that's respect, it was maybe lacking at times.

"I know things get said and there are actions during the game, it's there and has not materialised today. We got the point and that's the most important thing."

St Mirren's battle against the drop followed a Co-operative League Cup final appearance but MacPherson insists the cup run did not cause the Buddies to take their eyes off the ball when it came to the league.

"A lot of people maybe asked if that was a distraction," added MacPherson. "It wasn't a distraction because it was vital for the club that we had a cup run and brought that to the table.

"It's something for the players to learn from. You're learning all the time about your players as a group, as individuals, and I think over the course of this season, they've shown what type of characters they are.

"We know we've got deficiencies, we know where our strengths and weaknesses are, but I think as a group, they've shown what their qualities are all about."

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