St Mirren assistant boss Andy Millen claimed a lack of respect from Falkirk in the build-up to Saturday's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash inspired his side to the win that might just have secured their safety.

Saints travelled to Falkirk Stadium bottom of the SPL knowing defeat would all-but see them in the Irn-Bru First Division next season but Billy Mehmet's first-half strike and Andy Dorman's 73rd-minute clincher took them two points above the Bairns, who could have secured their survival with a win.

Jack Ross, Steven Thomson and Mark Howard are two Buddies who used to be Bairns but although Millen would not mention names, he said: "The one thing you can't be in football is disrespectful because it can come back and bite you."

Falkirk finished with 10 men after veteran defender Steven Pressley was shown a straight red for a clash with Mehmet but they have more to worry about as they go to Inverness next week needing a win to stay in the top flight.

Millen, though, believes his job was made easier by some of the comments from the Falkirk squad which found their way over to Paisley.

He added: "Unfortunately, certain people did their talking through our former Falkirk players and that was the only motivation we needed.

"I didn't need to do any team-talk; the players did it themselves and they were fantastic.

"I'm sure it was only banter but the players used it as a motivational tool."