Ball: St Mirren will click soon
St Mirren striker Callum Ball feels they will hand out a thrashing soon when they add goals to their build-up play.
Saints are without a goal or a point in their three Scottish Premiership games ahead of the visit of Dundee United on Saturday.
But they got off the mark in the League Cup on Tuesday when substitute Ross Caldwell struck twice to earn them a comeback win against Dunfermline.
And Ball believes that will ease some of the tension after promising performances against Motherwell and Dundee were undermined by the lack of a finishing touch.
Ball said: "Sometimes people say it's not best to keep playing football when you're losing but we ain't going to change our tactics because we feel it's been working, we have just not been getting the results or the goals.
"But hopefully in time that will click together and I feel like we are going to go out there and destroy a team five or six-nil soon. I can see that coming."
Ball arrived in Paisley from Derby this summer and also has first-team experience during loan spells at Notts County, Torquay and Coventry.
And he is not getting too uptight over his failure to find the net so far.
"It's just not happening for me," the 21-year-old said. "In training I'm scoring and going out on a Saturday and the keeper is saving it and I've had one off the line.
"It's probably going to take one going in off my bum to kick-start my season but I ain't going to go out there and snap at things.
"I'm just going to do the same thing and hopefully that goal will come and hopefully there will be many more for St Mirren.
"You can hear the fans talking about the strikers and it's in the papers about the strikers not scoring, but it's all about getting the points for the team. I came on and set one up the other night.
"When I was at Coventry it took me 16 or 17 games to score and then I hit three in a row. Sometimes it's hard to get through it but as soon as you get one, you start going on a run.
"Hopefully it's not going to take 16 or 17 games and I get my first on Saturday.
"It took a bit off our shoulders getting the goals and win the other night but we've still not picked up any points in the league and we need to get off the mark. The boys are more confident now and I think we'll go out there and beat them."
Captain Steven Thompson is a major doubt for the game after he came off at half-time in Tuesday's win after aggravating a groin injury.
Another striker, James Marwood, remains out with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara has warned his team that St Mirren will be dangerous opponents despite their slow start to the season.
He said: "St Mirren is never an easy game and this one will be no different.
"They will be looking to get the three points, like ourselves, so it will make for a tough match.
"They beat Dunfermline in the cup during the week, so that will obviously help confidence.
"I saw them play pretty well against Dundee last week when they were unfortunate to lose so we've had them watched.
"We'll be giving them our full focus and hopefully we can come out on top."
United returned to winning ways thanks to last weekend's late triumph over Ross County at Tannadice and McNamara hopes to see them sign off with another victory before the international break.
He said: "It was good to get that win last week. I thought it was well deserved, overall.
"We had to fight hard for the points, which was pleasing.
"You won't always get it all your own way so you do have to battle for everything, which is what we've done.
"We know we can do that as well as play good football and we want to keep that going.
"It's been a good start to the season from the lads.
"Three wins out of four is good going and we want to make that four out of five when we go to St Mirren.
"That has got to be the aim and hopefully we can achieve that."
United are keeping a close eye on midfielder Stuart Armstrong's fitness after he missed the County game due to an ankle injury.
Skipper Sean Dillon is still out as he recovers from a fractured cheekbone, but midfielder Chris Erskine could claim a start having hit the winner last weekend.
Source: PA
