Reilly: We will bounce back
Striker says Saints will recover from setback
St Mirren striker Gavin Reilly reckons the side will be better for the experience of their Scottish Cup defeat to Aberdeen.
Saints’ top goalscorer took his tally to 21 for the season at Pittodrie, but admitted the afternoon proved to be a “learning curve” for a number of the side as they struggled to get to grips with their top- flight opponents.
Individual errors proved costly as the Dons ran out 4-1 winners to shatter the Buddies’ Cup dreams for another campaign, but Reilly believes the defeat will serve the side well for the remainder of their promotion push.
He told Express Sport: “It has shown us where we need to improve and it was a learning curve for some of the guys that hadn’t played there before.
“The differences between the Premiership and the Championship were evident. You can maybe get away with a few errors in the Championship but in the top flight the teams punish you for it which Aberdeen did on Saturday.
“But I thought, apart from some individual errors, we were good.
“We were a threat going forward in the first half and it was good for us to make a bit of a statement that we hope to be in the same league next time we go there.
“We will be more equipped next time we go there. We are better for the experience.”
St Mirren return to league action on Friday night when they travel to East End Park to face third-placed Dunfermline.
The Pars ran out comfortable 3-0 winners the last time the two sides faced each other in the Kingdom of Fife, but Reilly, who spent a time on loan with Allan Johnston’s side last season, pointed to the Saints’ knack of bouncing back from defeats.
He added: “It was very disappointing the last time we played them at their place but we rectified that at home. It is a massive game for us this weekend, it is a hard place to go, but if we could take anything it would be brilliant.
“Everytime we have suffered a setback this season, we have managed to win the following game. I know it was the cup the last time but we are confident of being able to do that again on Friday.
“We had been going really well in the Championship prior to the weekend but to have a bit of a break was good. Now we just want to pick up where we left off when we get back to the league on Friday night.”
We want to pick up where we left off Gavin Reilly