Saints were European dreaming
Saints lost to FK Trakai at McDiarmid St Johnstone fans were treated to another summer of European football when the Perth club booked their continental ticket in May.
It was a home victory against Partick Thistle which secured Saints’place in the first qualifying round of the Europa League.
The draw matched Saints up with Lithuanian side FK Trakai, an unknown quantity who would soon show that they were not to be underestimated.
After the draw was conducted in Nyon, Switzerland, Perth boss Tommy Wright said:“We are at home first so the target is to take a really positive result over to Lithuania.
“Like most managers I would probably prefer to have an away leg first because you have more time to gather information when you are going into the unknown.”
It proved to be a night to forget for Saints in June when the Lithuanians left McDiarmid Park with a 2-1 victory after goals from Maksim Maksimov and Vaidotas Silenas.
Joe Shaughnessy did net for Saints who faced an uphill struggle as they prepared to head to Vilnius at the beginning of July.
“I wouldn’t rule us out yet, there is more to come from us,” Wright told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“There are things we need to be better at but I know we can go over there and win the game. It would be foolish to write us off.
“We caused them problems and got into good positions but made the wrong decision.”
Perth supporters prepared to travel in their hundreds and, despite the result, had optimism that Saints could reverse the tie.