Talking point

St Johnstone need to score at least twice next week if they hope to turn around their Europa League qualifier with FK Trakai – but will bid to do so without main striker Steven MacLean. The veteran reluctantly accepted a couple of seasons ago that playing on plastic pitches was out of the question as he protects his knee from further damage. got points before. So we know it is going to take a big performance.

“We are going to have to score two goals and keep a clean sheet or go to extra time. But I think we will get chances over there and we need to be more clinical. We need to take them this time. “Yes, they are a decent side. “They’ve also played 15-20 games of their season and tonight was our first game. I’m not making excuses but that helps.

“I’m not going to sit here and lie – it’s a disappointing result. We shot ourselves in the foot with the two goals we conceded.

“They were a decent side and they were hard to play against. They kept the ball well but we missed a few chances.

“We showed we could create chances against them. And I think we have enough about us to go over there and get a result.

“We were disappointed but we know we have great character and we have been places and got better results.

“It’s obviously going to be difficult and we need two goals and it will be tough but, like the manager said, only a fool would write us off.”

Trakai are a fluent passing side, with at least three players who would comfortably fit in as Scottish Premiership regulars, or better.

None of their star defenders, though. turns were

Despite a performance that was far from Saints vintage, several good chances were created and MacLean is confident that will be the case in Vilnius as well.

“Their two full-backs play high, their wide guys go narrow and they flood the midfield,” he said. “It’s hard to play against.

“Blair (Alston) had a great chance in the first half and Graham (Cummins) has missed the rebound.

“Then in the second half Scougs (Stefan Scougall) has hit the post. There are chances to be had but we need to keep the back door closed because they are good on the counter attack.

“Their goalie never fancied coming for corners. It could be an avenue. We knew that beforehand and our goal came from a set-play. But we created chances from open play as well. There are positives and negatives. We’ve lost the game but there were good things to take from the game.”

Trakai keeper Ignas Plukas was at fault for Joe Shaughnessy’s goal and he was a lucky man to hear the referee’s whistle when the ball crossed the line after he had been challenged in the air by Cummins when Saints were chasing a late equaliser.

“The ref said Graham fouled the goalie,” said MacLean. “He’s not blown his whistle much all game and then he rules that one out.

“We’ve just go get on with it. He said he fouled the goalie but he let some things go and clamped down on others. Their centre-half was backing in a lot and he never gave a foul.

“That’s just the way it goes. Different