Fraser vows to learn lesson after Queens’ quick start

ANYONE looking at St Mirren’s Betfred Cup results without having watched either match would surmise that this has been a productive week for Jim Goodwin’s side.

A 4- 1 victory at home to Partick Thistle and then a battling 2- 2 draw on a difficult surface at Queen of the South – followed by a bonus point secured in the subsequent penalty shoot- out – to sit top of the group does not seem to leave much to grumble about.

The problem, however, in this era of pay- per- view streams of every match is that plenty of supporters will have tuned in and seen for themselves that this foray into cup competition has been anything but plain sailing.

Only poor finishing and tired legs denied Thistle the victory their play merited, while on Saturday Queens brutally exposed the deficiencies at the heart of the St Mirren defence as the Championship side raced to a two- goal lead inside the first 12 minutes.

The visitors deserve some credit for clawing their way back into the contest before proving clinical from 12 yards in the shoot- out. But it leaves them with plenty to contemplate ahead of the return of league action on Saturday and the visit of Motherwell.

“Our aim had been to win the game but when you go 2- 0 down so early on you have to re- set things and see what is a realistic result,” said Marcus Fraser whose 90th- minute header spared St Mirren the embarrassment of defeat. “At half time we probably would have taken a draw with a bonus point. So if there’s a positive from that then we’ll take it.

“But we know we can’t start games like that going forward because if we do we’re going to make it really hard for ourselves as you won’t score two goals every week. And it’s not just the boys at the back and the goalkeeper. It’s the whole team collectively. We need to start better and defend much better.”

Queen of the South’s disappointment was tempered by the strength of their first- half performance. And a win over Partick Thistle tomorrow will take them to the top of the group. “We’re disappointed to lose a very late goal and then the extra point on penalties,” said defender Wullie Gibson who missed one of the spot- kicks. “I thought that was harsh. But we’re still in a good position”