Gus MacPherson insists St Mirren missed a golden opportunity

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson insists his dejected side will never have a better chance to win a cup.

Nine-man Rangers won the Co-operative Insurance Cup final at Hampden courtesy of Kenny Miller's header.

And MacPherson, who led Saints to their first final for 23 years, was stung by the Buddies' failure to capitalise.

"It will live with the players for a long time," he said. "What a fantastic opportunity; it's a sore one for us, but we've got to take it on the chin."

St Mirren impressed at Hampden, despite failing to find a way past keeper Neil Alexander in a goalless first half.

The Buddies' were handed a further boost when Kevin Thomson and Danny Wilson both received red cards as tempers threatened to boil over.

"We made the change (after the red cards) and got Craig Dargo and Andy Dorman on; trying to get our attack-minded players on the pitch," said MacPherson.

"We pushed as many players forward but we left ourselves open to the counter-attack.

"And we made wrong decisions and were punished for them. That's the quality of a good ball into the box and Kenny Miller finishes it.

"We've been caught with a real sucker-punch."

We just lacked a bit of craft in the final third St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson

MacPherson expressed disappointment for his squad, adding: "Every single St Mirren supporter who was here today should be proud of them.

"I think the fans will have the same emotions as us. When you look at it, with Rangers down to nine men, and we can't get that goal.

"It was probably the period of the game where we were least effective. Rangers just sat there to frustrate us.

"They got a couple of set-pieces and corners to put us under pressure. We just lacked a bit of craft in the final third."

MacPherson said his job was to raise morale ahead of facing Celtic on Wednesday and Aberdeen at the weekend, as the Buddies look to banish their relegation fears.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version