Declan John insists St Mirren’s Scottish Cup penalty shoot-out exit is a bitter pill to swallow. The Buddies hopes of reaching Hampden were dashed after Hearts won 4-2 on spot-kicks.
The sides drew 1-1 in normal time on Monday night as Mikael Mandron’s first-half opener was cancelled out by Jambos substitute Calem Nieuwenhof with just six minutes remaining.
Extra-time was a non-event and so it came down to penalties with Scotland international Craig Gordon denying subs Oisin Smyth and James Scott.
James Penrice smashed home the winning kick to send Hearts into the quarter-finals — and spark scenes of jubilation among the sold-out travelling support at the SMiSA Stadium.
When the dust settled, Saints wing-back John admitted it was a missed opportunity for his side given they were dominant for much of the contest.
“I thought we controlled the game for 75 to 80 minutes,” the 29-year-old said. “It’s a disappointing result after going to extra-time and penalties. It’s a tough one to take.
“We probably had four or five half-chances. I’ve had a half-chance and the keeper has made a good save. It’s about taking more chances in the game.
“I can’t remember many chances they had in the game apart from the goal. We controlled the game and had a lot of chances to put it to bed. We just needed to get that extra goal. That’s what it was.
“Of course [it’s disappointing] but it’s a cup game and anything can happen. We were the much better side but we ended up missing two penalties and they have gone through.
“We just have to kick on now. We’ve got a game on Sunday and we just have to prepare for that.”
Saints will now focus all their efforts on the remaining Premiership fixtures which start with the visit of in-form Hibernian on Sunday.
“We’ll have our recovery but it’s back to the training pitch now to work hard,” John said. “It’s a hard one as performances over the last couple of games have been really good but there are moments and we lose a goal.
“It’s about cutting them out and taking more chances when we have the ball. We just have to do better.”
Former Cardiff City and Rangers ace John signed for Saints in November and deputised for the injured Scott Tanser against Hearts.
“It’s probably been my third game over the last couple of weeks,” he added. “It’s hard to get your match fitness up but I felt good.”
Meanwhile, Stephen Robinson reckons Saints should have had Hearts dead and buried by half-time. The Paisley gaffer believes a failure to convert good opportunities came back to haunt his side.
“I thought we were excellent in the first half and had enough chances to finish the game off,” the Northern Irishman said. “We didn’t take them so you’re always vulnerable to a good Hearts side, that have spent a lot of money, coming back again.
“The manner of the goal we lost is disappointing. There was nothing between the teams in extra-time and it becomes a lottery with penalties.
“And our season has probably been a story of missed penalties when things could have looked very different. There are a lot of positives in the performance which is the hard bit to take. I can’t criticise the players for their work ethic and desire.
Meanwhile, wing-back Scott Tanser was set to have an injection today after a nerve issue forced him to miss the defeat to Hearts on Monday night.
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