“We’re a little bit disappointed, a little bit down but it’s only half time in the tie.

“I thought we played well. I thought we would have been fully deserving of a victory had we got it tonight.

“We had a lot of chances and on another night we could have scored three or four but the quality of European football and the quality of the strikers they have, they get one chance and they take it.

“We were fortunate to score a late goal which keeps the tie alive.

“We know it’s going to be tougher over there.

“It’s all in their favour, and it’s going to be difficult but we’re looking forward to next week.

“The manager and his staff do their homework, flying all over Europe scouting opposition so our homework was done before the game and we were confident going into it.

“I think you could see that, we went and attacked from the off. We played with two strikers tonight, so it was quite an offensive line-up. It almost paid off.

“I prefer when we keep the ball on the deck but when you have Adam and Jayden winning balls in the area and controlling it and then bringing others into the game, it can suit us and it is another dimension and something we have not had before.

“Conceding an away goal for them will give them a boost but we can still take a lot of confidence from tonight’s performance.

“The season before last we scored a lot of late goals, a lot of our goals have come late in the second half of these European games. I remember when we went 0-1 down I looked over and saw Ash Taylor up front, as the manager and [Tony Docherty] had told him to go up and score a goal so you can see where it comes from. They never give up and it rubs off on us. It’s nice when you score late goals because it brings you together.

“We’re in no doubt that Maribor are a good side, you can sense they will be more comfortable in their own back yard and will be a better team.

“We’ve seen them play at home, we know they are a very organised defensive unit.

“We’ve learned from playing the likes of Groningen and Real Sociedad that the away games are that bit tougher, but they’re that little bit more rewarding if you get a result.”

“If we were to get a win in Slovenia I think it would top any of the results we have had in Europe in previous years.”