Paul Sheerin spoke to Andrew Shinie after today’s narrow defeat against Partick Thistle at Lesser Hampden.

“Frustrating afternoon more than anything because with the greatest of respect I thought we were the better team. But without doing enough to work the goalkeeper.

“I said to the players afterwards, I don’t know why in the last 20 minutes we felt the need to throw the ball forward at every opportunity instead of keeping in better.

“I thought I the first half when we passed it we looked not bad, when we got into the wide areas and got the full backs and Ethan Ross and Chris Antoniazzi on the ball we looked decent. But then we lose our discipline and players went wondering out of position. Credit to Partick as they defended very well, they got their heads on everything, but we made it easy for them.

“It was not a lack of effort.

“It is just being a bit more thoughtful about their game. I thought we really lacked that in the second half.

“So more frustration that disappointment. Very frustrated with their game management. But again, it is a learning process, and this is a younger team that we have had in the past. As long as they learn from it, that is the important thing.

“Ethan got us back level with a brilliant striker. I thought he was almost unplayable in that first half. They could not get near him. He was taking players on and although his final ball at times could have been better his free kick is brilliant.”

One player who was not involved today was Connor McLennan after breaking into the first team in the past week.

“Obviously Connor has had his woes over the years with injuries and we have been doing all we can to help him. I think Adam Stokes has done a great job with him in terms of managing his work load and making sure he is playing more regularly. Hopefully that is going to continue now.

“It is helping him, knowing he has confidence in his own body. His fitness levels are good. We always knew he would get there at some stage, but now he has got to keep developing the other side of he game and gaining the managers trust with the defensive duties but certainly his attacking qualities have never been in question. Hopefully having a few games under his belt now in the first team will help him.

“It is a benefit for the Academy players seeing that the opportunities are there for the younger ones.

“I think the young players are sometimes always in a rush to get there. It is now only at 21, 22 that you are seeing Scott McKenna playing consistently. Bruce 20, is in and out of it. So there is no rush. If they are going to be good enough, they will get there eventually. I just feel some of them are in to much of a rush to get there.

“If they keep doing the right things, keep looking after themselves, away from the park as well in terms of the right habits – going to the gym, making sure they are physically strong and just being a Scott Mckenna type in terms of professionalism, which Connor has been as well, they will reap the benefits.

“There are opportunities there. The first team squad is as tight as it ever has been with regards to the numbers.”