Saints boss Jim Goodwin believes his side’s disappointing defeat to Motherwell was the Buddies season in a nutshell.
St Mirren walked away from Fir Park empty-handed despite dominating possession and spurning several chances to get on the scoresheet, with Jamie McGrath missing a penalty and striker Lee Erwin passing up two good opportunities.
Devante Cole eventually struck the winner, allowing Dundee United to leap above Saints into seventh spot in the Premiership.
Goodwin was left struggling to explain how his side had lost all three points, insisting they were the better team on the day.
He told Express Sport: “It’s strange as I’m scratching my head trying to work out how we lost that.
“I thought for the majority of the game my players were excellent.
“We’ve dominated the game in terms of possession — we must have had about 70 per of the ball.
“It’s probably the best we’ve performed for a number of weeks. But it sums up our season in terms of not being able to kill teams off.
“You would expect Jamie to score the penalty, but it proves he’s only human after all!
“Normally after a defeat, you’re really angry and disappointed but I’m actually quite satisfied with what the players gave me.
“It wasn’t one of those defeats where we didn’t try a leg. I thought we did everything apart from putting the ball in the net.
“We were well in control of the game. If I was sitting here after a 0-0, I’d still have been frustrated. We put about 25 crosses into the box and got into good areas.
“But we’ve missed out on top six by two goals... we’ve not scored enough goals. Ultimately, the better team has lost the game.”
Goodwin was left baffled that a stonewall penalty wasn’t spotted by any of the match officials during the Buddies slim defeat.
The Irishman was furious when, at 0-0 in the first half, Ilkay Durmus’ dangerous low cross hit Robbie Crawford on the arm in the middle of the Steelmen’s box.
Referee Kevin Clancy waved away the protests and despite eventually giving the visitors a penalty when Dylan Connolly was tripped by Stephen O’Donnell, Goodwin was still aghast as to how the men in black missed the controversial incident.
Having also been critical of Well’s winner on the touchline, Goodwin admitted that, on second viewing, the officials were right to allow Cole’s strike to stand.
He added: “Prior to the one that was given, the officials missed a stonewall penalty.
“Crawford has nearly caught the ball! I don’t know how they didn’t see that. It’s a clear handball.
“I watched their goal back and it’s not offside.
"Joe Shaughnessy should do better in the one vs one, but Chris Long was able to put a very good delivery in.
“We should deal with it better, but Cole looks just onside.”
