Micky Mellon reckons Dundee United will need to learn quickly to handle life back in the top flight after one slip cost them a flag day victory.
The Tannadice men squandered their lead against St Johnstone despite playing the second half with a man advantage after Michael O’Halloran’s red card.
It was their first game in the Premiership for four years and new boss Mellon believes they will learn lessons after Liam Craig cancelled out Nicky Clark’s opener.
Mellon said: “When you go a goal up and the opposition go to 10 men you would expect to see it out.
“We switched off and were a bit loose when the ball turned over and we were punished. Saints dug in and it was a great finish from the lad. We couldn’t break down a packed defence.
“We have to learn our lessons from it, be smarter. It’s a transition for us. We will gather the positives.
“We are all learning lessons all the time, it’s a different level now.”
Saints boss Callum Davidson, making his managerial debut, said: “It was a bad start. We gave away a penalty and we
struggled for 10 or 15 minutes after that.
“But we were the better team in the second half.
“It was a baptism of fire but the players played with tempo and attitude.”
