Stephen Robinson has insisted St Mirren had SK Brann on the ropes before a late one-two suckerpunch in Bergen.
The Norwegian side toiled as St Mirren piled on the pressure following Alex Iacovitti’s header to level the scores with around 15 minutes to play.
But Brann would book their spot in the Conference League play-off round as Felix Myhre and Aune Heggebo struck twice within the final five minutes.
“100 percent we had the momentum,” said the St Mirren manager. “I thought we had them absolutely rocking for five or ten minutes. We had that one when Mika went through, 2 v 1 and Toy slips over when it's a tap in.
“It wasn't a case that we lay down when we went 1-0, very much in the game.
“So we had it and it's a poor goal from the corner, we didn't switch on. We made a lot of subs, roles change and people's jobs change as well so that's difficult.
“I believe in the last ten minutes we probably just ran out of steam as well.
“The overall riding emotion is disappointment that we didn't take advantage of that period when we could have done. And the first leg is probably our biggest disappointment because we didn't turn up on the ball.
“The only mistake you can make tonight is not believing in yourself. The rest, results happen. Mistakes actually do happen. But the biggest mistake you can make is not believing that you can win this game. And they believed.”
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Despite the overwhelming disappointment and sense of a missed opportunity, Robinson and his charges created memories to last a lifetime for a 750-strong away backing and those watching on back in Scotland.
Robinson reflected: “I said before the game I spoke to a guy last night in the hotel and he was telling me about 1987 and who scored and all this kind of stuff.
“Alex will be remembered now as the last person to score in Europe. This team will be remembered for the first team that qualified in 37 years. And we've given a generation some really good memories.
“We will improve, we will get better and we want to make this more often than once every 40 years.”
Now, Robinson has issued the challenge to his players to ensure European trips do not become fantasy again – which requires the club to progress on and off the pitch.
“I'm very proud of the players and the different levels and teams and resources,” he said.
“If we’d have had the same belief in the first game as we did tonight…even when we went 1-0 down we believed and we played and we had chances as well. When we went 1-1 we had a great chance and Toy slipped when Mika went through which is a tap in from two yards unfortunately.
“And Goga slipped for the first goal so it's probably a tale of a slippery surface as well.
“We've had a taste of that now and we want more of it. We've enjoyed it, we've enjoyed the experience.
“I believe the football club as a whole will be better for it. The playing side of course, the management side, the coaching side, the administration side.
“We're trying to be a European club but we haven't got the infrastructure in place to be a European club. It's taken its toll on and off the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Eirik Horneland praised St Mirren after his Brann side emerged victorious.
The Brann boss admitted his side faced a vastly improved St Mirren side in Bergen and saluted the relentless perseverance of the opposition which threatened to force extra time.
“It was much more difficult than last week,” said Horneland after the match. “St Mirren refused to give up, they have such a great attitude and I really admire them.
“They are so good physically, they caused us problems when they put the ball in the box and I felt like we stopped doing the things we’re good at.
“It was only at 1-1 that we started to play the way we can again and in the end, over the two games, I think it’s as deserved win.”
Goalscorer and man of the match Myrhe added: “We played better in the first game and we created more chances then, but we were more efficient here.
“I definitely wouldn’t want to play St Mirren every week.”
