Diarmuid O’Carroll believes St Mirren B crew’s run out within the SPFL Belief Trophy will give the primary crew a severe health enhance.
Whereas the facet that took on East Stirlingshire on the SMISA Stadium on Tuesday night time was largely made up of academy kids, the Buddies took the chance to get minutes within the legs of forwards Toyosi Olusanya and Eamonn Brophy.
Whereas the Saints had been ultimately overwhelmed 4-2 on penalties after a goalless 90 minutes in Paisley, assistant boss O’Carroll is assured the primary spherical conflict will profit each the membership’s gifted prospects and their senior gamers trying to get again to full health.
O’Carroll informed St Mirren TV: “It was worthwhile. The likes of Fraser Taylor, Dylan Reid, Luke Kenny, Murray Campbell and Keiran Offord haven’t had many 90 minutes earlier than.
“That was the primary train behind it. Clearly we needed to win because it was a aggressive sport.
“The boys dominated most elements of the sport and dominated possession with out hurting them within the ultimate third.
“All in all it was an excellent train and it was simply unlucky the way it labored out ultimately.
“It was good for Brophy. We acquired him 45 minutes so he can prepare usually as properly for the remainder of the week and construct in the direction of the weekend.
“It was massive for Toyosi to get 90 minutes in him as properly.
“Toyosi wants these minutes. He’s been coaching each week in with the youthful boys and with ourselves.
“Generally it’s higher off to get these minutes in these video games. No disrespect to a decrease league crew, however it's a must to get minutes in video games versus simply getting health from coaching.
“He’ll be higher for that. It’ll stand him in good stead and he threatened in behind a couple of instances. He was unfortunate to not get a penalty and had a few half probabilities.
“Toyosi will certainly enhance as he goes.”
After a forgettable first half, the Buddies improved after the break and went near breaking the impasse when Olusanya’s shut vary effort was denied by Ross Connelly.
Gavin Gallagher virtually gave the hosts the lead with a strong strike from 20 yards that simply cleared the bar, earlier than Offord fired into the facet netting from a good angle.
Saints keeper Kenzie Smyth got here to the rescue with some tremendous stops to take the sport to penalties, with East Stirlingshire ultimately capitalising on Offord and Jay Henderson’s missed penalties within the shootout.
O’Carroll stated: “The primary half we moved the ball too slowly. We spoke to them at half time about that and I believed second half we dominated much more.
“We weren’t peppering their objective with efforts, which was a bit disappointing, however there’s lots to take there for the youthful boys particularly.
“We’ll work with them on it in coaching. We don’t get numerous alternatives for the youthful lads to be uncovered to errors after which be taught from them.
“In the event that they play video games in competitions and friendlies, at the very least we are able to work with them correctly again on the coaching floor.
“Good luck to East Stirling and hopefully they kick on after this.”