Craig Harrison annoyed with final touch in The New Saints' European defeat
Craig Harrison believes The New Saints inability to find that final bit of quality in the final third left a bitter taste after their Conference League defeat.
The Saints were searching for a point or even three against Djurgarden at the Croud Meadow, that would have edged them closer to qualifying for the next round of the competition.
As it happened, they were beaten by a single goal from the Swedish side that came late in the first period.
But, the Saints did have two chances in the game and also got into the opposition's final third on a number of occasions.
And Harrison was left annoyed by the fact his side let those attacks fizzle out rather than showing a bit more quality.
He said: "We're mainly proud, but it is also tinged with disappointment.
"We have not had clear cut chances but we were in positions where we could create with final third entries and we have not taken advantage of them.
"We've made the wrong decision, the lack of decision making and quality was not like us at all, and we did not have any real sustained pressure.
"We lacked penetration and we needed to ask more questions because in the second half we got into the box quite a few times in the second half.
"Even in the first half we had moments and one thing I cannot stand is when an attack fizzles out.
"You have to try and make them defend and keep it alive, ask the questions, can you cross, can you change the angle or whatever it may be.
"I imagine we had ten opportunities like that tonight but it came to nothing."
The best chance fell to Ash Baker with captain Danny Redmond also having a half chance from the edge of the box in the first half.
The Saints skipper has praised the work ethic of the side and insisted that despite the results, the Saints' desire to make this campaign a regular occurrence is driving them on.
He said: "It is the first time we have got here and we want the next step, we want to do this every year as much as possible.
"We know how tough qualifying is but we have had a taste of it now and everyone wants to do it year on year.
"From the outside, everyone thought we would get battered in most games, but everyone is together, working as a team, working hard for each other and doing the nasty bits and we have been close to getting positive results."
