St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright had nothing but praise for his players despite their Europa League exit at the hands of Spartak Trnava.
Saints stunned the Slovakian hosts just before half-time when Stevie May fired them into a shock lead.
But, as they pressed for the second goal that would have taken the tie to extra time, they conceded a poor equaliser with Martin Mikovic the man who netted to take the hosts through 3-2 on aggregate.
It was almost certainly May’s last game for the club with long-term suitors Rotherham United understood to have had a bid of around £800,000 accepted by St Johnstone, although Sheffield Wednesday are also still in the hunt.
Wright said: “I keep going back to the same group of players and asking them to do a job for me and they keep responding.
“The fact they were unbeaten away from home in Europe last season and this season is some comfort. We keep going back to the same group and they almost pulled it off.
“I am disappointed for them. Stevie scored a good goal and played well out there. He had a few opportunities.
“When he does go someone is getting a very good player.”
While Rotherham seem to be in pole position to land May, Wednesday boss Stuart Gray is hoping to find out in the next 24 hours whether his club have succeeded in their pursuit of Saints’ prize asset.
Gray said: “We’ve got a bid on the table. We are not the only football club who are chasing a quality player who has shown he can score goals on a regular basis.
“If we create chances for him, I know he can score goals. This boy is a team player and scores goals, which would be great for Wednesday.”