John McGlynn says he won’t panic about Falkirk’s opening-day defeat to St Mirren, and hopes to strengthen several areas before the end of the transfer window.
A Killian Phillips double secured The Buddies’ third straight victory at The Falkirk Stadium, and despite a strong 10 minutes, McGlynn was displeased with the manner of the opening goal.
“Certainly not the start that we were looking for. We had high hopes for the game going into it. In the opening 10 minutes or so, we were good, we were in control, we passed the ball really well.
“We got wide, we got crosses in. We make an error in defence, playing a ball out, trying to thread the ball through the eye of a needle.
“It’s intercepted, they break on us and we’ve got so many bodies in the box against not an awful lot of bodies, yet they manage to get the ball in, get a cross in.
The hosts required a second-half spark, and substitute Ben Parkinson delivered in the 70th minute. The former Newcastle boy bundled in Deniss Melniks’ knockdown from close range to the delight of the Falkirk support.
Unfortunately, in the build-up, Melniks’ touch had made contact with his elbow, and after a lengthy VAR check, Duncan Nicholson consulted the monitor and ruled out the equaliser.
McGlynn was pleased with the second half reaction, but bemoaned a lack of clear-cut chances.
“I thought we dominated the second half, we get a goal. It’s denied on a handball which I’ve not seen. We’re huffing and puffing and then from our corner kick, we lose a goal. It’s crazy. We’ve been punished for not doing an awful lot wrong.
“Have we done enough to really say that we deserve to win that game? Probably not. We’ve not created enough; we need a little bit more quality. But early days, there’s always going to be a quick turnaround. But we have to pick up points quickly.
One of Falkirk’s biggest strengths last season was their squad cohesion, with several starters playing instrumental roles in The Bairns’ League One and Championship-winning campaigns.
But with seven new starters, McGlynn admits that combinations will take time to grow as his incomings embed themselves in the Scottish Premiership.
“[Goals are] the hardest thing to get. Big Barney [Stewart] was on fire last season, and Calvin Miller was a big player for us with the number of assists that he got.
“[Those players] are hard to find. We’ve been trying, and maybe in time it’ll come, but obviously today, we have to concede that we didn’t have that today.
“We’re not going to panic. Certainly, we’re disappointed. We’re naive on the pitch. We need to learn and grow up a little bit quicker, but we’re not pressing any panic buttons, but we know we need to do better than that.
“I would imagine we’ll get another couple [of players in], I think we’ll get another couple for sure.”
Falkirk face Motherwell at Fir Park next Sunday.