CALLUM GALLAGHER has admitted he is gutted he was not able to repay Ian Murray’s faith with a match-winner for St Mirren against Dumbarton on Saturday.

The former Rangers striker had a great chance 20 minutes from time to put Saints 2-1 up against the Sons, but headed past the right post from close range after a great ball in from Lewis Morgan.

It proved costly as Stevie Aitken’s side won the game with Garry Fleming’s penalty five minutes from time to claim their second major victory of the season and leave the Buddies pointless.

It was hammer blow for Gallagher, who was making his home debut having been given a starting slot ahead of skipper Stevie Thompson.

However, he insists Saints can return to winning ways at Annan in the Petrofac Cup tomorrow night as they build up to Friday’s Renfrewshire derby at Cappielow.

Gallagher said: “The gaffer showed a lot of belief in me by leaving someone as proven as Thommo out of the starting 11 and putting me in there.

“I was happy to be given the opportunity, but I wasn’t overly pleased with my performance. I did some things well and some things not so well.

“It’s a learning curve at this club. I hope to build on Saturday and start to put some good performances and goals to my name.

“When you have the momentum that can really swing a game and we had a few good chances.

“I had a header and there were a few good shots from the edge of the box which, on another day, could have hit the net.”

Dumbarton were deservedly ahead after 26 minutes even if Willie Gibson’s free kick was deflected. Scott Agnew blasted a terrific equaliser in 63 minutes for his first league goal since following Murray from The Rock to Paisley.

However, sub Barry Cuddihy – who replaced knee injury victim Jason Naismith – brought down Kevin Cawley five minutes from time and Garry Fleming netted from the penalty spot.

Gallagher added: “I don’t think we did ourselves any favours with our first half performance but we showed some good spirit and had a bit of a revival in the second half and played with better tempo.

“We started to play the way we want to play for the whole of this season. It was a much better second half performance and we deserved something out of the game based on that.

“Anyone involved in the game will tell you that this is the way things go at times but we are confident we can bounce back against Annan on Tuesday and start stringing some results together.

“It’s difficult. They came with a game plan and they did it well. They made thing stuffy and it wasn’t attractive football but I think they will do well.

“They’ve shown that the previous week’s result wasn’t a fluke.

“However, we will look to build on our second half performance and take it into the Annan game on Tuesday and then Morton on Friday night.”