ST MIRREN manager Gary Teale insists his side are still targeting a 10th-place finish after watching his side slip into the Premiership's play-off place following the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Aberdeen.

With Ross County beating Partick Thistle - themselves in danger of being dragged into the reckoning at the wrong end of the table - Saints slipped to 11th place.

Teale said: "I'm extremely disappointed with the goals we lost as the work that we did through the week focused on stopping crosses.

"I felt as if, up until the first goal, we frustrated Aberdeen. The form that they are in, we couldn't go up there and open up, which would leave spaces for them to go and exploit.

"Ultimately, though, they're a quality side and deserved the three points. We need to move on and make sure we get 10 or 11 decent performances until the end of the season.

"For us, it's important to finish third bottom, and that was the objective I set when I took over. It was always going to be difficult up until this game, and now we need to start picking up points.

"When things are going against you, it's easy to blame others, but as long as we're honest with ourselves and can look each other in the eye and say we gave it our best, that's all we can ask for."

Teale, who had to watch from the stands because of a touchline ban, lamented his team's occasional lack of focus at critical moments.

"We spoke about stopping crosses and you've got to be alive to that danger until the ball is cleared. It's lapses in concentration and decision-making that's costing us.

"If we can finish in 10th position, it's just being realistic, not defeatist. You just want to make sure we are in this league next season."