To receive our full, free St Mirren newsletter straight to your email inbox, click here.
Ellery Balcombe has vowed St Mirren will heap the pressure on Valur when they travel to Paisley next week.
The Reykjavik club head to Scotland next Thursday with the Conference League tie hanging in the balance following the stalemate in Iceland.
St Mirren ought to have scored at least once on their travels but Stephen Robinson and his squad remain confident of finishing the job in front of a capacity crowd inside the SMiSA Stadium – with extra tickets for home supporters in the North Stand sold out.
Balcombe – who was called upon to make multiple top stops in Reykjavik on his competitive debut – has insisted St Mirren will come flying out the traps in Scotland.
The on-loan Brentford keeper, 24, said: "We've got them at home so we are quite positive.
"When they come to ours we are going to go after them. We're positive.
"It's our place and I'm sure it will be rocking so we'll definitely be going after them.
“We came here to get a good result and we feel like we've had a good result.
"It's still early on in the season and we're happy and ready to go again."
While St Mirren are guaranteed to be roared on in Paisley, they had their fair share of backing in Reykjavik with around 400 supporters making the trip to Iceland.
On arrival, players and staff were showered with support before being offered a hero’s reception at full-time. For Balcombe, it was something never before experienced.
"I've never experienced anything like that. It was good to see so many St Mirren fans here. Credit to them for making the journey. It really helped out the boys tonight and hopefully they'll all get home safe.
"We appreciate all the support. That trip is a hard trip to make but we really appreciate it."
A clean sheet on his competitive debut was a dream start for Balcombe but it didn’t come easily as he denied a certain goal in under two minutes as the ball struck him square in the face before a sensational diving stop in the second half and then acrobatically tipping over a fierce Gylfi Sigurdsson effort in the closing stages.
"It was a busy night,” admitted the imposing goalkeeper. The boys done well to help with the clean sheet. I'm just happy to make my debut.
Read more:
“I am here to show what I can do and what I can bring to the club. I'm happy I showed the fans what I am about.
"Credit to the boys, I needed them as well. It’s a bit of a back and forth. I am here to show what I can do."
St Mirren’s European clash – their first in 37 years – was a first competitive outing for Robinson’s men this season after four pre-season tests while Valur are well into the middle of their domestic season. That match sharpness difference was perhaps a leveller but Balcombe is certain he and his team-mates will only improve from this point.
He added: "It makes a difference. They're already in their season and we are just getting started.
"Some of us are just plain together for the first time so it is about getting to know each other but I'm sure we will iron all that out by the time of the start of the season. It's just getting back into the flow of things.
"We're in the right positions so it's good we are getting in those positions to start with, if we weren't creating them obviously it would be a problem. But we are creating chances.
"I'm sure once we get into the swing of the season they'll go in.
"That's what it's all about [being tested in Europe]. It's good that we're in Europe and we are getting tested against these sort of players. It will only help us during the season."
Brentford have kept in contact with Balcombe early in his temporary exchange to St Mirren, albeit no staff could attend the European away leg. However, the goalkeeper and his parent club expect a wholly positive experience from his Scotland switch.
"I've been in contact with the loan manager and the goalkeeper coach, he said. “I haven't spoken to them yet [after Valur] but I'm sure we'll have a catch up after and go through the performance.
"It's been really good at St Mirre. I am really enjoying it. I'm loving the city, loving Glasgow.
“The boys have got around me and really helped me out coming into the team. I am really enjoying it.
"Jamie Langfield was a big part of me coming here because I know his track record. I know his career as well and what sort of coach he is.
"He is really pushing me and working with me to make me a better keeper."
