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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
David Irvine

'Excellent' Balcombe hailed by Valur boss as he makes St Mirren admission

Valur manager Arnar Gretarsson has admitted St Mirren should have scored twice in the first-half in Reykjavik.

The Icelandic boss, 52, was relieved to see his side make half-time with the scoreline level but insists Valur could have been ahead themselves but for Ellery Balcombe between the posts.

The St Mirren goalkeeper - on loan from Brentford - sprung into action to deny Valur on a handful of occasions with top-notch stops to ensure the tie remains level heading back to Paisley next week.

Reflecting on the stalemate, Gretarsson said: "It was what I expected. I think maybe it was a fair result, I don't know. I think it is an open game for the second leg, I think we have a chance there.

"It is going to be more difficult definitely as they will have a full stadium.

"St Mirren had a lot of chances, especially in the first half. They should have scored two goals.


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"We made a couple of mistakes in the first half which we were lucky not to concede goals.

"When I say that, it was us making mistakes it's not that they were playing through us.

"When you have the opportunities you need to be clinical. 

"The goalkeeper was very good. I thought we created enough to score one or two goals, I thought their goalkeeper made a few excellent saves."

Buddies boss Stephen Robinson also hailed his goalkeeper for his important saves in the big moments.

"We created a lot of chances," he said. "But Ellery made two super saves and he deserves a lot of credit.

"His distribution was very good too."

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