Hamilton Accies skipper Brian Easton insists the club have plenty of positives to take into their league campaign after narrowly missing out on the last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup.
The New Douglas Park side were held to a 1-1 draw by Queen's Park on Saturday and even though they earned a bonus point with a 5-3 penalty shootout win, their second place finish with eight points in Group H wasn't enough to claim one of the three best runners-up spots.
After opening their campaign with a disappointing 3-0 defeat to Dundee, Accies recorded wins over Stranraer and Forfar before the stalemate with the Spiders and Easton reckons their response to that first match gives him reason for optimism ahead of Saturday's Championship opener at home to Morton.
He said: "Obviously our target was nine points after that first game with Dundee and we haven't quite made it.
"The most disappointing thing is after the way we played in the first half - where I thought we were excellent - we let it drop in the second half and that's what has cost us the game.
"We started so well. Right from the kick-off we were full of energy and pressing them with intensity. We played some good stuff, created chances, but it's frustrating we didn't get that going in the second half.
"We found ourselves dropping deeper and we didn't keep the ball well.
"It's a goal from a set play that we've lost and that's really disappointing as well.
"But there's loads of positives to take from this cup campaign.
"I think after the Dundee game we've kicked on. There's been a lot of good signs in the last three games, there's been a couple of young boys getting their debuts as well and that's what this club is all about.
"It's amazing to see, especially being involved with the kids at under-18 level myself.
"But it's done now and the league starts on Saturday so we will be raring to go from that."
At 34-years-old, Easton is comfortably the eldest member of the squad but shows no signs of letting up and is determined to play as big a role as possible as he juggles a coaching role assisting boss John Rankin.
He added: "I feel great. It's been a good pre-season.
"The last couple of years I've stayed away from injuries and I feel fit.
"I'm still really enjoying my football and I'm hoping to play as many games as I can and play a big part this season.
"But it's all about the team and I'll be ready to contribute when needed.
"There's definitely a good feel about the place and we like the way things are going.
"There's been positive signs for us in pre-season and we are hoping to make a good start in the league.
"There's a lot to look forward to but we are under no illusions how difficult a league it is.
"We always set our expectations high and want to really push ourselves."
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