BY KYLE GUNN

Paul McGinn says the St Mirren squad have got to use the hurt of the Motherwell result in a way that benefits them. 

The Buddies suffered a sixth successive defeat as they lost out to Allan Campbell’s late header three minutes after McGinn cancelled out Jake Hastie’s excellent first-half strike.

With Dundee taking a point from Kilmarnock and Hamilton taking all three against St Johnstone, Buddies now sit three points adrift at the bottom of the table and the defender was disappointed with Motherwell's all-important third goal after seemingly salvaging a draw.

He said: “It will be sore until then and it’s got to be sore - we’ve got to use that soreness in a positive manner.

“It’s frustrating. We’ve got to at least see it out for a point. I think we thought we needed the three points, let’s go and get the win. It’s a terrible goal to lose. The boy Hastie is on fire and scores a wonder goal, second-half Motherwell play on the counter, we finally get back in and shoot ourselves in the foot.”

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McGinn saw positives in the narrow loss, however, particularly the performance of on-loan Brighton winger Anders Dreyer, who popped up with an assist. 

And as Saints prepare to face Dundee United in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup on Saturday, the 28-year-old is looking forward to a break from league action. 

McGinn continued: “He’s got great quality in that left foot and the more games he gets, and used to the boys, he’s only going to get better. There’s two or three in there who haven’t played Scottish football, who are at a good age to get better, so there’s positives but it’s a sore one to take.

“It’s the cup. It’s something different so we should be able to lift ourselves. I suppose it is a welcome break from the league. You haven’t got that pressure. Both teams will be aiming to get through for the clubs and the supporters.”