SAINTS boss Gordon Strachan remained defiant after his club's long-awaited return to Europe ended in first round defeat.

A late goal from Claudiu Raducanu sentenced Saints to a 1-0 defeat in Romanian against Steaua Bucharest last night.

It meant Saints were eliminated 2-1 on aggregate - paying the price for a poor opening 20 minute spell in the first leg at St Mary's last month.

But Strachan insisted: "We are a better team than Steaua.

"On a lucky day (for us) Steaua would have been beaten comprehensively. We played positive football, we played brave football and we played entertaining football.

"And that is the way we will continue to play."

Saints, roared on by 2,000 fans in the cauldron-like atmosphere of the Ghencea Stadium, needed to score to stay in the tie and they carved out several clear-cut chances.

The best fell in a six-minute period either side of half-time when Kevin Phillips had his one-on-one effort smothered by goalkeeper Vasili Hamutovski and then Rory Delap failed to steer home James Beattie's header from just a few yards out.

Strachan said the club had loved every minute of their short-lived Euro experience.

He said: "We have enjoyed it, it's been an education for me as a coach and for the players as well, which is good.

"We can only blame ourselves for not scoring, but we were beaten in a very honest way and I'm very proud of my players.

"We have really enjoyed the experience. There is nothing to fear, there are no bogeymen out there. My team showed they were the bravest on the pitch by a mile."

He added: "The supporters were first-class and when the game finished they were scratching their heads a bit and wondering why their team is not in the next round.

"The better team has gone out in terms of imagination, bravery and playing from the heart."

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