It was a case of mixed emotions for Alistair Johnston after Tuesday night’s clash with Feyenoord in Rotterdam.

On the one hand, the defender was pleased to have had his first experience of UEFA Champions League football and to have enjoyed the atmosphere in Feyenoord’s De Kuip stadium.

However, that was tempered by the disappointment of losing the match 2-0 despite having competed well for large periods of the game against the Dutch champions.

Brendan Rodgers’ side were well in the contest, but suffered a blow on the stroke of half-time when they conceded a goal from a free-kick.

And things went from bad to worse in the second-half when they were reduced to nine men following the dismissal of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Odin Holm.

Speaking after the game, the Canadian internationalist said: “It’s always a difficult one conceding right before you go in at half-time, but we felt that in that first-half we probably actually had the better opportunities.

“That’s the difference at this level. It’s the Champions League, you come away and have to score your half-chances because, otherwise, teams are going to keep knocking on the door and they will score one of them.

'So that was a frustrating thing and something that we’ve touched on. We just have to be a little bit more ruthless.'

“It wasn’t the result that we wanted and there are moments in the match that we’re going to look back on and try to learn from, but it’s a difficult place to come and play. They’re a very good team, they’re champions of Holland for a reason and they deserve to be here.

“I though we gave them a good game until you go down to 10 men and then nine men – you really shoot yourself in the foot – but at the same time I’m proud of what we put out there and there’s blocks to build on, especially with a lot of guys who stepped up.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries, and although we’re not using that as an excuse, there are a lot of guys, also like me, who are playing their first Champions League match, and who really stepped up and played a big part in that.”

The Hoops will now turn their attentions back to domestic football and consecutive away games against Livingston and Motherwell respectively before focusing on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League – a home game against Lazio on October 4.

That will be followed by another match at Paradise against Atletico Madrid, and Johnston believes these games present the team with the perfect opportunity to bounce back and get some points on the board.

“It was the first match of six,” he said. “On the road for the first one we were maybe not expected to pick up anything, but this is a group of players that does believe that in any match in this group we can go in there and pick up points.

'So in that aspect it does feel like a bit of an opportunity lost but, at the same time, I think are a lot of positives to take away from it.'

“We’ll look back on this match, we’ll break it down and we’ll see where we could have been better. But I do think there are a lot of good things to take away from it.

“We’re going to learn from that and I think we will be better. And, of course, now we have a couple of home matches coming up which are going to be really important and crucial to trying to get out of this group.”

Alistair Johnston: We want to take the positives from Euro tie and do better in next game