BILLY Mehmet has set his sights on hitting double figures after his sixth goal of the season earned St Mirren a point against Falkirk.
Mehmet tucked away a 49th-minute penalty two minutes after Graham Barrett had headed Falkirk in front. The big St Mirren forward linked up well with Jim Hamilton, who came close on several occasions, but both sides lacked the decisive edge necessary
to gain three points.
The former Dunfermline player said: "It was disappointing to lose a goal so soon after half-time but we reacted well and got the goal. We only got one penalty last season and that's the first this season so hopefully we will get a few more.
"I scored eight in the whole of last season so I'm happy with six now and I'm looking for double figures."
Competition for forward places at Love Street is fiercer than it has been for many years after Dennis Wyness re-formed his partnership with Craig Dargo, which yielded dozens of goals at Inverness. However, the pair had to settle for a late run-out on Saturday as Hamilton and Mehmet retained their places.
"I'm happy with the way I'm playing at the minute," Mehmet, 24, added. "But obviously I know things can quickly change around, so I have just got to keep on my toes and keep working hard. Playing with Jim Hamilton is brilliant, he has great experience.
"He is a big, strong guy and he works his hardest for the team. But we've got players like Dennis Wyness, Craig Dargo and Tam Brighton that can come in, so I have to stay on my toes."
While Mehmet still had to beat Robert Olejnik with his spot-kick, St Mirren also had Falkirk midfielder Kevin McBride to thank for handing them the opportunity.
McBride batted Steven Robb's free kick at the far post as he challenged Franco Miranda and he was full of remorse afterwards.
"It was a bit suicidal to go 1-0 up and give a stupid penalty away right away," the 27-year-old former Celtic and Motherwell player said.
"I thought the goalkeeper was fouled so I kind of stopped and realised the goalkeeper wasn't getting it. So I led with my arm and it hit my hand and it's a stupid penalty.
"I have apologised to the boys. It was stupidity to bring them back into the game. When we got the goal, you think 'we have got a chance to take three points' and then I do something like that. The only thing I can do is apologise.
"I think it's a totally different game if you keep it tight for ten minutes. St Mirren would then maybe push a few more players forward and we might have got the chance to hit them on the counter, but it wasn't to be."
The full article contains 489 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
