Sorry seems to be the hardest word to say, even if Minsk had little trouble expressing themselves on Thursday night.

The Belarusian side knocked out St Johnstone in the Europa League third qualifying round after the tie went to penalties and went on to dance around the prone Perth side, goading them about the 1-0 defeat and the spot-kicks their hosts had failed to convert. The insults did not miss.

It all left an unsavoury taste for Tommy Wright and his players since a first-leg lead had given them a taste for European competition, Alan Mannus, the St Johnstone goalkeeper, even expressing his indignant wish that Minsk are "hammered" in the play-off round. That was made in reference to the score when they come up against Standard Liege in the next round but he may also allow it to reflect the response Minsk will get from UEFA when they request that the red card given to Sergey Sosnovski for his zealous celebrations be rescinded.

St Johnstone had bristled at his antics but Vadim Skripchenko, the Minsk coach, plans to write to the European governing body and ask for leniency. He will not pick up the phone to Wright, though, and his intended apology will be made to ring hollow since it will be delivered without sincerity - Minsk simply want to have their captain available for the first leg of their play-off - something likely to rankle in Perth. "The removal of Sosnovski was the one negative but we will write a letter to UEFA and express remorse," said Skripchenko.

A sense of injustice is smouldering then but it could also ignite a league match with Kilmarnock tomorrow, as St Johnstone recover their appetite for the club's "bread and butter". That phrase is typical of the Scottish footballer and Chris Millar is intent that St Johnstone pick up where they left off in the league with victory at Rugby Park. "The boys are despondent right now but come Sunday we will be ready for Kilmarnock," said the midfielder. "We want to continue on our good run. There's no doubt, we'll be firing on all guns for that game."

A mix up with that idiom is perhaps understandable since Millar had been trying to articulate to Minsk where he felt they should put their play-off place earlier this week but the sentiment has not been lost on Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire side suffered defeat on the opening day and are wary of a Perth side scorned.

"I am sure they will be desperate to make up for that [defeat by Minsk]," said Allan Johnston, the Kilmarnock manager, who is trying to bring in defender Jackson Irvine from Celtic, most likely on loan. "I am sure the manager will make sure there is a reaction. I have seen them three times this season and they've done unbelievably well.

"They are solid, they don't lose goals, they are aggressive in the middle of the park and have good experience. And they have goals all over the pitch."