Smith said: “I think you saw the response from the boys and it was all about wanting to pay the manager back. He works really hard with us every day and we felt we let him down in the second half against Motherwell. It was always going to take time learning new ways, but we are showing in Europe, at least, that if we follow the way the manager wants us to play we can succeed.
“We just need to translate that into the SPL but we are confident it will come.
“I thought that the gaffer had us really well organised and we were set out well. We didn’t give any real clear-cut chances away and we can be pleased with our defensive performance.
“You have got to say it was a smart move by the boss to push Brahim Hemdani back into central defence. Brahim was superb at the back, he calmed everything down and used all his experience.”
