Defiant manager Tommy Wright insisted that if the “real St Johnstone” show up in Slovakia the club can stay in the Europa League.
Saints lost 2-1 in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie at home to slick Spartak Trnava and were outplayed by the opposition for long spells.
However, an injury-time goal from captain Dave Mackay gave them a chance of overall victory, according to Wright, but only if they are more like themselves in the return game in Zlate Moravce.
Wright said: “We have a chance.
“The tie is still alive but we have to play better. The real St Johnstone have to turn up.
“It doesn’t happen very often that we are out-worked or out-competed but they got a lot of second ball and with the quality they have they hurt us.
“It (Mackay’s goal) means the tie isn’t over but we have to do a lot better if we are going to give ourselves a chance.
“You can’t play for 15 minutes at the start of the second half and five to 10 minutes at the end and expect to beat teams that are technically very good.
“We as much played into their hands as they were good because we didn’t perform in the first half.
“The manner of the performance in the first half was the most disappointing thing.
“Overall, we gave away too much possession in bad areas and our decision-making was poor.
“That made the first half a long half. I wasn’t happy at half-time because we didn’t even compete and it’s not like us.
“It was all too easy for them but I thought we were better at the start of the second half.”
Saints missed star striker Stevie May, who was sidelined with a thigh injury, while Chris Millar hobbled off suffering from a groin problem.
Wright said it was too early to say whether either or both will be on the plane to Slovakia next week.
Meanwhile, Spartak coach Juraj Jarabek was well satisfied with the result.
He said: “We scored two goals and I believe there was a third one hanging there so I do believe we deserved to win.
“St Johnstone is a very good team so I knew they would fight to the last minute and that is what we saw tonight.”