St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has defended goalkeeper Zach Hemming after his side slumped to defeat at Celtic Park, but has told his men to cut out the individual errors that are proving so costly.

The Saints had won three matches on the spin before this recent wobble of three consecutive defeats, with lapses in concentration costing them dearly, and Hemming was arguably at fault for two of the three goals that Celtic scored on the day.

It capped off a rather rusty display from the keeper, who was making his first appearance of his second spell with the club after joining on loan from Middlesbrough to replace the departed Ellery Balcombe.

Robinson is sure he will come good again though in time.

"We had to throw Zach in at the deep end today with Brentford calling Ellery back,” Robinson said.

"He's not played for months and we're very confident in his signing. We know he'll get better and better with games.

“It was my decision. I had to throw him in and make that decision. We didn't lose the game because of Zach. It was a mix-up in the box for the last one, which happens.

"It's never one person's fault. I'm confident in Zach as a signing and as a boy. I think we'll get our rewards from that as the season progresses.

"The boys to an extent did what we asked them to do. Our shape was very good and we pressed well. When we landed on the ball we tried to get in behind them and we did on a few occasions.

"We got punished. That's the difference in levels, we got punished at their first real opportunity. It was a great finish.

"The second is the really disappointing one. We were right in the game at the end of the first half and lost one when it's very controllable.

"Then it's an individual error and a mix-up in the box for the third. We got punished by a very good side.

"I've been here many times and been destroyed and it's been chance after chance and the keeper's making 20 saves in each half. It wasn't the case today. Our structure and work ethic was very good. We had half chances at the end, the boys kept fighting hard.

“We now have to reset and it's been a very up and down period. 3 wins and 3 losses. With the league the way it is, we need the points to stay in this division.

"Football is up and down. We're never going to win every game. Individual errors have cost us and we need to take that out of our game.”