CALLUM Booth has vowed to use the experience of facing Galatasaray to help St Johnstone make history.

The Perth side were edged out by the Turkish heavyweights after 180 enthralling minutes, which saw Booth and his team-mates lead in Istanbul.

Ultimately, Galatasaray progressed 5-3 on aggregate but St Johnstone will now look to reach the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League when they face Austria’s LASK this evening (Thursday).

Booth, who started against Galatasaray last Thursday evening, said: “It’s been a brilliant experience to play against these guys that you usually sit and watch on the television. Arda Turan was at Barcelona and you go to McDiarmid Park and they have got players throughout the team like that. It was brilliant to play against them and and see how good they really are.We need to use that experience to make ourselves better.”

St Johnstone had qualified for Europe after doing the cup double – lifting the Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup – last season. They then picked up an impressive 1-1 draw in the Fatih Terim Stadium and the scores were again level at half time in the return leg in Perth. However, one of the big talking points came just before half time when St Johnstone striker Chris Kane was brought down by Marcao, who only received a yellow card.

East Lothian Courier: Callum Booth (middle row, fourth from left) was celebrating at Hampden Park on Sunday as St Johnstone lifted the Betfred Cup after victory over Livingston. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.Callum Booth (middle row, fourth from left) was celebrating at Hampden Park on Sunday as St Johnstone lifted the Betfred Cup after victory over Livingston. Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire.

Booth, of Haddington, was unsure if the visitors should have been down to 10 men but said: “It probably was not a red card but you need that little bit of fortune to go your way when you are playing against top, top teams. It was pivotal, it was 1-1 at the time, and it could have possibly been a red on another day.”

Now, attention turns firmly to the play-off round and the chance to reach the group phase. Standing in their way are LASK, who thumped Serbia’s Vojvodina 7-1 in the third qualifying round to set up the tie with St Johnstone.

The first leg of the contest is in Linz in northern Austria.

Former Knox Academy pupil Booth said: “We know bits about them.

“I was having a look last night and they were runners-up in the Austrian league two years ago so they must be a top team.

“They are a very good side and they have played Manchester United and Spurs in the Europa League in recent years.

“They usually get to the group stages and it will be a really tough game.

“We will need to put in as much effort and work as we did against Galatasaray.”

East Lothian Courier: Callum Booth will be hoping to lift the Scottish League Cup on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Ross MacDonald/SNS Group.Callum Booth will be hoping to lift the Scottish League Cup on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Ross MacDonald/SNS Group.

The ex-Hibs and Livingston defender spoke to Courier Sport less than 24 hours after the European clash.

He said: “My wife recorded them but I am not really one to watch them back.

“I’ve not watched the cup finals back and I have not really watched any games back.

“It is not something I do.

“Maybe when I am older I can sit and watch it with my wee boy Remy and maybe my dad as well.”