DECLAN McManus was left kicking himself despite netting a double on his home debut — because he felt he should have scored at least a hat-trick against 10-man Stranraer.

The Aberdeen loanee was in scintillating form on Saturday, converting a penalty to break the deadlock before adding a clever second right on the stroke of half-time.

Yet despite bagging a brace and picking up the sponsors’ man of the match award, perfectionist McManus was still annoyed at himself for failing to hit a treble.

He told the Tele: “Obviously I’m buzzing to get two goals on my home debut — but I could have, and should have, got myself another one.

“I should have scored a hat-trick and I’m pretty gutted I never got myself the match ball, to be honest.

“The free-kick was close and I wouldn’t be too harsh on myself for not scoring that one, but I should have maybe connected better with the one big Sean Crighton pinged across.

“It wasn’t an easy chance because he has hit it hard, but you’ve always got to keep your standards high and aim to be at your best.

“But it wasn’t about me. The main thing for us was just to win today, especially with us losing at Ayr last week. We needed to get points on the board to get up the table.

“The way we did it was brilliant against a Stranraer team that was flying last year, and no one will want to come here to Cappielow after seeing that scoreline today.” After playing as a lone frontman at Ayr United last weekend, McManus looked more at ease playing beside auxiliary targetman Thomas O’Ware.

He added: “At the second goal I saw Tam going up for the ball and went in behind him because I knew he had a good chance of winning it.

“I managed to get the ball out of my feet, went round Frank McKeown and whipped it past the keeper as he came out.

“I felt a bit isolated last week. It was a lot better playing up there with Tam, and the things we’d worked on in training came into practice in the game. He was brilliant today.”