LASK manager Dietmar Kuhbauer has praised Celtic's quality and efficiency after his side's 3-0 defeat.
The Austrian champions were beaten in the first leg of the Champions League play-off at Celtic Park, despite creating several opportunities.
Kuhbauer admitted that Celtic were at a different level when it came to converting chances.
He described Martin O’Neill’s side as a "good side" and acknowledged they were ahead of LASK "in terms of efficiency and a lot of other things".
However, the Austrian manager remains hopeful his team can exploit any vulnerabilities when the sides meet again in Linz.
Kuhbauer said: "Yes, I knew that Celtic are a good side.
"But my lads did put up a fight today.
"Unfortunately, it’s the result that counts."
This result leaves Celtic in a strong position to reach the Champions League proper.
Yet, Kuhbauer felt the margin did not entirely reflect the pattern of a contest in which LASK carried a threat.
He said: "I think we lost the match because of minor mistakes on our part, I’d say.
"What would have been enough in Austria wasn’t enough in this match.
"In other words, two incredibly good shots put us behind.
"My lads created plenty of chances, but they lacked efficiency.
"They didn't finish them off, and as a result, they won the match.
"And yes, it’s a bit of a shame because, as I said, we could have achieved far more."
The manager believes his players discovered the difference between domestic football in Austria and competing against a team of Celtic’s calibre in Europe, where small errors were punished.
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He praised Celtic's performance, saying: "The best thing for any footballer is to go with their first instinct.
"You have to say Celtic did fantastically well, because those two shots were good.
"The third one from the Colombian was also an incredibly beautiful goal.
"So they’re ahead of us in terms of efficiency and a lot of other things."
Despite the scoreline, Kuhbauer does not believe Celtic were impenetrable.
He thinks LASK created enough to leave him believing there are opportunities to hurt O’Neill's side in the return fixture.
However, he accepts that overturning a three-goal deficit will require an exceptional night.
He felt Celtic left space which his players could potentially exploit in Linz.
He also noted O'Neill's side dropping deeper towards the end of the first leg and expects that could become a feature of the return match now that Celtic have such a significant advantage to protect.
Kuhbauer said: "We need an exceptional performance now in Linz.
"But you could see that they’re leaving themselves open.
"They might be in Linz – I saw them playing a bit deeper in the final minutes – so they might sit deeper.
"I don’t care either way; we’ll do everything we can in Linz to achieve the impossible.
"Or rather, that we stand up to them again, with a better outcome for us."
