ST MIRREN boss Gus MacPherson labelled No.2 Andy Millen a "freak" after watching the veteran defender help his team see off Gretna.
The 42-year-old came in for his first game of the season and provided the authority that has been missing in some of the side's previous performances.
But MacPherson (right) admitted he doesn't know how his sidekick does it.
He said: "Andy's a freak - there's no other word for it. I could not have done what he's doing at that age.
"I'm not sure if he ever said he was chucking first-team football. If Andy did he has had a change of heart. He told me he still had something to offer. Andy has been playing for the reserves and his performances have been outstanding. "So I felt he could help the first team.
In a game of such importance his influence was there for all to see."
MacPherson conceded results are more important than performances in the SPL basement.
He said: "We have played better than that and taken nothing.
"But you could see the strength not to concede anything today."
The gaffer also heaped praise on match winner Billy Mehmet and said: "I don't understand why the crowd sometimes give him stick.
"He's technically so good and has an excellent touch. He took his goal well and was always trying to bring other players into the game."
Gretna boss Davie Irons was gutted with Mehmet's winner and blamed his side for switching off.
He said: "It was poor defending on our part. We switched off at the vital moment and you can't do that in this league - mistakes are generally punished.
"The performance was in contrast to the way we played against Celtic."
