Brody Paterson has said Kelty Hearts "have to react in a positive way" this weekend and that it shows "how far the team have come" that a defeat could feel like "the end of the world".

The 23-year-old, an ever-present for Michael Tidser's team so far this season, also believes he and his team-mates have to learn lessons from the loss to Montrose ahead of their trip to face Stenhousemuir on Saturday.

Two second half goals from the Gable Endies handed Kelty, who ended the game with 10 men after Tam O'Ware was sent off, just their third defeat of the League One season.

That knocked them off the top of the table and down to third ahead of the clash with Gary Naysmith's Warriors, who are one point and two places further back in a tightly-congested table in which just eight points separate leaders, Alloa Athletic, from bottom side Dumbarton.

READ MORE: 'Hopefully we'll learn from Montrose defeat' says Kelty boss

"It's certainly a very exciting league for the neutral this year but it's our responsibility to make sure that we're up there and make it difficult for all the teams around us and make them worry about us," Paterson reflected.

"I think it shows how far the team have come that, with a result like this, it's easy to think it's the end of the world, but we can't forget how well we've done this season.

"We've got to focus on the positives at times, but we also can't just forget about the lessons that are to be learned today, and I can't help but think that, if we learn from these mistakes, then it'll only do us good in the long run for the rest of the season.

"We certainly have to react in a positive way next week. It always helps when boys are coming back from injuries as well, it gives the squad a whole lift, but we do have to focus on the positives and focus on what's got us in this position so far this season.

"We'll be looking to do that this week.

READ MORE: 'It's a test': Kelty aim to bounce back from Montrose loss at Stenny

"It's a good changing room. We're not a negative bunch in there so I like to think that it won't be too hard to bounce back from this, but we've got to go next week and put in a real performance."

Last season's League Two champions were beaten at New Central Park in August, and Kelty have won all five previous meetings with Stenhousemuir.

They have, however, started the season impressively themselves, and Paterson continued: "It was a good game for us when we played them here at the start of the season.

"We played really well and potentially caught them on an off day, with how their results went after that, but it's like any other game.

"We've got to go and be at it and I'm confident that if we're at it we're a very, very difficult team to play against. We'll see what happens, but hopefully we're the ones that get the better of them next week."