Danny Mullen scored the winning penalty for St Mirren
St Mirren beat Kilmarnock 3-2 on penalties after an exciting Scottish League Cup opener finished goalless.
Lee Erwin ought to have netted for Killie after 12 minutes, but it was the youthful, dynamic Buddies who created the better opportunities.
Jack Baird blazed over with the goal at his mercy in the second half after Danny Mullen, Cammy Smith and Jordan Kirkpatrick spurned big chances.
Mullen scored the decisive spot-kick, earning Alan Stubbs' side two points.
It means the former Hibernian and Rotherham United boss begins his tenure in Paisley with victory.
Steve Clarke's Kilmarnock finish the evening with a solitary point in Group H.
The game was the first of 80 group stage fixtures between now and the end of July before the eight group winners and four best runners-up join European representatives Celtic, Aberdeen, Rangers and Hibs in the last 16.
St Mirren took a healthy following to Rugby Park for Alan Stubbs' first competitive game in charge
St Mirren, with three new players in their line-up, started well, but one of the old guard, Baird, made the mistake from which Kilmarnock should have opened the scoring.
Jordan Jones burgled the ball from him and set up Erwin, but his shot was straight at Craig Samson in the Buddies goal.
In the wake of that, though, Mullen was inches from converting a delightful Ryan Flynn cross, before the excellent Middlesbrough loanee Hayden Coulson embarked on a glorious run which led to Smith firing a volley into the ground, then off the crossbar.
Stubbs' newly-promoted team weaved some lovely interplay around the Killie box, and when Mullen sent Kirkpatrick scurrying into the area, the midfielder could only drag his effort wide as an entertaining first half ended without a goal.
The Paisley club lost Kirkpatrick to a second-half knee injury, and he was replaced by another debutant, Jeff King, on loan from Bolton Wanderers.
Jamie MacDonald produced a brilliant reaction save to deny Danny Mullen from close range
It was King who curled in a teasing cross from the right, met by Mullen at the near post, but the striker's effort was brilliantly blocked at point-blank range by Jamie MacDonald.
The rebound fell to Baird, the goal was gaping, but on the swivel, the big defender scooped his volley over.
Come full-time, each team was guaranteed a point, but there was a bonus on offer for the shootout winners.
The penalty duel actually threatened to continue the goal drought. Erwin and Buddies captain Stephen McGinn had their spot-kicks saved. Killie's Gary Dicker lashed his high into the stand.
Paul McGinn then Chris Burke netted to level proceedings at 1-1, Kirk Broadfoot was denied by Samson and Coulson struck confidently beyond MacDonald to nudge Saints ahead.
Although new signing Ross Millen scored for the home team, Mullen stepped up to secure St Mirren the extra point and a satisfying start to life under Stubbs.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Kilmarnock
1MacDonald
22Millen
5Broadfoot
17FindlayBooked at 63mins
18Waters
7McKenzieSubstituted forKiltieat 69'minutes
8Dicker
6Power
11JonesSubstituted forBurkeat 84'minutes
19Erwin
25BrophySubstituted forNdjoliat 70'minutes
Substitutes
10Kiltie
12Ndjoli
13Mackay
14Higgins
21Frizzell
23Thomas
29Burke
St Mirren
1Samson
2McGinn
15Baird
24Kpekawa
3Coulson
4McGinn
28MacPherson
8FlynnSubstituted forKellermanat 81'minutes
14KirkpatrickSubstituted forKingat 55'minutes
10SmithSubstituted forCookeat 83'minutes
18Mullen
Substitutes
5Heaton
6MacKenzie
17Kellerman
19Stewart
20Cooke
23King
25Rogers
Referee:
Steven McLean
Attendance:
4,026
Match Stats
Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamSt Mirren
Possession
Home47%
Away53%
Shots
Home13
Away18
Shots on Target
Home3
Away3
Corners
Home4
Away5
Fouls
Home14
Away12
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Kilmarnock 0(2), St. Mirren 0(3).
Penalties overPosted at 95'
Penalty Shootout ends, Kilmarnock 0(2), St. Mirren 0(3).
Goal!Posted at 95'
Goal! Kilmarnock 0(2), St. Mirren 0(3). Daniel Mullen (St. Mirren) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Goal!Posted at 95'
Goal! Kilmarnock 0(2), St. Mirren 0(2). Ross Millen (Kilmarnock) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Goal!Posted at 94'
Goal! Kilmarnock 0(1), St. Mirren 0(2). Hayden Coulson (St. Mirren) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the top left corner.
Posted at 94'
Penalty saved! Kirk Broadfoot (Kilmarnock) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 93'
Penalty saved! Jeff King (St. Mirren) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
Goal!Posted at 93'
Goal! Kilmarnock 0(1), St. Mirren 0(1). Chris Burke (Kilmarnock) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Goal!Posted at 92'
Goal! Kilmarnock 0, St. Mirren 0(1). Paul McGinn (St. Mirren) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Posted at 92'
Penalty missed! Bad penalty by Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock) right footed shot is just a bit too high. Gary Dicker should be disappointed.
Posted at 91'
Penalty saved! Stephen McGinn (St. Mirren) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the centre of the goal.
Posted at 91'
Penalty saved! Lee Erwin (Kilmarnock) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Penalties in progressPosted at
Penalty Shootout begins Kilmarnock 0, St. Mirren 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 0, St. Mirren 0.
Posted at 90'+2'
Alan Power (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Jim Kellerman (St. Mirren).
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Ross Millen (Kilmarnock).
Posted at 90'+1'
Daniel Mullen (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'
Foul by Mikael Ndjoli (Kilmarnock).
Posted at 90'
Jeff King (St. Mirren) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 88'
Attempt missed. Lee Erwin (Kilmarnock) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Posted at 85'
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Paul McGinn.
Posted at 85'
Attempt saved. Hayden Coulson (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 84'
Greg Kiltie (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Cameron MacPherson (St. Mirren).
SubstitutionPosted at 84'
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Chris Burke replaces Jordan Jones.
Posted at 83'
Attempt missed. Mikael Ndjoli (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left.
SubstitutionPosted at 83'
Substitution, St. Mirren. Cody Cooke replaces Cameron Smith.
Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Posted at 82'
Corner, Kilmarnock. Conceded by Cole Kpekawa.
SubstitutionPosted at 81'
Substitution, St. Mirren. Jim Kellerman replaces Ryan Flynn.
Posted at 79'
Attempt missed. Stephen McGinn (St. Mirren) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Posted at 75'
Gary Dicker (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Ryan Flynn (St. Mirren).
Posted at 73'
Foul by Alan Power (Kilmarnock).
Posted at 73'
Stephen McGinn (St. Mirren) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 72'
Attempt missed. Jeff King (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high.
Posted at 72'
Attempt blocked. Cameron Smith (St. Mirren) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Mikael Ndjoli replaces Eamonn Brophy.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Greg Kiltie replaces Rory McKenzie.
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Source: bbc.com