MacPherson hails professional display

Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 by PA

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson praised his team's professionalism following their 2-0 Co-operative Insurance Cup victory at Ayr.

Michael Higdon headed the Buddies into a 25th-minute lead and they comfortably soaked up pressure from the Irn-Bru First Division side.

Billy Mehmet sealed the second-round victory in injury-time 60 seconds after Dean Keenan was sent off for hauling the striker back as Ayr were caught on the break.

MacPherson said: "It was professional enough, keeping a clean sheet.

"Ayr had a lot of the ball but we felt comfortable. You are always wary when it's only 1-0 that a set-piece or a deflection can cost you but we got the job done."

MacPherson was delighted to see Higdon grab his first goal since his summer switch from Falkirk.

"It was a good ball in from David Barron," MacPherson said. "We have got to get the delivery to Michael because if you get the right ball in, he will get goals."

Ayr manager Brian Reid felt his side matched St Mirren in every department, except in front of goal.

"I said to the boys it's like glorious failure," Reid said. "We were just as good as them and in some ways passed the ball better than them, but it's results that count.

"They are a big, strong team and we could have done with a break.

"I thought we defended reasonably well, the system worked well, but we need to be a bit better in the final third."