NEW FACES CAN BEAT THE BLANK

ALAN STUBBS is targeting up to five new signings after his St Mirren side failed to make their dominance count against Kilmarnock.

Newly-promoted Buddies impressed on their first competitive outing but missed a host of chances to get themselves in front.

And the Saints boss said: “We’re going to need another four, maybe five. I would like to bring a striker in, another midfield player and a couple of wide players.

“Hopefully we’re going to be busy and it will be early on rather than the end of the window.”

The Betfred Cup tie ended in stalemate at Rugby Park as both sides failed to find the breakthrough before St Mirren eventually added a bonus point with a penalty shoot-out win.

Stubbs was pleased with the overall display – but insists his side will need to work on their attacking play.

He added: “We had some good periods in the game where we probably didn’t reward ourselves for some of the play we had.

“The attack is not an area we’ve worked on at the moment, maybe we lacked a bit of sharpness.”

Killie boss Steve Clarke, who criticised the competition set-up MacDonald with a curving shot that was brilliantly saved. But Erwin nearly got the opener against the run of play with a dipping volley that ended up on the roof of the net. After half-time St Mirren captain Stephen McGinn went close but his 20-yard free-kick fizzed past the post. Mullen pounced on a Paul McGinn cross and MacDonald saved brilliantly before Baird blazed over from 12 yards. Killie debutant Mikael Ndjoli saw his shot drift past the post. And a lung-bursting run from Coulsen almost brought the opener but he shot straight at MacDonald. Killie sub Greg Kiltie had a great chance to score as Erwin headed across goal but Baird beat him to the ball. And so to penalties. Paul McGinn, Coulsen and Mullen scoring to secure the win 3-2 after Dicker, Findlay and Erwin all missed for Killie. – MacDonald 7, Millen 6, Broadfoot 6, Findlay 6, Waters 6, Dicker 7, Power 6, Jones 6 (Burke 84, 3), McKenzie 6 (Kiltie 69, 4), Erwin 7, Brophy 6 (Ndjoli 70, 5). Not used: Mackay, Higgins, Frizzell, Thomas. – Samson 6, P McGinn 7, Coulson 7, S McGinn 8, Flynn 6 (Kellerman 81, 3), Smith 7 (Cookeat 83, 3), Kirkpatrick 6 (King 55, 5), Baird 6, Mullen 8, Kpekawa 6, MacPherson 7. Not used: Heaton, MacKenzie, Stewart, Rogers. – Steven McLean.

KILMARNOCK ST MIRREN Ref