Danny Lennon has warned his St Mirren players about giving away anything early when they welcome Ayr United to Paisley for their Scottish Communities League Cup quarter-final. Saints gave the early advantage to Hibs on Saturday before losing 3-2 at Easter Road. Goalkeeper Craig Samson lost possession to Leigh Griffiths in the sixth minute after trying to beat him after receiving a pass back. Lennon was keen to praise Samson for his overall contribution and the way he bounced back but he is wary that Ayr have shown the resolve and organisation required to take the scalps of three SPL teams this year. Brian Reid's team have knocked Inverness and Hearts out of the competition and beat Hibs in last season's Scottish Cup. Although the Buddies beat them in the next round, they lost 1-0 at Somerset Park in a pre-season friendly and Lennon knows they face stubborn visitors tomorrow night.
Lennon said: "They are a very, very difficult team. They are very, very well organised. What we can't afford to do, as we did on Saturday, is gift teams a start. They have proven if they do manage to get into a lead they have something to hold on to. That would make it even more difficult. We go into it confident that we are playing in the manner we want to play, it's just getting that finished article."
Lennon was encouraged by the way his side played their passing game throughout the second half as Hibs goalkeeper Graham Stack kept his side in front with some impressive saves. Last week the Buddies made sure they played to the very last second and secured a point against Rangers. Lennon went on: "Someone said after the game that I seemed more happy this week than last week. You take positives out the game and I was delighted in the way that my players didn't give up. They went from the first minute to the last, playing the same manner. It's very easy when you're chasing a game of football to change your style. But they believe in the way we go, they believe that when we do play in our manner, we do get results. We've not had any results any other way."
Getting to a semi-final would be a shot in the arm for Lennon's bid to improve St Mirren this season. He said: "We understand what a victory would mean to the fans and the community as a whole. Getting to Hampden raises the profile at the club and puts a spring in the step of fans. You're in football not just because you love it but you want to leave a legacy and be remembered for achieving things, playing the game in the right manner and achieving good results and great results."