Buddies can bounce back in League Cup

St MIRREN manager Danny Lennon has urged his players to bounce back from the disappointment of losing to Dundee United by booking their place in the last four of the Scottish Communities League Cup.

A second-half Johnny Russell penalty was all that separated the sides in Paisley on Saturday.

Saints travel to Aberdeen tomorrow in the quarter-finals of the League Cup and Lennon said: “We are disappointed, but we have a wonderful opportunity on Tuesday to get back on track. It will be nice to get a break from the marathon of the league campaign. There’s a prize at stake of a place in a semi-final of a big competition, with a lot of glory and big finances for the club.”

Russell beat new signing Rudi Skacel to the ball to step up for the penalty that ended a run of six SPL games without a win for United.

He said: “I think there was a bit of confusion. The boys said to Rudi to hit it and I don’t know if Rudi wanted it or not. I ran after the ball so I was taking it.

“It’s usually Jon Daly who takes the penalties but he let me take it and I was chuffed to get a goal.”