Jack Ross was delighted as St Mirren ended their Betfred Cup campaign with a 5-0 win over Airdrieonians at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
An own goals was added to by a double from Gavin Reilly and strikes from Lewis Morgan and Cammy Smith as the Saints ran out emphatic winners.
It was a morale boosting win ahead of next weekend's Ladbrokes Championship opening day fixture with Falkirk.
Speaking to the press after the match, the manager said: "We have had a bit of an up and down pre-season through various things so today was about getting back to winning ways regardless of the scoreline.
"I thought we played really well and it was nice to see us keep a clean sheet and the forward going players get on the score sheet, so it's been a good day for us.
"It's not easy to respond to the disappointment of last week because of the result and the manner of the performance. We took criticism last week and deservedly so. The players took it from me as well so to respond in that manner was terrific and it shows our character.
"We've still got a good bit to go until we get to the levels we think we can be at to challenge this season, but today was good for us.
"It's been a peculiar league cup section for us because we started it really well with a really good result away to Stranraer and we've finished it with a really good result. The Livingston game was okay - we just couldn't score - and the Partick game was horrible for us.
"It has been up and down for us but ultimately it is about us trying to be in the best possible frame of mind for next week and we've helped ourselves with that result and performance today.
"We've had an awful lot of injuries," he continued. "Not just to senior players but ironically enough to some of the U20s who probably would have featured today.
"It's been challenging in that regard. It's not an excuse for last week for example but you meet those challenges. We've still got a bit to go but today was encouraging.
"Next week will have a different feel around it. These games still have a little bit of a pre-season feel to it, whereas next week the crowd that will be in here, the atmosphere and intensity will properly be at competitive football."
