Alan Stubbs' St Mirren earned themselves two points in Betfred Cup Group H as they drew 0-0 with Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The Buddies were impressive throughout and gained a bonus point after a 3-2 win on penalties after the full time whistle.
The opening exchanges were fairly uneventful but Saints were seeing a lot of the ball without creating much.
But with 13 minutes on the clock Killie were denied the opportunity to take the lead thanks to a good block by Craig Samson. Jordan Jones robbed Jack Baird of the ball on the left wing and centred the ball for Lee Erwin. Unmarked, the striker looked odds onto give the hosts an early lead, but the Saints goalkeeper did well to block the effort.
Five minutes later it was The Buddies turn to go close with Ryan Flynn sending a delightful ball into the six yard area. Danny Mullen was just inches away from getting a toe on it which would have surely given Saints the lead.
Hayden Coulson, who would go on to pick up the man of the match award, went on a lung-bursting run on 24 minutes before sliding the ball wide to Cammy MacPherson. MacPherson's cross was deflected into the box where the Killie defence failed to deal with the danger. It was headed down into the path of Cammy Smith who shot into the ground and watched as his effort crash off the bar.
Both sides created chances in an exciting first half. Killie were next to go close when Gary Dicker's dinked pass picked out Eamonn Brophy. The striker brought it down on his chest before cracking a shot just over the cross bar.
The two Cammy's combined for Saints five minutes later as MacPherson slid the ball through to Smith. Smith played it across the box where he found an unmarked Jordan Kirkpatrick and the midfielder really ought to have scored with the goal gaping but dragged his attempt wide.
MacPherson impressed throughout for Saints and almost scored his first senior goal after breaking forward from own half he had a shot palmed away by MacDonald.
A few minutes after the restart Mullen was brought down right on the edge of the Kilmarnock box and won Saints a freekick. Smith and Kirkpatrick stood over it with the latter curling it low just by the far post.
Just after the hour mark, Saints could, and perhaps should, have been ahead when Jeff King's cross was met by Mullen who forced a superb fingertip save from MacDonald. The ball fell kindly for Saints with Jack Baird following up but he poked it over the bar.
The game ebbed and flowed for the remainder with both sides trying to create chances to pick up all three points but neither having anything clear cut.
In the end it would go to penalties to see who would earn a bonus point. Craig Samson saved from both Lee Erwin and Kirk Broadfoot while Gary Dicker slammed one over the bar. Paul McGinn and Hayden Coulson scored for Saints allowing Danny Mullen to net the winning spot kick to get Saints off to a good start in Group H.
Full Time: Kilmarnock 0-0 St Mirren
St Mirren: Samson, P.McGinn, Baird, Kpekawa, Coulson, MacPherson, McGinn, Flynn (Kellermann 80), Kirkpatrick (King 55), Smith (Cooke 82), Mullen
Subs Not Used: Rogers, Heaton, MacKenzie, Stewart
Kilmarnock: MacDonald, Millen, Broadfoot, Findlay, Waters, Jones (Burke 83), Dicker, Power, McKenzie (Kiltie 69), Erwin, Brophy (Ndjoli 69)
Subs Not Used: Mackay, Higgins, Frizzell, Thomas
Referee: Steven McLean
Assistant Referee: Jordan Stokoe
Assistant Referee: Paul O'Neill
Fourth Official: Alan Muir
Attendance: 4,026 (827 Saints fans)
