St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin insists his misfiring forwards need to find their scoring touch to have any chance of salvaging their Betfred Cup campaign.
The Paisley outfit’s hopes of progressing from the group are slim following their penalty shootout defeat to Lowland League side East Kilbride after a goalless draw.
St Mirren dominated the game but were unable to break down East Kilbride’s defence and get the better of goalkeeper Alan Martin.
Saints required a last-minute penalty to defeat Edinburgh City last Wednesday and Goodwin knows they must carry more of a threat in the final third.
He said: “We expected to win the game and I thought we had enough on the park to do that. We just couldn’t break them down.
“It’s concerning. In the last two games you would expect us to dominate possession and be in control of the game, which I felt we were.
“But we’re lacking creativity and urgency at the top end of the pitch. Apart from the first half against Dunfermline, defensively we’ve looked all right. The problems are at the other end.
“We should be able to break down these teams, although they make it difficult for you putting 10 men behind the ball.
“We had some good chances and their goalkeeper ends up as man of the match and deservedly so. He made some great saves.
“But the bottom line is we’re the Premiership team playing a team from the Lowland League. We should have enough out there to win the game.”
St Mirren have picked up just four points from their three Betfred Cup group games and Goodwin knows even if they win their final match against Albion Rovers on Tuesday they will have an anxious wait to see if they will progress.
He said: “We should have been looking ahead to Tuesday with an opportunity to win the group. As it stands we’re still in but I can’t remember too many teams winning a group with seven points.
“If we do then that will be something else.
“We have to try and pick ourselves up, play Albion Rovers on Tuesday and try to win the game and see where it leaves us. It’s as simple at that.”
