ST Mirren suffered their first defeat in the League Cup as Hamilton Accies ran out 3-0 winners at the SuperSeal Stadium on Saturday.

Goals from Ali Crawford, former Buddie Dougie Imrie and debutant Massimo Donati gave Martin Canning’s men a comfortable victory. Saints were not without their chances, notably from David Clarkson and Lewis Morgan, but they were well below par and their Premiership opponents took advantage.

The defeat is a major blow to Saints' chances of progression in the League Cup, with their goal difference taking a beating.

Unless Edinburgh City pick up their first points against Hamilton tonight (Wednesday), Saints will now need to beat Edinburgh City by four goals on Saturday to leapfrog Ayr United and guarantee at least second spot in group G, while depending on other results to qualify.

St Mirren were unchanged from the side which notched a last gasp win over Ayr United on Tuesday.

After 15 minutes, the Premiership side hit the front. Dougie Imrie found Grant Gillespie in space on the right and the full back squared the ball for Ali Crawford who finished from close range past Jamie Langfield.

Alex Rae’s side responded as neat play from Morgan set up Clarkson. The striker couldn’t get a shot away and instead set up Stevie Mallan for a strike from the edge of the box but the midfielder blazed it over.

Clarkson did get two efforts on goal in quick succession. First, his left-footed strike was deflected and easily saved. Then he headed a good cross from Lewis Morgan goalwards, the looping effort was close but just dropped the wrong side of the post.

On the stroke of half time Hamilton had a chance to double their lead. Some confusion at the back for Saints allowed a ball to bounce through for Alex D’Acol, he had a clear sight of goal with Jack Baird struggling to get back, but Jamie Langfield did well to block the shot with his feet.

The Buddies had a poor start to the second half. First, Louis Longridge broke clear of Gary Irvine after a Saints’ set piece. His cross looked like it would set up an easy chance for Imrie but Stevie Mallan did brilliantly to track back and clear the danger. Imrie wouldn’t have to wait long though.

A cross from the left after 51 minutes was challenged for by D’Acol and Andy Webster, the ball eventually fell to Imrie on the edge of the area and the striker made no mistake with a calm finish beyond Langfield.

Rae immediately made a double change with Lawrence Shankland and Tom Walsh replacing Calum Gallagher and John Sutton.

The home side were looking to kill the the game though and Saints had Langfield and Jack Baird to thank for keeping them in it. A cross from the right from Gillespie found Crawford free in the area, Langfield made a great save to keep out his first effort then Baird cleared the rebound off the line.

Saints went from almost down and out to within a whisker of a lifeline. A long throw from Shankland broke to Morgan inside the box and his strike was cleared off the line before Tom Walsh fired the rebound over the bar.

With 20 minutes to go, it was all over. A good move involving Imrie and Crawford saw the ball break to Donati on the edge of the area and the former Celtic man coolly side-footed it past Langfield for a goal on his debut, to cap a fine display from the Italian.

St Mirren: Langfield, Naismith, Webster, Baird, Irvine, Gallagher (Walsh, 51) Mallan, Hutton, Morgan, Clarkson (McAllister, 80) Sutton (Shankland, 51). Subs not used: Gallacher, Gordon, Stewart, O’Keefe.

Attendance: 1,379