ST MIRREN came from behind to book their place in the semi-final of the IRN-BRU Cup and give Jack Ross his first win as Saints manager with a 2-1 victory over Ayr United on Sunday.

After being the better team for much of the game, there was a feeling of deja vu at the Paisley 2021 Stadium when Andy O'Connell put the Somerset Park club in front in the 68th minute.

But two goals in two minutes from John Sutton in the closing stages gave the Buddies a win in the quarter final tie, Saints will host Welsh side TNS in the semi-final.

Jack Ross made two changes to the side which went down 1-0 to Dumbarton last weekend. Jack Baird replaced the cup-tied Ben Gordon in defence while Scott Gallacher was in goals, replacing Jamie Langfield after his howler led to Sons' only goal.

There was a two-minute silence before kick off and a lone piper took to the centre of the pitch as part of the Remembrance Sunday commemorations. The game started as if both sides had continued the sombre mood that took hold prior to kick off. There was little of note to trouble each goalkeeper in the first 20 minutes as long range efforts from David Clarkson and Robbie Crawford failed to trouble either stopper.

Saints threatened to up the tempo as good play from Stevie Mallan and Jason Naismith on the right won a corner. Mallan's delivery was taken off the head of Jack Baird but the clearance dropped for Kyle McAllister who connected brilliantly with a left footed volley from the edge of the area which Ayr keeper Greg Fleming did well to watch and punch clear.

Just before the half hour Saints produced a lovely piece of flowing football. Kyle Magennis harried Alan Forrest well on the right wing and disposed the winger before releasing to Mallan. The midfielder showed a great turn of pace to evade his man and drive through midfield, he played a one-two with Lewis Morgan before feeding Sutton on the edge of the box, on the stretch the striker's shot from the edge of the area was parried away by Fleming.

Minutes later Ayr had the first clear opening. A shot from Craig McGuffie was blocked and looped over the Saints defence, it broke for Forrest 10 yards out but Gallacher stood up well to save the shot.

The game flowed to the other end and after the latest good set-piece deliver for Saints, this time from McAllister, Gary MacKenzie's header was clawed away by Fleming.

Half-time 0-0.

Both teams laboured through the opening period of the second half but Saints upped the ante after the hour mark. Substitute Lawrence Shankland headed down a McAllister cross which Sutton just couldn't get on the end of. Encouraging runs from Naismith and Morgan got the Paisley crowd involved as the Buddies looked the most likely team to grab a winner.

But with Saints the team in the ascendancy they suffered a sucker punch, similar to the Dumbarton defeat the previous week, and that all too familiar sinking feeling. McGuffie picked up possession in between the lines then slid an incisive pass between Naismith and Baird to put substitute Daryll Meggatt in on goal. Gallacher smothered at his feet but another sub Andy O'Connell was there to tap into the empty net.

Saints withdrew Baird for Tom Walsh as they went for broke. With 15 minutes to go Mallan did well to slip clear of his man on the eye of the area, his well struck shot looked destined for the net but Devlin was well positioned to head clear.

But just when it looked like another dismal afternoon for Saints Sutton took centre stage.

A cross from the left from Mallan found the striker and he struck a beautifully controlled volley into the corner with his left foot.

Incredibly the former Hearts man wasn't done there. Magennis was played in down the right by Naismith, the young midfielder evaded a challenge and got to the byline, his cut back found Sutton and off balance he was able to divert the ball into the roof of the net to the delight of the home support.

Saints weren't done there though and the woodwork prevented the game being wrapped up when Shankland flicked a header from a corner goalwards it came crashing off the bar and eventually cleared.

St Mirren: Gallacher, Naismith, MacKenzie, Baird (Walsh, 72), Irvine, McAllister (Stewart, 86), Magennis, Mallan, Morgan, Clarkson (Shankland, 57), Sutton.

Subs not used: Langfield, Gallagher, Hutton, McLear.

Ayr United: Fleming, Devlin, Balatoni, McKenna, Boyle (Meggatt, 26), Cairney, Crawford, Harkins, Forrest (O'Connell, 59), McGuffie (Donald, 77) Docherty.

Subs not used: Hart, Murphy, Rose, Wardrope.

Attendance: 2,199