ST MIRREN striker John Sutton insists the Buddies comeback win over Ayr United in the IRN-BRU Cup can help turn their season around.

Saints looked set to exit the competition on Sunday as they trailed 1-0 going into the closing stages, but Sutton hit a quick-fire double in the closing stages to book the Paisley club’s place in the semi-final and keep hopes alive of a first Challenge Cup win since 2005.

Sutton scored the winning goal in a 2-1 final win over Hamilton Accies that year during his previous stint at the club and he admits he holds out hope for more cup glory.

He said: “Hopefully. It is up to us to make it one (a turning point), it is a tough league. There are no easy games as we found out last week with Dumbarton and Dunfermline who we play on Saturday in my opinion are a very good team, they have some players who could probably play at a higher level.

“There is no respite but we have to believe that we have something good going in our dressing room when we get it going. It is up to us to lift the league form and hopefully there can be a bit of silverware at the end as well.”

The former Hearts and Motherwell striker was quick to praise young midfielder Kyle Magennis for setting up the winning goal as the 18-year-old continues to impress after breaking into the first team.

He added: “It was fantastic. People see who scores the goal but that doesn’t tell the story of what has gone on in making it. As a striker unless you are Thierry Henry or Lionel Messi and you are going to take five or six players on you need players to create the chances and Kyle did brilliantly, he deserves a lot of credit for the goal and his performance today.”