Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies fears Manuel Pascali has already picked up a bad reputation after picking up another booking against St Mirren.Pascali, who signed from Parma earlier this month, was booked on his debut against Hibernian at Rugby Park last week and was shown another yellow card at Love Street for a first-half foul on Jim Hamilton.

Speaking after the goalless draw in Paisley, Jefferies agreed the 26-year-old has caught the attention of Scottish officials and claimed that might have cost him the latest booking.

He said: "Maybe that is what's wrong.

"He has shaved his head since he signed and he looks a fearsome character.

"But he is a good player with good positional sense and he competes well.

"I thought the booking was very harsh. What incensed us was that when Garry Brady was dispossessed by Craig Bryson, he took the feet from him and the referee had a quiet word with him. Then he books Pascali for a challenge.

"Okay, it was a foul but it was nothing worse than Brady's and if you are going to do it for one you should do it for the other.

"They were either both bookings or neither of them."

St Mirren striker Hamilton and Kilmarnock midfielder Mehdi Taouil both hit woodwork in an otherwise uninspiring match, in which visiting striker Conor Sammon missed the best chance when his close-range header from a cross by Taouil was saved by impressive Buddies goalkeeper Mark Howard.

Jefferies believes the 21-year-old Irishman Sammon, signed from Derry City in the summer, simply needs a break.

He said: "I thought Conor was out of luck. He is getting close to his goal and he was a handful.

"He did everything right on a couple of occasions, he found the target a couple of times but the goalkeeper was equal to it.

"He's only young and you can see his willingness to run into corners.

"He's got a lot to learn but he is only going to get better."

Scott Cuthbert, who made his debut for St Mirren after signing on loan from Celtic, admitted he had a tough game against former Hoops striker David Fernandez.

He said: "Usually you come up against bigger players who are good in the air, you don't get many like David and so you are on your toes all the time.

"I played against David before in the reserves and for a small guy he is really strong and if you get too tight then he can turn you very easily.

"So you have to make sure you don't get too close to him.

"But it was good to get an SPL game under my belt."

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson admitted the draw was no more than either side deserved.

He said: "I think it was a fair result. I think there should have been goals because there was good attacking play and chances created.

"So we were pleased with the performance but disappointed not to win the game."

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