Gus MacPherson is determined St Mirren will secure their first win of the season when they face Dumbarton in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup.But the St Mirren manager has warned his players they need to be at their best or they could be the victims of another cup shock.

St Mirren were knocked out in the second round last season by eventual Irn-Bru Third Division champions East Fife and MacPherson knows if they allow standards to drop they could be in for another tough night at the same stage.

MacPherson said: "We've played well in our first three SPL games but we've only got one point to show for our efforts.

"Now we have the opportunity to go and win a game and hopefully that will build the confidence before Saturday.

"This year we've played well and should have picked up a couple more points than we have.

"What happened last year is a timely reminder that you need to be at it in every single game.

"When you are at home you can't drop your standards, you have to make sure you're switched on and do things sharp, and if you don't you can be punished for it. And we've got to make sure that doesn't happen again."

MacPherson could make changes to the team which lost 2-1 to Hearts but insists it will still be a strong side he sends out.

He said: "We're not good enough to send out a weakened team. Whatever changes we make they'll be players we feel can get us a result. In fact - not 'can', (they) will get us a result."

St Mirren knocked Dumbarton out of last season's Scottish Cup but MacPherson knows they face a difficult tie.

He said: "We played Dumbarton in the Scottish Cup last season and we came through that one, we've also played them regularly in pre-season and in bounce games because they're close to us.

"So we know it will be a tough game."

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