St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson calls for patience after loss to Arbroath

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has admitted disappointment at his side’s Premier Sports Cup defeat to Arbroath but asked fans to show patience as a new-look team takes shape.

The Paisley side suffered home defeat in the opening group stage game after Dylan Paterson scored a late winner to give the visitors three points.

Robinson had fielded a side that included five new signings and says it will take time for the team to bed in.

Trevor Carson, Declan Gallagher, Mark O’Hara, Toyosi Olusanya and Jonah Ayunga all started on Saturday, with Ryan Strain on the bench, while Keanu Baccus is still to join the squad.

“We had numerous chances, things cleared off the line but you have to give them credit as well. They stuck at it and they test you.

“We didn’t get what we wanted but we know it is the start of something.

“We have a lot of new players and we have players who aren’t here at the moment, or in the squad; Curtis (Main), (Eamonn) Brophy and Keanu who isn’t even in the country yet.

“So there will be changes as we go along so I am asking, be patient with the squad, get behind the players. It is a disappointment, make no mistake.

“As a collective, we have to be better, we know we have to be sharper, we have to move the ball quicker and that’s the basics of football and we didn’t do them quite well enough as a group.”