The pain still rankles with Danny Lennon from the last time his St Mirren side played Ayr United in the League Cup. He wants his players to remember how painful it was and use it as as motivation when they face last season's conquerors again. The two sides will face each other in Paisley at the end of the month after being drawn together in today's second round draw at Hampden. Saints lost out to Ayr at the quarter-final stage last year and Lennon still suffers the raw wounds over that game. He said: "It still hurts to this day. Not so much that it was Ayr United, just that it was a wonderful missed opportunity. We've got to capitalise on the hurt that we felt last season but we are under no illusions. It's Ayr United once again and we are really looking forward to the challenge. Since being here, that's the third time we've drawn them in one of the major competitions. It's eachy-peachy at the moment - one for us in the Scottish Cup and one for them last year in the quarter-final of the League Cup. It's got the makings of a great game and we've got home advantage once again." St Mirren take on Dundee in the SPL this weekend after the Dark Blues claimed a respectable goalless draw at Kilmarnock in their first SPL outing in seven years last week. Manager Barry Smith will be hoping to make the most of home advantage when the Buddies come calling. Lennon said: "We're looking forward to the challenge. We welcome Dundee into the campaign. They will be an added dimension in terms of what they will bring to the SPL. We're not here to debate the way they got here. I'm sure Barry Smith will be revelling in the opportunity to manage and pit his wits in the SPL. Unfortunately for Barry, he's not had as much time to prepare for the SPL as the rest of us. Although he had his squad together, it was keyed towards the First Division. I'm sure with the added finances that Dundee have gained, he will look to strengthen wisely. They are not here to make up the numbers."
Source: FOOTYMAD
