They got there in the end but St Johnstone had their work cut out for them at Gayfield yesterday afternoon as Dick Campbell’s side forced them to a penalty shoot-out.

The League Cup holders twice had to come from behind in a game where part-timers Arbroath fully exploited St Johnstone’s demanding Europa League against Galatasaray last Thursday night. 

Had the hosts showed just a little more composure in the penalties that followed the 120 minutes this tie they may well have found themselves in the hat for the next round. St Johnstone had taken off goalkeeper Elliot Parish and out on Zander Clark immediately before the shoot-out but he didn’t have a save to make; Ricky Little and Bobby Linn hit the woodwork and Dale Hilson blasted his effort wildly over the bar. 

“It wasn’t planned [before the game],” said St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson. “Zander has a great presence and when he’s in goal the goal seems a lot smaller, so that was the thinking behind it.  

“But credit to Arbroath, they were the better team today and we were off it. It’s difficult to play at the high intensity we did last Thursday then come to a place like this, so I didn’t think we were at it. 

“It’s not ideal for Thursday, we didn’t want extra time but the cups are massively important to us.” 

Given the way the penalty shoot-out unfolded, Campbell struggled to draw the positives from what was an entertaining game where his side gave as good as they got against the Scottish and League Cup double winning team from last season. 

“We got beat and we only scored two penalties,” he fumed. “It doesn’t matter your backside who you are playing, Cup holders or not, I’m raging. It’s not a lottery penalty kicks – you have to kick the ball between two posts and a bar. And we can’t do that. 

“Credit to them for their spirit and the goals they scored and, ok, there is an expectation level with St Johnstone fulltime and we wish them all the best now but I thought the penalty kicks were appalling.” 

Arbroath had opened the scoring just after the half hour mark when the impressive Joel Nouble, on loan from Livingston, had the simple task of tapping in from close range at the back post following a Nicky Low corner.  

It took a mistake from Arbroath keeper Derek Gaston to allow Saints back into the game. His rash foul on Reece Devine gave Jason Kerr the chance to level from the spot. Gaston saved the effort with his feet but Glenn Middleton was quickest to pounce and turn the loose ball into the net.  

Both had chances to win it before extra-time beckoned; Middleton cracked the underside of the bar with a ferocious effort that bounced on the line and came back into play while Michael McKenna who ought to have done more than blast the ball wildly over the bar.  

It was Arbroath who got their noses in front. Bobby Linn’s corner was swung in and initially looked too deep but was headed by Little back into the middle of the box where Tam O’Brien swung a volley into the roof of the net. 

St Johnstone, on the cusp of the brief interval, levelled when Jamie McCart powered Liam Craig’s corner high into the net. 

Penalties ensued with Ali McCann charged with dispatching the winning kick after Linn had clipped the outside of the post. The holders head to Austria now for Thursday night’s Europa Conference Cup tie with Davidson hopeful Chris Kane will be fit for the tie. 

“Chris will be fine for Thursday but David Wotherspoon’s isolation looks like taking him over the travel period,” he said.