Gus lays down law of third ahead of Pars clash

ST MIRREN manager Gus MacPherson will tell his players they will need to show more imagination in the final third if they are to get past Dunfermline tonight.

MacPherson felt his side's final ball was lacking during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Falkirk at Love Street.

Billy Mehmet levelled from the penalty spot for Saints moments after Graham Barrett had headed Falkirk in front at the start of the second half. But MacPherson admitted his team did not do enough to win the game despite their territorial edge.

Saints travel to Fife tonight to take on Irn-Bru First Division side Dunfermline in the Co-Operative Insurance Cup.

"The attitude of the players has been spot on," MacPherson said.

"That's the most important area of the park, the final ball has got to be good against decent players. And against Dunfermline, with the quality of players they have got, we have to do something different.

MacPherson will decide today on the health of left-back Franco Miranda, who had five stitches inserted in a head wound in the closing minutes of the Falkirk game.