Jim Goodwin, the St Mirren player-coach, has reminded his team-mates that the League Cup offers them the chance to produce the highlight of their playing careers, just like he did only 18 months ago.

The midfielder captained the Paisley side to success in the competition in the 2013 final and will try to lead them back to the showpiece this season.

That journey continues tonight with a third round tie against Partick Thistle at Firhill. St Mirren won there in the league on Friday night - albeit it took a penalty in stoppage time to decide the match - to collect their first points in the SPFL Premiership this season and raise confidence that Thistle can be overcome in the cup.

Should they manage that, then the side will take a step closer to entering their names into the Paisley club's folklore. "The League Cup is a great competition for clubs like ourselves," said the Irishman. "For the so-called smaller clubs in this country, it offers a hell of an opportunity to win some silverware. That's the message we have been trying to put through to the boys.

"Some of the lads who have been here a while experienced that great day we had 18 months ago. But for the new boys, especially the ones who have come up from down south, we have been trying to drum into them that it is a great chance to ensure they end their career with a medal.

"That is the biggest incentive that we can give them. Partick will be a really difficult test, just as it was on Friday. I don't expect them to change much. They have a small squad like ourselves, so both sides will know what to expect."

St Mirren will perhaps anticipate too that the home side will be fiercely determined to respond following their league defeat last week, none more so than Nathan Eccleston. He made his Thistle debut as a substitute and is intent on enjoying a more successful evening in the cup.

"That's the good thing about football, you always get the next game to put it right," the 23-year-old said. "We have some very good footballers in the squad, so I'm very excited."