THE Scottish League Cup holders lost their grip last night.

It is a statement of fact but also a concerning analogy for Danny Lennon, since his hold on the St Mirren manager's job is being brought under scrutiny. The League Cup was intended to offer some form of refuge after a timid start to the SPFL Premiership campaign - in which they have accrued just one point from four fixtures - but it ended in defeat by Queen of the South in extra time.

The result will be a source of growing concern for the Paisley side, and increasing discomfort for their manager. The St Mirren squad had stated that they support Lennon as a prelude to this tie, yet it has seemed at times as though they have been nudging their manager closer to the edge. His side were teetering on the verge of reaching the third round after Steven Thompson's header early in extra time had given them a lead. Goals from Steven McKenna and Michael Paton hauled them back and into the next round.

"To go out at the first hurdle, words can't describe how much I'm hurting," said Lennon. "We fell short. We can't just keep repeating the same message - there were opportunities to win and we didn't take them. We didn't see the game out. That hurts."

Lennon had been lauded for leading St Mirren to success in this competition in March but those memories faded under the glare of the floodlights at Palmerston last night. Queens have also started to flicker after a couple of uncertain displays - suffering their first defeat against Hamilton Academical on Saturday - so this was a tie in which both sides sought assurance.

It was comforting in that case for the visitors to find Gary Harkins in a place of prominence. The midfielder lacks athleticism but it was still impressive to witness him amble past three Queens players and rasp a shot off a post on half-time. Harkins was able to adjust his range 10 minutes from time, slinking into the area in time to connect with a low cross from Gary Teale and crash a shot just wide. Admittedly, the St Mirren midfielder was made to seem somewhat more conspicuous moments later when Thompson's shot found his backside and deflected wide.

Both Thompson and Kenny McLean had efforts tipped wide by Callum Antell, the Queens goalkeeper, after the break, but for the most part they were contained. Their hosts would find that a small mercy, since Antell conspired to loop a kick to the edge of his own penalty area in the opening minutes.

Basic errors were fewer in more advanced areas. In midfielder Derek Young, Queens have a player of quiet conviction, stealing behind his defence to calmly rob Harkins of possession midway through the first half, and he allowed his side to unnerve St Mirren - Paton fizzing three shots at David Cornell from long range. The forward scowled each time the St Mirren goalkeeper repelled him and it was with a sense of indignation that Paton charged after his own loose pass, recovering the ball on the bye-line before setting up Derek Lyle to clip a shot over the crossbar.

Paton might well have felt similarly about pursuing his winner. The tie had crept into extra time when the Queens forward ceded possession in his own box and fouled Thompson in attempting to get it back. His relief at watching Antell thrust out a hand to deflect substitute Paul McGowan's spot-kick wide comprised a march of some 25 yards to embrace his goalkeeper.

Thompson's header - rising to connect with a cross from Teale - was chastening but that feeling was shattered when McKenna thumped a shot high into the net before the first half of extra time was over. St Mirren's hopes expired when Paton added another. "It was a hard, hard game but we are delighted," said Jim McIntyre, the Queens manager.