Top-flight St Mirren twice let a lead slip against Championship opponents Queen of the South as they were forced to settle for a replay after drawing their William Hill Scottish Cup clash at Palmerston 2-2.
The Buddies looked like they had settled into the fourth round clash the quicker after Conor Newton put them ahead nine minutes in - only for Iain Russell to equalise 10 minutes from half-time.
Steven Thompson then had the Premiership side ahead for a second time with his seventh of the season but they were denied safe passage to the next round when Michael Paton struck with 18 minutes left.
The draw was not the result Saints boss Danny Lennon had envisioned as he sent his side out to gain revenge for Queens' League Cup triumph at the same venue back in August.
And the early signs were good for St Mirren after they came through an early handball scare unscathed when Marc McAusland got caught underneath keeper Zander Clark's long punt and fell on the ball inside his own box.
Referee Kevin Clancy waved play on and Queens had every reason to feel hard done by as Newton put the Paisley men ahead after nine minutes.
Kenny McLean whipped a near-post corner to Thompson but his flick-on was only partially cleared before on-loan Newcastle midfielder Newton made the most of the opportunity, drilling a fine volleyed finish into the bottom corner.
Lennon was forced to reshuffle his side just 10 minutes later though when playmaker Paul McGowan limped off, to be replaced by teenage striker Thomas Reilly.
The substitution seemed to disrupt the visitors' rhythm and Queen of the South took the opportunity to pile on the pressure, with Kevin Holt first doing well to cut in from the left and power a fierce dig straight at St Mirren keeper Marian Kello, before Paton at least ensured the Slovakian had to spring to his left to deny another well-hit shot.
But Saints could only withstand the onslaught so long and were pegged back 10 minutes before the break.
Kello flapped at Ian McShane's free-kick into the box and was punished for his mistake when the ball fell perfectly for Russell 12 yards out. The former Morton and Livingston forward smashed a first-time volley past the out-of-position keeper and ran off to celebrate as Darren McGregor's last ditch attempt to clear on the line failed.
But Saints could - and should - have regained their lead just 90 seconds into the second period. First Clark saved from McAusland's header as McLean swung in a dangerous corner before Jason Naismith contrived to screw the rebound wide from point-blank range.
The 19-year-old full-back's blushes were spared though as Thompson benefited from a clever exchange of passes involving John McGinn, Reilly and defender Sean Kelly, who got to the by-line before squaring for the former Scotland striker to net on 51 minutes.
Holt wasted a great chance for Jim McIntyre's men to level things again when he swiped at fresh air following Paul Burn's teasing delivery from the right, while McGregor passed up another decent chance for the visitors as he poked wide after McLean picked him out at the back post from a set-piece.
But again Queens came back strong and equalised for a second time as Derek Lyle's cross was nodded down by Burns for Paton to calmly stroke beyond Kello from five yards - ensuring a rematch at St Mirren Park on December 10.
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