SMART MALIK

Saints' penalty hero says he had to score after playing so badly

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SHOOTOUT specialist Malik Dijksteel insisted he had to net the winning penalty for St Mirren because he was miles off it after coming off the bench.

St Mirren booked their place in the Scottish Cup fifth round after holding their nerve away to Livingston following 120 minutes which could not separate the Premiership pair.

Remarkably, it's the third time this season the Dutchman has scored the winning penalty in a shootout.

He netted in the Premier Sports Cup against Hearts and Kilmarnock to help Saints on their remarkable run to Hampden glory as they beat Celtic in the showpiece.

But the ex-Middlesbrough man was berating himself for his subpar showing after replacing Jayden Richardson for extra-time - even if he is Mr Reliable from 12 yards out.

Dijksteel, whose side return to West Lothian tomorrow for a massive Premiership clash, said: "I was not happy with my game at all.

"When I was standing in the line, everyone said, 'You've done this before, just do it again'.

"It was about getting myself in the mindset of scoring again.