Airdrie exited the Scottish Cup in cruel fashion as St Mirren grabbed a winning goal five minutes from the end of extra time, but the Diamonds can be proud of a superb performance against Premiership opposition.

After Stephen Robinson’s side had beaten league leaders Hearts on Tuesday night, many would have fancied the Paisley side to despatch Airdrie with ease, but Aaron Taylor-Sinclair’s men had different ideas.

After a number of changes had been made for the midweek KDM Evolution Trophy win at Arbroath, there was a more familiar look to the Diamonds team as Dylan MacDonald, Charlie McArthur, Jamie Barjonas, Cole McKinnon, and Chris Mochrie returned to the starting XI, with Adam Devine, Sean McGinty, Gavin Gallagher, Lewis McGrattan and Scott Constable dropping to the substitutes bench.

The Buddies named a strong side, with French striker Mikael Mandron leading the line having bagged both goals in a 2-0 friendly win at the Albert Bartlett in July.

The visitors made the early running, Craig Ross combining with MacDonald to clear a third-minute chance before Jake Young saw his strike easily gathered by Harry Stone three minutes later.

Further Saints attacks were foiled by overhit final passes as Young and Miguel Freckleton passed up the chance to tee up team-mates.

Jamie Barjonas took a swinging arm to the face as he battled in the box on 15 minutes, and while there was no suggestion that contact was deliberate, it still impeded the Airdrie man’s progress and penalties have been awarded for less.

The visitors showed no sympathy as they took the lead four minutes later, recent Manchester United loan signing Jacob Devaney placing a fantastic finish into the top corner beyond the despairing dive of Stone.

The Diamonds keeper prevented the scorer from teeing up a quick second two minutes later, and made a good stop from Jayden Richardson as the defender looked to take advantage of a bouncing ball in the box.

Airdrie continued to get short shrift from referee Kevin Clancy as Euan Henderson was pushed over just outside the box on 24 minutes, and the striker was unlucky to see a smart one-two with Mochrie snuffed out two minutes later.

Lewis Strapp’s 27th-minute cross was just beyond Mochrie before Ross made a fine block with Mandron lurking, but a hugely controversial moment followed in the 34th-minute.

Taking a Henderson pass and driving into the area, Barjonas reached the corner of the six-yard box before being unceremoniously taken out by Richard King. To the utter disbelief of everyone in the stadium and the watching TV audience, no penalty was awarded.

Mandron almost took advantage of Airdrie’s outrage, but screwed wide as play quickly moved to the other end.

Henderson saw a low angled strike deflected back to Shamal George before Strapp was taken out by a blatant bodycheck in the centre of the park. Again, the offence went unpunished.

Stone did well to keep hold of a cross under pressure from Mandron as half-time approached, and Charlie Telfer saw the last attempt of the half blocked by a defender’s chest.

The Diamonds started the second half brightly, Strapp driving forward and feeding Telfer for a 50th-minute cross which was forced behind for a corner.

A minute later Strapp was just unable to stretch enough to reach McArthur’s long ball into the box, before some nice interplay between Barjonas and Dean McMaster broke down at the final pass.

McArthur joined the attack on 55 minutes, firing into the side netting after Henderson’s burst of pace had created space.

St Mirren hit back through Killian Phillips, whose shot was too high after good ball-winning from Alex Gogić.

Saints sub Roland Idowu missed the target with a 57th-minute effort before Phillips fired straight at Stone as the second half took on a real cup-tie feel.

Strapp was desperately unlucky with a curling strike just after the hour mark, the defender’s effort dipping just a second too late.

Airdrie got the equaliser their play merited on 66 minutes, McKinnon winning possession brilliantly before sliding in Barjonas, who skipped past a challenge and fed Henderson. The Diamond’s top scorer teed himself up with a fine first touch before smashing his 18th goal of the season beyond George.

The visitors almost got their noses back in front four minutes later, but a top save from Stone denied Idowu before opposite number George fielded a spectacular volleyed effort from sub Lewis McGrattan.

Some late pressure from the visitors was mopped up by Strapp and Stone, and St Mirren survived another penalty claim as McGrattan’s 81st-minute effort struck two hands in the box.

George pounced on a Henderson free-kick with five minutes of normal time remaining, and Idowu and Henderson exchanged off-target shots in stoppage time before the final whistle signalled an additional 30 minutes of action.

The Premiership side enjoyed most of the play in the first period, Declan John testing Stone with a 93rd-minute cross before Mandron was well marshalled two minutes later.

The French striker sent a header over the top on 98 minutes, and McGrattan was foiled at the other end as Phillips chased down the Diamonds midfielder.

Jamaican winger Jalmaro Calvin came off the bench for the Paisley men as the second period got underway and almost scored with his first touch, sending a shot from a deep cross just wide of the far post.

With penalties only five minutes away, St Mirren found their winner from a route-one ball from George. As the ball dropped over Devine’s head, Idowu lashed home a fine angled finish to win the match.

Idowu almost made it three in stoppage time, but there was no beating Stone this time, and it was by a one-goal margin that the Saints progressed.

It was a harsh ending for the Diamonds, who had put in 120 minutes of hard work and some skilful attacking football.

With the visit of Championship leaders St Johnstone in a week’s time, Aaron Taylor-Sinclair’s side must dust themselves down and resume full focus on the league campaign.