Ayr Utd 1-2 St Johnstone: Perth side recover to reach Scottish Cup last eight

Callum Hendry claimed St Johnstone's first goal but was only credited with their second

Aaron Muirhead scored an own goal and was sent off as second-tier Ayr United were knocked out of the Scottish Cup by top-flight St Johnstone.

Ayr, who shocked Ross County in the last round, led through Aaron Drinan's strike but Muirhead was credited with the goal that drew Saints level.

The defender then saw red for a tackle on Liam Craig moments before Callum Hendry headed the visitors in front.

The Perth team controlled the second half to secure a quarter-final berth.

The draw takes place on Sunday afternoon with the ties to be played over the weekend of 29 February.

No repeat of cup glory for Ayr

It was some first half at Somerset Park, with Muirhead the pantomime villain. Ayr were leading by a goal coolly executed by Ipswich loanee Drinan, when Muirhead took centre stage.

First he was booked for a rash tackle and then he looked to be the scorer of an own goal. A hopeful cross from the left held up in the wind and deceived Ayr goalkeeper Ross Doohan and, as Muirhead and Hendry jumped, the ball seemed to come off the United player. Hendry, inevitably, claimed it.

But worse followed. Muirhead was on the end of a straight red card - not a second yellow - for his reckless challenge on Craig.

And from the resulting free-kick St Johnstone worked the ball down the right and on to the head of Hendry, who made it 2-1.

The Perth side had further chances after the break with Hendry and David Wotherspoon testing Doohan while Ayr struggled to regain a foothold in the match.

'We should have scored more' - reaction

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright: "The conditions were horrendous and our start was just as bad. But after that we settled into the game, got a good equaliser and even against 11 men we took control. We should have scored more goals second half.

"We can dream of winning the cup - but we need to see who we get in the draw. You only need to win five games and now we've won two of them."

Ayr United player-manager Mark Kerr: "I thought Aaron's first challenge was all right, I didn't think it was a yellow card but maybe it was.

"But the second one, it's so close to the first yellow that it's stupid. You've got to just hold back a wee bit and I think Aaron knows that."