Arbroath 2-2 St Johnstone (St Johnstone win 3-2 on pens): Saints could've done without extra time, says Callum Davidson
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St Johnstone needed penalties to see off a resilient Arbroath
St Johnstone "could have done without going to extra time" against Arbroath in the League Cup ahead of their Europa Conference League play-off with LASK, says Callum Davidson.
Davidson's cup holders required penalties to see off Arbroath at Gayfield and squeeze into the quarter-finals to face Dundee.
Ali McCann scored the decisive spot-kick after Arbroath missed three penalties, while Callum Booth and Jason Kerr failed to convert for the away side.
"I did look at it and made changes," said Davidson. "I tried to keep as strong a team as I could to try and get the right balance.
"We could have done without going to extra time for the European tie on Thursday night. What my players did was dug in. We went a goal down, and went another goal down and we came back from that."
St Johnstone's Glenn Middleton and Jamie McCart responded to Arbroath goals by Joel Nouble and Thomas O'Brien to send the game to penalty kicks after a hard-fought contest.
The result means Davidson has yet to suffer a domestic cup elimination as St Johnstone manager. His side face a trip to Austria on Thursday for the first leg of a play-off that could reward them with European group stage football.
After an even start, St Johnstone had a grip on the game. Middleton's early effort was tipped just wide before a long-range McCann strike flew over the bar.
However, it was Arbroath who took the lead, and Nouble will never score an easier goal. Nicky Low's corner fell to him at the back post, and he had the simple task of tapping the ball into net from a foot out.
The away team pressed for an equaliser as half-time approached. Reece Devine, Callum Hendry and Stevie May all went close but they levelled just before the hour when Derek Gaston fouled Devine in the box.
Skipper Kerr's spot-kick was saved but Middleton was on hand to put the rebound in.
It was then Arbroath's turn to threaten, Michael McKenna somehow blazing over with the goal at his mercy.
The game went in to extra time and Arbroath passed up a brilliant opportunity in the first minute as Luke Donnelly powered a shot at Elliot Parish from point-blank range.
However, they made no mistake moments later. A Bobby Linn corner eventually fell to O'Brien in the middle of the box and he volleyed the ball high into the net.
Yet, St Johnstone were not done. The Premiership side were soon level again as McCart got on the end of a Liam Craig corner to restore parity.
Davidson brought goalkeeper Zander Clark off the bench for the decisive shootout with the Perth club doing just enough to go through.
Man of the Match - Nicky Low
Low (centre) had a relentless work-rate in the middle of the park and drove Arbroath on
What the said
Arbroath manager Dick Campbell: "They did all right but they are out of the cup, I have no time for feeling sorry for myself.
"I have no time for players feeling sorry for themselves. St Johnstone have proven they don't give up."
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "I am just delighted we are through.
"We know it is a really tough period just now, it is a tough period with the European games."
What's next?
St Johnstone will travel to Austria to face LASK in the play-off round of the Europa Conference League (18:00 BST). Arbroath, meanwhile, welcome Partick Thistle to Gayfield in the Scottish Championship on Saturday (15:00).