St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson hailed Michael Higdon after the striker defied illness to put the Buddies on their way to the Co-operative Insurance Cup semi-finals.

Higdon almost phoned in sick in the afternoon but later headed St Mirren's first goal in their 3-0 victory over Motherwell in Paisley.

With Craig Dargo out with a shoulder injury and Dennis Wyness on loan to Ayr, the former Falkirk striker stepped in for Tom Brighton, who ruptured a cruciate ligament during Saturday's 3-3 draw between the teams.

"He was touch and go whether he was playing because he had sickness and diarrhoea," MacPherson said. "He phoned about half past four to say he was struggling but we knew how crucial he would be.

"We are still a wee bit short in the striker department and it's credit to him that he has got that much of a shift into the game.

"He was drained, he wanted to come off after the second goal but he was vital to us, not just in the striker department, but defending set-pieces."

MacPherson added: "Special mention to Tom Brighton as well. The players are going to dedicate that to him because of the severity of his injury. Our thoughts are with him."

A deflected Jack Ross strike and a Stephen Craigan own goal took St Mirren's tally to 11 goals in four games, all of which were won apart from their Clydesdale Bank Premier League draw against Well.

"It's the hardest part of the game," MacPherson said. "In the last couple of years we have struggled in that department.

"Last year we were creating a lot of chances but didn't take them. That's vital and the players are playing with a lot of confidence just now."

The defeat was only Motherwell's second of the domestic season and Jim Gannon refused to be too critical of his young players.

"St Mirren were stronger in most departments," Gannon said. "As they got the goals, they grew in confidence. They played really well.

"I'm not going to be too hard on the lads, they have come a long way in the last three or four months. It was just a bad night at the office.

"All credit to St Mirren, they deserve to be in the hat and good luck to them in the next round."