Mehmet's goal was the icing on the cake on a fine team performance

St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson hailed Billy Mehmet's winner but gave credit to his whole side for reaching the Co-operative Insurance Cup final.

"It was a goal worthy of winning any game," MacPherson said after the 1-0 win over Hearts at Fir Park.

"He is capable of that, in the cups, it's just the league he can't do it!

"It's not about me, it's about the players. I thought they were a credit, every single one of them stood up to the plate."

It will be St Mirren's first major final appearance for 23 years and they now await the winner of Wednesday's semi-final between Rangers and St Johnstone.

I thought we thoroughly deserved to win St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson

MacPherson brought in Chris Innes to move to a three-man central defence to cope with the poor Fir Park pitch and Hearts' physical presence and the tactics paid off, but he gushed praise on his players.

"Questions have been asked of them in the last couple of weeks, but they have certainly answered them," he said.

"I thought we thoroughly deserved to win."

Mehmet curled home from 25 yards in the 52nd minute to take his tally in the tournament to seven goals.

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"He is technically a very good striker," said MacPherson.

"He missed a very good chance on Saturday against Hibs when he probably would have been better putting the front of his foot through it.

"But he always tries to show composure and pass it in and he has done it again. It was a fantastic finish."

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