Mooy (centre) has been invited back on trial at St Mirren Park

St Mirren manager Danny Lennon has urged his side to change their mentality to avoid conceding early goals after losing to St Johnstone.

"We were slow to get started again and gave ourselves a mountain to climb," Lennon told BBC Scotland after his side went two behind in a 2-1 defeat.

"It is a mentality. They prepared very well all week and then, in the last hour of the game, you get a reaction.

"It was poor defending from experienced players from whom I expect better."

With Paul McGowan suspended following his red card against Kilmarnock, Gareth Wardlaw was St Mirren's only available striker.

Lennon was not prepared to lay the blame for the defeat at McDiarmid Park on the absence of forwards.

Aaron Mooy looked good and has been invited back to we can have another look at him St Mirren manager Danny Lennon

"We are at this time trying to put round pegs in square holes, but there's no suspension or worries other than Dave Barron at the other end," he said.

"St Johnstone could actually, prior to our goal, have put the game beyond us.

"We've got to give ourselves 90 minutes to get points that are very difficult to come by on the road."

Meanwhile, St Mirren have invited 19-year-old former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Aaron Mooy back to the Paisley club on trial.

The Australia Under-20 international picked up a knock after impressing in a match behind closed doors against Kilmarnock.

Lennon told his club website: "He looked good but had to go off during the first half with a knock.

"But he has been invited back so we can have a further look at him."

Mooy had come through the ranks at Bolton but rejected the offer of a new contract this summer saying he wanted to play in Netherlands, Italy or Germany.

He has been back in his homeland training with A-League outfit Sydney.

Lennon will also give former Clyde and Queen of the South full-back Michael McGowan, who played against Kilmarnock and whose contract with Dundalk was terminated, another chance to shine.

"Michael has played a few bounce games for us," added Lennon, who did not think that McGowan had done himself justice against Killie.

"We've brought him in for training for a few days and he's not looked out of place."

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