St Mirren’s blushes were spared as they fought back from 2-0 down to win on penalties in Betfred Cup group G against Queen of the South.
Connor Shields and Aidan FItzpatrick gave Queens a two goal lead in the opening 13 minutes.
But goals from McGrath and Fraser brought the scores level and the Buddies took home the bonus point victory.
Johnston’s side drew 2-2 with Morton in midweek and took the bonus point penalty shootout win and made one switch as Fitzpatrick replaced ex- Rangers kid Rhys McCabe.
Meanwhile, Goodwin’s men opened their Betfred Cup account with a 4-1 win Partick Thistle on Wednesday night, but he still makes three changes as Cammy MacPherson, Junior Morias and Jon Obika are replaced by Sam Foley, Kyle McAllister and Ilkay Durmus.
Stephen Dobbie forced St Mirren stopper Jak Alnwick into a good save early on but it was just an example of what was to come.
Shields finished low past the Saints keeper eight minutes in to give the home side the lead, an advantage which was doubled by Fitzpatrick five minutes later with another good strike.
And defender Ayo Obileye could have made it three with a header from a corner but it went over.
Then the visitors came back into it in the last ten minutes of the half with a McAllister free kick tipped on to the bar by Rohan Ferguson, who also saved Fraser’s follow up, before Foley headed high and over from the resulting corner.
Obika replaced Nathan Sheron at the break but it was Jamie McGrath’s wide free kick which evaded everyone and went in at the far post to half the arrears early in the second half.
Shaughnessy thought he had pulled the sides level but his header was flicked behind by Ferguson but Fitzpatrick and East spurn good chances for the Doonhamers.
Goodwin threw Morias, Connolly and MacPherson on and Marcus Fraser’s injury time header sent the game to a shootout.
And the Paisley side were perfect from spot as Connolly hit the winning penalty in a 4-2 success from 12 yards.
