Gary Locke calls for consistency from cup crusaders Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock manager Gary Locke saw the best of his team in Saturday's William Hill Scottish Cup victory over St Johnstone and demanded more of the same on a regular basis.

Scotland Under-21 international Craig Slater's early free-kick strike ensured Kilmarnock, as 1-0 winners in Perth, go into Monday's fifth-round draw.

Locke fielded half a dozen home-grown youngsters and saw Kilmarnock produce one of their most accomplished performances of this campaign.

"It was a really good performance in difficult conditions. At times we moved the ball as well as we have most of the season," Locke said.

"We have to try to get that on a consistent basis. We have played really well and really badly. That has been our problem.

"But if we can get performances like that hopefully we can turn the corner. We aren't going to get carried away. But we are in the next round."

Locke endured a torrid time of it late last year but he was quick to acknowledge the supportive travelling fans.

He said: "We had six lads from the academy in the starting line-up and I don't think Kilmarnock get the credit we deserve when you look at some of the youngsters we have brought through over the years.

"The academy boys do a fantastic job. I wouldn't put them in the team if I didn't think they were good enough.

"We are a young side. You see that young players playing with confidence try things. I thought some of them were exceptional.

"I would rather I got the stick than the young players. Youngsters respond to encouragement.

"The fans were brilliant at Perth. They got right behind the team, encouraging them from start to finish.

Kilmarnock are eager to escape the relegation play-off position in the Ladbrokes Premiership, and Locke added: "It has been a difficult season for all of us so far but with performances like that hopefully we can turn it around."

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright lamented a series of missed chances as the previously free-scoring Perth side clocked up a fourth successive game without a goal.

Hamilton will be the visitors to McDiarmid Park next weekend, with Accies on the back of a humiliating cup exit at Annan's hands.

Wright said of his team's own cup demise: "We didn't start the game anywhere near where we should have. We didn't play with any tempo.

"It was a similar pattern to the previous three games. We had maybe even more chances than in the previous four games but we have ended up with very few points and out of the cup. So of course we are disappointed."

Midfielder Chris Millar suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury.

Wright said: "The form of Murray Davidson and getting Graham Cummins back pleased me. I thought Craig Thomson and John Sutton did well off the bench. There are some positives but in cup games it is hard to take positives when you get beaten."