ALEX RAE was left frustrated for yet another time after his St Mirren team were outdone by high-flying Hibs.

The Buddies boss lambasted his men in Kirkcaldy last weekend in the wake of a 3-1 defeat to Raith Rovers and his mood was not much better on Saturday as his search for a first Championship win of the campaign continues.

A first half double from Jason Cummings did the damage at the Paisley 2021 Stadium, meaning the hosts now sit with just one point from their opening three games.

Rae was particularly frustrated at the concession of Hibs’ second goal when a defence mix up between Jack Baird and keeper Jack Baird allowed Cummings to nip in and knock the stuffing out of Saints.

“I thought up until 20 minutes we were battling away and it was all right,” said the St Mirren manager. “The second goal you can’t legislate for. You can prepare all you want and it’s the second week on the bounce it’s happened, it’s about taking responsibility.

“When it’s 2-0 you’re chasing the game for more or less the rest of the time. You’re conscious of the fact you don’t want to get a doing, you want to work your way back into the game, and it just never came.

“The game just fizzled out.”

In last weekend’s rant at his players, Rae was critical of his team’s work rate at Stark’s Park, and this time round he was left scratching his head after they struggled to execute their defensive plan to nullify Hibs.

“We’ve watched some footage of them in the last few weeks," said the Saints boss, whose side travel to Somerset Park to take on Ayr United next week.

“One of the things when you play against them is their fullbacks get forward. We were conscious of that and one of the key things we were asking of our wider players and fullbacks was to stop the cross at source.

“Unfortunately we just don’t do that and when you give [David] Gray that time and space he’ll pick out players.”