STEVEN THOMPSON has urged boss Danny Lennon to add more firepower to the St Mirren front line.

The striker is concerned that Saints are too lightweight up top and is hoping his manager will bring in another hitman as soon as possible.

After crashing to a 3-0 defeat at Inverness Caley in their SPFL Premiership opener, Thompson reckons a new arrival before the maiden home bow of the new campaign against Kilmarnock would be a huge plus.

The 34-year-old star said: "We are a bit short on numbers in the forward positions and I'm sure the gaffer will be doing everything he can to bring in a new face.

"But I think we could do with someone with a bit of pace who can get in behind the opposition defence and really give us that extra threat.

"Nothing scares a back four more than a player with pace to burn, and I think we lack a bit of that.

"I just felt that up at Inverness we were lacking a goal threat, so with a bit of luck the manager will still have room in his budget to bring someone in."

While Saturday's opening-day defeat may have hinged on the award of a disputed penalty to Terry Butcher's side, the candid Thompson reckons that Saints were largely the architects of their own downfall.

With the score at 0-0, the Highland side were given a spot-kick when defender David van Zanten was adjudged to have used an arm to block James Vincent's shot.

But Thompson said: "We have developed a trait over pre- season, and it carried on into the opener with Inverness, where we have been conceding cheap goals.

"That is something we have to eradicate as soon as we can and hopefully make sure against Kilmarnock that we are watertight.

"While none of us agreed with the penalty award, the second goal just after the break was one that could have been avoided.

"Then we concede a third and have a man sent off and things have gone from bad to worse."

But the St Mirren talisman says that there is no sense of panic in the Paisley ranks after their Highland hammering.

Thompson said: "It is the old adage of the league being a marathon rather than a sprint, so there is no way we are going to get too down on ourselves.

"The bottom line is that in the first half we were arguably the better side up at Inverness and if we had got the opening goal, or they had not been awarded that penalty, then it may well have been a different story.

"When you are lacking a bit of a goal threat and conceding cheap goals you make life very difficult for yourself and that is ultimately what cost us at Inverness.

"But I think it is a bonus we have no midweek match this week and we can just get on with things in the training ground and make sure we are ready for Killie.

"This is our first home game of the season and we know that there will be a big turnout from the St Mirren support - it is vital that we get it right in front of them.

"Inverness away on the first day was always going to be a tough game, but at home we must take care of business."