Match report: Saints 0-2 Kilmarnock

The visitors started strongly and they took the lead on 23 minutes as Joe Wright latched onto a Liam Polworth cross to turn the ball home from six yards.

Saints were much improved in the second half and they created several chances to get back into the game. Ryan McGowan came close to equalising on 75 minutes however Killie keeper Will Dennis tipped his effort onto the post.

Killie sealed the points with 9 minutes remaining as Marley Watkins slotted home from close range after Stuart Findlay had headed a Danny Armstrong free kick across the face of the Saints goal.

Saints now go into the post-split fixtures sitting in tenth place in the cinch Premiership with 31 points, 4 points clear of eleventh placed Ross County who play Rangers tomorrow lunchtime in Dingwall.  

MATCH REPORT

Saints welcomed Kilmarnock to McDiarmid Park this afternoon for their final cinch Premiership match before the post-split fixtures commence in a fortnight. Second half goals from Adama Sidibeh and Tony Gallacher saw Saints defeat Hibs 2-1 last Saturday and Craig Levein decided to go with the same team this afternoon which started at Easter Road. Kilmarnock also won last weekend as they collected all 3 points against Ross County as they defeated the Staggies 1-0 at The BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park. There was one change to the Killie starting eleven this afternoon as manager Derek McInnes brought in David Watson to replace Robbie Deas, who dropped to the bench.

Max Kucheriavyi got the match underway for Saints however, it was the visitors who created the first chance of the match after 2 minutes. Marley Watkins sent over an inviting ball from the right as he picked out Kyle Vassell in the centre of the box however, the Killie captain scuffed his shot as Dan Phillips turned the ball behind for a corner.

It was a strong start by the visitors as they peppered the Saints box with crosses. On 9 minutes a deep cross from the left by Liam Donnelly was met by Danny Armstrong who fizzed a volleyed effort narrowly over.

PHOTO: Max Kucheriavyi and Lewis Mayo

The breakthrough came on 23 minutes as Killie took the lead. Liam Polworth crossed the ball into the box from the right and Joe Wright muscled in front of Andy Considine to slide the ball past Dimitar Mitov from six yards.

6 minutes later the visitors were awarded a free kick after Armstrong was fouled by Luke Robinson. Armstrong took the free kick himself as he put his effort narrowly over.

Great play by Robinson on 32 minutes saw him intercept the ball on the halfway line to break up a Killie attack before breaking forward unchallenged into the visitors box and he unleashed a strike which Kilmarnock keeper Will Dennis saved with leg.

2 minutes later Wright’s long ball forward played in Watkins who got in behind the Saints defence and raced in on the Saints goal however, Mitov made a smart save as he turned the ball behind. From the resultant corner Matty Kennedy nearly caught out Mitov as his in-swinging corner clipped the bar.

PHOTO: Luke Robinson reacts as his shot is saved by Will Dennis

The pressure from the visitors continued and on 36 minutes Armstrong played in Kennedy however, Mitov was equal to the effort as he made another good save.  

Saints were quickly out of the traps at the start of the second half and they were awarded a free kick on 48 minutes after Considine was fouled by Watkins. Matt Smith took the free kick and he whipped a curling delivery into the box which was punched clear by Dennis however, his clearance only went as far as David Keltjens who took a touch before unleashing a strike which went over the bar.

Saints kept up the pressure and a minute later Matt Smith played in Kucheriavyi whose strike from 25 yards was palmed away by Dennis. Then shortly after Keltjens got another sight of goal however, he was unable to test Dennis with his left footed effort from the edge of the box.

The visitors came close to doubling their lead after they were awarded a free kick on 51 minutes following a foul on Vassell by Considine. Polworth took the free kick and his deep delivery was met by Stuart Findlay at the back post however, the on-loan Oxford United defender struck the side netting with his header.

PHOTO: Adama Sidibeh loses his footing as he gets into the penalty box

On 53 minutes Adama Sidibeh headed the ball onto Nicky Clark however, he blasted his first-time effort into the North Stand.

Saints made their first change of the game just before the hour mark as Graham Carey came on to replace Max Kucheriavyi.

Despite the Saints pressure Kilmarnock again came close to doubling their lead on 67 minutes as Keltjens made a brilliant goal line clearance to deny Watkins. The loose ball then broke to Polworth however, his low effort was turned around the post for a corner by Mitov.

Saints were then forced into another change as Connor Smith came on to replace Dan Phillips who had picked up a knock.

PHOTO: Graham Carey gets away from Kyle Vassell

With 15 minutes remaining Saints came close to an equaliser as Matt Smith’s corner from the left broke to Ryan McGowan who prodded the ball towards goal however, Dennis brilliantly tipped the ball onto the post.

Killie though ended the game as a contest with 9 minutes remaining as they got the decisive second goal. The visitors were awarded a free kick after Vassell was again fouled by Considine. Armstrong took the free kick as he floated the ball into the box and Findlay headed the ball across goal as Watkins knocked it home from close range.

Craig Levein then made a triple change as Benji Kimpioka, Fran Franczak and Stevie May came on to replace Adama Sidibeh, David Keltjens and Nicky Clark.

In the final minute of the ninety Killie substitute Kevin van Veen played in Rory McKenzie and the midfielder was able to get around Mitov being hitting the side netting with his effort.

6 minutes were added on at the end and in the first minute of added on time Robinson sent an inviting cross into the Killie box picking out Kimpioka whose acrobatic overhead kick went inches over the bar. Then shortly after May put his effort wide of the target after being played in by Carey to round off a disappointing afternoon.

PHOTO: Benji Kimpioka and Brad Lyons

Saints: Mitov, Gallacher, Considine, McGowan, Clark (May 88’), Kucheriavyi (Carey 59’), Sidibeh (Kimpioka 88’), Robinson, M. Smith, Keltjens (Franczak 88’), Phillips (C. Smith 69’)

Unused Substitutes: Richards (GK), MacPherson, Crawford

Booked: None

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Wright (Deas 63’), Mayo, Vassell (van Veen 88’), Kennedy, Armstrong (Ndaba 88’), Watson (McKenzie 77’), Findlay, Donnelly, Watkins, Polworth (Lyons 77’)

Unused Substitute: O’Hara (GK), Balagizi, Stewart, Mackay-Steven

Booked: None

Scorers: Wright (23’), Watkins (81’)

Referee: Calum Scott

VAR: John Beaton

Attendance: 4,087

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: David Keltjens skips a Matty Kennedy challenge