Ten-man Saints produced a tremendous display of resilience and determination this afternoon as they came back twice to secure a deserved point at Kilmarnock.
Saints suffered an early set-back as Toby Steward was sent off after 13 minutes for denying a goalscoring opportunity by handling the ball outside his box. From the resultant free kick on-loan Hull City defender Cathal McCarty headed the hosts into the lead.
Saints though fought back and they were on level terms on 40 minutes as Danny Schmidt scored his first Saints goal, glancing home an Enes Alić corner.
However, Saints lead only lasted a minute as Djenairo Daniels restored the home sides lead with a backheel finish.
Saints though were fought back again and they were back on level terms on 65 minutes. Joel Cotterill got his first Saints goal, slotting the ball into the far corner of the net following a quick break from a Kilmarnock corner.
Ross Sinclair then produced good saves to deny George Stanger and Tyreece John-Jules to ensure that Saints left the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park with a point.
Today’s result moves Saints up to seventh in the William Hill Premiership.
Saints are back in action next Saturday as they welcome Dundee to McDiarmid Park for a Tayside Derby, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints were back on their travels today as they headed to East Ayrshire to take on Kilmarnock at the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park. There were three changes to the side which started Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at home to Motherwell as Božo Mikulić, Joel Cotterill and Danny Schmidt came into the starting eleven. They replaced Daniel Finlayson, Jamie Gullan and Ruari Paton who all dropped to the bench. Kilmarnock lost 3-1 at Dundee in midweek and manager Neil McCann made two changes to his starting eleven this afternoon. Michael Schjønning-Larsen and Tyreece John-Jules both dropped to the bench, and they were replaced by Erik Ring and Djenairo Daniels.
It was a mild afternoon in Ayrshire as Killie captain Greg Kiltie got the match underway for the hosts.
It was an even opening to the match however, Saints were reduced to ten men on 13 minutes as goalkeeper Toby Steward was sent off after a VAR check for denying a goal scoring opportunity after the Saints number one handled the ball outside his box.
Ross Sinclair then came on to replace Taylor Steven and the first thing the keeper had to do was pick the ball out of the net as Killie took the lead from the resultant free kick. Kiltie took the free kick as his effort hit the Saints wall however, the winger got a second bite of the cherry as he gathered the loose ball and sent it deep into the Saints box. Cathal McCarthy those rose highest to connect with the delivery to plant a header into the far corner of the net.
PHOTO: Referee Matthew MacDermid sends off Toby Steward after he handled the ball outside the box
Now with the man advantage the hosts pushed forward to try and extend their lead as they sent some dangerous crosses into the Saints box, but the Saints defence stood firm. On 31 minutes Djenairo Daniels had the ball in the back of the net for the hosts however, the goal was ruled out as the forward had been offside in the build-up.
With 6 minutes of the first half remaining Enes Alić burst down the left channel before sending over a cross into the box which Josh Fowler connected with however, Nico Mantl in the Killie goal made a good save as the German keeper turned the header from the Saints forward behind for a corner. Alić took the corner from the right and his delivery into the box was met by Danny Schmidt as the German forward glanced his header into the net for his first goal for the club to bring Saints level.
However, from the restart Kilmarnock regained the lead a minute later. Joe Hugill got away from Cheick Diabate on the right and burst down the wing before sending a low ball into the box which was met by Daniels. The Suriname striker produced a good back-heel flick to send the ball beyond Sinclair and into the net.
PHOTO: Danny Schmidt scores his goal
PHOTO: Danny Schmidt celebrates his goal
4 minutes were added on at the end of the first half and in the second minute of stoppage time Sinclair produced a good save to turn a Kiltie strike behind for a corner which came to nothing.
Saints made a double change before the second half got underway as Josh Campbell and Matty Foulds came on for Josh Fowler and Matty Todd.
Saints made a good start to the second half as they passed the ball about well and pushed forward for an equaliser. On 56 minutes Alić drew a foul from Jamie Brandon out wide on the left bye-line, which the Killie right-back was booked for. Reece McAlear took the free kick as he sent the ball deep into the box which was cleared by the Kilmarnock defence.
PHOTO: Matty Foulds is grabbed by Jamie Brandon
On the hour mark a cross from the left by substitute Nicky Cleșcenco picked out Tyreece John-Jules however, the fellow substitute couldn’t make a clean connection with the delivery as it went behind for a goal kick. Then shortly after Cleșcenco got another sight of goal however, the winger sent a curling low right-footed effort the wrong side of Sinclair’s left-hand post.
Saints then made another change as captain Jason Holt made way for Logan Chlamers.
The Rugby Park side continued to push forward and on 63 minutes a neat back-heel from Hugill played in Aaron Tshibola, but his effort was straight at Sinclair who comfortably saved the shot. Then shortly after Alić made a brilliant sliding block on Kiltie to turn the ball behind for a corner.
Kiltie took the corner from the right but his delivery into the box was headed clear by Diabate. Alić chased down the loose ball as Saints looked to hit the hosts on a counter-attack. The Bosnian then picked out Joel Cotterill who chested the ball down before firing a right-footed effort beyond Mantl and into the net for his first goal for the club to bring Saints level for the second time in the game.
PHOTO: Joel Cotterill celebrates his goal
Simo Valakari then made his final change of the game as Daniel Finlayson came on to replace Božo Mikulić.
Kilmarnock came back and tried to regain the lead as John-Jules curled an effort wide of the far post on 69 minutes. Then shortly after the forward got another chance to restore Killie’s lead however, his overhead kick didn’t trouble Sinclair.
Hesitation by Diabate near the halfway line on 73 minutes resulted in Cleșcenco getting a sight of goal but the winger dragged his effort wide of the target.
With 6 minutes of normal time remaining Sinclair produced a good save to push away a George Stanger effort. Then a minute later John-Jules put his effort wide from a McCarty cross from the right as the hosts continued to search for the winner.
PHOTO: Enes Alić and Cathal McCarthy
Kilmarnock persisted with their aerial approach, as Kiltie whipped an inviting delivery into the box from the right on 87 minutes, only for Sinclair to produce a brilliant point-blank save to deny John-Jules. Moments later, Cleșcenco fired wide after being picked out by a Tshibola cut-back.
4 minutes were added on at the end of the second half, with Campbell coming close to stealing all three points in the opening minute of stoppage time as he spotted Mantl was off his line and attempted an audacious effort from inside his own half, only to see his strike drift narrowly wide. Saints though held firm to secure a superb point on the road, with the players collapsing to the pitch at the final whistle after giving everything for one another in a fantastic display of teamwork and commitment.
PHOTO: Ross Sinclair and Reece McAlear celebrate at full time
Kilmarnock: Mantl, Brandon, McCarthy, Deas (Schjønning-Larsen 71’), Ring (Cleșcenco 58’), Hugill, Kiltie, Stanger, Lowery, Daniels (John-Jules 58’), Tshibola
Unused Substitutes: Ferrie (GK), Kamson-Kamara, McKenzie, Meier, Mathurin, Owen
Booked: Tshibola, Brandon, Cleșcenco
Scorers: McCarthy (14’), Daniels (41’)
Saints: Steward, Alić, Diabate, Mikulić (Finlayson 67’), Steven (Sinclair 14’), Holt (Chalmers 63’), Fowler (Campbell 45’), Schmidt, Todd (Foulds 45’), Cotterill, McAlear
Unused Substitutes: Gullan, Tait, Brookfield, Paton
Booked: Holt, Todd
Sent Off: Steward
Scorers: Schmidt (40’), Cotterill (65’)
Referee: Matthew McDermid
VAR: Nick Walsh
Attendance: 4,615
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Danny Schmidt celebrates his goal
