Saints marked their return to the William Hill Premiership this afternoon as they defeated Kilmarnock in a seven-goal thriller at McDiarmid Park.
Saints got off to the perfect start in 16 minutes as they took advantage of a mistake by Aaron Tshibola and Josh Fowler sent a powerful strike beyond Max Stryjek.
Saints dominated possession during the first half however, Killie equalised on 37 minutes when Greg Kiltie ghosted in at the back post to slot home a knock down from Tom Lowery.
The second half began at a frantic pace. Just two minutes after the restart, Cheick Diabate restored Saints advantage by powering home a header from Jamie Gullan’s corner.
Kilmarnock responded 2 minutes later as Joe Hugill lifted the ball over Toby Steward to make it 2-2. The visitors then turned the game around on 53 minutes when Steward saved Nicky Cleșcenco’s effort, but the rebound cannoned off Jason Holt and into the net.
Saints refused to give in and were rewarded on 69 minutes. Gullan’s free-kick took a deflection off Kilmarnock defender Michael Schjønning-Larsen before finding the back of the net to bring the scores level once again.
Then with 10 minutes remaining Kai Fotheringham struck the decisive goal to seal the 3 points for Saints.
Next up for Saints is a trip to Paisley next Saturday to take on St Mirren, kick off 3pm.
MATCH REPORT
Saints got their William Hill Premiership campaign underway this afternoon as they welcomed Kilmarnock to McDiarmid Park. There was one change to the side which started the 1-1 draw at home to East Fife last weekend in the Premier Sports Cup, which the Fife side won 5-4 on penalties to secure the bonus point, as Josh Fowler came in to replace Logan Chalmers who dropped to the bench. Kilmarnock were held to a goalless draw at Peterhead last Saturday in the Premier Sports Cup, with the League One side winning the penalty shootout 5-4 to secure the bonus point and manager Neil McCann made four changes to his starting eleven this afternoon. George Stanger, Tom Lowery, Nicky Clescenco and Aaron Tshibola all came into the starting eleven to replace Euan Bowie, Mark O’Hara and Bailey Rice, who all dropped to the bench, whilst Robbie Deas missed out completely.
Before the match got underway Saints chairman Adam Webb unfurled the Championship flag to commemorate last season’s title triumph.
PHOTO: Saints chairman Adam Webb raising the Scottish Championship Flag
Greg Kiltie got the match underway for the visitors however, it was Saints who started positively controlling possession.
Jason Holt won Saints a free kick on 8 minutes after he was fouled out wide on the left by Erik Ring. Jamie Gullan took the free kick and his delivery into the box was turned behind for a corner by Ring. Then shortly after Matty Foulds won Saints another corner. It was taken by Gullan and his delivery from the left picked out Sam Stanton at the near post, but he couldn’t test Max Stryjek in the Killie goal with his header.
It was a good start to the match by Saints and on 11 minutes good pressing by Liam Smith saw the defender win the ball from Michael Schjønning-Larsen before playing a good one-two with Stanton as he advanced down the right channel. Smith then sent over an inviting ball into the box, picking out Gullan whose header was well saved by Stryjek however, played was pulled back as Gullan had been in an offside position.
The pressure from Saints continued and on 14 minutes another Gullan corner from the left this time picked out Smith at the back post however, he put his header narrowly wide of the target.
Saints good start to the match was rewarded 2 minutes later as they took the lead. Stanton won the ball just after the halfway line following a slip by Aaron Tshibola and the midfielder then burst forward before picking out Ruari Paton on the left. The forward then played a good pass to Gullan whose cut back from the bye-line fell nicely to Josh Fowler and the Saints number nine fired a powerful strike beyond Stryjek to put Saints a goal up.
PHOTO: Josh Fowler scores to make it 1-0
Saints continued to look the more dangerous side going forward and on 28 minutes Holt played in Paton whose strike forced a good save from Stryjek. Then shortly after Gullan put his effort narrowly wide from the edge of the box.
Then with 8 minutes of the first remaining Kilmarnock equalised against the run of play. Ring sent a good ball into the box which was headed down by Tom Lowery to Kiltie who sneaked in at the back post to slot the ball home from six yards.
PHOTO: Matty Foulds and Aaron Tshibola
Saints though regained the lead 2 minutes into the second half. Fowler did well to force Brandon to put the ball behind for a corner. Gullan sent over a corner from the left and it was met by Cheick Diabate at the back post who planted a powerful downward header beyond Stryjek and into the net.
However, Saints lead only 2 minutes as Joe Hugill took advantage of hesitancy from Toby Steward to touch a looping cross over the Saints number one to level the match. Then on 53 minutes the Ayrshire side took the lead. Steward produced an excellent save to deny Nicky Cleșcenco but the rebound struck Holt on the head and ricocheted into the net.
On the hour mark a cross from Killie substitute Jamie Brandon was met by Kiltie but Steward produced a brilliant save to touch the header from the Killie captain around the post for a corner.
PHOTO: Cheick Diabate celebrates his goal
Saints then made a double change as Jason Holt and Ruari Paton made way for Logan Chalmers and Kai Fotheringham.
Chalmers was very quickly involved in the action as on 63 minutes the attacking midfielder received the ball from Fowler as he cut in from the right before seeing his low effort saved by Stryjek.
Reece McAlear won Saints a free kick in an inviting position on 68 minutes after he had been fouled by Brandon. It was the midfielder’s last involvement in the match as before the free kick could be taken McAlear made way for Louis Lloyd, and the Welshman made an instant impact. Gullan whipped the free kick into the box and Lloyd looked to get on the end of the delivery with his head as the ball went in off Schjønning-Larsen to bring Saints level.
PHOTO: Jamie Gullan’s free kick takes a touch off Michael Schjønning-Larsen to make it 3-3
Saints continued to press forward and on 79 minutes Fowler was inches away from connecting with a Gullan delivery with a diving header as Stryjek gathered. Then a minute later Saints were ahead. Fotheringham played a neat one-two down the left with Fowler before moving the ball onto his right foot and dispatched a low strike beyond Stryjek to put Saints back into the lead.
Saints made further changes as they looked to protect their advantage as Josh Fowler and Jamie Gullan made way for Macaulay Tait and Jack Baird.
There was 6 minutes added on at the end of the second half. Deep into stoppage time Schjønning-Larsen cut the ball back to Bailey Rice, but the Killie substitute blasted his effort over the crossbar as Saints saw the game out to secure a great win to mark their return to the William Hill Premiership.
PHOTO: Simo Valakari celebrates with the fans at full time
Saints: Steward, Diabate, Mitchell, Holt (Chalmers 61’), Fowler (Tait 84’), Gullan (Baird 85’), Stanton, Foulds, Smith, McAlear (Lloyd 69’), Paton (Fotheringham 61’)
Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Boyes, Steven, Finlayson
Booked: Smith, Diabate
Scorers: Fowler (16’), Diabate (47’), Schjønning-Larsen (69’ og), Fotheringham (80’)
Kilmarnock: Stryjek, Ring (O’Hara 66’), Hugill, John-Jules (Brandon 45+2’), Kiltie (Owen 85’), Stanger, Lowery, Cleșcenco (Mathurin 59’), Schjønning-Larsen, Brown, Tshibola (Rice 59’)
Unused Substitutes: Ferrie (GK), McKenzie, Yfeko, Bowie
Booked: John-Jules, Brandon
Scorers: Kiltie (37’), Hugill (49’), Holt (53’ og)
Referee: John Beaton
VAR: Greg Aitken
Attendance: 5,733
Match Report by Daryl Scott
Picture: Kai Fotheringham celebrates his goal
