Kilmarnock 0-1 Saints

The only goal of the game came on 11 minutes as captain Liam Gordon headed home a Graham Carey corner at the back post.

Kilmarnock came close to levelling the match just after the half an hour mark when Luke Chambers hit the post. The hosts were coming into the game as the first half progressed and on 43 minutes they hit the post again following Liam Donnelly low strike at goal.

However, just before half time Killie were reduced to ten men as David Watson was sent off for a reckless tackle on Cammy Ballantyne.

Saints had chances to further extend their lead in the second half and the closest Killie came to levelling the match was when substitute Jordan Jones saw his effort hit the side netting with 6 minutes remaining. Saints though comfortably saw the game out and with results elsewhere, it meant that they can now look forward to a fifteenth consecutive season in the top flight.

Next up for Saints is a trip to Dingwall on Wednesday evening to take on Ross County, kick off 7:45pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were on their travels today as they headed to Ayrshire to take on Kilmarnock at The BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park. Saints lost 2-0 to Motherwell at McDiarmid Park last Saturday and interim manager Steven MacLean made two changes to his starting eleven for this afternoon’s cinch Premiership match. Jamie Murphy dropped to the bench, whilst Dan Phillips missed out due to injury and they were replaced by Ryan McGowan and Cammy Ballantyne, who was making his first top flight start. Kilmarnock boasted their survival chances last weekend as they defeated Livingston 2-0 at The BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park and manager Derek McInnes decided to go with the same starting eleven which started against the Livi Lions last Saturday for this afternoon’s important league match.  

Graham Carey got the match underway for Saints but it the hosts who looked dangerous in the opening minutes as they were awarded a couple of free kicks in inviting positions however, they couldn’t take advantage as Saints comfortably dealt with the danger.

On 7 minutes a good ball forward by Ryan McGowan played in Drey Wright who broke into the box before unleashing a strike which was well saved by Sam Walker in the home goal. Then 3 minutes later Saints took the lead. Drey Wright’s cross was turned behind for a corner by Jeriel Dorsett and Carey took the corner from the right. Christian Doidge failed to deal with the delivery into the box as the ball bounced and Liam Gordon got the better of Joe Wright at the back post to head the ball into the net to put Saints a goal up.

PHOTO: Liam Gordon scores to make it 1-0

On 27 minutes Danny Armstrong won a corner for the hosts and it was taken by David Watson. The midfielder seemed to over hit his delivery into the box from the left but Joe Wright was able to get on the end of it to head it back across goal to Lewis Mayo however, his header was blocked by Adam Montgomery as Saints cleared their lines.

The first booking of the game came 2 minutes later as Ballantyne was shown a yellow card for a foul on Watson.

Killie were increasing the pressure and on 31 minutes they created another chance as Watson’s cross from the right was met by Kyle Vassell but his first-time effort didn’t trouble Remi Matthews as it went high into the stand.

Then a minute later Kilmarnock came within a whisker of levelling the match. Captain Rory McKenzie switched the ball out to the left to Luke Chambers and the on-loan Liverpool left back broke into the box before seeing his strike hit the post. The loose ball then broke to Watson however, he sent his first-time effort wide of the post. A big let off for Saints.

PHOTO: Drey Wright takes on Jeriel Dorsett

Killie were finishing the half the stronger of the two sides and they came close to an equaliser as they again hit the post on 43 minutes. Doidge played the ball into the path of Liam Donnelly and his low strike struck the base of Matthew’s right-hand post before going behind for a goal kick.

Then a minute later, for the third time in four games, our opponents were reduced to ten men as Killie’s Watson was sent off for a reckless tackle on Ballantyne.

30 seconds into the second half Saints created a good chance to double their lead as James Brown’s cross from the right was gathered by Cammy MacPherson, who took a touch before firing over.

On 50 minutes Stevie May played the ball into the feet of Carey, who played a lovely one-two with Ballantyne, before seeing his left-footed effort saved by Walker.

PHOTO: Cammy Ballantyne goes by Joe Wright and Jeriel Dorsett

Despite being a man down Killie continued to plug away and on 63 minutes Vassell played the ball into McKenzie who cut inside before unleashing a strike which was comfortably saved by Matthews.

On 69 minutes MacPherson cut the ball back to Montgomery but his shot was saved by Walker. Then a minute later Walker was again called into action as good play by Carey saw him beat the offside trap before seeing his effort saved by the Killie keeper. There was then a scramble in the Killie box as May played the ball to Drey Wright but his effort was turned behind for a corner by Joe Wright.

Saints made their first change of the game on 76 minutes as Zak Rudden came on to replace Stevie May.

The second half was a lively affair as a minute later a long throw-in by McGowan from the left was headed onto Drey Wright but his volley was well saved by Walker who turned the ball over for a corner.

PHOTO: Graham Carey's shot is saved by Sam Walker

With 10 minutes remaining Rudden was inches away from connection with Drey Wright’s cross from the right as Saints continued to press for a second goal. Then a minute later great play by Carey played in Ballantyne and the midfielder broke forward and was one-on-one with the Killie keeper however, his strike was palmed away by Walker. Saints gathered the loose ball as Drey Wright picked out MacPherson however, his right footed effort was also saved by Walker.

Kilmarnock continued to search for an equaliser and the Ayrshire side came close on 84 minutes as Vassell played in substitute Jordan Jones who used his pace to get away from Ballantyne before seeing his low strike hit the side netting.

Play quickly switched to the other end as Montgomery sent over an inviting ball into the box however, Joe Wright was alert to the danger as he was able to get in front of Rudden to turn the ball behind for a corner.

Saints then made their second change on 87 minutes as David Wotherspoon came on to replace Cammy Ballantyne.

The closing stages saw Saints create a couple of chances to end the game as a contest. Firstly, Drey Wright’s cross into the box was headed clear by Mayo however, his clearance only went as far as Carey who volleyed over. Then a great header from Carey played in Rudden however, he couldn’t find the target with his effort.

A late Killie corner saw Walker come up to join the hosts attack however, the Killie keeper couldn’t make an impact as Saints were able to scramble the ball away as they saw the game out to secure the three points and also their top flights status.  

PHOTO: Saints interim manager Steven MacLean celebrates at full time

Kilmarnock: Walker, Mayo, Dorsett (Lyons 62), McKenzie (Jones 78), Armstrong, Wright, Donnelly (Power 49), Vassell, Chambers, Doidge (Cameron 78), Watson

Unused Substitutes: Hemming (GK), Alston, Sanders, Robinson, Polworth

Booked: Doidge

Sent Off: Watson

Saints: Matthews, Brown, Considine, Gordon, May (Rudden 76), McGowan, Wright, MacPherson, Montgomery, Carey, Ballantyne (Wotherspoon 87)

Unused Substitutes: Sinclair (GK), Gallacher, Mitchell, Kane, Bair, McLennan, Murphy

Booked: Ballantyne, Montgomery, Matthews

Scorer: Gordon (11)

Referee: John Beaton

VAR: Andrew Dallas

Attendance: 6,004

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Ryan McGowan celebrates as the final whistle goes