Kilmarnock 2-1 Saints

The hosts took the lead on 11 minutes as Armstrong curled a fine free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

Armstrong then got his and Killie’s second on 46 minutes as he reacted quickest to head home the rebound after Chris Stokes had seen his effort crash off the crossbar.

Theo Bair pulled a goal back for Saints in stoppage time with a half volley to setup a tense finish however, the hosts saw the game out to secure the points.

Saints are back in action on Saturday lunchtime as they welcome Celtic to McDiarmid Park, kick off 12:30pm.

MATCH REPORT

Saints were back in action this evening as they made the trip to Ayrshire to take on Kilmarnock at The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park. Saints defeated Dundee United 2-1 at the weekend and Callum Davidson made two changes to the side which started at Tannadice as James Brown and Ali Crawford came in to replace Adam Montgomery and Jamie Murphy. There was also a place on the bench for David Wotherspoon who was making his return from injury. The midfielder had been side-lined since last November after he suffered anterior cruciate ligament damage in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic at Hampden Park. Kilmarnock lost 4-1 at Aberdeen on Saturday and manager Derek McInnes made five changes to his starting eleven this evening. Joe Wright, Brad Lyons, Liam Polworth, Oli Shaw and Christian Doidge all dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Chris Stokes, Rory McKenzie, Danny Armstrong, Blair Alston and Kyle Lafferty.

It was a wet evening in Kilmarnock as Stevie May got the match underway for Saints. The hosts started brightly and they forced a series of corners in the opening 5 minutes. Then on 6 minutes Blair Alston got a sight of goal but he dragged his effort wide.

Saints created their first chance of the match on 9 minutes as a good ball out wide by Ryan McGowan played in Drey Wright as he broke into the box before cutting the ball back to Nicky Clark but his shot was parried by Zach Hemming. The loose ball then broke to Ali Crawford but Hemming made another fine save.

Killie were awarded a free kick on 11 minutes after Danny Armstrong had been fouled by James Brown. Both Kyle Lafferty and Danny Armstrong stood over the ball and it was the latter who took the free kick as he let fly with his left foot to curl 25-yard effort over the wall and into the top right corner of the net to put Killie a goal up.

PHOTO: Stevie May is tackled by Ash Taylor

On 26 minutes good play by Brown out on the left saw him cut inside and pick out Crawford on the edge of the box however, the strike from the midfielder was tipped over by Hemming for a corner. Crawford took the corner from the right and his floated ball into the box was met by Clark but his header was deflected behind for another corner by Ben Chrisene. Crawford again took the corner this time sending a deep one to the back post which Alex Mitchell got on the end of however, the header from the on-loan Millwall defender didn’t trouble Hemming.   

Killie created a good chance to double their lead on 38 minutes as Jordan Jones broke down the left before playing the ball into the box and it was met by Alston and it looked like he had time to compose himself before unleashing his strike however, his first-time effort didn’t trouble Remi Matthews.

PHOTO: Ryan McGowan is watched by Rory McKenzie

The hosts doubled their lead in the first minute of the second half as Chris Stokes saw his effort hit the crossbar and Armstrong was in quick to head the rebound into the net.

On 56 minutes Saints created a chance to get back into the game as Clark played the ball back to May on the edge of the box however, the Saints forward blasted his effort high into the Stand.

Saints then made a double change as Tony Gallacher, who was making his first appearance since breaking his leg six months ago, and Jamie Murphy came on to replace Alex Mitchell and Stevie May.

PHOTO: Danny Armstrong scores Kilmarnock's second goal

Armstrong almost completed his hat-trick just after the hour mark as he cut in from the right and jinked his way past a couple of Saints players before unleashing a fine curling effort that went inches wide.

Callum Davidson made another double change on 72 minutes as Max Kucheriavyi and Theo Bair came on to replace Ali Crawford and Drey Wright.

Saints final change of the game then came with 10 minutes remaining as Ryan McGowan made way for Michael O’Halloran. 

Saints continued to press for a goal to make the closing minutes interesting but Killie were putting in a strong defensive performance to limit Saints chances.  

Then out of nowhere Saints got a goal in the first minute of stoppage time as Bair sent a fine half volley into the net to make it a nervy end for the hosts. However, they weathered the late storm to see out the game and secure the 3 points.

PHOTO: Theo Bair celebrates his goal

Kilmarnock: Hemming, Mayo, Taylor, Chrisene, Stokes, McKenzie, Power, Armstrong (Wright 89), Jones (Shaw 77), Alston (Lyons 65), Lafferty (Doidge 65)

Unused Substitutes: Walker (GK), McInroy, Cameron, Polworth, Warnock

Booked: None

Scorers: Armstrong (11, 46)

Saints: Matthews, Gordon, Considine, Mitchell (Gallacher 58), Brown, Wright (Bair 72), Hallberg, McGowan (O’Halloran 80), Crawford (Kucheriavyi 72), May (Murphy 58), Clark,

Unused Substitutes: Parish(GK), Mahon, Wotherspoon, McLennan

Booked: Gordon, Mitchell, McGowan

Scorer: Bair (90+1)

Referee: Alan Muir

Attendance: 4,463 (216 Saints fans)

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Ali Crawford battles with Blair Alston