Saints 1-0 Kilmarnock

The only goal of the game came after 4 minutes as Stevie May’s strike trickled past Zach Hemming after it took a deflection off Ash Taylor’s legs.

Saints thought they had been reduced to ten men just after the hour mark when James Brown was shown a red card for a tackle on Liam Donnelly however, it was eventually downgraded to a yellow card by referee Craig Napier following a lengthy VAR review.

The Ayrshire side thought they had levelled the match with 13 minutes remaining when Donnelly headed the ball into the net however Napier chalked the goal off for a foul in the box and the decision stood following another VAR review.

Today’s result sees Saints move up to seventh in the cinch Premiership with 16 points.

Next up for Saints is a home game against Rangers next Sunday, kick off 12pm.

MATCH REPORT

After being on their travels for the last fortnight Saints were back on home territory this afternoon as they welcomed Kilmarnock to McDiarmid Park. Saints came from behind last Friday evening as second half goals from Nicky Clark and Stevie May saw the Perth side defeat ten-man Hibs 2-1 at Easter Road. Callum Davidson made two changes to his starting eleven this afternoon as Adam Montgomery and Connor McLennan both dropped to the bench and they were replaced by Stevie May and Graham Carey who was making his first appearance since suffering a knee injury. Kilmarnock grounded out a narrow 1-0 win against Ross County at The BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park last weekend and manager Derek McInnes also made two changes to his starting eleven. Both Chris Stokes and Rory McKenzie came in to replace Ryan Alebiosu, who dropped to the bench, and the injured Ben Chrisene.

After the players showed their support for Show Racism the Red Card, Jordan Jones got the match underway for the visitors however, Saints were out the traps quickly and they took the lead after 4 minutes. A good move forward saw Ryan McGowan switch the ball to Drey Wright who burst down the right channel before sending over an inviting ball into the area. The ball then broke to James Brown and he slipped it to Stevie May who did well to get past his man before unleashing a strike which took a deflection off Ash Taylor’s legs to take it beyond Zach Hemming as it nestled in the far corner of the net.

PHOTO: The players hold show racism the red card posters before the match

On 22 minutes a Jordan Jones corner from the left was met by Innes Cameron but his header didn’t trouble Remi Matthews. Then shortly after Kerr McInroy unleashed a strike from distance that went narrowly wide.

Saints were looking dangerous going forward and on 35 minutes a good pass by May saw the forward play the ball over the top to Nicky Clark who then slipped it in the path of Graham Carey however, he couldn’t get his shot away as he was crowded out by the Killie rearguard who cleared the danger.

The visitors continued to search for an equaliser and on 37 minutes Daniel Armstrong sent over an inviting cross from the right which Rory McKenzie was inches away from connecting with at the back post.

Play quickly switched to the other end as May played a good one-two with Melker Hallberg however, the in-form forward couldn’t make a clean connection with his strike as Hemming comfortably gathered the ball.

PHOTO: Zack Hemming can only watch as Stevie May’s deflected shot goes in at the far post

The final chance of the half fell to the Ayrshire side as on 40 minutes Cameron had a go from the edge of the box however, his effort was straight at Matthews.

Kilmarnock made a change before the second half got underway as Liam Donnelly came on to replace Lewis Mayo.

The visitors created the first chance of the second half on 50 minutes as following a looping back pass by Alex Mitchell which Matthews did well to deal with as he turned the ball behind for a corner. Jones took the corner from the left and his delivery broke to McInroy but Matthews made a good save as the Saints defence cleared the danger. Then on 58 minutes Kilmarnock were awarded a free kick following a foul on Armstrong by Ryan McGowan. Jones took the free kick and he sent a deep delivery in the box which Donnelly got up well to meet as the midfielder sent a header across goal however, Matthews made a brilliant fingertip save. The pressure on the Saints goal continued and on the hour mark Jones fired wide as Killie continued to search for an equaliser.

This afternoon’s match was the first-time VAR was in operation at McDiarmid Park and just after the hour mark there was a big VAR moment. James Brown was shown a red card for a tackle on Donnelly however, following a lengthy VAR review which saw the referee, Craig Napier, go to the monitor to review the straight red card, the official decided to downgrade the decision to a yellow card.  

PHOTO: Referee Craig Napier watches the James Brown tackle on the VAR monitor after which he changes his mind and downgrades the decision to a yellow card

Saints then made their first change of the game on 65 minutes as Connor McLennan came on to replace Nicky Clark.

A good move by Saints on 72 minutes saw May win the ball on the halfway line and he broke forward before playing in McLennan whose strike was saved by Hemming.

The Perth side made their second change of the game 2 minutes later as Graham Carey was replaced by David Wotherspoon.

Saints then almost got a second as great play by Drey Wright saw him the ball past Donnelly before picking out May with his cross however, his downward header went inches wide.

There was another VAR review on 77 minutes as the visitors thought they had levelled the match as Donnelly headed the ball in the net from a corner however, Napier ruled the goal out for a foul on May in the box by Cameron. The decision was reviewed by VAR and it was decided that the on-field decision should stand.

PHOTO: Kilmarnock put the ball in the net but referee Craig Napier blows for a foul on Stevie May

With 3 minutes of normal time remaining Saints were awarded a free kick following a foul on McLennan by Taylor. Hallberg took the free kick and he sent a good delivery into the box however, Cameron headed it behind for a corner.

Saints third change of the afternoon came in the second of six additional minutes added on as May was replaced by Theo Bair. The Canadian almost made an immediate impact as in the sixth minute of stoppage time Hallberg played in the forward in the box but Chris Stokes got back to turn the ball behind for a corner as Saints saw the game out to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

Saints: Matthews, Wright, Mitchell, Gordon, Considine, Brown, Hallberg, McGowan, Carey (Wotherspoon 74), Clark (McLennan 65), May (Bair 90+2)

Unused Substitutes: Parish (GK), Montgomery, Crawford, Kucheriavyi, Gallacher, Phillips

Booked: Brown, McLennan, May, Hallberg, Bair

Scorer: Taylor (4 og)

Kilmarnock: Hemming, Mayo (Donnelly 45), Power, Taylor (Wales 90), Stokes, McKenzie (Shaw 75), Armstrong, Wright, Jones (Murray 75), McInroy (Alebiosu 75), Cameron

Unused Substitutes: Walker (GK), Dorsett, Waters, Polworth

Booked: Donnelly

Referee: Craig Napier

VAR: Euan Anderson

Attendance: 3,995

Match Report by Daryl Scott

Picture: Stevie May celebrates as his deflected strike puts Saints 1-0 up