Kilmarnock spoil St. Mirren’s party

Doidge rises high to score for Kilmarnock. (CREDIT: BBC SPORT)

St Mirren claimed Top Six for the first time in the post-split era, however Kilmarnock claimed a vital away win.

The build-up to the game was St Mirren’s strength at home, as they had inflicted Celtic’s sole domestic defeat at the SMISA, whilst Kilmarnock had knocked up a mere two points on the road this season, however one was at this stadium in October.

The match at a sell-out stadium started with the unexpected. A David Watson flick for the visitors forced home ‘keeper Trevor Carson into action, before Ash Taylor provided a last-ditch challenge to deny the hosts.

Kilmarnock’s lively start continued. A Danny Armstrong free kick was head over the bar by Liam Donnelly. But it wasn’t long until Killie began to reap the rewards of their start.

Kyle Vassell did superbly to hold-up the ball in the St Mirren penalty box before passing through to Donnelly. The midfielder was, then, able to fire home from six yards to score Killie’s seventh away goal this season. Killie took the lead in an away league match for the first time since a trip to Inverness, 12 months ago.

St Mirren were almost level soon after. Tony Watt was fouled by Ash Taylor on the edge of the penalty box, and referee Willie Collum awarded a free kick to the hosts, with no VAR intervention. The free kick was blocked and cleared by the Killie defence to maintain their narrow advantage.

After 35 minutes, Killie doubled their lead. Kilmarnock’s star man this season, Danny Armstrong, was afforded too much time on the right-hand side. The winger expertly fired in a cross, which was headed home by Christian Doidge via the post. Doidge had his third, and probably first intentional, goal for Killie, and Killie were two up.

With minutes to go in the first half, Tony Watt had the best chance for St Mirren to get back in the game. The on-loan striker had all the goal to aim for but sent his shot out of the stadium.

Despite the hosts making two half-time changes, Killie should have been three up within a minute of the restart. David Watson fired in a cross, McKenzie ghosted in at the far post but headed into the palms of Trevor Carson.

The second half was very uneventful, until the 62nd minute. St Mirren substitute Thierry Small was booked for dissent at a Killie throw-in. Once the throw had been taken, the defender tugged Watson to the deck, seeing a second yellow in 14 seconds.

As the half wore on, Armstrong and Jordan Jones missed brilliant chances to kill the game, whilst St Mirren looked done. It didn’t stop the home fans from celebrating before full time, though. However, the result, also, means St Mirren are the only side to fail to score against Kilmarnock, with two 0-0 draws and a 2-0 defeat.

With Dundee United beating Livingston 2-0, St Mirren were able to seal a spot in the top six for the first time, and the race for Europe is on for the Buddies.

Kilmarnock, meanwhile, celebrated sealing a first away league win since they beat Ayr United 3-1 last March. They didn’t climb the table, but they put a but of breathing space between themselves and Ross County, whilst dragging St Johnstone right into the relegation dogfight.

Both sides have next weekend off, before returning to action the following weekend for the first fixtures post-split.

St Mirren starting XI:

(5-3-2): Carson, Strain, Fraser, Shaughnessy, Dunne (Grieve 63’), Tanser (Small 46’), Baccus (Kiltie 46’), Gogic(Gallagher 82’), O’Hara, Watt (Offord 81’), Main

Subs not used: Urminsky, Taylor, Flynn, Boyd-Munce

Kilmarnock starting XI:

(3-5-2): Walker, Chambers, Taylor, Mayo, McKenzie (Jones 76’), Watson, Donnelly, Power, Armstrong, Doidge (Lyons 70’), Vassell (Robinson 72’)

Subs not used: Hemming, Dorsett, Sanders, McInroy, Alebiosu, Alston