Kilmarnock 2-1 St Johnstone: Hosts fourth after holding off fightback

Manager Derek McInnes savoured “two brilliant goals” as Kilmarnock held off a St Johnstone fightback to occupy fourth place in the Scottish Premiership.

Nicky Clark got a goal back for the visitors, glancing in a header three minutes after his introduction as a second-half substitute, but despite late pressure it was not enough.

“You have to enjoy any win in this league,” McInnes said. “I’m just delighted with the three points because it continues our strong home form and the decent run we’re on.

“Ultimately, you still need big moments and two brilliant goals from our point of view. Top-class from Watson. He sorts his feet out well and it’s a brilliant strike. Marley’s was as good a striker’s goal as you’ll see.

“No game is that simple in the Scottish Premiership. After we lost the goal, it’s natural for us to get anxious and the nerves kicked in. I felt the last 15 minutes were more like what we wanted.”

Kilmarnock jump one place in the league, two points behind third-place Hearts. St Johnstone remain ninth, seven clear of bottom club Livingston.

Despite Kilmarnock’s superb home record, there was a little trepidation around Rugby Park as St Johnstone are a bit of a bogey team having only lost one of the 10 previous meetings.

Kilmarnock soon put any fears to bed when Watson scored his latest screamer, a long-distance striker that the goalkeeper got a touch to, but it clipped the post and went in.

The hosts’ quick start garnered a second when Watkins played a one-two with the superb Danny Armstrong, and tapped low underneath Dimitar Mitov to double the lead against a statuesque Saints defence.

It should have been three when Brad Lyons sent in a perfect cross, but the usually-reliable Kyle Vassell volleyed over unmarked from five yards.

There was one St Johnstone chance in the first half through Max Kucheriavyi, but it looked like there was only one way this game would go.

The second half was a different story, although Kilmarnock may have felt aggrieved that Mitov didn’t see red when he conceded possession and took down Vassell as the last man. John Beaton only produced yellow.

Clark was introduced in the 56th minute and scored on the hour, nodding in Matt Smith’s free-kick at the front post.

That buoyed the visitors and they went close through Clark, Smith and Tony Gallacher – who should have scored when he got on the end of Fran Franczak’s cross – but they found no equaliser.

Player of the Match – David Watson (Kilmarnock)

Killie’s quick start saves them – analysis

Kilmarnock threatened to blow St Johnstone away, such was the attacking intent and quality of their forward play in the opening half hour.

But they gave St Johnstone a sliver of hope by continuing to pass up chances for a third, and they weren’t far from throwing away what should have been a comfortable win.

As poor as the Saints were in the early stages, there were moments of encouragement. Kucheriavyi impressed, as did Dan Phillips – although the midfielder has a habit of being caught in possession.

Clark was the spark of inspiration. His return saw confidence restored to the St Johnstone frontline, and also brought about a goal, but they couldn’t find the vital second.

What they said

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes: “There’s been loads of improvement – more goals scored, more clean sheets, less goals conceded. The biggest factor is we have far more points – 11 more than we were last season at this stage.”

St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: “I don’t know what happened the first 20 minutes. I haven’t seen that from this bunch of players since I arrived so it was most surprising.

“We seemed to decide to start playing after the second goal went in and I was pleased with what we did after that. I’m just mystified why we didn’t turn up in the first 20 minutes. I felt we deserved to get something out of the game.”

What’s next?

Kilmarnock visit St Mirren on 27 December while St Johnstone face a trip to Livingston (both 19:45 GMT).