April 13 2024 Matchzone: St Johnstone (A)
Kilmarnock picked up another crucial win in the hunt for European football.
A fantastic 2-0 win in Perth, twinned with St Mirren losing at Celtic Park, ensured the Ayrshire side head into the top-six split with an eight-point advantage in the fight for Europe.
Joe Wright’s first half goal was complemented by a Marley Watkins effort in the second half to bag all three points.
Killie’s striker almost linked up for a goal after just a minute as Marley Watkins whipped a teasing cross into Kyle Vassell’s path, the No 9 couldn’t quite steer it on target though as his effort was blocked for a corner.
Matt Smith almost caught out Will Dennis with a cross-come-shot from the right wing, but Killie’s No 1 held on well to keep it out.
Wright fired us in front in the 23rd minute as he latched on to a Liam Polworth cross to slam home from close range.
Danny Armstrong tried his luck with a free-kick from 30 yards on the half-hour mark, he wasn’t far away as it flew just over the crossbar.
Luke Robinson fired a low drive at goal in the 32nd minute which tested Dennis, but he threw a leg at the effort to keep it out and his side ahead.
Marley Watkins had a great chance a couple of minutes later as he found himself one-on-one, but Dimitar Mitov saved well.
Matty Kennedy almost caught Mitov out from the resulting corner as he spotted him off his line and smashed the crossbar directly from the set-piece.
Four minutes into the second half Max Kucheriavyi fired from 25 yards, but Dennis was again equal to the effort to palm away well.
Stuart Findlay thought he’d double Kille’s lead in the 51st minute as he snuck in at the back post to meet Polworth’s free-kick with a header, but it fell agonisingly wide of the post.
Watkins had a good chance in the 67th minute when he attempted to score from close range, he couldn’t find the net, it rebounded to Polworth who had a crack at goal from the edge of the box but Mitov saved well.
St Johnstone looked sure to score in the 75th minute when Ryan McGowan fired a shot from six yards, but Dennis pulled off a spectacular save to deny an equaliser, before Findlay pulled off a top block from an Andrew Considine rebound.
Killie’s lead was then doubled as Watkins fired home from a couple of yards out in the 81st minute to seal three points for the visitors.
Score: St Johnstone 0-2 Kilmarnock
Team: Dennis, Mayo, Wright (Deas 63), Findlay, Armstrong (Ndaba 87), Watson (McKenzie 77), Polworth (Lyons 77), Donnelly, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell (Van Veen 87)
