St Mirren 0 Kilmarnock 3

Kilmarnock took a massive step towards securing Scottish Premiership safety with another comfortable 3-0 victory.

Joe Hugill set Killie on their way to a crucial win over rivals St Mirren, before a second-half double by Findlay Curtis added some well-deserved gloss to the scoreline.

After a season of pain on the road, Killie recorded their first away win since September. It followed up on last weekend’s 3-0 triumph at home to Dundee United, as Ayrshire’s finest moved four points clear of the play-off position.

Neil McCann named just one change from last week’s victory over Dundee United. Out dropped Bruce Anderson, as Dominic Thompson came into the side at left-back, which meant Michael Schjønning-Larsen moved to the right.

The visitors have been heavily criticised for conceding early in away games this season. Today, it was Killie’s turn to strike early, as Hugill continued his superb form in front of goal.

After settling into the game nicely, McCann’s side put their foot on the ball and popped it about. Tom Lowery received the ball from Thompson side on the side. The midfielder skipped by his man before delivery a lovely cross to the back post. There was Hugill to bundle the ball home for 1-0 to send the noisy travelling support wild on 8 minutes.

Killie were in total control. Any time the Buddies did come forward, the defence mopped up well, and the midfield regained possession quickly to set the team off up field again. Donnelly and Idowu were booked for scything down Hugill and Greg Kiltie respectively during the first-half, as Killie continued to push for more goals.

Lowery had a brilliant chance to double Killie’s advantage on 37 minutes, but his header was saved by Sinclair as we looked to hit on the counter. The linesman’s flag was up in any case.

Despite Killie’s composure on the ball, St Mirren did push for an equaliser given their desperate need for points. So, Max Stryjek had to be alert to pull off a tremendous stop from point-blank range when the ball reached O’Hara at the back post when it looked certain that the ball would find the net.

David Watson came on at right wing at half-time, as Findlay Curtis was swapped to wide left and Nicky Cleșcenco was withdrawn.

Immediately, that tactical call from the manager paid off, as Curtis slammed home when running onto a loose ball in the box following a foul on Kiltie, which could’ve resulted in a penalty anyway. The attacker sent the 1,600 fans wild yet again with a powerful finish into the bottom corner, as the boys in red and navy asserted their dominance.

With Killie in charge and looking set for all three points, Hugill very nearly had another when he ran onto his own touch in-behind the Buddies defence. His eventual shot was deflected wide for a corner. Aaron Tshibola then saw his thunderous volley got just over the crossbar, before Curtis failed to tap home at the back post from a dangerous Watson cross.

A third goal was coming though, and on 68 minutes patient play around the edge of the box by Watson and Lowery saw the ball fed wide on the left to Curtis. The king whipped his shot into the same bottom corner he found for the second, as he deservedly took the adulation of the buoyant crowd.

Tshibola really should’ve burst the net after being played clean through by substitute Anderson, however, the ball looked to get caught under the midfielder’s feet and the ball was cleared off the line.

An outstanding performance in the Paisley sunshine by Killie, who go into the last home match of the campaign at home to Dundee full of confidence.

Crowd: 7,619.

Team: Stryjek, Thompson, Deas, Kiltie (McKenzie, 78’), Stanger, Lowery, Cleșcenco (Watson, 45’), Schjønning-Larsen (Mayo, 54’), Tshibola, Hugill (Anderson, 78’), Curtis (Magennis, 86’).

Unused subs: Wright, Williams, Watkins, Polworth.