St Mirren saw a five game unbeaten run come to an end after a disappointing 4-3 defeat to Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Defensive lapses cost St Mirren dearly as we failed in an opportunity to climb to eighth in the William Hill Premiership.
There was one change to the side that defeated Airdrieonians in the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with Roland Idowu coming in for the suspended Jake Young.
The Buddies started well and took the lead when Killian Phillips opened the scoring on eight minutes. Richard King's long-throw was headed back to the Jamaican by the Kilmarnock defence and he nodded into the area where it found Mikael Mandron. The striker couldn't get the ball under control, but it did manage to find its way to Phillips who back-heeled beyond Kelle Roos to score his sixth goal of the season.
Beyond the goal, there was very little created in the opening 40 minutes or so with neither goalkeeper having much to do. But two goals in the space of two minutes flipped the game in Kilmarnock's favour at the end of the half. Ex-Saint Greg Kiltie drew the hosts level on 43 minutes when he met a cross from Findlay Curtis and bulleted home a header from close-range. Killie then took the lead in stoppage time with Tyreece John-Jules' overhead kick giving Neil McCann's side the advantage at the break. Saints could only partially clear a corner to Curtis whose shot from 20 yards deflected into the path of John-Jules who acrobatically finished beyond Shamal George.
Stephen Robinson responded to the first-half showing with a substitution at the interval, introducing Dan Nlundulu in place of Jayden Richardson. Saints looked more lively and almost drew level less than a minute after the restart with Idowu forcing a massive save from Roos. King's ball over the top bounced off Mandron and fell for Idowu who struck well but saw his effort pushed over.
The Buddies would grab a quick equaliser with Phillips getting his second of the evening. Mandron showed great strength to force his way to the byline and send the ball across the face. Roos could only palm the ball back to Phillips who slammed home from six yards.
Nlundulu passed up a big opportunity to fire Saints back in front before the hour mark. The Kilmarnock defence couldn't clear after a brilliant bit of trickery from Idowu and that saw the ball fall to Jacob Devaney 25 yards from goal. He found Mandron in the box who worked it to Nlundulu on his left, but the forward's strike was tame and easy for Roos to gather. A minute later Idowu sent a teasing ball across the face with Declan John inches away from sticking a toe on it to turn into the net.
It was Kilmarnock, however, who re-took the lead with less than 15 minutes minutes remaining. A ball over the top from Michael Schjønning-Larsen found Joe Hugill running down the left. His cross was perfect for John-Jules and while the striker was initially thwarted by George, he would finish the follow up to put Kilmarnock back in front. The hosts extended their advantage five minutes later. Another long ball over the top from Robbie Deas saw John-Jules outmuscle John and slot beyond George to score his hat-trick and earn Kilmarnock the points.
Saints substitute Jalmaro Calvin should have reduced the deficit when he was found by Nlundulu, but the forward shot straight at Roos as the game headed into injury-time. Scott Tanser would pull a goal back in the dying embers though it was too little too late as we left Rugby Park empty-handed.
Full-Time: Kilmarnock 4-3 St Mirren
St Mirren: George, Fraser (c), King, Freckleton, Richardson (Nlundulu 46), Phillips (Calvin 84), Devaney, Gogic, John (Tanser 84), Idowu (McMenamin 84), Mandron
Subs: Mullen, Sobowale, Donnelly, Campbell, Etete
Kilmarnock: Roos, Deas, Schjonning-Larsen, Brown, Lyons (Tshibola 65), Polworth (McKenzie 84), Watson (Brandon 79), Kiltie, Curtis (Thomson 79), John-Jules, Anderson (Hugill 65)
Subs: Stryjek, Stanger, Williams, Dackers
Referee: Grant Irvine
AR1: Daniel McFarlane
AR2: Chris Gentles
Fourth Official: Graham Grainger
VAR: Ryan Lee
