Kilmarnock 5-2 St Mirren: Three things we learned

By Laurie Finlayson

Rugby Park played host to a game for the ages

Kilmarnock defeated St Mirren 5-2 in something of a top-half six-pointer. Let’s look at the key takeaways from a dramatic afternoon at Rugby Park:

 

A game can change in an instant

There was a nervous energy around Rugby Park in anticipation of this match, with over 8,000 fans in attendance, and over 2,400 of those coming from Paisley.

 

It was the Buddies who had the brighter start, and after 20 minutes, they took the lead as Charles Dunne blasted home from a corner, taking advantage of some slack Kilmarnock defending. After the visitors took the lead, Killie looked low on confidence.

 

The home side’s vulnerability from set plays was laid bare again when Mikael Mandron was able to volley it in after blocking off Killie defender Joe Wright with 38 minutes on the clock. St Mirren went in at the break with a comfortable advantage, which would move them five points clear of Kilmarnock. However, what happened in the second half needs to be seen to be believed.

 

The home side were booed off at the break and many expected Derek McInnes to bring the changes with his side needing to change the game. No changes were made personnel-wise, but the transformation in his team was remarkable.

 

Kilmarnock pilled on the pressure from kick-off in the second period, and after 61 minutes, it paid off as captain Kyle Vassell got one back for Killie. Four minutes later, the hosts were level as Marley Watkins was dragged to the ground by St Mirren defender Ryan Flynn. Referee Ross Hardie pointed to the spot, and Killie’s talisman Danny Armstrong made no mistake from 12 yards.

 

With the game all square, the hosts could smell blood. After 68 minutes, McInnes’ side had turned the tide completely as Watkins’ pinpoint header gave his team the lead from 2-0 to 3-2 up, things were to get even better for Killie. Vassell grabbed his second of the afternoon and the Ayrshire side’s fourth after 73 minutes, and rising star David Watson put the cherry on top of the cake with a superb solo effort, running with the ball from his own half, beating the St Mirren defence and former teammate Zach Hemming in the St Mirren goal.

Watkins shows his delight as he gives Killie the lead (Image: Getty Images)

 

McInnes’ side completed an emphatic 18-minute turnaround, much to the dismay of the travelling support and Buddies boss Stephen Robinson.

 

St Mirren show a softer side

Stephen Robinson cut a frustrated figure on the touchline in the second half (Image: Getty Images)

St Mirren have had a strong season so far and look on course to record back-to-back top-six finishes. However, results like this suggest that they might not be as comfortable as they had hoped. Robinson and his staff will be hoping his team can bounce back from their unexpected capitulation.

 

The Buddies sit in fifth place, with a six-point cushion on Dundee who sit seventh with a game in hand. With three fixtures left for St Mirren before the league splits, they need to ensure they bounce back from this result to cement the top-six place their season has warranted.

 

Killie’s resolve might lead them to Europe

Kilmarnock are a team who simply refuse to accept that they are ever beaten. They have picked up 11 points from losing position this season, with only Motherwell having picked up more with 14.

 

The Rugby Park side knew the pressure was on after last weekend’s disappointing Scottish Cup quarter-final exit against Aberdeen. This was arguably the biggest game of the season for both Kilmarnock and St Mirren, and the home side handled the pressure, despite adding to it in the first half. Coming out and playing who they did in the second half takes great courage and togetherness, and that could be the key ingredient in Killie’s continental push.

SportLaurie Finlayson