A FEW weeks ago, St Mirren were classed as certainties for the relegation battle with Hamilton Accies, but a third win in a row, achieved against a poor Kilmarnock side yesterday, has lifted the Paisley side out of immediate danger.
There's still
a long way to go for Gus MacPherson's men before they can say that SPL safety is guaranteed but they are now only a point behind Kilmarnock – who have a game in hand – and on yesterday's showing there is little between the teams.
It was the first time in the SPL that St Mirren have recorded three wins on the trot, but that bit of history was less important to their manager than the tangible reward: "It's nine points and that is the most important thing," said MacPherson. "We know if we win away from home we have to earn it and we had to earn this."
From the start of the match, the St Mirren defence stood firm as Kilmarnock tried manfully to create a meaningful chance and with only the well-shepherded Jim Hamilton looking a danger, Saints contributed little in attack.
Kilmarnock's midfield exerted a stranglehold on the play, though St Mirren helped them by sitting very deep in a 4-4-2 formation. Try as they might, Kilmarnock could not penetrate to the danger area: "We had a couple of half chances and seemed to be in the ascendancy," said Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies afterwards. "We put in plenty of effort but we lacked the guile to break them down in the last third."
Apart from an Alan Russell shot blocked by Jack Ross, no real chances were forthcoming for Killie until a full 26 minutes had gone, when Donovan Simmonds turned and sent in a lovely dipping shot on the volley off a clever Russell knock-down at the edge of the St Mirren penalty area. Unfortunately for the man on loan from Coventry City, the ball did not dip quickly enough and fell just over Mark Howard's bar.
The home majority in the 5,183 crowd grew frustrated as the home side seemed to lose direction with aimless passes aplenty. Around the half-hour mark, St Mirren finally came out of their defensive shell and Kilmarnock goalkeeper Alan Combe had to look lively as Miranda sent in a cross which curled wickedly towards goal, Combe rising to palm the ball high and wide.
There had been signs in the preceding few minutes that the visitors fancied their chances and the goal after 38 minutes was certainly taken with aplomb. With the Kilmarnock defence stretched, Dennis Wyness controlled the ball at the edge of the Kilmarnock box and laid the ball off beautifully to Andy Dorman. He picked his spot and coolly dispatched the ball into the corner of the net for a fine goal.
"Andy has been timing his runs into the box and he showed great composure and it was a good finish but you can't underestimate the contribution of Dennis Wyness, he has vision, awareness," said MacPherson.
At that point, Kilmarnock also suffered the loss of one of their mainstays, Frazer Wright, who suffered a hamstring injury and was replaced by Craig Bryson. Jefferies pointed out that Killmarnock's injury toll had left him no alternative at centre back so he switched the formation to 4-3-3 and Bryson was into the action straight away, sending in a shot which Howard held comfortably.
The second half was as dull as the first. Kilmarnock's poor passing continued to bedevil their undoubted efforts to transform their fortunes, while St Mirren were very dangerous on the break, though the on defending.
It would have been no surprise if Saints had gone further ahead and perhaps they should have done so when Dorman shot straight at Combe after 57 minutes and Ross was just wide with his drive from 30 yards.
David Fernandez has often seemed languid in the past but he was certainly fired up for the match yesterday. He just failed to reach a cross from Garry Hay or else he might have gained the sought-after equaliser.
Both the Murrays, Grant of Kilmarnock and Hugh of St Mirren, got their names taken for rash challenges, and though he angered the home fans, referee Stevie O'Reilly did Kilmarnock a huge favour when Fernandez was booked for talking back to O'Reilly and then threw the ball away in temper shortly afterwards – normally a second yellow card would have been shown.
Simmonds was unlucky with another turn and shot on 75 minutes but as it was, St Mirren proved much more of a threat, especially after Billy Mehmet arrived. It was he who produced the best run of the match, forging 50 yards clean into the heart of the Kilmarnock defence and causing a panic which Garry Brady almost took advantage of, his curling shot hitting Combe's left-hand post.
Simmonds had a chance in injury time to equalise but his shot was straight at Howard. In truth, the goal would not have been deserved.
The full article contains 864 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
