Premier League strugglers Kilmarnock ended their season on a high note after a nightmare campaign.

The Ayrshire side bounced back from last week's 5-1 drubbing by Aberdeen despite a late Saints comeback.

Kiegan Parker had an early opportunity for St Johnstone when his effort forced keeper Colin Meldrum into a good save after only two minutes.

The home side fought back and veteran Ian Durrant made no mistake after 10 minutes when he met Christophe Cocard's cross to blast home the opener from 18 yards.

Alan Mahood should have doubled Killie's advantage on the quarter-hour mark when his close-range shot forced Stephen Robertson into a superb one-handed save before the danger was cleared by the Saints defence.

Killie suffered a setback when stopper Kevin McGowne had to leave the park for 10 minutes for treatment to a nasty head knock and was eventually replaced by Garry Hay.

Undeterred, the home side continued to push forward and Cocard should have added number two from inside the six yard box after half an hour.

And Peter Canero was then unlucky when his shot scraped the crossbar after a great run.

Mahood saw another great chance wasted when he met Canero's cross and his header looked net-bound until Robertson pulled off another great save.

Surprisingly it was St Johnstone who had the first chance of the second half but Gerry McMahon's shot was weak and never really troubled Meldrum.

But five minutes after the restart Kilmarnock added to their lead when Andy Smith nipped through the visitor's defence to rifle home.

Gary Holt could have added to the Perth side's misery four minutes later when he took the ball past the keeper but pulled the shot just wide.

After 66 minutes Durrant turned provider when his cross into the box was met by Cocard in front of goal to fire pass a helpless Robertson.

Parker should have pulled one back for the Saints after 73 minutes when he found himself with only the keeper to beat but the young striker sent the shot skywards.

However former Livingston midfielder Marc Millar snatched a goal a couple of minutes later when he smashed the ball into the roof of the net.

And Parker made amends for his miss when he latched onto Millar's pass to knock home past Meldrum four minutes from time.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: Meldrum, Canero, McGowne (Hay 27), Lauchlan, McKinlay, Fowler, Holt, Durrant (Beesley 72), Mahood, Cocard, Smith (Vareille 70).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Burke.

Goals: Durrant 10, Smith 50, Cocard 67.

St Johnstone: Robertson, Millar, Dods, O'Halloran, Bollan, O'Neil (McBride 60), Kane, Parker, McMahon (Lauchlan 63), Jones, McAnespie (Conway 55).

Subs Not Used: Gow, Crosier.

Goals: Millar 76, Parker 87.

Att: 9,192

Ref: Jim McCluskey (Scotland).