Derek McInnes watched a familiar 'movie' on Saturday afternoon at Rugby Park when his St Johnstone side won the artistic battle against Kilmarnock but ultimately left pointless.

The Perth club's narrative has been much the same since they came up to the Clydesdale Bank Premier League this season.

Despite being the better side in many of their games, victories have been hard to come by - and after nine fixtures, McInnes's side, with three draws a win, are only two points above bottom side Falkirk.

The first half at Kilmarnock was no classic, but the only football on show came from the visitors.

However, a Kevin Kyle double after the break took the wind out the St Johnstone sails - and a Frazer Wright own goal in injury time was a mere consolation.

McInnes was one again left to contemplate what might have been.

"It was a terrific display in the first half, exactly the way I wanted them to play," he said.

"We had complete control of the match; we passed around them, worked it into good areas; we had plenty of deliveries into the box and half-chances here and there.

"But for all that, we never worked their goalkeeper enough and didn't make it count.

"It's disheartening only in that we are not taking advantage of our good play.

"That's where we need to improve."

Kilmarnock boss Jim Jefferies could afford to have sympathy for McInnes, after his side recovered from a dismal first-half performance to carve out only their second win of the season.

He said: "I was talking to John Hughes and Brian Rice during the week, and they feel St Johnstone are the best side Hibs have played this season.

"St Johnstone deserved to beat them in the league and then showed that by turning up on the following Tuesday and knocking them out the Co-operative Cup.

"I've seen them against Hearts earlier in the season. They should have been 3-0 up at half-time, and it ended up a draw.

"So St Johnstone are a good side.

"Our back four had to be strong in the first half, and it was good defending to keep them out.

"We were on the back foot, no doubt about it.

"But we started making tackles in the second half - and when you do that you have a better chance of winning."