The fight for the one remaining place in the UEFA Cup next season will go to
the final 90 minutes of the Scottish Premier League campaign.
Kilmarnock remain in third place in the table, one point ahead of St
Johnstone, after this entertaining draw at Rugby Park.
However, the balance now seems to have shifted in Saints' favour as they
entertain Dundee a week on Sunday while the Ayrshire club travel to champions
Rangers.
Kilmarnock will be kicking themselves if they miss out on a place in Europe
for a third successive year.
They went into the game knowing victory would secure their passage, and that
they would then be able to relax at Ibrox.
Kilmarnock got off to the best possible start with Mark Roberts scoring after
just eight minutes.
However Saints, League cup finalist and Scottish Cup semi-finalists, showed
their strength of character to equalise through Gary Bollan in the 66th minute.
Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson was forced to make two changes to the side
drew 0-0 against Dundee United last week at Tannadice.
Mark Reilly and Martin Baker both picked up knocks in that game and were
replaced by Dylan Kerr and Alan Mahood.
Saints also fielded a weakened side.
Stuart McCluskey and Danny Griffin were
recalled to the team in the absence of Darren Dods with a dislocated shoulder
and Jim Weir with a knee injury.
Over 15,000 fans witnessed this showdown on a sun-drenched afternoon, and both
teams played their part in an entertaining match.
Jerome Vareille should have put Kilmarnock ahead after just three minutes when
Roberts played the ball through.
However, the French striker only succeeded in
hitting his shot straight at keeper Alan Main.
Paul Kane sent a shot wide of the target for Saints before the home side took
the lead thanks to some good work from Gus MacPherson.
He picked out Roberts in
the penalty area and his left foot drive flew beyond Main.
Midfield was becoming the key area with Ian Durrant pulling the strings for
Kilmarnock.
He released Vareille with a brilliant chip in the 37th minute but
his finish was poor.
Vareille was again out of luck a minute later after being put clear by John
Henry, only for Main to gather the ball safely.
Saints came into the match before the break and Jim Lauchlan cleared the ball
off the line after a shot from Miguel Simao had beaten keeper Gordon Marshall.
Marshall, who had chalked up 19 clean sheets in the previous 34 league games,
lost his bearings six minutes after the break when he played a clearance into
the path of Keith O'Halloran.
However the Saints midfielder floated his shot wide of the post with the
Kilmarnock keeper hopelessly out of position.
Kilmarnock had loud appeals for a penalty dismissed by referee Kenny Clark in
the 64th minute when John O'Neil clearly handled a cross from Vareille.
Two minutes later Saints equalised when McCluskey headed down a free kick from
Kane.
Bollan was on hand to steer the ball beyond Marshall.
Saints should have taken the lead a minute later when O'Halloran scampered
clear down the right and delivered the ball into the path of Nathan Lowndes.
However, his finish was weak.
Saints were boosted by their goal and missed two clear chances late in the
game with Kane heading over following a cross from Lowndes.
Then Lowndes directed a tame shot at Marshall inside the area after another
good break from O'Halloran.
Teams
Kilmarnock: Marshall, MacPherson, Kerr, McGowne,
Henry (McCutcheon 85), Holt (Mitchell 65), Durrant, Mahood,
Vareille (Wright 79), Roberts, Lauchlan.
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Burke.
Booked: Lauchlan, MacPherson.
Goals: Roberts 8.
St Johnstone: Main, McQuillan, Dasovic, O'Neil (McAnespie 89),
Kane, Bollan, Griffin, O'Halloran, McCluskey,Lowndes (Parker 86), Simao.
Subs Not Used: Connolly, Whiteford, Ferguson.
Booked: Bollan.
Goals: Bollan 66.
Att: 15,086
Ref: K Clark (Paisley).
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