Colin Nish scored twice as Kilmarnock consolidated their place in the top six of the Bank of Scotland Premier League with victory at Love Street.

Killie took a grip on the game midway through the first half but had to wait until the 58th minute for Nish to head them in front.

Alan Combe pulled off a superb save from Ian Maxwell to keep Killie ahead and Nish sealed the victory after a clinical counter-attack.

St Mirren have now won just once in 21 games and, with Dunfermline losing at Celtic, missed a good chance to stretch the gap between themselves and the bottom side beyond nine points before their meeting next weekend.

Saints had the better of the opening stages but Kilmarnock may have been adapting to four changes and an unfamiliar 3-5-2 formation.

Jim Jefferies brought in Garry Hay, Alan Johnston, Ryan O'Leary and Paul Di Giacomo, who excelled in a wing-back role.

Grant Murray and Gary Wales were injured and Simon Ford was suspended, while Rocco Quinn dropped to the bench.

The Buddies recalled Garry Brady and Alan Reid, who deputised for the suspended David van Zanten at right-back.

Saints attacked from the start and Hay cleared Maxwell's early header off the line, although Alan Combe had it covered.

Stewart Kean got an acrobatic volley on target but Combe was well positioned to catch.

While St Mirren were enjoying the bulk of possession, Steven Naismith and Colin Nish were getting plenty of space when Killie broke.

And the visitors slowly but surely took a grip on proceedings. Peter Leven forced Chris Smith to tip over his powerful effort from the edge of the box.

Smith kept his cool as a Naismith drive from 25 yards skimmed along the ground and into the St Mirren keeper's hands.

Naismith then shot just over from 20 yards after good build-up play from Nish and Di Giacomo.

The CIS Insurance Cup finalists kept coming forward and Johnston edged into the area after a one-two with Nish but Maxwell did well to divert his shot behind.

Both sides attacked when possible as the second half began.

Stephen O'Donnell curled a shot well over the Killie bar and Johnston's delicate cross just ran away from Naismith after a great run from Di Giacomo.

Nish opened the scoring when he headed Di Giacomo's corner home despite Brady's attempts to clear on the line.

The big striker was booked by Willie Collum for lifting his shirt over his head in the celebrations.

Gus MacPherson immediately brought on Mark Corcoran for Kean. The winger was soon involved in controversy when he appeared to be fouled in the corner before Johnston broke forward and almost doubled the lead.

The former Scotland international fed Nish down the left channel and volleyed inches wide from the cut-back.

Naismith - being watched by Scotland manager Alex McLeish - was inches away from turning home Leven's volley at the far post.

Saints refused to fold and Combe brilliantly pushed away Maxwell's goalbound header after a Brittain free-kick. But their comeback hopes were dashed in the 79th minute when Nish finished off a slick break.

James Fowler won possession and fed Naismith, who slid a perfect ball down the right for Di Giacomo.

He cut the ball across from the byline for Nish to tap home at the near post.

That killed off the Buddies as an attacking threat as they ended their fourth successive home game without a goal.

Teams

St Mirren Smith, Reid, Maxwell, Broadfoot, Potter,Lawson (Mehmet 70), Brittain, Brady, O'Donnell (McKenna 85),Sutton, Kean (Corcoran 59).

Subs Not Used: Hinchcliffe, Millen, Malone, Mackay.

Booked: Potter, O'Donnell.

Kilmarnock Combe, O'Leary, Fowler, Hay, Frazer Wright, Nish,Johnston (Gibson 90), Greer, Leven (Locke 90), Naismith,Di Giacomo (Koudou 88).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Lilley, Wales, Quinn.

Booked: Nish, Fowler, Johnston.

Goals: Nish 59, 79.

Att: 4,778

Ref: W Collum (Scotland).