St Mirren are still winless since 2013 in the league at Rugby Park as the hosts run out 2-0 winners in a scrappy contest.

It didn’t take long for Kilmarnock to go ahead. A mistake from Alex Gogic led to Bruce Anderson racing through on goal and in recovery the St Mirren centre back bundled him over in the box and a penalty was awarded. Ellery Balcombe saved the initial effort but Anderson was quickest to react and put his side ahead after 8 minutes.

St Mirren reacted well and if not for a deflection, Toyosi Olusanya’s goal bound effort may have troubled Robbie McCrorie in the Kilmarnock goal.

The home side dominated the ball for the first 45, with Anderson being a menace to the St Mirren back line playing off the shoulder and causing real mix ups between Alex Gogic, Richard Taylor and Alex Iacovitti.

St Mirren had a couple of soft penalty claims waved away with Olusanya going down in the box but to no reward.

Kilmarnock were dealt a blow with captain Kyle Vassell taking a knock to the ankle and was replaced just before half time with ex-Buddie Kyle Magennis.

Apart from Balcombe tipping over a Bobby Wales cross, neither keeper had much to do with from Scott Tanser, Marcus Fraser and Richard Taylor keeping the home side at bay as the half came to a close.

Half Time: Kilmarnock 1-0 St Mirren

A half time change for St Mirren saw the return of Captain Mark O’Hara, replacing Oisin Smyth in the hope of sparking some much needed life into the away sides’ performance.

The Saints started the brighter of the two sides and a whipped corner from O’Hara met the head of Richard Taylor and his effort whistled agonisingly by the post.

It was, however, Kilmarnock who doubled their lead soon after and dampening the momentum of their opponents in the process. Magennis worked hard to dispossess Richard Taylor and led the counter from his side. Some nice interplay with Bruce Anderson put the midfielder through on goal where he was brought down in the box by Gogic. This time Anderson sends Balcombe the wrong way and put his team two goals to the good just after the hour mark.

The changes rung in for St Mirren, including a debut for new signing Owen Oseni but the game was only going one way with nothing quite falling for them in the Kilmarnock half.

It took until the 70th minute for the away side to register their first shot on target with a tame shot from O’Hara going straight into the arms of McCrorie.

Kyle Magennis found himself one on one with Balcombe but the St Mirren stopper did well to deny the striker at point blank range with less than ten minutes to go.

In added time, St Mirren thought they had a consolation with a corner from Tanser being gathered by McCrorie who seemed to have fallen over his line but the referee blew for a foul to save the keepers’ blushes.

Full Time: Kilmarnock 2-0 St Mirren

Next up for Derek McInnes and his side is a home test against a Ross County side looking to climb their way to safety. Meanwhile St Mirren head to Celtic Park hoping to cause an upset against the runaway league leaders.

Standout Performer: As seems to always be the case against St Mirren, Bruce Anderson caused them all sorts of problems. Playing off the shoulder then dropping deep he was uncontainable and deserved his double on the day.

Teams:

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Deas, Ndaba, Murray, Polworth (Donnelly, 73”), Lyons, Anderson (Watson, 84”), Vassell (C)(Magennis, 44”), Wales (Cameron, 74”)

St Mirren: Balcombe, Iacovitti, Gogic (Bwomono, 66”), Taylor, Tanser, Fraser (C), Smyth (O’Hara, 46”), Phillips, Idowu (Mandron, 54”), Ayunga (Oseni, 66”), Olusanya (Kiltie, 74”)

Attendance: 6603

Referee: Colin Steven