St. Johnstone who played in a new shape for today's game, looked to heap more misery on the visiting Kilmarnock, who had lost their last 6 league matches and hadn't won in 8.
Early on in the game it looked like KIllie's poor run would continue as Scott Tanser got free down the left hand side and had his back post crossed bundled into the net by Ali McCann, for the Northern Irishman's second goal of the season.
The game fell into a dull patch, before in the 22nd minute, some good skill from Chris Burke got him into a dangerous position, until last weeks hero Callum Booth turned into a zero this week, as his challenge on the Killie winger was adjudged to be a penalty despite the contact looking to occur outside the box. Burke took it himself and sent Zander Clark the wrong way, slotting home the penalty to level proceedings.
The Ayrshire side then found themselves on the front foot with Burke being at the centre of that, he went on a driving run before being clattered by David Wotherspoon, who found himself into referee Alan Muir's notebook. He took the free kick himself and was only prevented a quick fire double by a great save from Clark. The resulting corner appeared to hit Jason Holt on the arm but Alan Muir did not look to have a clear view.
Into the second half, Saints were on top once again with an in-swinging corner from Wotherspoon finding the head of Stevie May, who saw his glancing header fall wide of the post.
Substitute Callum Hendry, was having an impact off the bench like usual, and kept up Saints' momentum when he forced Jan Koprivec into a fantastic flying save from his 30-yard free kick 12 minutes from time.
7 minutes from time, Booth played the ball out to Tanser on the left wing, he ran down the touchline, playing a one-two with Jason Holt before crossing it in towards Hendry, it was cleared away by Niko Hämäläinen, however his clearence would only reach the edge of the box, where Wotherspoon met it on the volley, and put it low down to Koprivec's right hand side, where the Slovenian couldn't keep it out.
The three points stayed in Perth, and moved St. Johnstone onto 23 points which is level with Kilmarnock.
St. Johnstone: Zander Clark; Jason Kerr, Liam Gordon, Callum Booth; Drey Wright (Anthony Ralston 45'), Ali McCann, Jason Holt, David Wotherspoon, Scott Tanser; Stevie May, Chris Kane (Callum Hendry 61').
Scores: Ali McCann 7', David Wotherspoon 83'
Kilmarnock: Jan Koprivec; Stephen O'Donnell, Stuart Findlay, Dario Del Fabro, Niko Hämäläinen; Gary Dicker, Alan Power, Chris Burke; Greg Kiltie, Harry Bunn (Eamonn Brophy 73'), Nicke Kabamba.
Scores: Chris Burke 22' pen
MOTM: David Wotherspoon
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