St Johnstone 0-1 Kilmarnock

An early set piece gave the visitors victory

Craig Slater's early free-kick proved decisive as Kilmarnock progressed to the Scottish Cup fifth round draw at the expense of St Johnstone.

Slater brilliantly executed his set piece with a firm side-foot shot that curled away from goalkeeper Alan Mannus low into the corner.

Josh Magennis came very close to a second with a volley.

St Johnstone ramped up the pressure as the game wore on with David Wotherspoon and John Sutton narrowly missing.

Killie enter Monday's draw having taken the scalp of the 2014 winners of the competition.

Though at the other end of the Premiership table from Saints, the visitors from Ayrshire suggested early on that they were not in Perth to make up the numbers, showing real energy and appetite to get forward.

It paid off very early on. Slater picked his spot with a free-kick from the edge of the box, which was directed and weighted perfectly as it flew into the corner.

Killie battled hard to hold on to their lead

Kilmarnock continued to trouble the home side with Magennis particularly prominent, his shot from a corner narrowly failing to hit the target.

The home side really struggled in the first half and it seemed as though that might continue when Adam Frizzell nearly made it two for Killie with a close-range header.

However, St Johnstone are well known for their qualities and battled into the contest in the second half.

David Wotherspoon executed a one-two and saw his drive touched past in his side's first effort on target in over an hour.

Tommy Wright replaced his strike force with Sutton and Graham Cummins coming on and the former almost immediately made an impact when his went over.

The pressure began to build with Chris Millar, Wotherspoon and Sutton again all going close but Kilmarnock remained resolute at the back and threatening on the break.

And it took a quite astonishing series of saves from MacDonald to prevent Dave Mackay, Sutton and Cummins netting.

Murray Davidson almost stole an equaliser right at the end but Kilmarnock were not to be denied.