St Johnstone 2-1 Kilmarnock

St Johnstone came from behind to beat visitors Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Steven Smith nodded in Kallum Higginbotham's chipped cross to give Killie an early lead.

Michael O'Halloran levelled for Saints after a scramble in the box midway through the first half.

Chris Kane struck to give the home side the lead shortly after the break before Saints had Liam Craig sent off for a lunge on Smith.

It was an impressive performance from the home side, which earned a fifth league win in six games and moved them five points clear of the three sides directly below them in the table.

Some supporters were still easing into their seats when Kilmarnock announced their arrival with their first real attack.

St Johntone's Murray Davidson (left) and Kilmarnock's Kallum Higginbotham clash

Higginbotham curled an accurate cross from the right that sailed perfectly into Smith's path, and a lack of challenge allowed him to steer the ball home via the cross bar.

St Johnstone seemed a little off the pace in that opening period with Josh Magennis firing narrowly wide from outside the area.

Saints manager Tommy Wright suffered another blow when striker Graham Cummins pulled up with a hamstring injury and had to be replaced by Kane.

Slowly but surely the home side progressed up the pitch and were rewarded by the persistence of Steven MacLean.

He gathered in the inside left position and appeared to delay too long as the defence streamed back into position.

It paid off though when he met Kane's return ball, and rather than blast from close range he laid the ball off to the better positioned O'Halloran to convert.

St Johnstone started the second half with more purpose and almost immediately could have been ahead.

It was great work from O'Halloran who cut inside, tried to slide a ball in behind the defence which visiting defender Mark O'Hara connected with, and watched as it snuck inches past his own post.

Moments later, superb work on the left from David Wotherspoon led to the ball being laid back to Kane and the substitute striker smashed the ball powerfully past goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald.

Magennis fired a powerful shot marginally off target as Kilmarnock threatened a response

However, St Johnstone seemed in command and Craig, Brian Easton and Kane had opportunities to seal the points.

Craig's afternoon ended with personal disappointment when a two-footed challenge on Smith was deemed too aggressive and he received a straight card.

Greg Kiltie and Dale Carrick might have rescued a point, but in truth the home side did enough to deserve victory in what's proving to be another impressive campaign.