Kilmarnock 2-0 St Johnstone: Killie extend unbeaten run to six games

Kilmarnock extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a dominant victory over 10-man St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

Steve Clarke's side took control early on, with Chris Kane deflecting Gary Dicker's header into his own net.

Kris Boyd sealed the win just before half-time with a composed penalty after Jason Kerr handled in the box.

Kerr's afternoon then went from bad to worse when he received a second yellow card for a foul on Rory McKenzie.

The result keeps Killie ahead of fourth-place Aberdeen on goal difference, after Derek McInnes' side won away at Dundee.

• Reaction & as it happened

McKenzie shines as Killie push for Europe

Boyd's goal was only his sixth of this season but it took his tally of league goals for the club to 121, which means he is now the Ayrshire side's joint-second top league goalscorer with Eddie Morrison. Catching Willie Culley on 148 might take some doing, though.

It also might take something special to pinch third spot in the Scottish Premiership from Kilmarnock, who are a team bursting with confidence.

Highlighting the spring currently in the Rugby Park side's step is Rory McKenzie. Manager Steve Clarke said pre-match that McKenzie is a player who has had to be "patient" for opportunities in the starting XI this season, but in recent weeks the forward has looked revitalised and keen.

It was McKenzie's corner that Dicker met before Kane's unfortunate touch into his own net to put Killie on their way in a match that the hosts never looked like losing, in fact it appeared over from the moment Boyd nestled the second in the bottom right corner from the spot.

Kerr was booked for the handball that conceded the penalty, and then dismissed after the break after bringing down that man McKenzie when he threatened again.

Kane's shot from 25 yards that whistled over the crossbar in the first half was probably the best of the little Saints offered in what has been an up and down last few weeks for the Perth outfit.

Jason Kerr's second yellow card ended any hopes of a St Johnstone comeback

Killie build from the back - analysis

Steve Clarke has often talked about the solid foundation in defence that he wants to build at Killie, and today's result meant it's only one goal conceded in their last six matches.

McKenzie was named the club's man of the match and his energetic and effective performance deserved it - he was unlucky not to have a goal to celebrate as well.

Alan Power, who recently signed a new three-year contract with Kilmarnock, was another whose industry impressed throughout.

The three substitutes made by St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright at half-time was a clear indicator at how unhappy he was with his team's performance, and Kerr's red card ruled out any hopes of an unlikely comeback in this encounter.

'Poor individually and poor collectively' - reaction

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke said: "A good performance from start to finish, good control of the game but we could have made it a more embarrassing score for St Johnstone.

"They are always a threat though it was a reasonably comfortable afternoon for us."

St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright said: "We didn't start the game well, no tempo, our decision making was poor. The lack of physical effort early on was probably the most disappointing thing.

"It was lacklustre, poor individually and poor collectively. Probably only Richard Foster comes out with any credit today."