St Mirren's Mark O'Hara celebrates scoring to make it 4-0SNS

St Mirren's Mark O'Hara celebrates scoring to make it 4-0

Watch St Mirren v Kilmarnock highlights on iPlayer

16/03/25

Watch on iPlayer
Calum Macdonald
BBC Sport Scotland

A Caolan Boyd-Munce double helped St Mirren blow Kilmarnock away and keep alive their hopes of a top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership.

Stephen Robinson's side were 2-0 ahead inside nine minutes after Boyd-Munce scored from distance and Roland Idowu rolled in a penalty.

The wind and rain played their part in the game and St Mirren took full advantage with the wind behind in the first-half.

With most people at the SMiSA Stadium expecting a response from Kilmarnock in the second half, it was St Mirren who added to their lead, Boyd-Munce drilling in his second and Mark O' Hara adding a fourth from the edge of the box.

The home fans were in dreamland when Declan John fired home a fifth, with Bruce Anderson's late penalty little consolation for the away side.

Little surprise that St Mirren assistant manager Brian Kerr stated: "We're delighted.

"I think, over the last seven, eight weeks, the performance has always been there, the results haven't quite been there and that's been the frustrating thing for us.

"But to go and get the performance and the result today is very pleasing."

The Saints were winless in their previous 11 games against Kilmarnock, but that record did not weigh on them as Boyd-Munce edged them in front. Robbie McCrorie in goal for Killie will feel he should have done better.

Just three minutes later, St Mirren had a chance to double their lead when Lewis Mayo fouled Jonah Ayunga. Idowu stepped up and converted the penalty.

Early in the second half, Richard Taylor should have added a third but somehow contrived to miss from inside the six yard box.

The Paisley side continued to look dangerous and Boyd-Munce lashed home his second of the day after a corner.

O'Hara found himself unmarked at the edge of the box to add a fourth before John beat McCrorie at his near post as St Mirren continue to chase a third consecutive top-six finish.

St Mirren's confidence-boosting performance

The win leaves the Paisley side just one point from the top-six with games against Dundee and Ross County to come before the split.

Tough games no doubt, but the manner of the performance will surely give Robinson and his players belief.

They have also ended a poor run against Killie this being the first time they have secured three points against the Ayrshire side since February 2021 - a run of 10 games.

Killie crestfallen and treading water

It was a dismal day for Kilmarnock and their sizeable travelling support, struggling from the start and creating little in the game.

A late penalty given for a foul on Joe Wright and converted by Anderson was little comfort for Derek McInnes's side, who have won only two games away from home in the league this season.

With little time left between now and the end of the season, they still are not completely clear of the relegation battle, with six points separating them and bottom-placed St Johnstone.

The challenge ahead for McInnes is to lift his players for the remaining games of the season.

What they said

St Mirren assistant manager Brian Kerr: "We don't expect the result to be like that, but we knew the performances were there and we felt that something was going to happen in terms of one of these games.

"We felt that the goals were there and it was just going to click and thankfully it did click and that performance with the goals we managed to score is very, very pleasing."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "To be honest, I thought the conditions in the early part of the game we didn't deal with it, two mistakes for the goal, the initial two goals from St Mirren.

"So a really disappointing afternoon, I apologise to the supporters for that, it's not good enough. They should expect better from the team. We expect better."

Related topics