Adama Sidibeh opened the scoring after only four minutes
An Adama Sidibeh double helped St Johnstone coast past 10-man Kilmarnock at Rugby Park to pick up their first win of the new Premiership season.
Sidibeh's strikes sandwiched Joe Wright's red card, as the defender was sent off after two yellows in the opening 16 minutes.
It got worse for Kilmarnock in the second half when they were denied a penalty before conceding one two minutes later, with Benjamin Kimpioka converting.
After last week's heavy defeat to Celtic, Kilmarnock sit bottom of the table after two games, having conceded seven goals.
There were only two minutes on the clock when Sidibeh ghosted past Wright in the corner, with the Killie man booked for the foul. It was a sign of what was to come.
Shortly after, a loose ball bounced in the box and Sidibeh beat his man to hook the ball past Robby McCrorie.
Kilmarnock were rocked further when Wright lunged into a challenge on Kimpioka to earn his second booking and had to march off for an extremely early bath.
The hosts' miserly defence of last season is seemingly a thing of the past and St Johnstone’s second was all too easy. Andre Raymond burst down the left, whipped a low cross in, and Sidibeh was able to take a touch and rifle home.
The second half was only mildly better for Kilmarnok as Stuart Findlay and Fraser Murray went close in a 10-minute spell, but Josh Rae did not have to make a save of note.
Kilmarnock's momentum was snuffed out when Danny Armstrong’s appeal for a penalty ended in a yellow card for simulation. After a VAR check, it seemed there was a foul on the winger but it was outside the box and therefore the St Johnstone free-kick, and Armstrong’s caution, could not be overturned.
Moments later, St Johnstone had a penalty of their own and there was less debate about it. Brilliant link-up play ended in Kimpioka nutmegging one defender and dummying another before being felled.
The Swedish striker was adamant he was taking it, denying Sidibeh a hat-trick, but his penalty was tucked into the corner and any blushes were spared.
St Johnstone strikeforce star in statement win
Despite the loss to Aberdeen last Monday, Kimpioka and Sidibeh were singled out as St Johnstone's main threats. They were at it again today.
Helped by marauding left-back Andre Raymond, Sidibeh could have a few more and Kimpioka was a constant thorn in the side of the Kilmarnock defence. They tore apart a back four bereft of confidence and seemed to feed on their energy.
Behind them, there are still improvements to be made. Despite being down to 10 men, Kilmarnock did go close a few times and hit the post right at the end.
Ultimately though, the game was managed in the second-half, allowing St Johnstone to pick up their first win on the road this season. Last year, they had to wait until February for that.
Kilmarnock’s soft centre exposed once more
Derek McInnes' side only conceded 44 goals last season, with only the Old Firm and Hearts letting in fewer. They've coughed up seven after two games this term.
That does not include the soft goals given away in Europe either. Club Brugge and Tromso both benefitted from gift-wrapped presents from the Kilmarnock defence.
So, what's happened? Wright, Findlay, Lewis Mayo and Robbie Deas all impressed last season, to the point that McInnes found it hard to drop any of his centre-backs.
His recruitment this summer has backed that up. He's re-signed solid left-back Corrie Ndaba, who is not yet fit, and Sunderland loanee Oliver Bainbridge - another left-back.
The rest of the defence he seemed happy with. Now, the Killie boss might be looking at the transfer market in the final few weeks for some defensive reinforcements.
What they said
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "We've not had too many bad days at the office in the last wee while. We're not used to losing here and certainly not in that manner.
"It was St Johnstone's day today. We lick our wounds, we have to move on from this quickly. I believe we'll pick up on league form as we go through the season. There's still a trust in what we're doing.
"The biggest drain in our confidence is losing cheap goals, and that's not something you've been able to aim at us. The reason we're playing in Europe is because we've defended a lot stronger than that, more robustly. We need to get back to being that.
"I was really pleased with the second-half. We showed good energy, fitness and togetherness. We tried to get that goal and in the main we were good. It's hard to find too many positives."
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein: "There was some really good stuff, but the points are the most important thing after playing reasonably well last week and not getting any.
"Kilmarnock is a hard place to come to. I know they've had a tough game in Europe and that's taken a toll, but all credit to our guys. We played really well for long spells."
