David Watson scoresSNS

David Watson has only started six league games since the turn of the year

St Johnstone v Kilmarnock highlights

3/5/2025

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Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

St Johnstone have been given "a little lifeline" thanks to results elsewhere according to manager Simo Valakari, despite a home defeat by Kilmarnock leaving their Scottish Premiership hopes' dangling by a thread.

A fine strike from young midfielder David Watson had the visitors ahead before Danny Armstrong's second-half penalty extended the gap between the sides.

St Johnstone's fourth loss in five league games leaves them eight points adrift of 10th place with three games to play - and six behind Ross County in 11th.

"The fight continues," Valakari told BBC Scotland. "Other results give us a little lifeline and that's what we need to grab.

"We could not perform well enough today. We knew against Kilmarnock, if you go 1-0 down, it will be difficult and I'm very disappointed in how we give away the first goal.

"We are very honest with ourselves, it was not good enough how we defended in crucial moments. It doesn't matter who you play, you need to be better with that."

Kilmarnock are now six points above the relegation play-off spot and, having won back-to-back games, will feel a lot more comfortable about their chances of staying up.

It was Derek McInnes' side who made a fast start and midfielder Watson, who has only recently come back into the team, opened the scoring with a lashed, dipping finish from the edge of the box in the 12th minute.

Uche Ikpeazu, the former Hearts striker, was making his first start of the season following injury and proved to be a handful for the Kilmarnock defenders, as he was in his first spell in Scotland.

He rolled Stuart Findlay to set up Makenzie Kirk, only for the young striker to shoot wide before seeing his volley from a few yards out well saved by goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara.

Ikpeazu kept causing trouble in the second half, glancing a header inches wide. However, referee Ian Snedden then trotted across to the VAR screen and awarded a penalty down the other end of the pitch.

Rory McKenzie, on as a half-time sub for the visitors, was caught in the penalty box by Victor Griffith and Armstrong stepped up to squeeze his penalty under the legs of goalkeeper Andy Fisher.

Saints almost down despite Ikpeazu influence

That is almost that for St Johnstone, but they will go down sticking to the principles of play that Simo Valakari has tried to install. They were beaten by a fine strike and a penalty - two little mistakes that were severely punished.

The inclusion of Ikpeazu was the eyebrow raiser, finally returning from an injury picked up before the season even started. His signing, made by Craig Levein, was supposed to be a statement of intent, but unfortunately it has gone almost totally wrong.

Try as he might, it just would not come off for him. It was not for lack of effort. He was bullying defenders, holding them off or winning headers, rolling them when they came too close.

A bit of match sharpness and he might have been on the scoresheet and Saints fans might be left wondering what could have been.

Killie address rotten away form

Winless in their past 12 away games, including 10 defeats, it was about time Kilmarnock turned up on the road.

The 2-0 win over Motherwell at the start of April gave McInnes' side some confidence, as did the victory over Ross County last weekend.

They turned up with that confidence, starting on the front foot and rarely letting up.

The restoration of Watson to the midfield was long overdue and he repaid the confidence finally shown in him.

What they said

St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "Disappointment, everyone is down, but we need to pick ourselves up. We have these three matches to grab something.

"No time to feel sorry for ourselves. It's hard to pick yourself up, but we need to do it."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "The pitch is really difficult. We tried to play the conditions, take the anxiety out of it. Davie [Watson] has the quality to get on the road, a brilliant finish from the wee fella.

"We knew the second goal didn't need to come, but ultimately you still want it. We were able to breathe easy, it put pressure on them and we stayed strong within our structure. It was a very mature, professional performance and the exact one that was needed."

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