St Mirren skipper Mark O'Hara scores from the penalty spotImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Mark O'Hara has scored his last three penalties

After securing a 2-2 draw with St Mirren, Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes said Joe Wright will be fined after the defender was sent off for the second time this season.

Wright got his marching orders just before half-time after the VAR cameras caught him striking St Mirren defender Shaun Rooney in the midriff at a corner kick.

The red card was Kilmarnock's fourth in five Premiership outings. However, they managed to earn a share of the points after Jonah Ayunga's own goal.

"The moment of madness from Joe Wright is unacceptable," McInnes told BBC Sportsound. "He'll be fined two weeks wages for his actions.

"If the referee has deemed that as a punch, it is ill-discipline. If the referee has seen what I think I saw, it is enough for a red card."

Toyosi Olusanya's header had put St Mirren in front after seven minutes, but Marley Watkins responded quickly.

The hosts went ahead again from the spot when Wright was punished for a handball and captain Mark O’Hara tucked away the penalty.

St Mirren could count themselves lucky to retain their full compliment since Rooney and Mikael Mandron both risked red cards.

In the final throes, James Scott tapped in what he thought was a stoppage-time winner for the Paisley side, but the effort was ruled out for a high boot.

Kilmarnock flew out of the blocks, but it was St Mirren who hit the front. Jaden Brown curled to the front post where Olusanya got in front of his man and glanced his header in.

Within four minutes, the visitors had reacted. A low corner was delivered to Danny Armstrong and his shot was turned home by Watkins.

Then Mandron got his slice of luck. Booked for catching a Killie defender with an elbow, he flew into a tackle on Stuart Findlay. Free-kick given, but somehow not second yellow. Stephen Robinson immediately hooked his striker after just 19 minutes.

Rooney later booted Killie captain Kyle Vassell on the floor twice and somehow went unpunished.

Having enjoyed a reprieve or two, the hosts were back ahead before the break. Rooney's shot struck the arm of Wright and, after a look at the VAR screen, Matthew MacDermid awarded the penalty which O’Hara converted.

The hosts also went in at half-time a man ahead, with Wright dismissed after the cameras caught his tussle with Rooney.

Kilmarnock’s response was typical of a McInnes side. They attacked in waves, determined to find an equaliser, which came in the 70th minute when a Matty Kennedy corner was turned into the net by Ayunga.

Both sides pressed for a winner and St Mirren came closest. Alex Gogic hit a post with a header before Scott thought he was the hero.

The ball pinged around, with Scott tapping in. But Marcus Fraser was punished for a prior challenge and the Buddies’ joy was short-lived.

St Mirren fail to make man advantage count

This was a potential Premiership all-timer with more twists and turns than a South American telenovela - and a share of the spoils somehow seemed fair.

At half-time, St Mirren looked strong favourites, ahead against depleted opponents at home.

Yet, it ended in a draw with Kilmarnock even threatening a win at times. The Paisley side have already lost four points from winning positions this season.

While they sit seventh, they have not won since the opening day of the league season.

Substitute Scott struggled to retain the ball up front, for all his endeavour. Hopefully, the injury to Olusanya is not serious as he looks more clinical than he did last season.

Ill-discipline haunts Kilmarnock again

Four red cards in the first five league games is completely unacceptable and something that McInnes must be mulling how to solve.

Another moment of insanity from Wright - his second of the season - almost cost them everything, but for the typical determination you see from McInnes sides.

'It's us against the world' must have been the half-time team talk, and maybe McInnes has a point. Rooney and Mandron were fortunate to stay on the pitch.

Armstrong and Kennedy were effective on the wings, as were Vassell and Watkins up top. They just need to sort out the defensive frailty that has crept in. That, and the crazy red cards.

What they said

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes: "We were the better team with 11 men, we asserted ourselves on the game, overran them in midfield, carried a threat on the sides. We were terrific.

"The first time the ball comes in our box, [Toyosi] Olusanya gets a run. We're so annoyed with that type of goal, but our response is good - a well-worked set play. St Mirren are a big time and sometimes you have to think outside the box to get a solution."

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "When they went down to 10 men, we didn't move the ball quick enough or deliver enough balls into the box. We tried to complicate it, we make poor decisions and the crowd get nervous.

"Did we deserve to win it? Probably not. They managed the game, very street wise. A point is a fair reflection on the game."