Kilmarnock will spend Christmas fourth in the Premiership table after two early goals against St Johnstone gave them a nervy home win.

David Watson lashed in a half-volley from 25 yards out after only six minutes before Marley Watkins toe-poked in the second after 17 minutes.

Nicky Clark got a goal back for the visitors, glancing in a header three minutes after his introduction as a second-half substitute, but despite late pressure, it was not enough.

Kilmarnock jump one place in the league, two points behind third-placed Hearts.

St Johnstone remain ninth, still seven clear from bottom.

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Hearts substitute Macaulay Tait should have his first goal for the club.

St Mirren goalkeeper Zach Hemming passes it straight to him, and he steps on to the ball and has a lash, but Hemming redeems himself.

St Mirren have put in 25 crosses and had 11 shots, but they have drawn a blank so far at Tynecastle.

It'll be three goals in their last eight (two of them own goals) if it stays like this.

Jack Hamilton has to look lively to push away a header from Celtic substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu.

Killie almost get a third.

Marley Watkins closes down James Brown and his block sails just over the St Johnstone crossbar with Dimitar Mitov scrambling.

The resulting corner comes in and Mitov and Kyle Vassell scramble for the loose ball, with it eventually going out for a goal kick.

Into the final 10 at all three top-flight grounds.

Will we see any late drama?

What a save from Will Dennis!

A St Johnstone corner is only cleared as far as Matt Smith, who contorts his body to volley at goal, but Dennis leaps acrobatically to deny him.

An equaliser is certainly on the cards now.

Killie are living dangerously.

They're sitting back and allowing St Johnstone to attack them, hoping to hit on the counter.

Instead, the visitors are getting into the box time and again, playing with confidence after that goal.

Andy Burke
BBC Scotland at Rugby Park

The Killie fans, having been basking in their side's dominance in the first half, are now a very nervous bunch as St Johnstone threaten to draw level here.

Nicky Clarke has made a real difference since coming on. His goal has turned the tide and he is giving the Killie defence something to think about it.

St Johnstone should have squared this up!

Fran Franczak is slipped down the right by Matt Smith and his cross to the on-rushing Tony Gallacher is inch-perfect, but the wing-back puts over.

That was a similar range to the Kyle Vassell miss in the first half. Dear me.

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Livingston are not attempting to chase this game at all.

They continue with almost everyone behind the ball, working so hard to keep Celtic at bay.

It's all about damage limitation for the league's bottom side.

The camera pans to Derek McInnes in the home dugout.

Nope. He doesn't look relaxed.

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St Johnstone are threatening an equaliser here.

Matt Smith chipped over the top to find Nicky Clark, who took one touch and then hooked the ball over his shoulder, but Will Dennis made a good save.

Kilmarnock have had plenty of chances to put this game to bed and they haven't taken them.

More snaps of that belter from Lawrence Shankland, anyone?

A late contender for goal of the year.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

St Mirren go close to a goal twice in the space of seconds.

Zander Clark has to spring into action to push Alex Gogic's header wide, then Kye Rowles clears Jonah Ayunga's shot off the line after a stramash from the resulting corner.

John Beaton has a decision to make here...

Dimitar Mitov takes a horrendous touch and Kyle Vassell robs it from him, with the keeper then wiping out the Killie striker.

It's out on the left of the box, it's just a free-kick. Is it a goalscoring opportunity? It's only a yellow card.

Liam Polworth lines up the free-kick... and it's a superb save from that man Mitov!

Lawrence Shankland is denied a hat-trick by the diving Zach Hemming.

Richard Taylor gave the ball straight to Beni Baningime and the midfielder slipped it to Shankland, who just managed to poke the ball towards the bottom corner.

It's a decent stop from Hemming, though.

The contrast in both Lawrence Shankland's goals just highlights his quality.

The first, a proper striker's goal, steering in a free header at the back post, but his second was an absolute beauty.

One touch on the edge of the box, a spin, and bang. Smashed into the top bin with his left peg.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS