Kilmarnock1
St Mirren0
Kris Boyd grabbed the first-half winner for Kilmarnock as they beat St Mirren 1-0 to leave themselves facing a last-day survival shootout with Hibernian.
Killie had lost four games on the bounce – including a five-goal thrashing away to Hearts on Sunday – but now need just a point at Easter Road in three days’ time to spare themselves the relegation play-offs.
St Mirren had already seen their safety confirmed by Killie’s dismal defeat at the weekend and arrived in Ayrshire hoping to take another step towards claiming seventh place – their highest Premiership finish in a quarter of a century. But Boyd’s 21st goal of the season – netted after 21 minutes – means Partick leapfrog them after the Jags beat Hearts in Edinburgh to guarantee themselves a second season in the top-flight.
Killie had to play out the final three minutes with 10 men after James Fowler collected his second yellow but they stood strong to end their barren run. It was an impressive Killie display after that Tynecastle defeat. Manager Allan Johnston responded to his side’s “embarrassing” display by making sweeping changes to his line-up.
After dropping Sammy Clingan, Chris Johnston, Craig Slater and Robbie Muirhead and instead placing his faith in James Fowler, Jackson Irvine, Alexei Eremenko and Lee Ashcroft, Johnston saw his prayers answered.
Boyd grabbed the goal as he prodded home from six yards out.
Now Kilmarnock must do better in Leith than they did in Gorgie if they are to avoid a demotion decider with the ‘best of the rest’ from the Championship.