Ladbrokes Premiership

ST JOHNSTONE 2

KILMARNOCK 1

CARELESS Killie squandered an early lead as they slumped to a second successive defeat against high-flying Saints at McDiarmid Park on Saturday.

The loss saw them slip to ninth spot after Inverness Caley Thistle leapfrogged them following victory at Motherwell.

Poor defending and failure to cash in on chances brought about their downfall.

Manager Gary Locke was not overly critical of his players although felt they could have won the game and said "I can't fault the players in terms of endeavour and commitment but the goals we lost were poor. We need to improve on that. We created enough chances to win the game but we haven't taken them."

Kilmarnock got off to a dream start when they took the lead in just 95 seconds with Steven Smith sending home a fine header from eight yards after latching onto a superb cross from Kallum Higginbotham.

However Saints came more into the match and levelled in 22 minutes as a result of poor defending. Three home players were allowed a touch in front pf goalkeeeper Jamie MacDonald before Michael O'Halloran knocked the ball home..

Four minutes into the second half Saints marched into a 2-1 lead when substitute Chris Kane rifled the ball home from 16 yards.

Kilmarnock then came close when a strong shot from Craig Slater produced a fine save from home goalie Alan Mannus. Then substitute Kris Boyd was unlucky with a shot with a shot which shaved the bar.

Home player Liam Craig was red-carded three minutes from time for showing his studs in a challenge on Smith.

Killie had three players booked - Greig Kiltie, Smith and Josh Magennis, with home player O'Halloran also yellow-carded.

STARMAN: Greig Kiltie 3

Steven Smith 2

Kevin McHattie 1.