Ladbrokes Premiership

ST JOHNSTONE 1

KILMARNOCK 2

BOSS Steve Clarke extended his remarkable away unbeaten record to five games as Killie returned from the Fair City with a deserved three points.

Saints were struggling after four players were late owing to traffic trouble, forcing a reshuffle of the home squad.

However Killie moved into top gear to chalk up an impressive win against a home side who have been mainstays in the top six for the past few seasons.

And it was a great way to bounce back following their 3-1 home defeat against Aberdeen six days earlier.

Determined to make amends, Killie began well and went ahead in just 10 minutes when Dom Thomas found Stuart Findlay, who headed the ball past the St Johnstone defender on the line.

However two minutes before half-time it was all-square when Steven McLean headed home.

Killie kept plugging away and in 66 minutes they restored their advantage when a fine passing move saw Stephen O'Donnell play a lovely pass inside and Eamonn Brophy produced a crisp finish to net his first goal since joining from Premiership rivals Hamilton Accies in the summer.

Clarke was impressed with how his side performed and said: "Eamonn's fine, he picked up a little bit of cramp but he's fine, he hasn't been involved that often this season. He's been good in and around training, I always had it in the back of my mind that he was due a start, similar to Thomas.

"I thought Eamonn did very well and grabbed his chance. But I think it's important for squad players to know that when they are working hard and doing well in training, the manager and the coaching staff will give them a chance."

KILMARNOCK: MacDonald; O'Donnell, Greer, Broadfoot, Findlay; Power, Dicker, Taylor, Thomas (Burke), Brophy (Erwin), Boyd (Hawkshaw).

STARMAN: Eamon Brophy 3

Kris Boyd 2

Stuart Findlay 1.