Match ends, St. Johnstone 0, Kilmarnock 1.
St JohnstoneSt Johnstone0KilmarnockKilmarnock1
Craig Slater's early free-kick proved decisive as Kilmarnock progressed to the Scottish Cup fifth round draw at the expense of St Johnstone.
Slater brilliantly executed his set piece with a firm side-foot shot that curled away from goalkeeper Alan Mannus low into the corner.
Josh Magennis came very close to a second with a volley.
St Johnstone ramped up the pressure as the game wore on with David Wotherspoon and John Sutton narrowly missing.
Killie enter Monday's draw having taken the scalp of the 2014 winners of the competition.
Though at the other end of the Premiership table from Saints, the visitors from Ayrshire suggested early on that they were not in Perth to make up the numbers, showing real energy and appetite to get forward.
It paid off very early on. Slater picked his spot with a free-kick from the edge of the box, which was directed and weighted perfectly as it flew into the corner.
Kilmarnock continued to trouble the home side with Magennis particularly prominent, his shot from a corner narrowly failing to hit the target.
The home side really struggled in the first half and it seemed as though that might continue when Adam Frizzell nearly made it two for Killie with a close-range header.
However, St Johnstone are well known for their qualities and battled into the contest in the second half.
David Wotherspoon executed a one-two and saw his drive touched past in his side's first effort on target in over an hour.
Tommy Wright replaced his strike force with Sutton and Graham Cummins coming on and the former almost immediately made an impact when his went over.
The pressure began to build with Chris Millar, Wotherspoon and Sutton again all going close but Kilmarnock remained resolute at the back and threatening on the break.
And it took a quite astonishing series of saves from MacDonald to prevent Dave Mackay, Sutton and Cummins netting.
Murray Davidson almost stole an equaliser right at the end but Kilmarnock were not to be denied.
Line-ups
St Johnstone
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Mannus
- 14Shaughnessy
- 2Mackay
- 6Anderson
- 24Easton
- 10Wotherspoon
- 7Millar
- 8DavidsonBooked at 38mins
- 29O'HalloranSubstituted forThomsonat 79'minutes
- 25KaneSubstituted forCumminsat 66'minutes
- 9MacLeanSubstituted forSuttonat 66'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Scobbie
- 11Sutton
- 12Clark
- 16Caddis
- 18Cummins
- 22Fisher
- 27Thomson
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-5-1
- 21MacDonald
- 24Syme
- 18Ashcroft
- 26Balatoni
- 22McHattie
- 7McKenzieSubstituted forFindlayat 82'minutes
- 19Slater
- 39Frizzell
- 3Smith
- 23KiltieSubstituted forHigginbothamat 75'minutes
- 28Magennis
Substitutes
- 2Barbour
- 4Hamill
- 5Findlay
- 9Boyd
- 11Higginbotham
- 13Brennan
- 20Carrick
- Referee:
- Kevin Clancy
- Attendance:
- 3,147
Match Stats
Home TeamSt JohnstoneAway TeamKilmarnock
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home9
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, St. Johnstone 0, Kilmarnock 1.
Post update
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
Post update
Lee Ashcroft (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Stuart Findlay.
Post update
Attempt missed. Kallum Higginbotham (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from a difficult angle and long range on the right is close, but misses to the left.
Post update
Chris Millar went off injured after St. Johnstone had used all subs.
Post update
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Jamie MacDonald.
Post update
Corner, St. Johnstone. Conceded by Josh Magennis.
Post update
Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Conrad Balatoni (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Attempt missed. Kevin McHattie (Kilmarnock) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right following a fast break.
Post update
Graham Cummins (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Conrad Balatoni (Kilmarnock).
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Stuart Findlay replaces Rory McKenzie.
Post update
Attempt missed. Joe Shaughnessy (St. Johnstone) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Murray Davidson (St. Johnstone) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Kallum Higginbotham (Kilmarnock).
Substitution
Substitution, St. Johnstone. Craig Thomson replaces Michael O'Halloran.
