Boyd sparkles as Killie head into split in fine fettle

KILMARNOCK 2

Kane 17og, Boyd 43pen

STJOHNSTONE 0

Kilmarnock will enter the Ladbrokes Premiership split full of confidence after this deserved 2-0 victory.

The success, Killie’s third in five matches, was achieved thanks to a Chris Kane own goal and a Kris Boyd penalty and keeps them in with a real chance of ending their 18-year wait for European football.

Boyd, pictured, led the line from the start for Killie’s second successive home match and could have had two early goals. First, he thundered a header off the bar from pointblank range following a sumptuous Chris Burke cross, then he was denied by a strong left-hand from Zander Clark.

The Saints goalkeeper could do nothing soon after though, as Kane put the ball in his net to gift the hosts the lead. The quality was in the delivery from Rory Mckenzie as his corner was glanced towards goal by Killie captain Gary Dick er and the ball touched off Kane to put the Ayrshire side ahead. Kane looked to make amends as he smashed a drive narrowly over from 25 yards, but that was to be as good as it got for the Perth side.

The second goal arrived from the right foot of Boyd. He calmly converted from the penalty spot after Jason Kerr had handled his goalbound header.

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright sent on Blair Alston, Danny Swanson and Liam Gordon for the second half in place of Scott Tanser, Callum Hendry and Michael O’halloran. However, the changes made little difference and Saints’ woe was capped midway through the second half when Kerr was sent off following a second booking for a cynical tug on Mckenzie.

Boyd looked to have added a third but was flagged for offside. Nevertheless, the hosts eased to victory, earning a fifth clean sheet in six games to stay in third place.