New signing Gary saves his Buddies
In today’s Flashback, we look back on an eventful clash between St Mirren and Kilmarnock in August 2013 ahead of their Scottish Cup quarter-final clash at Rugby Park tonight.
New signing Gary Harkins grabbed a second half equaliser against former club Kilmarnock to hand Danny Lennon’s side a share of the points.
Kris Boyd guided the Ayrshire side into the lead four minutes after the break, but the former Rangers striker saw red later on for lashing out at Jim Goodwin.
And Saints made their numerical advantage count when Harkins fired through a ruck of players with 25 minutes remaining.
The first chance came to Saints early on and it was striker Steve Thompson who saw a flashing header zip wide after Gary Teale supplied the cross.
Eight minutes in and the same pair combined before the Saints number nine sent a downward header towards goal but, this time, former team-mate Craig Samson blocked the effort on the line.
Midfielder Kenny McLean was just inches away from connecting with another Teale cross into the dangerzone as Saints piled forward in numbers.
Back came the visitors and Killie’s Paul Heffernan got a shot away in the box after Boyd played him in but, thankfully, there was no concession of a goal for the home side.
Roving midfielder Rabiu Ibrahim unleashed a shot from distance, which bounced off a team-mate following nice build-up play from the visitors.
Midfielder Harkins was forced to head Barry Nicholson’s free-kick 30 yards out behind for a corner but, when the cross came in, reliable McGregor knocked it well clear.
Before the break, Nicholson sent a right foot shot agonisingly wide of the right hand post from 18 yards as he picked up a pass from the left hand side.
Both sides went into the break deadlocked, but one sensed that the stalemate wouldn’t remain that way in the second 45. After the interval, Ibrahim combined with Boyd and the latter found himself in the Saints penalty box. but, thankfully, the nearside linesman had his flag raised and the move broke down.
Harkins saw a volley drift inches wide of Samson’s post at the other end, before Killie pulled ahead after 49 minutes.
Ibrahim took possession away from the Kilmarnock half and pinged the ball up to Sean Clohessy.
The Killie man spotted Boyd in the box, picked him out and the former ‘Gers striker stroked home from the edge of the six yard box.
Paul Heffernan saw a header drift over for the visitors as they suddenly found some momentum.
Jackson Irvine was next up to have a pop at goal, collecting a pass from Ibrahim, turning and shooting over from 22 yards.
For Saints, midfielder Paul McGowan fired a low angled drive just beyond Samson’s far post as Lennon’s side sought a response.
There was controversy when Boyd was instantly red carded in the 61st minute for lashing out at Goodwin with his fist following a tussle for possession between the two near the half way line.
With a numerical advantage, Saints passed up a great chance to score when Thompson sent a Teale cross goalbound but, somehow, it was scrambled clear on the line.
Seconds later, Saints did equalise when Harkins was in the right place at the right time to fire a right-foot shot through a stream of players and into the middle of the net from eight yards.
Thompson claimed for a spot-kick when he saw a cushioned effort graze Clohessy, but referee John Beaton wasn’t interested.
Then McGregor headed a Danny Grainger corner kick wide of the right hand post.
Harkins brought keeper Samson to his knees with a right foot shot after he picked up a Grainger pass on the edge of the box.
Striker Thomas Reilly replaced midfielder McLean with 15 minutes remaining as Saints sought to score a second.
With five minutes remaining Goodwin was booked for a foul on Mark Stewart, before McGowan drove a right foot shot fractionally wide of the post as the points were shared in Paisley.