THE SCOUT REPORT

Express sports reporter Ben Ramage takes a look at Saints’ opponents this evening as they travel to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock for a place in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

Form

Having lost eight Premiership games on the spin at the start of 2021, Kilmarnock’s future in the division was seriously under threat.

A 1- 1 draw with Dundee United at Rugby Park at the end of February stopped the rot for the Ayrshire side, with the club going on to pick up an important win over Motherwell to ensure they didn’t get cast adrift at the bottom of the table.

A 2-2 draw with Ross County and a 3-0 thrashing of Dundee United has moved the club away from immediate danger although very much still in the mix for the drop.

The Scottish Cup has been a welcome distraction for Killie, having picked up comfortable wins over League One team Montrose and League Two side Stenhousemuir.

Manager

Former St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright took over the reins at Rugby Park in February after the club sacked Alex Dyer after a disappointing first half of the season.

The Northern Irishman has taken time to turn the Ayrshire side around, although there are encouraging signs that the club are starting to move in the right direction under his guidance.

Star player

Only one place to look here. Former Rangers and Hearts striker Kyle Lafferty has been in fine form in recent weeks.

Admittedly four of his last seven goals have come against lower league opposition, but his deadly hat- trick against Dundee United last week could prove critical to the club’s chances of staying in the Premiership.

At 33, he can still pose the Buddies defence plenty of problems tonight.

Last time the sides met

On-form St Mirren eased to a 2-0 win against managerless Kilmarnock the last time the clubs met in February.

The Buddies were looking to make it three wins from their last four matches after a disappointing loss to Hibs.

They were on top in the first half without threatening the visitors’ keeper, with Jamie McGrath and Kyle McAllister trying their luck from distance.

Jim Goodwin’s side finally made the breakthrough just before the break as McAllister, who impressed throughout, bulleted home a header from a pinpoint Ilkay Durmus cross.

The game was punctuated by some seriously questionable refereeing, with Jim Goodwin going into the book in the second half after Jon Obika was denied a stonewall penalty by John Beaton after being brought down inside the box by Alan Power.

The big striker got his revenge just a few minutes later, slamming home his eighth of the campaign from close range to double Saints’ advantage and seal the win.