Boyd back on the goal trail to down wretched Saints

Kris Boyd netted his first goal of the year as he led Killie to a dominant win over a hapless St Johnstone side.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men midway through the second period when Jason Kerr received his second booking of the afternoon.

But in fairness, St Johnstone had seemed missing in action throughout.

Killie sensed a sense of weakness in their opponents who have had a woeful run since the turn of the year and firmly exploited the lack of conviction in Tommy Wright’s side.

Chris Kane’s own goal followed up by a Boyd strike from the penalty spot led to a comfortable afternoon in Ayrshire for the home side.

However, despite what was a dominant display Killie manager Steve Clarke was critical of the number of chances missed by his side in what was a lopsided contest.

He said: “We were wasteful in the second half and could’ve had a few more goals, that’s the only thing.

“We got into some great positions but quite a lot of poor choices in the final third of the pitch cost us.

“We could’ve been going home with a scoreline similar to the one that we produced against Hamilton.

“It was a dominant performance from start to finish and it was a well deserved three points.

“Boyd is one of a number of players who have had to be patient this season. He’s had to be patient but sometimes when you are a goal scorer and you lose the chance to play, you lose that rhythm.

“So it was nice to see him get on the scoresheet albeit with a penalty. He should’ve scored with a header in the first five minutes if I’m honest.”

St Johnstone were unchanged from their midweek win over Dundee but that was where the similarities ended.

Indeed, there was little surprise when Clarke’s side opened the scoring with a McKenzie corner causing some consternation inside the St Johnstone box. Gary Dicker headed the ball on only for Kane to turn it into his own net.

Further goals seemed likely given the manner in which Kilmarnock were allowed the time and space to probe at St Johnstone’s backline.

In 43 minutes Boyd added a second from the spot. The striker’s header had been batted away by defender Kerr’s hand with Bobby Madden quick to point to the spot.

The veteran striker drilled his penalty low to go joint-second among Killie’s all-time league goalscorers.

Wright gambled with all three substitutes as he took off Michael O’Halloran, Callum Hendry and Scott Tanser.

It was still Kilmarnock who looked most likely to draw blood again.

Boyd had the ball in the back of the net shortly after the restart only to be denied by an offside flag. And St Johnstone’s day got worse again when Kerr was dismissed for a second booking.

Zander Clark, the busiest St Johnstone player on the pitch, had to parry an effort from McKenzie as the hosts kept the pressure on.

Saints boss Tommy Wright was irked with referee Madden at the de c i sion to give Kilmarnock a first-half penalty although he admitted that it was a desperate display from his side.

He said: “Jason’s hands are up but I wouldn’t say it is deliberate handball.

“The referee has told me that will be the guidelines for next season but we could do with guidelines for this season and have a bit of consistency.

“That would help. Unfortunately Jason picks up a booking then which I think is a bit unfair when the ball is that close to him.”

Wright also revealed the Perth club have lost patience with Joe Shaughnessy over his future after withdrawing their contract offer to the captain.

He said: “We asked Joe if he was going to be committed to the club and his advisor said he was not in a position to make that decision so we have drawn a line under it.”