Ladbrokes Premiership

KILMARNOCK 1

ST JOHNSTONE 2

DISAPPOINTED Killie boss Lee McCulloch is urging his revamped Kilmarnock side to be more street-wise after they pushed St Johnstone all the way but came up short.

McCulloch, who was officially appointed to the hotseat in the summer could take some positives from defeat in the opening league game of the season at Rugby Park and said later: "I was happy with the performance but not the result. We have a strong squad and we just need to be a bit more street-wise."

Saints blasted into the lead just 10 minutes into the game when David Wotherspoon won the ball 25 yards out and drove into the box, taking on Kirk Broadfoot. He moved inside and sent an unstoppable shot past Jamie MacDonald. Saints came so close to extending their advantage when Murray Davidson tried an audacious lob over MacDonald but his shot crashed off the crossbar.

Then in 59 minutes Killie were right back in it. Jordan Jones was fouled 30 yards from goal by Stefan Scougall. Alan Mannus lined up his wall but the resultant set-piece from veteran striker Kris Boyd sailed into the top right-hand corner of the net.

Boyd then teed up fellow target man Lee Erwin but Mannus parried his effort away. Then a long range effort from Boyd was touched on to the crossbar by Mannus.

Just as the game looked to ending deadlocked Saints snatched a winner when substitute Michael O'Halloran collected a pass from former Ayr United man Brian Easton 25 yards out and dribbled past four Killie players into the penalty-box before slotting home an angled drive.