St Mirren were beaten on the first game of 2025 as Bruce Anderson's double gave Kilmarnock all three point at Rugby Park.
The forward scored in each half as Kilmarnock won 2-0 to move to within three points of Saints in the William Hill Premiership.
There were three changes to the side that lost to Dundee on Sunday. Scott Tanser returned from suspension in place of Declan John, while Richard Taylor and Jonah Ayunga came in for Elvis Bwomono and Greg Kiltie. New signing Owen Oseni was on the bench after completing his deal on Wednesday and captain Mark O'Hara joined him on the bench after returning from injury.
Kilmarnock took an early lead after they were awarded a penalty kick just seven minutes in. Alex Gogic's clearance was charged down by Killie forward Bruce Anderson. The ball spun in the air and the striker raced on to it before going down after a nudge from the Cypriot defender. Referee Colin Steven showed no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Anderson stepped up to take. His effort was saved by Ellery Balcombe, but Anderson was quickest to react to the rebound to put the hosts ahead.
Saints looked to respond quickly with Toyosi Olusanya seeing a shot blocked just a minute later before went down in the box under a challenge a few minutes later but referee Colin Steven was unmoved. The referee was similarly unmoved when Olusanya went down again on 20 minutes after appearing to have his heels clipped.
A flat first-half performance saw the manager react by bringing O'Hara on for Oisin Smyth at the break before introducing Mikael Mandron for Roland Idowu on 54 minutes. Saints came close to a leveller seconds after the substitution when a free-kick was met by Taylor who headed just wide with Killian Phillips also just inches away from getting his toe on it.
Richard Taylor heads an effort just wide (Image: David Henderson)
Kilmarnock were awarded their second penalty of the game, and again it looked soft, as Kyle Magennis went down under the challenge from Gogic. Anderson made no mistake as he sent Balcombe the wrong way to double the hosts' lead.
Oseni was brought on for his debut after the goal when he was replaced Ayunga, while Bwomono came on for Gogic. But Saints never really looked like finding a way back into the match as they game fizzled out in disappointing fashion.
Owen Oseni makes his debut (Image: David Henderson)
Full-Time: Kilmarnock 2-0 St Mirren
St Mirren: Balcombe, Gogic (Bwomono 66), Iacovitti, Taylor, Fraser (c), Smyth (O'Hara 46), Phillips, Tanser, Idowu (Mandron 54), Olusanya (Kiltie 74), Ayunga (Oseni 66)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, John, Boyd-Munce, Mooney
Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Wright, Mayo, Deas, Murray, Lyons, Polworth (Donnelly 74), Ndaba, Anderson (Watson 84), Wales (Cameron 74), Vassell (Magennis 44)
Subs Not Used: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Bainbridge
Referee: Colin Steven
Assistant Referee: David McGeachie
Assistant Referee: Gordon McCabe
Fourth Official: George Calder
VAR: John Beaton
