Kilmarnock were left to rue Joe Wright’s early red card as a double from Adama Sidibeh and a Benjamin Kimpioka penalty gave St Johnstone a comprehensive 3-0 win at Rugby Park.
Killie had been in European action on Thursday night and were caught cold by fresher opponents who took the lead after just three minutes as Sidibeh prodded home from a long throw-in.
Wright was sent off after 16 minutes for two rash bookings before Sidibeh doubled the Saints’ advantage before the break with a composed finish.
Kilmarnock huffed and puffed with 10 men – hitting the post twice – but the visitors defended well before adding a third through Kimpioka as they recorded their first league win of the season.
Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes made four changes from the side who drew 2-2 against Tromso on Thursday, with Robbie Deas, Rory McKenzie, David Watson and Innes Cameron coming in.
St Johnstone manager Craig Levein named an unchanged side from the team who lost narrowly to Aberdeen in their league opener on Monday night.
It was the away side who would get their noses in front early on with the simplest of goals. Drey Wright’s long throw was flicked on by Aaron Essel, allowing Sidibeh to nip in ahead of the hesitant Kilmarnock defenders to poke the ball beyond Robby McCrorie in the home goal.
Kilmarnock’s task was made harder in the 16th minute when Wright – already on a booking after a pull on Sidibeh two minutes in – needlessly wiped out Kimpioka to earn a second yellow card.
Killie had been holding their own despite their numerical disadvantage but they were soon caught out again as Sidibeh grabbed his second of the game in the 33rd minute.
It came after good work from the impressive Andre Raymond on the left wing, who showed skill before crossing to Sidibeh, who took a touch and calmly slotted the ball low into the net from 12 yards.
McCrorie then saved from Matthew Smith and Wright, before Fraser Murray hit the post with a deflected strike from the edge of the box as an action-packed opening period came to an end.
It took until the 63rd minute for the first chance of the second half and Stuart Findlay should have done better as he headed over from a Daniel Armstrong corner.
Kilmarnock had not given up and Bradley Lyons was next to come close in the 71st minute with a low shot from 20 yards that whistled just past the post.
The home side appealed for a penalty with 10 minutes remaining as Armstrong went down under the challenge of Raymond but referee Chris Graham booked the winger for simulation. After a VAR check, it was deemed there had been contact, but it had been outside the area.
Killie’s feelings of frustration were then compounded moments later when St Johnstone were instead awarded a spot-kick of their own as Lewis Mayo brought down Kimpioka, who picked himself up and coolly slotted the ball to McCrorie’s left to make it 3-0
Findlay hit the post for Kilmarnock in added time at the end of a disappointing match for the home side as the Saints saw out the game in comfort.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
