Kilmarnock moved into the top six in the William Hill Premiership as they secured a comfortable 3-1 victory over bottom side St Johnstone at Rugby Park.
Liam Polworth gave the home side an early lead as he dispossessed Elliot Watt before showing great composure to coolly dink over Andy Fisher in the St Johnstone goal.
Two goals in three second-half minutes then put the game beyond St Johnstone just before the hour mark, as Fraser Murray’s sensational free-kick and Bobby Wales’ composed low finish had Killie 3-0 in front.
St Johnstone had won four matches on the bounce but, despite a late consolation from Graham Carey, their recent revival came to a halt as they tamely slipped to a defeat that sees them remain six points adrift of 11th-placed Dundee at the foot of the table.
Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes had made two changes from the side who beat Dundee United last time out, with Robbie Deas and Polworth replacing David Watson and Danny Armstrong, while the visitors made just one change from their Scottish Cup win over Hamilton, as Barry Douglas came in for Taylor Steven.
St Johnstone have adopted a more possession-based approach since the appointment of manager Simo Valakari but they were architects of their own downfall in the ninth minute as they surrendered possession while trying to play out from the back, allowing Killie to take an early lead.
Saints midfielder Watt was hustled out of it by Polworth, who then raced on to Wales’ precise pass before chipping the ball over onrushing goalkeeper Fisher to open the scoring.
St Johnstone were rattled and it was almost 2-0 minutes later as Wales swivelled superbly and shot narrowly wide of the post with Fisher beaten.
It took the away side until the 36th minute to have a chance of note as Stephen Duke-McKenna’s precise cross-field ball found Sam Curtis but he could only shoot straight at Kieron O’Hara with his left foot.
Kilmarnock were then inches away from a second goal in the 44th minute as the impressive Murray drove down the left before crossing for Marley Watkins who headed against the crossbar.
Saints boss Valakari sent on Steven and Zach Mitchell for Douglas and Curtis at the break as he looked to get his side back into the game.
But it was Killie who started the second period the brighter and Murray was involved again, crossing for Brad Lyons whose left-foot volley was kept out by the feet of keeper Fisher.
Winger Murray had been a constant threat and he got the goal his performance deserved in the 57th minute as he doubled the hosts’ lead with a spectacular free-kick.
From fully 25 yards out he curled the ball beautifully over the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner, leaving Fisher with no chance.
Three minutes later and it was 3-0, as young striker Wales continued his strong season by scoring another superb goal, running onto Lewis Mayo’s pass before controlling expertly and coolly slotting the ball into the far corner.
The Perth side should have had a route back into the game in the 67th minute as Carey slid in Makenzie Kirk but the young striker blazed wildly over the bar.
St Johnstone would eventually get on the scoresheet in added time as Carey swept the ball home from six yards out but that was just a consolation as Killie saw the game out comfortably to record their second consecutive home victory and keep their European hopes very much alive.
Ange Postecoglou insisted his controversial cupped ear celebration to Tottenham fans in a 1-0 loss at Chelsea had been misinterpreted on another bad night for the Australian.Spurs slipped to a 16th defeat in the Premier League this season thanks to a 50th-minute header by Enzo Fernandez, but it only told half the story of a typically frenzied London derby.VAR was required to rule out a fine strike...
Chelsea climbed back into the Premier League’s top four as Enzo Fernandez’s header early in the second half earned a 1-0 derby win over Tottenham at Stamford Bridge.Enzo Maresca’s side were under pressure after limping into the international break playing football that had ceased to excite home fans, but they largely had the better of a disappointing Spurs team that failed to tak...
David Moyes believes James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid a red card for his reckless challenge on Alexis Mac Allister as Everton were beaten 1-0 by Liverpool on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal, which Moyes claimed should have been ruled out for offside, gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were...
Jack Grealish dedicated his goal to his late brother after scoring in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Leicester on Wednesday.The England international hit his first Premier League goal for 16 months, on his first start in the competition since last December, as City moved back into fourth with a comfortable success at the Etihad Stadium.It came on the 25th anniversary of...
David Moyes bemoaned an “offside” goal that gave Liverpool a 1-0 win over Everton – but admitted James Tarkowski was lucky to avoid an early red card on a controversial night at Anfield.Diogo Jota’s 57th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 100th derby win and moved them a step closer to the Premier League title, but both sides were left unhappy with decisions from referee Sam Barr...
Eddie Howe hailed Sandro Tonali’s shooting power after seeing him cap a fine display with a stunning winner to edge Newcastle into the race for Champions League qualification.The 24-year-old Italy international brought an incident-packed encounter to a fitting conclusion with a 74th-minute piledriver which beat goalkeeper Mark Flekken from an improbable angle to hand the Magpies a precious 2...
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery believes Marcus Rashford is “progressively getting better” in all aspects of his game following his first Premier League goal for the club.The on-loan Manchester United forward set Villa on course for a comprehensive 3-0 win over fellow European hopefuls Brighton with a 51st-minute finish at the Amex Stadium.Rashford’s milestone strike came three days ...
Southampton boss Ivan Juric vowed to keep fighting as relegation moved sharply into focus after Crystal Palace denied them only a third Premier League win of the season.Substitute Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time header, to secure a 1-1 draw for the Eagles, means Saints will be down at the weekend if they lose at Tottenham and Wolves beat Ipswich.If relegation is confirmed on Sunday, Southampt...
Derby boss John Eustace insists his side are reaping the rewards for the hard work they have put in since he was appointed as manager after the Rams earned a 2-0 win over Preston to climb out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.Derby came out firing after a lacklustre opening period and Craig Forsyth coolly slotted the hosts in front with his fourth goal of the season.The Rams doubled thei...
Notts County manager Stuart Maynard hailed a “massive” three points as his side comfortably saw off MK Dons at Meadow Lane to maintain their promotion challenge.Two stunning strikes from David McGoldrick and Will Jarvis from the edge of the box, either side of Nick Tsaroulla’s close-range effort, earned County a convincing 3-0 win.“I think every three points is massive now,...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender