Scotland internationalist Murray Davidson added to his mounting tally for the campaign and striker Rowan Vine bagged three vital points with a last-gasp strike at Rugby Park.
St Johnstone’s first win since they saw off Kilmarnock in Perth last month was overshadowed by controversy generated by a fifth-minute red card shown to home skipper Manuel Pascali for lunging in on Nigel Hasselbaink.
Not for the first time Killie manager Kenny Shiels found himself at loggerheads with officialdom and he was dispatched to the stand within two minutes of the incident. Then, post-match, he rounded on fourth official Andrew Dallas, son of retired referee Hugh.
Shiels reacted angrily when Hasselbaink fouled Jeroen Tesselaar and had to be reluctantly steered from the technical area by his coaching team.
The manager’s comments are likely to see the colourful character summoned to Hampden Park to explain his remarks.
Once the dust had settled, Saints headed for home warmed by a win at a demanding venue, but perplexed by a second-half performance which allowed their 10-man rivals back into the contest and deservedly net an equaliser seven minutes from the end.
The home fans were scenting a remarkable turnaround but were silenced in the closing minute when Chris Millar wheeled near the edge of the box and played in first-half substitute Vine for an immaculate right foot finish from 15 yards.
Manager Steve Lomas was delighted with the win but lamented his team’s failure to build on Davidson’s 31st minute close-range finish after slick interplay from Vine and Gregory Tade.
While they had sympathy with the Italian, Davidson and Lomas both felt that the officials called the Pascali red card right
”I wasn’t happy with the foul from Pascali, it seemed to be two-footed. By the letter of the law it is a red card,” said Davidson. ”I don’t think he has tried to hurt Nigel but he maybe just got a bit carried away. It was two-footed and there was no need for it.”
He added: ”It’s another goal for me and that is five for the season now. My goal tally has been much talked about so I have decided to set myself a target.
”I was delighted to get the goal and, to be honest, I could have had a couple more. I hit one right down the keeper’s throat just after my goal and then I hit the bar later on.
”But I am happy with just the one. It’s something I am trying to add to my game and it seems to be happening. A lot of people have told me I need to add goals and I know that myself because I am my own biggest critic.”
Lomas said: ”That was a super win for us but credit to Kenny for keeping two up front for the whole game despite being a man down.
”I thought when they equalised there was only going to be one winner but I have to praise my players for coming up with the winner thanks to a bit of quality from Chris Millar and Rowan Vine.
”I feel sorry for Pascali. Five years ago he gets away with that, but from where I was standing the referee had no alternative but to send him off.
”I can understand where Kenny is coming from and he was frustrated. Nigel was injured from the tackle, his boots were ripped in two. But I don’t know what he did wrong and he got dogs’ abuse from the home fans.”
In a curious assessment, manager Shiels, who had assumed a position beside his dug-out, albeit in the main stand, after being dismissed, said: ”Everyone is saying there is a vendetta against Kilmarnock because we won the Cammy Bell case (when Killie appealed against a red card) and they are out to get you. But I want to make it abundantly clear that is not what I think.
”That is very unfair on the refereeing industry. There’s no way they would do that and there is certainly no vendetta against Kilmarnock. I am fully supporting the referees.”
Shiels questioned whether Pascali had been guilty of a two-footed tackle and maintained: ”The young lad, the fourth official, is quite inexperienced. It was him who made the decision to send off Pascali. The referee got it in his ear which was astonishing.
”I don’t know what the qualifications are to become a fourth official but we have had this young lad before and he is easily influenced. The SPL might not be for him at this moment in his life because he has to get a bit more experience.
”I got sent off for contesting two decisions. I didn’t use bad language, I was clear in my head and should not have been sent off. We deserved something but we switched off for their winning goal. It was very disappointing after being so dominant.”