The combination of Storm Barbara and Kilmarnock weren’t enough to deny St Johnstone another impressive Premiership result on the road.
A Murray Davidson goal just before half-time secured the Perth men a victory in testing conditions and, after dealing with everything Killie and the weather had to throw at them in the second 45, they finished the match in some comfort.
The away statistics keep getting better for Saints.
They have only lost once in the league on their travels all season – back in August – and the Rugby Park win made it seven unbeaten.
Danny Swanson and Steven Anderson were both back in the starting line-up for Saints.
The visitors made a promising start and just two minutes into the game Chris Millar released Brain Easton on the over-lap. The full-back’s cross from the bye-line picked out Blair Alston at the back post but he wasn’t able to direct his effort on goal.
Killie went straight up the pitch and came close seconds later when Rory McKenzie tried his luck from well outside the box. It wasn’t the most convincing save Zander Clark has ever made but he did enough to turn it round the post.
On eight minutes a decent Saints move down the right culminated in a chance for Chris Kane from a narrow angle. The striker’s effort found the side-netting.
There was a half-hearted shout for a Killie penalty when a cross came in from the left and Easton out-muscled Souleymane Coulibaly in the middle of the box. Rightly, referee Stephen Finnie shook his head and let the play go on.
Coulibaly got the better of Easton a couple of minutes later, though. He would have been disappointed with his cross into the box, which was comfortably cut-out by Clark.
Midway through the first half Swanson sent over a dipping corner that Davidson got his head to at the back post, and it took a goal-line clearance from McKenzie to keep the score blank.
Killie were forced into a substitution when McKenzie hobbled off and was replaced by Dean Hawkshaw.
There was a good shooting opportunity from the 18 yard line for Jordan Jones just after the half-hour mark but it was dragged wide.
The first half was no classic but Saints were deserved leaders by the time it finished after Davidson side-footed an Alston corner low past Jamie MacDonald.
Five minutes after the re-start Clark had to be fully dialled in to make sure he collected a Coulibaly free-kick that went through a crowded box before getting to him.
Killie were enjoying their best spell of the game so far and David Wotherspoon was booked for bringing down Jones as he made a run through midfield.
The free-kick was floated into the box and a bit of a scramble ended up with a Jones shot being charged down.
Momentum was building for Lee Clark’s men and Steven Smith was next to have a go, however his 20-yarder didn’t work the Perth keeper.
Davidson followed Wotherspoon into the referee’s book just after the hour and Kris Boyd came on for Natrhan Tyson while the play was stopped.
Clark had to be at his best on 63 minutes to preserve Saints’ lead when he saved low from William Boyle.
Tommy Wright made his first substitution a minute later – Graham Cummins for Kane.
There had been precious little activity in the Killie box in the second period and it wasn’t until the 66th minute that they had a shot – albeit a wayward one – from Chris Millar at the conclusion of a slick counter-attack.
Saints had struggled to get Swanson into the game and Wright took him off with 20 minutes left, replaced by Liam Craig.
Clark had dealt with everything thrown at him so far, and a Coulibaly shot from at least 30 yards wasn’t going to beat him.
For all that Saints hadn’t been at their best after the break, they should have been 2-0 up on 75 minutes when a point-blank Cummins header was saved by MacDonald.
Saints were back in command after this near-miss and, when the centre of the pitch opened up for Easton, he cut in from the left on to his right foot and forced a good save out of MacDonald on 83 minutes.
Craig used his trusty left to shoot from 20 yards and MacDonald was beaten this time. The post saved him though.
On the final whistle Luke Hendrie was ordered off for his second yellow and Saints completed a masterclass in running the clock down for their win.
Kilmarnock – MacDonald, Steven Smith (Cameron 77), Boyle, McKenzie (Hawkshaw 32), Dicker, Jones, Tyson (Boyd 62), Wilson, Coulibaly, Taylor, Hendrie. Subs not used – Mackay, Frizzell, Martin Smith, Adams.
St Johnstone – Clark, Alston, Anderson, Millar, Davidson, Wotherspoon, Swanson (Craig 71), Shaughnessy, Foster, Easton, Kane (Cummins 64). Subs not used – Mannus, Scobbie, Paton, Watson, Hunter.
Referee – Stephen Finnie.
Attendance – 3056.