Kilmarnock 0 St Johnstone 1
A late penalty from Brian Graham gave St Johnstone three points and allowed the visitors to climb above Kilmarnock and reach sixth place in the Scottish Premiership.
A late penalty from Brian Graham gave St Johnstone three points and allowed the visitors to climb above Kilmarnock and reach sixth place in the Scottish Premiership.
The result was cruel on Kilmarnock who were searching for their first home win since October and pressed forward from the start.
The key moment came in the 82nd minute when Michael O'Halloran went down in the penalty area. Referee Don Robertson pointed straight to the spot, allowing Graham to thrash his kick down the middle for the winning goal.
Kilmarnock were left to rue their spurned chances.
The home side at Rugby Park could have been ahead within a minute. Lee Miller nodded the ball in front of Robbie Muirhead but his low shot from 10 yards was palmed away by Alan Mannus at full stretch.
Then after eight minutes Sammy Clingan's free-kick into a packed St Johnstone box saw the ball fall for Josh Magennis, whose strike was deflected over the crossbar.
All of the early action was around the St Johnstone box and Miller teed up Muirhead who swept his effort well off target.
It took the Perth side 14 minutes to mount their first threat on the home goal as James McFadden's free-kick just eluded Steven Anderson, allowing Craig Samson to make a comfortable save.
The next attempt from McFadden, when he met David Wotherspoon's cross on the full volley, did beat the Kilmarnock goalkeeper but Mark Connolly popped up on the line to block the effort.
Kilmarnock had the bulk of the possession and the play in the visitors' half, but as the game progressed Saints created the better chances.
A great break from O'Halloran after 36 minutes set up Graham at the edge of the six-yard box but his shot was partially blocked allowing Samson to dive and save.
Two minutes later Wotherspoon's corner found the unmarked McFadden and his delicate flick carried the ball onto the crossbar and over, much to the relief of the static home defence.
Just as the home fans were growing quiet, full-back Chris Chantler rifled a 20-yard drive which Mannus blocked under his crossbar.
McFadden, whose history of knee injuries had made him a doubt to feature on the Rugby Park's artificial surface, only lasted three minutes into the second half before being replaced by Lee Croft.
Kilmarnock made their first substitution seven minutes later when the influential Clingan limped off and was replaced with Craig Slater.
A great break from Saints after 75 minutes, started and finished by Croft, caused a stir as Samson fumbled his cross.
Within two minutes there was more anxiety at the other end when Tope Obadeyi rounded the Saints goalkeeper at the edge of the box. But with Magennis waiting in front of an open goal the Nigerian screwed his pass out of the box towards Rory McKenzie who fired the ball over the bar.
That sparked some life into the home side and Muirhead's drive carried the ball narrowly over the bar.
Saints were finally rewarded for another quick break. O'Halloran went over in the penalty area under the close attention of home defenders and Graham made no mistake with the penalty.
Kilmarnock had a couple of chances to grab an equaliser. Mannus raced from his area to boot clear as Magennis threatened before the goalkeeper threw himself full length to hold a snap shot from Muirhead and secure all three points.