Kilmarnock 2 St Mirren 1

St Mirren claimed their first goal of the season but it was not enough to earn their first point as Kilmarnock snatched a 2-1 win in the Scottish Premiership match at Rugby Park.

The home side opened the scoring through substitute Robbie Muirhead, before his opener was cancelled out by on-loan Manchester City midfielder Adam Drury.

However, Mark Connolly ensured struggling Saints' dismal start to the season continued when he grabbed the decisive goal - with the Paisley side still waiting to put points on the board.

It took a while for both teams to get going and more than 20 minutes had elapsed before either side managed to carve out a decent chance at goal.

Kilmarnock were first to threaten when Sammy Clingan floated a cross into the box for Josh Magennis - but his header flashed narrowly wide of the back post.

At the other end, John McGinn stung the palms of Craig Samson with a well-struck volley.

Then it was Marian Kello's turn to be tested when the Saints keeper did well to block a smart Tope Obadeyi shot after he was picked out with a lovely diagonal ball by Ross Barbour.

Jim Goodwin picked up the first booking after 36 minutes for a crunching tackle on Clingan, who required treatment, before returning to the action.

But both teams were lacking a killer touch in front of goal and a relatively drab first half ended goalless.

Saints thought they had ended their wait for a goal this season when Jason Naismith had the ball in the back of the net early in the second half.

But referee Alan Muir ruled that Naismith had fouled Manuel Pascali in the build-up and the goal was not given.

It was Killie who had the net bulging after 62 minutes, thanks to substitute Muirhead, who opened the scoring just seven minutes after replacing Michael Ngoo.

He raced onto a long ball from Connolly down the left flank before dispatching an angled drive beyond the grasp of Kello.

However, Saints were back on level terms eight minutes later, sending the visiting fans into raptures.

McGinn's ball across goal was stabbed into the net by Drury, amid claims of a foul on Connolly, as the Paisley side finally opened their scoring account for the campaign.

But Killie were back in front after 81 minutes when Connolly won a foul and then met Clingan's resultant free-kick with a bullet header into the back of the net.

James Marwood was then booked for diving with two minutes to go to sum up a miserable day for St Mirren.