Jim Jefferies brought in Garry Hay, Alan Johnston, Ryan O'Leary
(below) and Paul Di Giacomo, who excelled in a wing-back role.
Grant Murray and Gary Wales were injured and Simon Ford was
suspended, while Rocco Quinn dropped to the bench.
Saints attacked from the start and Hay cleared Maxwell's early header off
the line, although Alan Combe had it covered.
Stewart Kean got an acrobatic volley on target but Combe was
well positioned to catch.
While St Mirren were enjoying the bulk of possession, Steven
Naismith and Colin Nish were getting plenty of space when Killie broke.
And the visitors slowly but surely took a grip on proceedings.
Peter Leven forced Chris Smith to tip over his powerful effort from the
edge of the box.
Smith kept his cool as a Naismith drive from 25 yards skimmed
along the ground and into the St Mirren keeper's hands.
Naismith then shot just over from 20 yards after good build-up
play from Nish and Di Giacomo.
The CIS Insurance Cup finalists kept coming forward and
Johnston edged into the area after a one-two with Nish but Maxwell did
well to divert his shot behind.
Both
sides attacked when possible as the second half began.
Stephen O'Donnell curled a shot well over the Killie bar and
Johnston's delicate cross just ran away from Naismith after a great run
from Di Giacomo.
Colin Nish opened the
scoring when he headed Di Giacomo's corner home despite Brady's attempts
to clear on the line.
The big striker was booked by Willie Collum for lifting his
shirt over his head in the celebrations.
Gus MacPherson immediately brought on Mark Corcoran for Kean.
The winger was soon involved in controversy when he appeared to be fouled
in the corner before Johnston broke forward and almost doubled the lead.
The former Scotland international fed Nish down the left
channel and volleyed inches wide from the cut-back.
Naismith - being watched by Scotland manager Alex McLeish - was
inches away from turning home Leven's volley at the far post.
Saints
refused to fold and Combe brilliantly pushed away Maxwell's goalbound
header after a Brittain free-kick. But their comeback hopes were dashed in
the 79th minute when Nish finished off a slick break.
James Fowler won possession and fed Naismith, who slid a
perfect ball down the right for Di Giacomo.
He cut the ball across from the byline for Nish
to tap home at the near post.
That killed off the Buddies as an attacking threat as they
ended their fourth successive home game without a goal.
