Craig Dargo finally made his competitive debut for St Mirren but the
striker had little chance to shine in an uneventful Clydesdale Bank
Premier League clash.
Killie have now gone seven games without victory, one more than St
Mirren, and both teams looked seriously short of confidence in the final
third.
Kilmarnock welcomed back Simon Ford from injury and recalled winger
Willie Gibson.
An opening 10 minutes devoid of goalmouth action set the tone and
Nish was off target with the first chance as he headed well wide from
Gibson's cross.
Mark Corcoran's corner found Ian Maxwell at the other end but the St
Mirren defender mishit his attempted shot from 12 yards.
Jamie
Hamill had escaped a booking for a late sliding tackle on Corcoran and
Mike Tumilty waved play on when the Kilmarnock full-back again brought
down the same player.
Nish got his head to another Gibson cross but he had his back to goal
and the ball spun well over.
The match was almost 40 minutes old before either keeper had a save
to make and Smith comfortably held David Fernandez's low shot on the
turn. Barron was replaced by Alan Reid before the second half started in
similarly uneventful fashion, and
Craig Dargo's
debut ended in the 53rd minute when he was replaced by Miranda.
Alex Burke
got the home team's first effort on target but Alan Combe was alive to
his attempted chip. Hamill then gave Smith something to do but a weak
30-yard effort posed no threat to the Buddies keeper.
Gus
MacPherson brought on Stewart Kean for Corcoran in the 66th minute
and the striker soon set up a shooting chance for Gary Mason, but his
20-yard strike was well wide.
Miranda did well to head clear Garry Hay's cross and he was on target
with a header at the other end, but again Combe saved easily.
Colin Nish provided the only nervous moment when he headed Wullie
Gibson's cross towards the bottom corner but Smith dived to turn it
round the post.
Hay was booked for a late tackle on Kean as both sides threatened to
pick up the pace.
Saints produced their best moment as the game entered the final 10
minutes when Billy Mehmet met Miranda's cross on the volley from 16
yards but Combe was well placed to catch.
But there was no thrilling finale and the Killie keeper comfortably
saved Andy Millen's 30-yard effort as an evenly contested game came to a
close.
