Killie showed a lack creativity in midfield and carried little threat
in attack in what was their worst performance of the season so far.
It would have been cruel on the visitors if substitute Craig Bryson
made a late chance count, and to St Mirren's relief, goalkeeper Chris
Smith held on.
Kilmarnock central defender Ryan O'Leary, who broke his nose in last
week's win against Gretna, was ruled out before kick-off.
But Killie did welcome back central defender Simon Ford and striker
Tim Clancy came in for the injured Grant Murray.
St Mirren, with former Killie favourite Gus MacPherson in charge,
also had to make an enforced change with Franco Miranda out through
suspension after his dismissal against Dundee United last weekend.
Saints, with just six points from their opening six fixtures, last
beat Kilmarnock in the 1992-93 campaign, but they opened in determined
fashion.
The visitors forced a couple of corners in the opening four minutes
but it was Kilmarnock who had the first effort at goal when a Colin Nish
shot was blocked by Will Haining on the edge of the box.
Soon afterwards Saints were back in the Kilmarnock box and it took
some cool play from Simon Ford to rob Hugh Murray.
Ryan Jarvis and Nish combined well for the home side after 19 minutes
but Nish lost control of the ball 12 yards from goal.
Kilmarnock threatened again in the 21st minute but the Saints defence
cleared the danger from a Rhian Dodds corner from the left.
In the 25th minute Alan Reid's shot was blocked by Tim Clancy after
good work on the right by Murray, Saints had a let-off when goalkeeper
Smith dropped the ball but he recovered in time to gather as Nish moved
in.
What looked like a promising attack for Kilmarnock on the half-hour
mark petered out when Willie Gibson tripped over the ball.
After 34 minutes, Alan Combe came to Kilmarnock's rescue when he
blocked Murray's shot on his left-hand post after gaining possession
from home player Allan Johnston.
Nish had a header on target from Gibson's cross as the first half
drew to a close but it was a simple save for Smith.
St Mirren brought midfielder Stephen McGinn on for defender Reid at
the start of the second half.
And it was the visitors who showed the early threat again with the
newly-introduced McGinn firing wide from 15 yards.
Kilmarnock then forced a corner on the left but Smith had little
trouble catching the cross from Dodds.
Saints came close again when McGinn stole behind the home defence to
head Chris Birchall's cross just over.
Kilmarnock made a double substitution after 52 minutes with David
Fernandez
and Gary Locke replacing Dodds and Jarvis.
The changes had no immediate effect however with Saints still looking
the team most likely to score.
But Kilmarnock came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour mark
when Haining almost turned a Wright cross into his own goal.
Three minutes later Haining again came close to netting for Killie,
this time heading a Fernandez corner a couple of feet over his crossbar.
Saints made their second substitution after 65 minutes when they
replaced Billy Mehmet with Stewart Kean.
After 70 minutes Fernandez tried to trick his way through the Saints
defence but he was well outnumbered by defenders.
Kilmarnock made their final substitution after 71 minutes when former
Clyde man Craig Bryson replaced the out-of-sorts Gibson, to make his
Killie debut.
Locke's punt up the field almost put Nish clear but John Potter
muscled in to clear up.
In the 79th minute Killie at long last threatened the Saints defence.
They had a penalty claim turned down when a Saints defender appeared to
handle and then Birchall cleared Nish's header off the goal-line.
Substitute Kean almost netted for St Mirren when his shot from the
edge of the box flew inches past Combe's post.
Bryson then nearly won it for Killie in the 88th minute with a
powerful shot that was well held by Smith, to secure the visitors'
shut-out.
