Both sides were forced to settle for a draw as the
defences came out on top in a scrappy draw at St Mirren Park.
Killie striker Connor Sammon headed over from David Fernandez's cross
in a first half of few clear-cut chances.
St Mirren's veteran striker Jim Hamilton passed up the game's best
opportunity, heading against the bar when he should perhaps have scored.
Mehdi Taouil almost won it for Kilmarnock late on, but his chipped
effort also came back off the bar.
St
Mirren handed a debut to on-loan Celtic defender Scott Cuthbert, who
replaced the suspended Will Haining.
Hugh Murray, Stephen McGinn and Tom Brighton all dropped out of the
starting eleven being replaced by Gary Mason, Tonet and Hamilton.
Kilmarnock new boy Donovan Simmons had to settle for a place on the
bench as manager Jim Jefferies made one change from the side who beat
Hibs last week - Frazer Wright replacing the injured Ryan O'Leary.
Neither side found it easy to carve out a clear-cut chance in the
opening part of the game, with both defences dealing comfortably with
early corners.
The home side were having the bulk of possession, but failed to take
advantage when Wright misjudged a long ball.
Tonet managed a strike on goal after being inadvertently set up by
Hamilton, but his shot was well off-target.
Sammon then went close for the visitors but his header flashed just
over after a fine cross from Fernandez.
Stephen O'Donnell then had a chance following a good move from the
Buddies, but the midfielder rushed his effort after a fine late run and
the ball sailed over the bar.
St Mirren were dominating and Hamilton's back post header looked set
to open the scoring but Simon Ford's desperate clearance prevented the
goal.
Taouil fired in a tame effort after John Potter had cleared Jamie
Fowler's cross, but his drive went straight to goalkeeper Mark Howard.
Garry Hay then blazed a left-footed shot wide after Craig Bryson
played him in at the edge of the St Mirren box as the visitors enjoyed a
spell of dominance.
Killie then almost went ahead through another Sammon header, but
Potter managed to race back to clear the ball off the line with Howard
beaten.
The second half began as the first half had ended, with Jack Ross
putting in a last-ditch tackle to deny Sammon the chance to open the
scoring.
Against the run of play, St Mirren carved out the best chance of the
game, but Hamilton's header cannoned back off the crossbar following a
good cross from Ross.
The visitors then survived a scare as Hamilton played a dangerous
ball across the face of the goal, only for Bryson to hook the ball
clear.
Bryson was involved at the other end almost immediately with a fine
drive which tested Howard in the St Mirren goal.
Howard was called into action again, as he did well to hold the ball
from another Sammon header heading for the top-right hand corner.
Taouil's looping effort late in the game had Howard beaten, but his
neat effort was unfortunate to come crashing back off the bar.
Alan Combe, a spectator for much of the second-half, saved from
O'Donnell at the death after the midfielder had bulldozed his way
through the Killie defence.
