Killie moved to within a point of St Johnstone when a defeat
would have enabled the Perth side to establish a seven-point advantage
between the two possible relegation rivals.
Burchill, who came into the side with Simon Ford to replace Ryan
O'Leary and David Fernandez, was making his first start since joining
Killie on a short-term contract and did much to stake his claim for a
longer contract.
St Johnstone controlled possession throughout, but Kilmarnock were
dangerous on the break thanks largely to Burchill's fleet of foot.
Yet it was the home side who threatened first and Morais should have
done better than blast over when found unmarked at the far post from 10
yards.
Home keeper Graeme Smith had to be quick off his line to deny
Burchill as the striker raced clear, but Saints moved up the other end
immediately and Morais forced Mark Brown to concede a corner with a
12-yard drive that deflected towards the inside post.
St Johnstone squandered another good opportunity when Liam Craig, who
had replaced Kevin Moon in the starting line-up, met a Morais cross, but
the midfielder's volley was too close to Brown to trouble the goalkeeper
from 15 yards.
Kilmarnock took the lead when Burchill skipped past his marker and
former Scotland Under-21 colleague Kyle met the low cross with a shot
that trundled low into the net, splitting the two defenders on the
goal-line.
St Johnstone were unfortunate not to draw level when a long-range
effort from Morris was turned away by Brown at full stretch.
Saints continued to do most of the pressing without troubling the
goalkeeper and the home side continued to dominate after the break.
Morais drifted in from his right-wing, turning superbly past James
Fowler's challenge on the edge of the box before arrowing a fierce shot
towards the bottom corner of the target.
But Brown produced a magnificent one-handed stop to tip the ball
round the post for a corner.
Kilmarnock were always likely to threaten on the break, however, and
Danny Grainger had to look smart to block Burchill's shot after a Craig
Bryson cutback.
Grainger's low cross-cum-shot almost produced an equaliser when it
deflected off Ford but powered across the face of goal before spinning
wide.
They ought to have been level when Rutkiewicz could only nod down and
wide from close range after Morais' tempting cross to the edge of the
six-yard box.
Saints boss Derek McInnes threw on striker Peter MacDonald for his
first appearance since March after an extended injury lay-off, but there
was to be no late breakthrough.
Sandy's Match Pic's are
HERE
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