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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lochlin Highet

St Mirren 0 Kilmarnock 2 as Ayrshire side pick up first away win in 13 months

Kilmarnock fans were in dreamland as they watched their side pick up their first away league win in 407 days.

An army of 1600-plus filled the away end in Paisley as they watched their side pick up a crucial win away to St Mirren.

Not since Ayr United away on March 11 2022 have the Rugby Park side picked up a league win on the road, but that all changed after a superb first half.

Liam Donnelly and Christian Doidge sealed a vital three points for Killie as they moved four points clear of Ross County who lost 6-0 to Hearts earlier in the day.

Derek McInnes initially made two changes to his side with Lewis Mayo and Fraser Murray making way for captain Alan Power and Rory McKenzie.

An injury to centre back Joe Wright in the warm-up forced a late switch which led to Mayo being recalled to the XI.

Kilmarnock's Christian Doidge (26) celebrates scoring to make it 2-0 (SNS Group)

It was a change in system after the dismal defeat with McInnes opting for a 3-5-2 which included young Liverpool loanee Luke Chambers playing at centre back.

It was a perfect start for Killie as Donnelly fired home from close range in the 18th minute to bag his second goal in six days.

The Saints had a great chance in the 22nd minute as Curtis Main smashed a free-kick from the edge of the box, but Power stood strong to block the effort.

Killie fired themselves two in front when Doidge floated a header past Trevor Carson and in off the post sending the away end into euphoria.

The visitors had an incredible chance straight after the break when the ball fell to Rory McKenzie inside the six-yard box but Carson pulled off a fantastic save to keep the Saints in the game.

Things went from bad to worse for St Mirren as substitute Thierry Small picked up two needless bookings in the space of 20 seconds to see them reduced to 10 men.

Dan Armstrong was in acres of space in the 84th minute as a chance opened up for him to rifle a low effort at goal, but Carson got down well to clutch the ball.

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