Another blow for Saints' great escape

Survival no closer after defeat to Killie

- FRASER MACKIE

St Johnstone's post-split efforts to revive hope of escaping relegation continued with a whimper - and a second defeat.

Fresh from losing to Motherwell, Saints failed to make any progress against a Kilmarnock team that hadn't kept an away clean sheet in domestic football all season.

Simo Valakari's team did create opportunities to put up a better fight of it.

But the best of them were in the first half, when 1-0 down to a sweetly-struck David Watson goal from 20 yards.

After Danny Armstrong added a penalty eight minutes into the second half, Saints never looked like mounting a stirring comeback to breathe new life into their survival attempts.

Indeed, the only flicker of hope was provided by Ross County's dismal form continuing.

Their loss at home to Hearts - a sixth in a row - keeps St Johnstone alive.

Yet there was little evidence from the Perth team's display to suggest a great escape is brewing, even with Don Cowie's out-of-form squad up next at McDiarmid Park.