[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock 0 - 0 St Mirren
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 22nd September 2007
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock and St Mirren ground out a draw in a game of few chances at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premier League.
Colin Nish squandered a couple of openings for the home side, but it was St Mirren who were the better side in the opening 45 minutes.

Buddies substitute Stephen McGinn fired a shot just wide and headed another just past the post after the break.

But Kilmarnock held out to prevent St Mirren claiming their first win over the Ayrshire side since 1992-93.

Ryan O'Leary had failed to make the Kilmarnock starting line-up after breaking his nose in last week's win over Gretna.

Simon Ford returned from injury to take O'Leary's place in central defence, while Tim Clancy made his first start in place of the injured Grant Murray.

Alan Reid started for St Mirren in place of suspended left-back Franco Miranda.

Despite the loss of the Argentine, the Buddies opened on the front foot and forced a couple of early corners.

And it took some cool play from Simon Ford to rob Hugh Murray when the visitors threatened in the penalty box.

Ryan Jarvis and Colin Nish combined well for Killie after 19 minutes, but the latter lost control of the ball 12 yards from goal.

The Buddies replied and Reid's shot was blocked by Clancy after good work on the right by Murray.

Goalkeeper Alan Combe came to Kilmarnock's rescue when he blocked Murray's shot on his left-hand post after the Saints man stole possession from Allan Johnston.

Nish had a header on target from Willie 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.

Saints came close again when McGinn stole behind the home defence to head Chris Birchall's cross just over.

Kilmarnock came close to breaking the deadlock on the hour mark when Haining almost turned a Wright cross into his own goal.

Haining again came close to netting for Killie, this time heading a David Fernandez corner a couple of feet over his crossbar.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Wright, Ford, Nish, Johnston, Dodds, Gibson, Clancy, Jarvis.
Subs: Rascle, Locke, Fernandez, Koudou, Hamill, Bryson, Flannigan.

St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Reid, Mason, Haining, Potter, Murray, Mehmet, O'Donnell, McCay, Birchall.
Subs: Howard, Kean, Brittain, Brady, Corcoran, Docherty, McGinn.