St Johnstone edge Kilmarnock in seven-goal thriller

St Johnstone twice gave up a lead before storming back to edge a seven-goal thriller on their Scottish Premiership return at home to Kilmarnock. <p>Simo Valakari's daring substitutions, when trailing 3-2, changed the game in the second half.</p><p>Louis Lloyd, with his first touch after coming off the bench, forced Michael Schjonning-Larsen into an own goal.</p><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/st-johnstone-vs-kilmarnock/teams/558337">Teams</a> | <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/st-johnstone-vs-kilmarnock/stats/558337">Stats</a></strong></li><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/SPFLHLsREPORTS"><strong>Watch FREE Scottish Premiership highlights</strong></a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/SPFLblogReports"><strong>Latest Scottish Premiership news</strong></a></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? <a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank">Get Sky Sports</a> or <a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">stream the Scottish Premiership with no contract</a></strong></li></ul><p>Kai Fotheringham then clinched a 4-3 victory for last season's Championship title winners with the first top-flight goal of his career.</p><p>Killie were content to let St Johnstone dominate the ball early on and frustrate.</p><p>Yet a slip at halfway from Aaron Tshibola gave the hosts all the space required to counter-attack - and take a 16th-minute advantage.</p><p>Sam Stanton pounced to pinch possession before feeding Ruari Paton. He released Jamie Gullan on the overlap and a cutback picked out Fowler eight yards from goal.</p><widget id="8"></widget><p>Prolific for Queen's Park in the first half of last season's Championship, Fowler has not been able to replicate that form since a January switch to Saints.</p><p>But the 24-year-old showed his deadly touch has not deserted him by lashing in a left-foot finish.</p><p>Saints remained dominant and dangerous with the lead, creating a host of chances. But Killie equalised against the run of play in the 37th minute.</p><p>Erik Ring's inswinger was cushioned down by the head of Tom Lowery. Saints defenders were too occupied by Tyreece John-Jules to spot Greg Kiltie's arrival.</p><p>The Killie skipper stole in at the back post to fire past goalkeeper Toby Steward from six yards.</p><p>Saints restored their lead two minutes into the second half.</p><p>Fowler did well to force Jamie Brandon into conceding a corner. It was too easy for Saints after that as Gullan's deep delivery was met by a powerful downward header from Cheick Diabate.</p> <widget id="6"></widget><p>Saints were careless with this lead as they fell behind six minutes later.</p><p>Steward's hesitancy coming for a cross from the right saw him stranded in no man's land. Joe Hugill's touch looped the ball over the on-loan Portsmouth 'keeper and into the net.</p><p>Killie seized the momentum to strike again.</p><p>Nicky Clescenco cut inside down the left to force a one-handed stop from Steward. The rebound hit off the luckless Jason Holt for an own goal.</p><p>Valakari made a trio of attacking switches, the bravest being Lloyd's introduction for Reece McAlear.</p><p>The endeavour paid off within seconds.</p><p>Gullan's superb set piece dropped between goalkeeper Max Stryjek and his defence. Lloyd stooped to connect with his first touch and the ball went in off Schjonning-Larsen.</p><p>The subs continued to trouble Killie and led to a dramatic winner.</p><p>Fotheringham and Fowler exchanged passes. The former Dundee United attacker shifted the ball smartly to his right foot to take out Bailey Rice then fired low and hard past Stryjek.</p><h3>Valakari: I never doubted the character of my players</h3><p><strong>St Johnstone</strong> boss <strong>Simo Valakari: </strong></p><p>"That was a test of character. Would we be this team who plays nice football in the Premiership but concedes goals and loses?</p><p>"Our boys took control from the start, pushed our opponent back and scored a good goal.</p><p>"We were disappointed to go in 1-1 at half-time and it was a test after we went 3-2 down very quickly.</p><p>"How the players pushed until the end was very good. That's what football is all about - all about emotions and suffering in parts of the game.</p><p>"The Premiership is different; there was a lot of talk about that. We were up against a good, well-coached team.</p><p>"We won't get carried away - we know how thin the lines are. All we have from this match is three points.</p><p>"We know there are a lot of things we need to improve on. But, as a football fan and a football romantic, it was a beautiful match.</p><p>"I never doubted the character of my players."</p><h3>What the result means and next fixtures...</h3> <widget id="4"></widget><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/st-johnstone-scores-fixtures"><strong>St Johnstone fixtures</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/kilmarnock-scores-fixtures"><strong>Kilmarnock fixtures</strong></a></li><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/scottish-premiership-scores-fixtures"><strong>Scottish Premiership fixtures</strong></a></li></ul><h3></h3><widget id="9"></widget>

Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Sky Sports. Open at source →