Derek McInnes reckons Kilmarnock confirmed they've what it takes to compete within the Premiership as they put St Johnstone to the sword.
A Dan Armstrong double with targets both aspect of half-time ensured it was the Ayrshire aspect celebrating, regardless of a nervy finish when Theo Bair scored a stoppage-time comfort.
The end result means Killie leapfrogged Ross County into tenth place, leaving themselves simply three factors behind St Johnstone in ninth.
Boss McInnes mentioned: “It was vital to the supporters to indicate that we’re right here and we’re combating.
“The physique language, the hassle, the tenacity and the bottom lined was way more of what I would like.
“It was a case of constructing positive that being robust at residence goes to be an enormous a part of us doing effectively this 12 months.
“It’s vital we take pleasure in being at residence nevertheless it was vital we bought a little bit of confidence. We needed to work for that – and by Christ we labored for it.
“Callum [Davidson] threw all kinds to alter the narrative and we stood as much as nearly all of it. However that final three minutes was robust. It was a helluva strike however we bought over the road.”
Blair Alston, making his first begin of the season, nearly scored from an analogous distance as his well-known league-winning aim final season, however his effort drifted narrowly huge.
4 minutes later it was the Perth aspect who seemed like they have been set to take the lead, however Zach Hemming got here to the rescue with a nice double save.
It was Killie who fired them in entrance because of a shocking free-kick from 25 yards by way of Armstrong.
Ali Crawford tried his luck from the sting of the world within the twenty fifth minute, however once more Hemming was equal to it as he tipped the hassle over.
Simply two minutes into the second half it was two for the hosts as Armstrong doubled his cash after a scramble within the space he headed in from shut vary.
Armstrong was inches away from his hat-trick on the hour mark when he lower inside, his curling effort went narrowly huge.
It was a nervier finish than Killie had hoped for when substitute Bair completed effectively to provide the Saints a glimmer of hope heading into stoppage time, however fortunately for the hosts they saved the victory intact.
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