Danny Armstrong was in dazzling type and tormented St Johnstone at Rugby Park on Wednesday night.
The Kilmarnock attacker netted a double - the primary a peach of a free-kick - to earn his facet three factors.
Not simply his objectives, Armstrong’s all-round show caught the attention on an evening the place the Ayrshire males had been actually worthy of victory.
Saints ahead Theo Bair did bag an exquisite objective in stoppage time but it surely wasn't sufficient to rescue something from the fixture.
The beautiful pre-match information for Perth followers was that David Wotherspoon, for the primary time in 10 months and having recovered from a severe knee harm, was within the matchday squad.
He would watch from the bench as team-mates Nicky Clark and Ali Crawford had terrific early possibilities from contained in the field, each of which had been saved by goalkeeper Zach Hemming.
Within the eleventh minute, nonetheless, Kilmarnock had been gifted a free-kick in a promising place courtesy of a James Brown foul.
The Ayrshire hosts would take the lead when Armstrong crafted an exquisite free-kick from distance over the wall and into the again of the online.
Saints regarded to hit again and, within the twenty fifth minute, Brown picked up an extended Drey Wright diagonal swap, drifted inside and located Crawford on the sting of the field.
He wasted little time in going for glory however once more Hemming pulled off the save, this time touching over for a nook kick. From that nook, Clark’s header from a promising place was deflected extensive.
The Perth facet had been seeing sufficient of the ball however Killie had an ideal likelihood to double their benefit because the break approached.
A Jordan Jones supply from the left flank drifted past the foot of Melker Hallberg and into the trail of former Saint Blair Alston. Fortunately, he didn't make the required contact.
Nonetheless very a lot within the sport, supervisor Callum Davidson can be eying a fast begin to the second half. It was the exact opposite.
Underneath stress from the second the whistle restarted play, Killie doubled their benefit within the forty sixth minute when Armstrong reacted quickest to nod in after an preliminary effort had come again off the bar.
Tony Gallacher returned to first crew duties within the 57th minute, changing Alex Mitchell, whereas Jamie Murphy was on for Stevie Could.
Armstrong virtually had his hat-trick moments later following a beautiful run and strike however the ball drifted inches extensive of the far submit.
The 216 Saints followers had been craving extra goalmouth motion but it surely wasn’t forthcoming. House goalkeeper Hemming’s gloves remained untested.
Additional modifications arrived seeking inspiration. Wright and Crawford exited and on got here Theo Bair and Max Kucheriavyi. With 10 minutes remaining, Michael O’Halloran was subsequent to enter the motion. Ryan McGowan went off.
Substitute Bair, out of nothing, fired in an exquisite strike within the ninetieth minute but it surely was too little too late for Saints.