Killie boss Derek McInnes opted to start with Kyle Lafferty, the Northern Ireland striker facing a 10-game ban from the Scottish Football Association. There was barely a minute gone in the second half when Armstrong grabbed his second in a busy penalty area, heading into the empty net after a Stokes effort had rebounded off the bar. It was the cushion Kilmarnock needed to attack further with more freedom and an Armstrong hat-trick was in the air. That almost arrived on the hour mark when he confidently jinked into the St Johnstone box and curled a shot inches past the far post. St Johnstone’s response was muted as confidence and belief surged through the Ayrshire side as the substitutes began to flow on to the pitch.

Source: The Herald October 06, 2022 07:49 UTC