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Josh Magennis managed to net two of the numerous chances that came his way to ensure Kilmarnock beat St Johnstone.

Saints took an early lead when Murray Davidson's close range effort was ruled to have crossed the line.

But two Magennis headers - one from open play and one from a corner - put Killie in front by half-time.

Saints had another Davidson goal ruled out for handball but they failed to test Killie goalkeeper Conor Brennan enough in the second half.

St Johnstone have now lost their last five Premiership games and it could mean the most testing time of manager Tommy Wright's tenure.

Kilmarnock, meanwhile go five matches unbeaten in the league, and that despite an air of anxiety around their camp leading up to this game which was played on an immaculately maintained grass pitch.

Not only were they without Alexei Eremenko, with the Russian born Finland international out with a hamstring injury suffered against Dundee United; they also had to cope without first-choice goalkeeper Craig Samson, who is out nursing a toe problem.

Add to that a players' bonus dispute, which is simmering away in the background, and you can understand why they were slow in starting.

Not long back after an eight-month knee injury, St Johnstone midfielder Davidson did just enough to give the hosts an early lead.

James McFadden, making his first Saints start, chipped a deep cross to the back post from the left-hand side, and it was nodded down for Davidson to poke in despite the best efforts of defender Manuel Pascali to stop it crossing the line.

The Killie players were raging that referee Craig Thomson judged it had gone in, but it would not be long before they were back level.

Northern Ireland international Magennis had already missed a good chance before being in the right place to head right-back Ross Barbour's delivery past Alan Mannus.

And the former Aberdeen and St Mirren striker had another two minutes later. Again a header, this time glancing in Sammy Clingan's corner.

St Johnstone striker Brian Graham was linking up well with McFadden and forced stand-in Kilmarnock goalkeeper - 18-year-old Brennan - into a fine save with his right boot.

Magennis should have had his hat-trick before fore half-time, but diverted Mark Connolly's header over when it seemed a goal was certain.

Nevertheless, he had still netted more goals in 45 minutes than he had done previously all season.

Davidson, too, nearly registered a brace but he was judged to have handled the ball and the goal did not stand.

The energy Magennis puts into his performances is admirable and he frequently got himself into excellent scoring positions, like in the second half when his intelligent volley flew past the post as Kilmarnock tried to kill the game off.

Having started his career as a goalkeeper, the Killie front-man once again had the opportunity to beat another one, but Mannus was equal to Magennis's low strike.

Simon Lappin whizzed a long range effort over Brennan's bar but the Perth side struggled to muster much more.