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Kilmarnock moved up to third in the Scottish Premiership after Gary Dicker's second goal in two games was enough to beat St Mirren at Rugby Park.

Dicker had scored his first strike in 94 games in the win over Livingston, and his second-half header was enough to settle a tight contest Ayrshire.

It means Killie have lost just once in their last eight games.

However, the hosts had defender Stuart Findlay taken off in the first half after injuring his hamstring.

Manager Angelo Alessio confirmed after the game the Scotland centre-back will have a scan on Monday.

For St Mirren, they sit third bottom, just one point ahead of St Johnstone after suffering their fifth away defeat in a row.

Intriguing battle

It was never likely to be a goal-fest at Rugby Park, with both sides priding themselves on fine defensive records. Kilmarnock had conceded once in three games before this one, Saints two in four.

However, that did not mean there was not some good football on show. Kilmarnock's patient build-up play against a quick and direct St Mirren made it an intriguing battle of styles.

Findlay's early injury rattled the home side for a spell. Within minutes his replacement Alex Bruce got caught under a looping ball and Danny Mullen turned him and forced Laurentiu Branescu to push away a powerful volley.

Bruce was more assured on the next occasion that Mullen threatened, this time getting in to clear after Jonathan Obika's trickery on the left was followed off by a slicing ball to the near post.

Under Angelo Alessio, Kilmarnock play a probing, passing game. At times it was admirable as they knocked the ball about in intricate patterns. For much of the game though they struggled to get past St Mirren's bank of defenders, with Niko Hamalainen's long range shot causing goalkeeper Vaclav Hladky little angst.

Hamalainen was at the centre of everything good for the home side though, constantly finding pockets of space in the middle and helping Killie double up down the left hand side.

But St Mirren looked the more likely to break the deadlock. Killie goalkeeper Branescu had to tip his own defender O'Donnell's header wide, then Tony Andreu raced through on goal but spurned his effort, injuring himself in the process and limping off.

For all Kilmarnock's determination to find a gap in the visiting defence, their winning goal came from a set-piece. Chris Burke's corner found Dicker who looped his header towards the back post to make it three wins in a row for the home side.

Man of the match - Gary Dicker

BBC Scotland's Jane Lewis at Rugby Park

The Kilmarnock captain rose brilliantly to head in the goal for Killie's winner.

Aside from his goal, Dicker played with a calm head, spreading the ball about well to the wide men.

Although there wasn't much to separate Killie and St Mirren, his goal was an important one in terms of extending Kilmarnock's winning run and their momentum.

Saints 'done by sucker punch' - post-match reaction

Kilmarnock manager Angelo Alessio: "We are happy and it's important to win the game, but at the same time we have to improve. Today we suffer a lot. St Mirren are good on the counter attack with a good striker.

"It's a good result for us."

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin: "I think we had the best chance of the game. Tony [Andreu] is through one-on-one and we would expect him to roll that into the corner. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be and we end up getting done by a sucker punch.

"I don't think there was much between the two teams, we were evenly matched."