Brace for impact

Clark double gives Saints' season lift-off with first win post sacking

- SCOTT BURNS

ST JOHNSTONE..2

KILMARNOCK..1 

STRUGGLING Saints finally found a cutting edge after putting Steven MacLean's head on the chopping block.

Nicky Clark's double, his first goals in almost a year, was enough to hand managerless St Johnstone a first league win of the season.

The striker returned at the weekend and made the difference last night, with Saints hanging on after Kyle Vassell pulled one back and Dara Costelloe saw red with 14 minutes to go.

MacLean was sacked after the 4-0 defeat at St Mirren where he had accused some of his players of looking like they had chucked it. Primarily the same players took to the field under caretaker Alex Cleland and looked a far different proposition.