BRIAN GRAHAM climbed off the Dundee United bench on cup final day and did everything in his power to sabotage St Johnstone's bid to lift the first major trophy in the club's 128-year history.

Now he is pulling out all the stops to help the Perth club repeat the feat at the first time of asking.

The 26-year-old, who is on a season-long loan in Perth from the Tannadice club, scored the winner against Kilmarnock in their League Cup tie at Rugby Park on Tuesday night to move St Johnstone just one match away from their third successive cup semi-final. With Stevie May long since departed for Sheffield Wednesday and Steven MacLean on the club's long-term injured list, Graham is finally in line to get a run of first-team football in the top flight, and three goals in four first-team appearances can hardly be classed as a bad start.

"I was one of the unhappy ones last year in the cup final when I was with Dundee United and they beat us," said Graham. "I've had a few fly digs from the boys here about it - I had a few late chances - but it is all dressing room banter. That is the past, and I am looking to the future.

"I am scoring goals and happy playing football for St Johnstone. Long may it continue."

Graham started just 11 league matches last season, mainly due to the burgeoning form of Nadir Ciftci, but his confidence appears to have survived unscathed.

"I always believed in myself," the former Morton and Raith Rovers striker said. "I am a confident guy. When I got in I played well but from a personal point of view I wanted to play more consistently. There are a lot of guys who have been in my position before - wanting to play but not getting the chance to play a lot."

The other lesson from events on Tuesday night in Ayrshire is that the 2014-15 season may be about to witness the second coming of Alexei Eremenko.

The mercurial Russian-born Finn was the match's headline act, tormenting the Perth side in the first half, only to leave his side in the lurch with two soft bookings, the first for diving then the second for a petulant tug of the jersey after he surrendered the ball on halfway. His unpredictability should make Kilmarnock one of the most eye-catching teams in this season's SPFL Premiership.

"Alexei looks as though he's slow but now we're starting to see the same player who came here under Mixu Paatelainen three years ago," said Manuel Pascali. "He doesn't like the pre-season for sure, because every time he signs it is late August! But his legs are so strong and, if you try to steal the ball from him, you'll lose your balance because he will just go in the other direction. He has the ability to make opponents look daft - especially me at training.

"He will provide the solutions for us up front - we need his killer passes.

"When he gets the ball too deep it can be dangerous for us, though," the Italian added. "His second yellow card came when he made a mistake and you can't lose the ball inside your own half like that. He was gutted by the red card.

"He has had a great career but he's only 31 and personally I believe he could have done even more with the ability he has - he should be playing in England's Premier League. Our fans should come along and enjoy him while they can. They certainly don't come to watch me - if they did our crowds would be 200!"