JOHN McGINN admitted that relegation for St Mirren from the Premiership would mean a major clear-out at the club at all levels and in the remaining nine games of their league season they are not just fighting for their own careers but for the jobs of other people throughout the Paisley club.

A goal three minutes from time by Lee Miller - his first for the club and first in eleven months after being sidelined by injury - plunged the Saints deeper into relegation worries.

Miller, who battled a 24-hour virus the day before the match, came off the bench in 74 minutes for Tope Obadeyi, and three minutes from the end was perfectly positioned eight yards out to steer a driven cross from the right by Josh Magennis beyond goalkeeper Mark Ridgers.

An emotional McGinn said: "It was a sickener. Dejection is the only way to describe it. We were totally devastated in the dressing room afterwards as teams around about us were picking up points.

"We gave Killie a bit of a doing early on but didn't take our chances. In the second half we didn't really pose a threat going forward.

"All fairness to Killie they got a chance and took it and that's why they are higher up the league than us. We have to stay as positive as we can. A few of our players have been through it before and they know what it takes to stay in this Division.

"Even although I'm young, I've already played in two relegation battles. The last two have been successful and hopefully this one will be as well. It's up to the likes of myself, Jason Naismith and Sean Kelly. We've played a lot of games and have to stand up and be counted.

"Everyone is feeling the pressure. There are going to be jobs going if we go down. We are fighting for our jobs and other people's jobs at the club. We don't want to go down. We want to remain in this league."

For Kilmarnock, it stretched their unbeaten run to seven games and boosted their chances of getting into the top six, just four game away from the split.

Magennis said: "I am delighted for Lee Miller, he's gone through a tough time, picking up a weird injury in the snow. It was fantastic for him to come on and get the winner, especially at a time when we are pushing for the top six.

"The squad is coming back together at a vital time. The only main striker still out is Michael Ngoo."

Magennis, who had a short spell with the Saints last term, paid tribute to the Paisley side, and the trials and tribulations that manager Gary Teale is currently going through at the bottom of the table.

Magennis added: "I went to St Mirren last January and we managed to get the club safe. They have a good quality of players and I feel for Gary. He treated me well when I was there and he is a great coach, and has good people around him such as Jim Goodwin and Stevie Thompson. For whatever reason it's not working on a Saturday. They are in a scrap at the bottom and hopefully they can put a run together and secure their place in this league for next season."

The Rugby Park side have made huge strides under caretaker manager Gary Locke, and have still to taste defeat under his stewardship, finally ending a run of three successive draws.

Although the outcome on Saturday may have been different with Saints out of luck at times and passing up a hatful of opportunities.

Saints James Dayton had a superb angled volley crash back off the crossbar after 14 minutes. Thompson was off the mark twice in the first period and in 74 minutes a Stevie Mallan free-kick from the right dropped for Kelly six yards out but somehow he scooped the ball over the bar.

Locke said: "They started the game better, no doubt about that. We are not going to get carried away. If we had any aspirations of finishing in the top six we had to win today. It's still going to be difficult."

ends...