MARK CONNOLLY made the trip from hero to villain and back again during a rollercoaster 90 minutes and has set his sights on making sure Kilmarnock continue their journey through the season on an upward curve.

The Irish centre-back set up Robbie Muirhead for the opening goal early in the second period before being caught in possession on the edge of his area by John McGinn in the lead-up to Adam Drury's 71st minute equaliser and St Mirren's first goal of a miserable campaign.

However, Connolly popped up with time running out to score the winner and ensure the Rugby Park side wake up this morning a handsome 10 points clear of Saints and Ross County.

Last season was all about avoiding relegation for Allan Johnston's side. Things seem a little more positive around the club nowadays and Connolly insists his focus is on the top of the table rather than the bottom.

"It was nice to set up the first for Robbie, but I think the ball stuck under my feet for their goal," he said. "It was sort of my fault and I am just glad I made up for it. I thought it was a foul because I had a shoulder across the side of the face, but it is the referee's decision. The further we push away from the bottom, the more we can look at the top six."

As the second half was so eventful, let's make a pact not to speak in great detail of the first.

The only real talking point came when the St Mirren captain Jim Goodwin risked a red card with a late challenge on Sammy Clingan. The referee, Alan Muir, felt it worthy of nothing more than a booking.

The match really did catch fire on 54 minutes, though, when St Mirren's Jason Naismith saw a header from a McGinn corner beat Craig Samson and cross the line only for Muir to disallow the effort for a foul on Manuel Pascali. Eight minutes later, Kilmarnock were in front.

Connolly played a long pass up the left that Muirhead controlled. Naismith stood off and the 18-year-old, tipped to go on and play for "big clubs" by Johnston, moved the ball from left foot to right before curling a beautiful effort past Marian Kello.

Saints rallied well and levelled when McGinn, having pinched the ball from Connolly on the edge of the area, fired a cross-cum-shot towards the back post that Drury showed good awareness to slot home.

The Paisley club, however, sold the jerseys with eight minutes remaining. Clingan launched a long free kick into the area from the right and Connolly had time and space to power home a header from eight yards.

"We gave it away with that header going unchallenged," said Saints manager Tommy Craig.

James Marwood felt he should have been given a penalty in the final minute when going down under a challenge from Ross Barbour. Muir gave him a yellow card for diving. Nothing is going the Buddies' way.