Joe Wright on importance of Kilmarnock remaining positive

Wright scored Killie’s only goal of the game shortly before half-time. The big centre-back sneaked in at the back post to tap home Jordan Jones’ inviting cross.

His namesake Drey equalised for Saints around midway through the second period with a fine strike from distance. An error from Liam Donnelly in the middle of the park allowed Zak Rudden to drive at Killie’s defence. Eventually, the ball found itself with Wright, who unleashed a fine hit into the bottom corner past Sam Walker.

While Killie did play well, their solitary point should really have been three, which would’ve taken them further away from their relegation rivals Ross County and Dundee United.

VAR had a big part to play in that too, with Killie not awarded a penalty despite a blatant handball by Andy Considine.

But Wright says Killie will keep fighting on. He said: “First half we were brilliant. Our intensity was really high, not just in the game but right from when we arrived in the morning. Our warm-up was the best I’ve been part of this season and while that might seem a small thing, it sets the tone for the day.

“The level of our performance was shown in them making substitutions before half-time. We just needed that second goal to kill it off and we didn’t manage that.

READ MORE: Kilmarnock raise VAR concerns with SFA after handball flashpoint

“But there are things you can control in matches and things you can’t and they were things that cost us.

“My opinion is that we had a good goal chalked off before mine, then it was a handball by their guy when I went up for a header in the second half. I had a clean header before the arm came up - I’ve been penalised a couple of times this season, but that one was far worse than anything I’ve been guilty of.

“The disappointing thing is the lack of consistency. It’s frustrating, not just in this country. I was watching Forest-Newcastle on Friday and they were clutching at straws there for why a goal was disallowed.

“I think VAR is a good thing, but we need to get it working properly. You’re on the pitch, asking what’s happening and the ref’s like ‘we’ll look, we’ll look’, but nothing more. If someone comes over and says ‘there’s been a handball in the build-up, so we’re not giving the goal’, then fair enough, but it’s not working that way.

“We have to be positive, though, because the majority of what we did was really good. We’re out of the relegation places and that puts a little bit of pressure on the other teams down there with us.

“It would have been easy for the lads to go into their shells after losing at Inverness in the cup, but it was the polar opposite of that.

“When I woke up, I couldn’t wait to come here and play football and I’d like to think people could see that, they could see how together we were."

Meanwhile, Wright was full of praise for David Watson on his first league start for the Ayrshire club.

The 18-year-old was outstanding in the middle of the park for McInnes’ men, dictating the play, winning his fair share of tackles, and being brave on the ball.

The teenager will have a role to play for Killie between now and the end of the season.

Wright said: “I told him before the game, just keep it simple and ease yourself in.

“So he went and did the absolute opposite - he was spraying passing, flying into tackles, he set the tempo from minute one. For him to come in for his first start and show the fitness levels he did was terrific and even though he was a bit naive to get booked near the end, I loved the fact that he smashed their boy the way he did.

“It’s brilliant that he’s had this reward for all the work he’s been putting in.

“It was a much higher tempo from what he’s used to in the reserves, there are points on the line, but he played without fear. He just looked excited to be out there and he really took his chance. All he has to do now is not listen to me and he’ll be all right.”