lacking a cutting edge

Paul di Giacomo netted his third goal in two games as Killie finally broke St Mirren's resistance nine minutes into the second half. It looked set to move the Ayrshire side into fourth in the SPL table, with the visitors' only previous attack arriving in the opening moments of the game when John Sutton fired narrowly wide. But a double substitution paid immediate dividends for Gus MacPherson as Richard Brittain set up Mark Corcoran for a surprise equaliser 15 minutes from time. MacPherson's side then reverted to the 4-5-1 formation which had frustrated Killie for most of the match and they hung on for a rare away point. Fowler said: "We created one or two chances after our opener and if we'd managed to get the second it might have been different. "Steven Naismith hit the bar but to be hones we didn't make too many clear-cut chances in the game. "St Mirren came with the idea of getting men behind the ball and we can't really complain about that because we've done it ourselves at times. "We have to accept that teams will come to Rugby Park and defend in numbers because we have been successful in the past two seasons. "They will be happy to go away with a point and it's up to us to break them down. It's disappointing not to go up to fourth though." Fowler again lined up in the centre of Killie's midfield having played most of his career prior to the last year at right-back. It has been a positional move by Rugby Park boss Jim Jefferies which has reaped rewards for both player and club. Fowler said: "I've hit a good run in the team over the past few seasons and I have to say I do prefer to play in the middle of the park. "There are more options when you are on the ball - sometimes when you're at full-back the only pass available to you is down the line. "But my main role is to get the ball and give it to Allan Johnston and let him create things. I'm enjoying it in there and it seems to be working well." Meanwhile Corcoran believes the Buddies need to put some wins on the board to relieve the threat of relegation from their shoulders. The point gained in Ayrshire was the first they had picked up away from Love Street since the start of November and Corcoran's equaliser was St Mirren's first goal on the road since the middle of October. On the back of a well-earned point against Hearts in Paisley the previous week it was a valuable boost to the Buddies' hopes of staying in the SPL for another season. Corcoran, though, is eager for his side to start picking up three points - having not secured a league victory since September. The former Hamilton winger said: "It was a good point for us against Kilmarnock because they are a good side and not many teams come here and get something. "The point against Hearts as well as Saturday's draw - both against two of the top teams - helps to stop a run of defeats we had suffered but a few victories would make an even bigger difference. "If we could win a couple of matches it would put a big gap between us and the teams below. "We're still learning at this level even four months into the season because it's a big step up between divisions but it's going well so far."