A superb comeback by Kilmarnock - to stretch their unbeaten run to eight games - was still not enough to take them into top spot in the Premier League ahead of Rangers.

Mark Roberts and an Alan Kernaghan own goal in the last 12 minutes secured a draw for Killie, and they also had a strong shout for a penalty turned down.

Until then, Saints had appeared to be cruising at 2-0 up with excellent scores from Darren Dods and Nathan Lowndes.

Killie had given their debut to former Stenhousemuir defender Chris Innes who replaced the injured Kevin McGowne, and they also had Stephen Hamilton in for the injured Angus MacPherson.

The match kicked off in the middle of a torrential downpour and it was difficult for the players to keep their feet on the slippery surface.

While the home side enjoyed the bulk of the first half pressure Saints always looked the more dangerous in attack.

Killie's best early effort came from an angled drive from Ian Durrant, the ball rising over Alan Main's crossbar.

But it was at the other end that the deadlock was eventually broken with the visitors taking a 38th-minute lead.

Dods, who scored in last Saturday's 5-0 hammering of Motherwell, rose above the Kilmarnock defence and sent a glorious header past Gordon Marshall.

Then Saints got the second goal that their play merited with substitute Lowndes curling in a shot in the 62nd minute, shortly after replacing Simao.

Kilmarnock eventually sprung into action 12 minutes from time with two goals in a five-minute spell.

Roberts netted the first when he spotted Main off his line and floated the ball into the net from 30 yards.

In the dying minutes Killie piled men into the box and grabbed the equaliser when Kernaghan turned the ball into his own net after Ally Mitchell knocked the ball across goal.