Calderwood call to cut out 'stupid' mistakes

KILMARNOCK boss Jimmy Calderwood has told his players to cut out the "stupid" errors which have left their Clydesdale Bank Premier League status in serious danger.

Calderwood could not fault his team's effort during their 2-1 defeat by St Johnstone but felt "laziness" in defence had caused them to squander a lead.

Frazer Wright's diving header put Killie ahead in the 38th minute after captain Craig Bryson had broken his nose heading on one of nine first-half corners the hosts forced. But Kenny Deuchar headed home the equaliser from close range a minute before the interval after Collin Samuel had rolled the ball back for Murray Davidson to send over an inch-perfect cross.

St Johnstone dominated possession after the break and Samuel volleyed a 75th-minute winner before the visitors harried Killie out of their stride as they tried to salvage a point. The defeat, Kilmarnock's ninth in ten SPL games, saw them joined by bottom club Falkirk on 29 points with Saturday's meeting between the teams set to decide the relegation issue.

Killie travel to Aberdeen beforehand on Wednesday and Calderwood expects Bryson to recover in time along with Scott Severin, Allan Russell and Manuel Pascali, who all missed the Saints game. Calderwood said: "They are doing their best. It's just stupid, individual things that are causing us problems."