St Johnstone recorded a sixth successive clean sheet but could not find the goal to take their record to half a dozen consecutive victories as they drew 0-0 with Kilmarnock.

In a match that see-sawed from one end to the other, Saints came closest to a winner but Matt Kennedy's brilliant swerving effort crashed back off the post in the 83rd minute.

The Perth outfit remain undefeated since being hammered 6-0 at home by Celtic last month.

For Kilmarnock, the draw kept them fourth in the table and a point ahead of their hosts following a match that was indicative of the pair's league positions.

Killie kicked off with their tails firmly up but the first-half swung both ways as, first, one side and, then, the other enjoyed spells of possession.

The visitors almost engineered an opportunity for Kris Boyd in the box but St Johnstone skipper Joe Shaughnessy recovered to snuff out the danger.

It was then the home side who gained he upper hand and twice Tony Watt found space for headers.

Scott Tanser flung over a cross in the 11th minute that the Saints striker headed high and wide of the top corner and then he was caught offside as he nodded a Murray Davidson header over from close range.

The Perth side then won two free-kicks in quick succession and from the second at the apex of the penalty box David Wotherspoon's curling drive was too straight to trouble Daniel Bachmann, who gathered comfortably.

The half ended with a disappointingly weak drive from Kennedy after the winger had driven into a promising position 25 yards out.

The second period opened with a chance apiece as both sides sought the crucial first goal in a flurry of activity.

The first fell to St Johnstone in the 59th minute. Liam Craig's free-kick was nodded into the heart of the penalty box but Kennedy blasted over from eight yards out as the Kilmarnock defence put him under pressure.

Two minutes later, Saints keeper Zander Clark showed the form that encouraged manager Tommy Wright to push his case for a Scotland call-up.

Kris Boyd had a shot blocked in the home box and the ball fell nicely for team-mate Greg Stewart, but Clark brilliantly clawed his drive away from the top corner.

The teams again traded opportunities as play swung from end to end.

Tanser came close for St Johnstone when he fired a drive wide from a well-worked free-kick, and then a flicked header from Kilmarnock defender Stephen O'Donnell slipped over from a Chris Burke corner.

The visitors then carved out the next opportunity on the break but Alan Power's low drive was always heading wide.

With seven minutes remaining, Saints came closest to a breakthrough.

Kennedy did brilliantly to cut inside from the left flank to tee up a stunning right-foot shot from the corner of the box but his dipping, curling effort crashed back off the upright.