Ross stops Burke & flare making off with the loot
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STUART KETTLEWELL shouldered responsibility for Killie’s comeback – because he urged his players to be too expansive with the game in the balance.
The Ross County boss felt he was to blame after Chris Burke’s second-half rocket left them trailing 2-1 just seven minutes after Alan Power’s leveller.
The Staggies hit back with a Ross Stewart penalty, making it seven points from nine.
But Kettlewell said: “I always know the opposition, whoever we play against, will have something in the game.
“The frustration for me was we conceded two goals in that spell. I thought we’d maybe weathered a storm.
“It was from us being in possession that we concede the second goal. I’ve said to the players, ‘I take full responsibility for that’ by asking them to try to pass the ball and be creative.
“As such, when you come up against good players like Chris Burke on the right, against young Josh Reid, it is as good an education as he’ll get.
“These guys can punish you and we know that. You could see our players’ frustration when we lost the goal and allowed them back into the game.
“We created two or three chances and I was pleased with the response and their play.
“I can’t be too critical – it is seven points out of nine at the start of the season.”
Given their reputation for shrewd defending, it was a shocking 15th-minute opener for Alex Dyer’s side to ship.
Josh Mullin played a corner from the left short to Michael Gardyne and took a return pass. His instant delivery arced across the area as Ross Draper rose to head into the corner.
Killie chances were scarce. There were appeals, not entirely convincing – but Dyer thought so – for a penalty 23 minutes in as Reid challenged Burke.
Killie were straight on the assault as the second half opened, pinning County back and appealing for a dubious handball as a Kirk Broadfoot header was blocked in a crowded area. The home defence cracked in 59 minutes, Ross Millen making ground on the right and threading a through ball for Power to drill low past Ross Laidlaw from the middle of the penalty box.
Seven minutes later it was Power’s supply that sent Burke racing into space on the right and his smashed effort home was pretty much unstoppable.
However, Burke was punished at the other end when, under pressure, he was adjudged to have handled Gardyne’s strike. Stewart stepped up with nerves of steel to fire high past Danny Rogers for his second spot-kick finish in three games.
Dyer said: “We should have had a couple of penalties and the one they got was a bit dubious. But we got a point and we have to be grateful for that.
“The officials definitely had an impact on the result. They’ve got to call what they see but from where we were I thought it was blatant.
“Burke is an experienced player, he got past his man and got pulled down.
“Even if the referee hasn’t seen it, the linesman is right on that side, he should see it.”