McKenzie: Night and day under Clarke...

IF you have any spare plaudits or reserves of adulation kicking about, then feel free to shove them in a charity bag and send them to Kilmarnock because folk are just about running out of superlatives to describe Steve Clarke’s rejuvenation.

Such has been the renaissance at Rugby Park, they’ve probably uncovered the works of Michelangelo on the dressing room ceiling.

Tuesday night’s barnstorming win over Dundee, when 10-man Kilmarnock turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 victory with a rousing late flourish, gave them a seventh consecutive home win. Given the club’s previous toils in their own backyard, the turnaround has been quite something.

“It just keeps getting better and better and the difference is night and day,” said Rory McKenzie. “I was out for lunch last Sunday and some of my family are Kilmarnock fans. It felt strange talking to them about a Killie team that is winning on a consistent basis.

“Usually they ask me how I am getting on and the stock reply is, ‘Not too good’.

“But in the last two months all we have been talking about is winning matches. The Dundee win was the best I have felt at Rugby Park in all my time here.”

The feel-good factor generated by Clarke is something McKenzie is savouring.

“Sometimes I just look at him and I think I remember him from the TV talking on Match of the Day and now he is here at Kilmarnock,” he added.

“The players listen to every word he says. The turnaround is incredible. It is the way the manager goes about his business at training as you know if he is around everything is elevated and you want to impress him.

“We have a very good squad of players all of a sudden and we know that if we are not at it then we will not play on a Saturday. This is a good place to be.”