Jones salutes Clarke after Killie revolution
ONLY Steve Clarke knows whether his dour demeanour is an act but even this most morose of managers can’t pretend any more that Kilmarnock’s season is still about safety.
He was at it again after his team’s 2-0 win over St Johnstone at Rugby Park, a win as simple as any he has watched since arriving in Ayrshire at a club with three points from eight games and bottom of the league.
Kilmarnock are now fifth in the Premiership and the way they are playing could catch Hibernian in fourth. They have a home replay against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup and the winner of that game would be favourites to beat Motherwell at Hampden in the semi-final.
Since November, only Aber- deen (twice) have beaten Clarke’s men over 19 games. And it’s not a case of grinding out results. Killie supporters are being treated to the best football they have seen for an awful long time.
“The manager has been brilliant,” stated winger Jordan Jones, who on Wednesday night turned in an outstanding individual performance.
“Anyone on the outside looking in can see how well he has done and, when you’re working for him, you feel like running through brick walls for him. I can’t praise him enough.
“The lads have completely bought into what he wants to do and maybe made his job a little bit easier by showing a good attitude.
“Anyone can get on the ball when we’re winning like we did on Tuesday night but it was good to go in front and dominate.
“The gaffer is really calm and that filters through to the players so he deserves great credit.”
JONES was asked whether Kilmarnock could now catch Hibs, eight points ahead, and his answer revealed the influence Clarke has in the dressing room. “I don’t know what the gaffer would want me to say,” he said. “I think we need to take each game one at a time. “Tue s day was the first time he spoke about two games in a row. We spoke before the game and we felt the two this week – St Johnstone and Ross County – were massive for us in terms of the top six.
“We just want to get as many points as we can. We don’t need to change anything.”
Jones, a Northern Ireland internationalist, angered St Johnstone manager Tommy Wright on Wednesday night, after apparently going to ground too easily.
“My mouth was pouring with blood,” Jones explained. “I don’t know what was going on. He was a little bit annoyed but I’m not here to t alk about Tommy Wright. If people make accusations then it motivates me even more.
“Derek McInnes did it after the Aberdeen game last week and said I dived when I clearly didn’t dive. Tommy Wright said I dived on Wednesday. I’m not quite sure if it was when I got my lip burst or whether it was the penalty.”