O’Donnell hopes Killie are on the road to recovery
THE Kilmarnock players are still in the throes of atonement for the pain they caused their supporters as a result of the club’s humiliating European exit at the hands of Welsh minnows Connah’s Quay Nomads. But McDiarmid Park matchwinner Stephen O’Donnell hopes that they have at least made a start to the healing process by recording their first Premiership victory of the season under Angelo Alessio. Steve Clarke’s successor has not had his troubles to seek in the wake of his somewhat surprising appointment. It was perhaps a measure of the pressure the former Juventus, Italy and Chelsea assistant has been experiencing that he, too, expressed a sense of relief at this result. ‘It is good to win for the mood of the team and it has lifted everybody at the club, especially me,’ he said. ‘It has been a difficult two months for the players and the supporters and it is a very important victory for the team and the fans.’ Scotland defender O’Donnell concurred. ‘It has been a tough start for us after the highs of last season and we were shot back down to earth with the European result,’ he said. ‘I suppose I got a bit lucky with a ricochet and fortunately the ball went in, but it was nice to get the goal. ‘We showed last season time and again when we get ahead that we are a difficult side to beat and that was the case again. ‘We were nice and organised. I think they had once chance.’ O’Donnell combined with Liam Millar in the best move of a largely uninspiring encounter to snatch the all-important goal five minutes from the interval. The pair made a 70-yard dash in a counter-attack after Scott Tanser’s free-kick was deflected away from goal to catch Saints out when Liam Gordon’s attempted clearance cannoned off Wallace Duffy and into O’Donnell’s path. But O’Donnell confessed: ‘It was hard to keep pace with Liam as he’s quite quick. But my long legs are my best attribute and I saw a chance for the counter. ‘I actually wanted Liam to go inside so I could set him up because I am maybe not as good a finisher as he is. But, thankfully it all worked out. ‘The longer it stayed with one point on the board, it would be talked about. So it’s great for the club to get the win after a rocky start.’ Scoring such an important goal will not do O’Donnell’s confidence any harm either ahead of Scotland’s crucial Euro 2020 qualifiers against Russia and Belgium. And he added: ‘It’s a very difficult double-header but it’s good that they are at home and, hopefully, the fans get behind us and support Steve Clarke. ‘We were unlucky in the first Belgium game not to go in at half-time 0-0 after defending pretty comfortably, but these will be two difficult games against top-class opposition and we need to be realistic.’ St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright was adamant that Michael O’Halloran was the victim of an injustice when his 34th-minute header was ruled out for offside. But it was O’Donnell’s day on this occasion and with international team-mate Greg Taylor — again an absentee — seemingly set to sign for Celtic, his presence will become even more important to Kilmarnock. The Ayrshire side will no doubt hope this result is the first step in the rebuilding process.