Tshibola admits Killie cannot keep seeing red over sense of injustice
AMID the anger and grievance over damage done by external forces, Aaron Tshibola insists Kilmarnock must also take time to consider their own failings to get back on an even keel. Rugby Park manager Alex Dyer branded last Thursday’s SPFL decision to punish Killie for Covid-19 guideline breaches and award a 3-0 win to Motherwell for their postponed clash on October 2 as ‘disgraceful’ and ‘a joke’ after time-up at the Fountain of Youth Stadium. He also took umbrage at referee Willie Collum awarding the penalty that allowed Ross Callachan to give Accies their first home league win of the campaign for a Brandon Haunstrup handball — when he had turned a blind eye to Hamilton’s Callum Smith appearing to handle a Mitch Pinnock cross in his own area during the first half. However, Tshibola insists, amid the general wailing and gnashing of teeth over the unfairness of it all, that a bit of introspection might not go amiss too. Killie, hampered badly by injuries, illness and suspension, were the better team in this game until centre-back Clevid Dikamona was ordered-off for a reckless, two-footed lunge at Scott Martin on 29 minutes. It was the Ayrshire side’s fourth red card of the season and their second in two games following Stuart Findlay’s contentious ordering-off, upheld after an appeal, in the 3-1 win over Ross County last time out. Tshibola knows that finishing games with ten men is not something Dyer’s side can afford and has urged them to maintain their focus on the field, despite the unhappiness over the cards they have been dealt of late. ‘We are not here to make any excuses and we don’t want anybody to feel sorry for us,’ stated the midfielder. ‘But it is clear to see the decisions that have been made against us and we have lost key players through injuries as well. ‘We are annoyed about the result. I definitely think we deserved a lot more and we had some chances in the first half. ‘The sending-off changed the dynamics of the game. There
seems to be that indiscipline at the moment. We’ve had three or four red cards in games and that is something we obviously need to tighten up on. ‘The tackle was in the moment and I saw the fella make a massive reaction out of it. It was one of those ones. The reaction probably forced the referee’s hand as well. I am sure if it had been against us, it wouldn’t have been the case.’ Tshibola insists the players will also use the overriding sense of injustice over their punishment for failing to operate the SPFL’s desired social-distancing rules as a source of motivation. ‘I don’t really know the ins and outs of it,’ he said. ‘I understand my guidelines as a player with regard to coming to training and being at home. ‘We have tried to do everything the right way, but, again, it has gone against us. ‘It was disappointing to give three points away just like that to the opposition. ‘Everything seems to be going against us, but we understand this is what we are facing and we have to dust ourselves off and continue to fight.’ Callachan, meanwhile, basked in the warm glow of his position as matchwinner. He fired a penalty over the bar at Dundee United two weeks ago which cost Accies the chance of a 2-2 draw, but stuck to his word to volunteer again on Saturday — putting his effort straight down the middle while keeper Danny Rogers dived to his left. ‘There was a wee bit of nerves,’ said the midfielder. ‘You are always nervous taking a penalty because the focus is on you, but I was confident I would score. ‘I wanted to take it, to be honest, because I wanted to make up for missing the last one. I felt I let the boys down that day, but I made sure I put it right this time.’ ‘It’s a massive win, especially after getting the three points during the week for the St Mirren game, so it’s been a good week for us,’ he said. ‘But we need to build from this.’
HAMILTON (3-5-1-1): Fulton 7; Stirling 7, A Martin 7, Easton 7; Hodson 6 (Thomas 54), Callachan 6, S Martin 7, Odoffin 6, McMann 6; C Smith 6 (Owolabi 62); Moyo 6. Subs not used: Gourlay, Hamilton, Trafford, Hughes, Mimnaugh, Winter, Munro. Booked: Fulton, Stirling, Owolabi. KILMARNOCK (4-4-2): Rogers 7; McGowan 6, Broadfoot 6, Dikamona 2, Haunstrup 6; Pinnock 6, Tshibola 6, Power 6, Kiltie 6 (Whitehall 84); Brophy 5, Kabamba 5. Subs not used: Doyle, McKenzie, Waters, Mulumbu, Taylor. McGowan, Haunstrup. Man of the match: Scott Martin. Referee: Willie Collum.