Kris does his brother proud
Kilmarnock boss Lee Clark says Kris Boyd’s younger brother will be looking down on him with pride after the striker ended a painful 10 days with a goal against Partick.
The 33-year-old put the Ayrshire side one up yesterday before pointing to the heavens to dedicate the strike to sibling Scott who died just over a week ago.
Souleymane Coulibaly restored Killie’s lead after Steven Lawless levelled but Thistle, who had Abdul Osman sent off in the final moments, moved off bottom after Liam Lindsay equalised.
Clark said: “We’re delighted for Kris. He’s had a tough 10 days and had the funeral of his younger brother on Thursday.
“I had to keep an eye on him but he’s responded in the right way and young Scott will be looking down on Kris with a lot of pride.
“We’re delighted that it was written for Kris to score.”
Coulibaly stole the show at Dundee last weekend with an overhead kick – and he was attempting acrobatics again early doors with Ryan Scully diving low to deny him.
The 21-year- old eventually got his sixth goal of the season midway through the second half with Clark quick to sing his praises.
He said: “Souley lifted the game because we didn’t start particularly well and then he tries that overhead kick and it lifts the fans and the players. He’s a pleasure to work with. He’s a good kid and very popular in the dressing-room.”
Both clubs have been busy during the last week wi th striker Nathan Tyson arriving at Killie while keeper Thorsten Stuckmann joined the Jags.
However, the ex- Doncaster team-mates had to be content with places on the bench.
Killie went in front in 17 minutes when Boyd punished slack marking to prod home his third this term.
But the Jags levelled 13 minutes before half-time when Lawless latched on to David Amoo’s cross to slam a low drive past Jamie MacDonald.
The travelling fans were screaming for a penalty after the break when Chris Erskine played in Lawless and Tyson – who had replaced Adam Frizzell – sent him sprawling. Andrew Dallas was unmoved although the Jags looked to have a stonewall case.
Killie got themselves in front again in 65 minutes when Coulibaly somehow twisted his neck muscles to plant a superb header into the net from Dean Hawkshaw’s cross.
Jags levelled again, Erskine flinging over a free-kick with Lindsay forcing the ball home after Kris Doolan’s shot was blocked on the line.
Osman was shown a yellow card in 84 minutes for a tug on Rory McKenzie as Killie countered before walking five minutes later for tripping the same player.
Jags boss Alan Archibald said: “We thought it was a penalty and everybody else seemed to think so. But I have not seen the incident back yet.
“Abdul has to show some more experience once he is booked. The first one is probably a good booking at the time but we will miss him for next week now.”