Clarke ecstatic with comeback but encourages his men to kick head-start habit
Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke hailed his comeback kings after they came from behind to defeat St Mirren.
It was the fourth game in a row that Killie recovered to win as goals from Alan Power and Aaron Tshibola cancelled out Adam Hammill’s opener and saw Killie move into third.
Clarke also saluted Power who netted his first goal for the club as the gaffer celebrated a year in the job in fine style.
But despite the result, he’s keen for his side to stop giving teams a goal of a head-start.
Clarke said: “It is a bad habit that we need to get rid of. We showed some good character to come back again. St Mirren were good in the first half, they disrupted our rhythm and stopped us doing what we are good at.
“In the second half you saw the true Kilmarnock. Alan doesn’t get many and that his first Kilmarnock goal.
“It was a great strike. Fair play to him – if there is a shooting practice at the end of training he is always there.”
There was controversy over Killie’s second as Saints claimed the ball hadn’t crossed the line. But Clarke said: “I don’t know if it was in because I was miles away.
“The boys in the dressing room said it was over the line and the linesman was clear it was over.
“I said to the players it is difficult to win four games in a row in this league but we have done that. We have to keep working hard.
“We have a tough game against Hamilton. We will have someone watching them against Rangers.
“We want to make it five wins in a
row if we can but we won’t underestimate our opponents.”
Oran Kearney’s men went in front when Saints won a free-kick out on the left in 14 minutes.
Hammill stepped up and marked his home debut with a fine curling strike which deceived everyone and nestled low into Killie goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald’s net.
Scotland boss Alex McLeish was an interested onlooker in Paisley as he cast his eye over proceedings.
Chris Burke then floated a free-kick into the box which found Kirk Broadfoot at the back post but his header couldn’t beat Craig Samson.
Eamonn Brophy curled a shot narrowly wide as Kilmarnock turned the screw and they emerged after the interval on the front foot.
Greg Stewart fired narrowly over as Killie attacked the goal housing the 1700 travelling away fans.
It was no surprise when Power bagged a superb equaliser from the edge of the box in 56 minutes.
Saints failed to clear their lines following a corner kick and Power smashed the loose ball from the edge of the box into the top left hand corner.
There were then two controversial decisions from referee Willie Collum which St Mirren were on the receiving end of.
In 69 minutes Tshibola rose at the back post following a quick corner kick routine to direct a header towards goal that saw Samson scrambling along his line and struggling to keep out.
Collum was unsure and raced over to assistant Douglas Ross, who had already started racing back towards halfway. And after a brief chat, the goal stood.
Then in 70 minutes Saints had a goal disallowed for offside when Simeon Jackson followed in to ram home after MacDonald had saved Stephen McGinn’s initial effort.
It was a cruel blow as Saints continue the search for their first league win under Kearney.