KILTIE PARTY
Dyer’s delight as local lad Greg steps up to bag fine double and down Accies
No Eamonn Brophy, no problem for Kilmarnock as Greg Kiltie shot down Hamilton to boost his hopes of landing a new contract.
The 23-year- old struck either side of half-time to secure a win that moves Killie up to seventh in the table.
He also ensured any lingering irritation over Brophy’s departure to St Mirren was put to bed.
Killie boss Alex Dyer hailed the frontman for triggering a dominant display. He said no out- of- contract stars will be offered new terms until safety is secured but Kiltie must be high on the priority list.
Dyer said: “Kiltie was excellent – he set the tone, worked hard and scored two good goals. His a l l- round performance was brilliant and that triggered everyone else.
“Greg has been good all season for us. He’s a Killie boy, one of their own, and it is good to see.
“Eamonn has gone now and I wish him all the best. Hopeful we can push on and put that one to bed.”
Accies were dealt a blow just three hours before kick- off when Aaron Martin was told to isolate by track and trace, meaning a last-ditch reshuffle for Brian Rice.
George Stanger – son of former Scotland rugby star Tony – was thrown in for his first Premiership start of the season.
Killie opened well with Youssouf Mulumbu and Alan Power providing a base in the middle to allow Kiltie, Rory McKenzie and Chris Burke to support Danny Whitehall in attack.
Kiltie almost broke the deadlock early on but his shot flew just wide, then the striker saw a ferocious effort bravely blocked by Hakeem Odoffin.
Accies posed a danger and, on the half-hour mark, Andy Winter danced into the box but his shot was blocked by Stuart Findlay.
Next, Odoffin rattled the bar with a header from a Scott McMann corner.
Ironically, as Accies started to grow in confidence it was Killie who forged ahead. Mulumbu’s scuffed effort was diverted past Kyle Gourlay by Kiltie from six yards, a scrappy goal but Killie didn’t care.
Burke tested Gourlay before the interval and Accies started the second half with a dipping Charlie Trafford shot just that just cleared the bar.
Killie doubled their lead in the 63rd minute. Brandon Haunstrup fed Kiltie 20 yards out and Jamie Hamilton inexplicably allowed the striker inside him to bend a shot beyond Gourlay.
Dyer’s men saw out a deserved win comfortably and he was content with his side’s prospects for the second half of the season.
He said: “We have a limited budget but, if there’s something I need, I know the board will find the pennies.
“At the moment I work with what I’ve got because what I have got is good enough.”