JOKER’S WILD
Yogi wind-up does the trick for goal hero Billy
John Hughes prepped Billy Mckay for yesterday’s match- winning double with a wind- up – after suggesting he might as well stay at home.
But the Ross County manager was deadly serious last night as he warned his team against believing they were suddenly Premiership stick-ons after beating Kilmarnock.
A huge win for the Staggies took them four points above bottomplaced Killie with a game in hand.
Yogi chatted with double hero Mckay last week and joked he was struggling to squeeze him into Saturday’s squad.
But picking him for only his 10th league start proved a masterstroke as County overturned Kyle Lafferty’s first Killie goal with a barrage either side of half-time.
He said: “I’m delighted for Billy. He’s found himself out of the team but he’s a goalscorer.
“I tried to press a few buttons with him the other day – I said I was struggling to get him into our squad. He said, ‘All I want to do is play.’ I said, ‘Good, you’re playing.’
“He wants to repay Ross County and, like any player, he feels the frustration when he’s not playing.
“Everyone played their part. It’s all about getting the result. But if any of them come in with a swagger on Monday morning they’ ll be getting sent home. We’ve still got business to do.”
Killie, succumbing to their ninth defeat in 10 winless games, are now a point adrift of Hamilton with an extra game played.
They find themselves at huge risk of losing top-flight status they have held for 28 consecutive seasons.
But they stormed ahead in 18 minutes. County should have cleared their lines but the ball bobbled to Lafferty inside the area.
After the Northern Irishman’s strike was blocked, he connected sweetly with the rebound to score from 16 yards.
County, though, equalised in 36 minutes. A terrific ball from Jason Naismith bobbled up behind the away defence and Mckay ghosted in to apply a close-range finish.
The second half opened with the Staggies grabbing two goals in three minutes to storm 3-1 up.
First, substitute Leo Hjelde netted from Naismith’s ball across the box before Mckay rattled a brilliant 12-yard finish into the corner of the net.
Killie pulled one back from the spot after Keith Watson was adjudged to have dragged Greg Ki ltie down in the area with Lafferty thundering the penalty home. But Killie’s Ross Millen picked up a red card after bumping into a linesman at the end.