ST JOHNSTONE
Zander Clark 7 Terrific save to deny Josh Mullin in the first half. Often crowded out at set-pieces but always got a hand to them.
Jamie McCart
7 Kept things quiet on his side of the pitch.
Liam Gordon
Fascinating battle with Scott Robinson throughout. Lost a few of them but won the war. Booked late on.
Jason Kerr 7 Mature performance from the skipper. Looked dangerous when he broke forward and joined the attack.
Callum Booth Provided the width for Saints down the left.
Shaun Rooney
6
7 9
Superb performance. Dominated the struggling Marvin Bartley with his speed, got the goal.
Was everywhere for his team.
Liam Craig 6 Did not get his foot on the ball as much as he would have liked but played some nice stuff when he did.
Ali McCann
7
Plenty of industry from the promising youngster. Looked dangerous when he got into the final third.
David Wotherspoon 8 Lucky not to have been booked for a rash challenge on Efe
Ambrose at the end of the first half. Worked his socks off.
Craig Conway
Always looked for the ball and rarely gave it away. Really composed display from the attacking midfielder.
Chris Kane 8 Was very isolated in the first half but grew into the game. Excellent all-round centre-forward play.
SUBSTITUTES Stevie May 7
4 (for Conway, 77)
Provided some fresh legs. Lots of energy in his brief cameo.
PAUL LAMBERT has left his role as Ipswich manager by mutual consent.
The 51-year-old Celtic legend, who took charge in October 2018, leaves the club in eighth place in the Sky Bet League One table, two points off the play-off places. Assistant boss Stuart Taylor has also departed.
Ipswich owner Marcus Evans said:
“I know he has his thoughts on what is needed to take Ipswich forward and I respect his opinions but this year has been the biggest financial challenge we have faced in my time as owner. It has, however, become clear after holding discussions over the last few days that there are significant differences of opinion as to the order of immediate priorities and we agreed it was best for us to part company.”
WITH 13 clubs to his name and an overworked passport never too far from his hand, Kyle Lafferty will probably have few complaints about the favourite adjective used to describe him since he arrived in Kilmarnock.
Nomadic has been the word of choice, with Ayrshire the latest destination in a career that has taken him to Sarpsborg (Norway), Palermo (Italy), and Sion (Switzerland) via spells in Govan and Gorgie.
There is a reason, however, so many have taken a chance on the Northern Irishman and Chris Burke, his Killie team-mate, knows the striker brought more than his talent when he landed at Rugby Park last month.
“He has made a difference,” said Burke, who played with Lafferty at Rangers more than a decade ago. “Obviously he has talent and is a great character and brings personality to the group. But when you have a character like that he lifts the group and you can see that in training.
“You can see it in the game as well. He lifts others and gives them energy.
“It was a short time I worked with Kyle at Rangers, I think six months or so before I left. I did train with him and he does have bags of talent and ability.”
An encouraging maiden start in Killie’s 1-1 draw with Dundee United on Saturday saw Lafferty hit the bar and, most importantly, claim an assist when Zech Medley prodded home an equaliser after an Adrian Sporle deflected shot had given the visitors a halftime lead. It was Kilmarnock’s first point since January.
With crucial matches against Ross County and Motherwell to come in the relegation fight, Burke is sure Lafferty will only get better as he promised Tommy Wright’s team will give their all to avoid the drop.