The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
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Former Rangers forward Kris Boyd caused his old side more early- season frustration as his goal helped Kilmarnock to a 1-1 Rugby Park draw last nght.
The attacker was part of a team Ibrox chairman Dave King claimed had “failed miserably” when they missed out on promotion a year ago, but he put in a vintage display as he netted his 250th goal in British football with the opener against Mark Warburton’s disjointed Gers.
James Tavernier levelled with a superb free kick but – even though Killie played out the lasthalf-hour aman light after seeing Greg Taylor sent-off for a wild
“He was soon showed how it should be done by Boyd”
challenge on Joey Barton – there was no winner.
That means Celtic can go top of the Premiership ahead of next month’s match againstWarburton’s men if they beat Aberdeen at Parkhead on Saturday.
Lee Clark – still searching for the perfect Killie blend after making 15 summer signings – made another six changes for Gers’ visit, with Gary Dicker, Greg Kiltie, Adam Frizzell, Jonathan Burn, Taylor and Dean Hawkshaw all recalled.
The visitors, meanwhile, were forced into a lastminute swap as Clint Hill came in for Danny Wilson after the centre back got injured in the warm-up.
The late change did nothing to harmonise a Gers team who have struggled for fluency so far this term and that only encouraged a fired-up Killie, who had a decent penalty claim eight minutes in when Hill stopped an Adam Frizzell shot when he raised his hands to protect his face.
Dicker then rifled just wide of target after leaping on Rob Kiernan’s
The travelling Gers supporters disappointed not to see newsigning Joe Garner in the starting line-up were only made to wait 15 minutes before the £1.5million clearance. former Preston forward was introduced as Joe Dodoo limped off.
His first touch saw him almost clear the Moffat Stand as he lashed wildly at a Barrie McKay corner, while he was off high again as Harry Forrester picked him out soon after.
He was soon showed how it should be done by Boyd.
The 33-year-old’s strike on28minuteswasreminiscent of the days when he used to score on an almost weekly basis during his first Ibrox stint.
Jonathan Burn cut out a McKay pass and immediately fed Kiltie, who in turn slotted through for the former Scotland forward. Leaving Hill in his wake, Boyd turned back the years and drove the ball pastWes Foderingham.
However, Tavernier swept the equalising goal over the Killie wall into the top corner from a 59thminute free kick.
Clancy had another decision to make three minutes later when Taylor dived in dangerously high on Barton but showed no hesitation as he reached for red.
With Niko Kranjcar on for Jordan Rossiter, Rangers were finally finding their rhythm.
But Jamie MacDonald did better second time around as he pushed away another Tavernier set-piece before keeping out a late McKay effort as Gers dropped points for the second time in four games.