Learning curve for Clarke as Boyd shows what he can do

KILMARNOCK

Sboyd42

MOTHERWELL

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Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke admitted he was still learning about his players after Scott Boyd marked his first start of the Premiership seasonwiththewinneragainst Motherwell. Boyd scored from close range in the 42nd minute after Russell Griffiths failed to deal with Chris Burke’s corner.

But it was the centre-back’s role in keeping a clean sheet that really impressed his manager after the former Ross County defender came in for the injured Gordon Greer.

Killie have taken ten points from their last four games, and have gone from bottom to eighth – two points off the top six – since Clarke was appointed in October.

The former West Brom boss said: “Coming up here has been a process of learning about the players and the league. As a new manager, you spend the first however many number of training sessions learning about the players.

“Scott Boyd hadn’t featured at all. He’s not the prettiest training-ground player you’ve ever seen, but he knows how to defend. His career and his record will tell you that.

“For me, the pleasing aspect is when your squad players come in and do their job for the team, that means they are working properly day in, day out on the training ground.”

Another player to feature for the first time under Clarke was Greg Kiltie, making his comeback off the bench following time out with a broken ankle.

Motherwell suffered a fourth consecutive defeat but manager Stephen Robinson took encouragement as he adjusts to life without Preston-bound Louis Moult, missing through injury. “As much as Louis has scored a lot of goals, I’m sure he would be the first to admit we have created a heck of a lot of chances for him,” Robinson said. “You don’t score goals on your own. We create a lot of chances, and our build-up play was excellent.”