Clarke keeps cool despite strong start

Kilmarnock moved into third spot, albeit temporarily, in the Ladbrokes Premiership after coming from behind to sink Motherwell on Saturday.

Despite the victory, manager Steve Clarke said that the main goal is and always will be keeping their topflight status.

“It’s been a great start,” he said. “But we’re not getting ahead of ourselves at the moment. We’ve only got 13 points and we still need a few more points before we’re safe in the league.

“Avoiding relegation has to be the first benchmark, you’ve got to pick up the points to be safe. Then you can look up the table.”

The match looked like it may be heading for a different conclusion when Curtis Main put the Steelmen ahead, and also failed to convert a penalty.

However, Killie ran out comfortable winners following goals from Chris Burke, Greg Stewart and Eamonn Brophy.

“The momentum swung with the penalty save,” added Clarke. “There’s a good shape to the team at the moment.”

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson said: “I’ve been very loyal to certain people and I’ll have to make changes now.”