Mixu tips Mckay to notch a treble before long
MIXU PAATELAINEN has backed Billy Mckay to score a hat-trick sooner rather than later.
The Dundee United striker scored yesterday for the third game on the trot, but he was also guilty of missing a clear-cut chance in the 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock.
Last week against Hamilton, he missed two fine opportunities.
But the Tannadice boss has every faith in the Northern Ireland man — on loan from Wigan Athletic for this season — and said: ‘Billy will get a hat-trick, for sure. He just needs to realise a little bit better what to do in the situations when he has chances.
‘We’d be worried if we weren’t creating chances.
‘Blair Spittal also had a glorious opportunity to score. It is a pity we didn’t take those chances because our overall attacking play is good.
‘We had chances to beat Kilmarnock. One point is better than nothing.’
Paatelainen was angry his side did not get a penalty in the second half when Mark Connolly appeared to tug Spittal’s jersey as the midfielder was ready to shoot from inside the box.
‘We should have had a penalty in that incident,’ he said. ‘If you see a player’s jersey pulled in that way, you think it is a penalty.
‘The referee, from his angle, obviously didn’t see it. The referees make decisions and we have to respect their decisions.’
Kilmarnock boss Gary Locke did not agree with referee John Beaton’s decision to send off Stuart Findlay and award United a penalty in the first half.
Mckay scored to level after Kris Boyd had given the Ayrshire men the lead.
Locke said: ‘The penalty incident changed the game. Stuart Findlay is adamant he didn’t do a lot wrong.
‘I don’t think the ref has a great view of it. If we kept 11 players on the pitch, we probably would have won.
‘I have to give my boys enormous credit. I thought we started well and deserved to go in front. We were unlucky not to score later in the game and we put a bit of pressure on them — despite being a man down.
‘I’m delighted Kris scored. We’ve always said if you get balls into the box, Kris will score — and he took his goal well. I also thought Josh Magennis was outstanding.’