Free pie cannot hide bitter taste of Killie slip-up
ON THE day Kilmarnock directors splashed out to offer every travelling supporter a free pie and drink, their high-flying team were given a taster of how costly it can be to drop unexpected points.
Steve Clarke’s men are occupying new territory. Challenging at the top of the Premiership, fans following in large numbers, this is starting to become the norm.
They will now realise — if they did not before — that results like this can happen, leaving a bitter taste.
Killie started like an express train with Eamonn Brophy scoring after seven minutes against former club Hamilton.
But, from there, the tempo gradually fell. Accies — a nononsense, battling team — earned a precious point in their battle at the bottom of the table thanks to Mickel Miller’s first-half penalty.
Potentially, they could have claimed all three.
The consequence of this draw for the Rugby Park club sees them slip to fourth position. They lie four points behind leaders Celtic, who have a game in hand, and one behind second-placed Aberdeen.
Behind third-placed Rangers — who travel to St Johnstone today — on goal difference, Killie could fall behind Steven Gerrard’s side.
The end result was a little sour on an afternoon which began with a team hungry to continue their impressive form.
Another packed away end — 2,215 fans in total, vastly outnumbering the hosts — was a welcome sight for Kilmarnock. Making all the noise, they had more reasons to cheer after just seven minutes.
Greg Taylor’s deflected cross from the left fell to Brophy, who turned in the box, fired across the face of goal and into the far corner.
The former Accies striker didn’t half enjoy his goal, racing to celebrate in front of the home support while cupping his ears and pointing to his name on the back of his shirt. A player — a Killie team — continuing to prove a point.
Within a couple of minutes, the visitors almost made it 2-0 but Jordan Jones’ curling effort from 18 yards flew just wide of target.
It was all rather comfortable. Only a mild moment of panic arrived on 20 minutes when Hamilton’s Aaron McGowan evaded a few challenges, reached the edge of the box but was met by a crucial challenge by centre-back Scott Boyd, who had replaced Kirk Broadfoot in Kilmarnock’s defence for this game. Daniel Bachmann was finally tested in the visiting goal after 29 minutes but Darian MacKinnon’s effort was pushed clear by the keeper. However, this is Scottish football, remember, the unlikeliest of incidents can occur. Eight minutes before half-time, James Keatings’ cross from the left struck Brophy on the arm in the box and MacKinnon fired the ball into the net but referee Bobby Madden had already pointed to the spot. Miller (below) kept calm to slot home the spot-kick and — for a team that looked limited up to this point — Accies were level, scoring their first goal in four matches. Brophy was a man on a mission to try to make up for his handball. Three minutes after the restart, Jones dispossessed Accies defender Matt Kilgallon. The ball was slipped to Brophy, who got his angles all wrong and curled an effort wide from the edge of the box when he should have done better.
After starting this game at electric pace, Clarke’s men were very much in a contest here.
Hamilton winger Scott McMann emphasised that point when his fierce strike from the left side of the box crashed back off the post on 49 minutes.
Martin Canning’s team looked a lot better organised than they did in the early stages.
Gaps that had appeared were now closed. Kilmarnock were forced to be patient and a lot more thoughtful as to how they were going to navigate this red and white hurdle.
Hamilton suffered a double blow in quick succession when MacKinnon and Keatings both hobbled off with injuries.
Brophy’s game was over on 66 minutes and he was roundly booed by the home supporters as he was replaced by Kris Boyd.
Clarke, clearly, realised a more physical presence was needed to unlock Accies’ defence.
The visitors still had to be alert. Claims for another penalty kick were waved away by Madden on 70 minutes when Miller turned in the box and fell under pressure from Scott Boyd.
Killie kept searching for a second goal. Jones’ delivery from the left was met by Taylor.
His touch 10 yards from goal was weak and likewise from striker Boyd, who thought he had been tugged.
Ability — rather than luck — was missing five minutes later when Greg Stewart had a clear shot on goal after shrugging off his marker.
Perhaps believing he had less time than he thought, the on-loan Birmingham City striker dragged his shot woefully wide from 18 yards.
For a player who has scored eight times in 13 appearances before the start of play, it was not the sort of finish Killie fans have been used to.
He was to end the day without a goal, being replaced by Mikael Ndjoli on 83 minutes.
The substitute almost became the hero immediately. Space opened up on the right side of the box, but his shot was well parried by Hamilton goalkeeper Gary Woods.
Miller almost won the game for Hamilton in the 93rd minute but his tame effort from 10 yards was pushed clear by Bachmann.
HAMILTON (3-5-2): Woods; Gordon, Kilgallon, Sowah (Want 50); McGowan, Taiwo, MacKinnon (Martin 54), Imrie, McMann; Miller, Keatings (Brustad 65). Subs (not used): Marsden, Tshiembe, Bingham, Monlouis. Booked: Imrie, Miller, McGowan. KILMARNOCK (4-4-2): Bachmann; O’Donnell, S Boyd, Findlay, Taylor; Burke (Tshibola 79), Power, Dicker, Jones; Brophy (K Boyd 66), Stewart (Ndjoli 83). Subs (not used): MacDonald, McKenzie, Waters, Millen. Booked: None. Referee: Bobby Madden. Attendance: 3,401.