Angelo relieved as his men spring to life at the death

ANGELO ALESSIO last night applauded the battling qualities of a set of Kilmarnock players he admitted he could scarcely recognise for an hour.

Aggressive and potent in a devastating first half that blew Hearts away at Rugby Park last weekend, the Ayrshiremen started meekly against the Premiership’s other capital club and found themselves two goals down early in the second half.

Midway through the second period, something clicked. With substitute Liam Millar stretching the Hibernian defence out wide, chances started to arise and Alex Bruce claimed a goal back.

Deep into stoppage-time, on-loan Juventus defender

Dario del Fabro stabbed home the equaliser.

‘It was a bad first half for us — I didn’t recognise my team,’ said Alessio. ‘What had happened? It wasn’t good.

‘We were to blame. Our football wasn’t there in the first half. We need to go on the pitch strong, work hard in every game, show personality and fight.

‘We started the second half in the same way but then we had a good reaction. It was another game for us. After Bruce scored, the team believed they could come back into the game.

‘We missed chances but kept believing and it happened in the last seconds of the game.’

Alessio had praise for Millar’s contribution from the bench but insisted the on-loan Liverpool winger needs to show greater consistency if he is to start ahead of Chris Burke or Rory McKenzie in the wide areas.

‘He has not played regularly but I know he has good skills,’ said Alessio. ‘I want more because he has quality. He’s young and he can improve a lot.’