Spot of late drama as Accies dig deep
NO Premiership club has lost more matches away from home than Kilmarnock this season — and anyone wondering why that might be the case would need only to watch footage of this contest.
The Ayrshire outfit dominated for large chunks of the game, created more — and better — chances and even played with a man-advantage for the final 12 minutes.
Yet, with the game goalless, Killie still contrived to throw it all away, eventually losing to a disputed penalty which, in truth, was a result of dreadful defending.
For Hamilton, it was another brilliant, battling display following hard on the heels of their shock win at Ibrox last Wednesday. This could prove to be one of the most significant weeks of their season.
This latest victory not only lifts them four points clear of basement boys Hearts but also takes them above St Mirren and out of the relegation places. Unsurprisingly, manager Brian Rice was thrilled by their display and the outcome.
‘I’ve had worse weeks,’ he said with a grin. ‘It’s been fantastic, with two clean sheets — at Ibrox and then today. That’s a sign of a group of players working as a unit. It was a real team performance.
‘The conditions were absolutely horrendous and you probably don’t appreciate that sitting in the stand. I keep saying that the wind ruins games and, even though we won, it ruined this one.
‘But we were phenenomal. They kept digging in and they just go further and further — and that’s testament to their spirit and their determination. It was magnificent.
‘We’ve been battered by all manner of things right through this season but this week we’ve carried a wee bit of luck. However, I think the lads deserved it due to the effort they put in every single day.
‘I keep telling them not to feel sorry for themselves, whether it’s about fouls, red cards or last-minute goals and that, if they keep working hard and training properly, it will turn.
‘This week, we’ve done all of those things and it’s been brilliant for us. I probably would have taken a point when Mickel Miller was sent off because four points from those two games would have been good, but six is a whole lot better.’
The match was nothing if not open. Killie should have scored after only three minutes when Eamonn Brophy’s up-and-under left winger Chris Burke with only Luke Southwood to beat but the Accies keeper thrust out a leg to block his angled drive.
Four minutes later, Marios
Ogkmpoe should have buried a chance at the other end when Stuart Findlay mistimed a headed clearance straight to the striker but his volley, while powerful, was straight at Laurentiu Branescu in the Killie goal.
The hosts lost 17-year-old centreback Jamie Hamilton to injury after only 20 minutes and Brophy squandered a promising chance shortly afterwards, shooting into Southwood’s arms from point-blank range after he had been picked out by former Accies player Stephen Hendrie, making a rare start.
Rice’s men suffered another blow five minutes before the break when midfielder Blair Alston limped off with a groin injury.
The second half was not nearly as entertaining but Accies came close midway through when substitute David Templeton and Aaron
McGowan combined to tee up Ogkmpoe, whose first shot was blocked by Findlay before his second was well saved by Branescu.
Southwood then spread himself to keep out Kirk Broadfoot’s firm header from a Burke corner as the visitors pressed for an opener.
Their cause was helped when substitute Miller, who was unlucky to have been cautioned for a foul on Stephen O’Donnell earlier, was shown a second yellow card for clipping Burke’s heels.
That should have been the signal for Killie to push on for all three points in their bid for a top-six place but it was Hamilton who finished the stronger — and they grabbed a winner in bizarre fashion.
Will Collar’s cutback picked out Ogkmpoe and, while Broadfoot took a fresh-air swipe as he attempted to clear, he caught the striker with his leg and referee Willie Collum immediately pointed to the spot.
Ogkmpoe picked himself up and drilled the ball beyond Branescu.
Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer could scarcely believe his team had taken nothing from the game.
‘We created a lot of chances but, if you’re not clinical, youre punished — and we weren’t,’ he said.
‘I’m really annoyed. I can’t take much from the game. We were unprofessional when they went down to 10 men.
‘We were gung-ho and switched off at key moments.’