Keeper’s calamity proves costly for Killie at the death
Whitehall (12) Rogers (90, og) Kilmarnock were seconds away from winning consecutive league games for the first time since beating yesterday’s opponents at St Mirren Park in September when a mistake by keeper Danny Rogers cost them two points.
He came out to collect Kyle Mcallister’s cross – which had clipped Stuart Findlay’s head – in the final minute and then, even though he was practically on his goalline, he took two steps backwards, taking the ball with him.
The standside assistant referee signalled for the goal, sparking angry protests from the home players, but it was allowed to stand.
“I’ve seen it back and Danny has carried it over the line and there is no doubt about it,” said Saints manager Jim Goodwin. “I thought someone had pushed him but no one is near him – he’s just unfortunate he lost his balance and carried it over the line.
“It didn’t look like the goal was going to come and I thought it wasn’t our day. It is a good point in the end as we were nowhere near our best.
“Kilmarnock were excellent in the first half and deserved to get the lead. In the second half we were better and moved it quicker.
“I have to credit the players as it has been a busy three weeks with seven games in it. We didn’t have a great deal of joy in the wide areas despite having someone like Dylan Connolly because we didn’t use his pace enough.
“The surface was difficult so both sets of players deserve great credit as the game was touch and go.
“On balance, Killie were better in the first half, we were better in the second. Neither keeper had a lot to do and a point was probably fair.”
Killie had already thrown away a chance to take the lead – when Findlay fired wide from a Chris Burke corner – by the time they moved in front in the 12th minute.
Brandon Mason needlessly shoved Burke to the ground and, when his resultant free-kick came back to him, the 37-year-old winger whipped in a cross which Danny Whitehall beat Joe Shaughnessy to and headed behind Jak Alnwick from point-blank range.
It was the big target man’s second goal in as many starts and, with his short-term contract due to expire a week today, his timing could hardly have been better.
Midway through the first half Saints lost Richard Tait when the left-back was knocked cold by Rogers as they both attacked a cross.
“Richard took a sore one and he will have a slight concussion, I would imagine,” said Goodwin. “We will manage that over the next few days and follow the correct protocol. He is OK and he is nice and bright in there.”
Shortly afterwards the visitors were demanding a red card for Youssouf Mulumbu when he appeared to catch Jamie Mcgrath in the face with a flailing arm but referee Craig Napier decided a booking would be sufficient.
The Paisley outfit could certainly have done with being a man up because, at 11 v 11 during the first half, they were being overrun. Indeed, the only concern for Killie at the break would have been that they were only one goal to the good.
Indeed, they were served a reminder of the slenderness of that lead eight minutes into the second half when Mcgrath’s free-kick from 30 yards beat Rogers but fizzed just wide.
There was also a scare seven minutes from the end when Shaughnessy saw a header from a corner parried by Rogers and Conor Mccarthy nodded the rebound over.
Then came the late, late show...