Billy bags brace after boss called his bluff
ROSS COUNTY 3 Mckay (38, 49), Hjelde (47) KILMARNOCK 2
It took a couple of classic Billy Mckay finishes to sink Kilmarnock – after a classic bit of John Hughes tomfoolery.
The Ross County manager revealed he prepped Billy Mckay for yesterday’s matchwinning double with a wind-up.
In chats leading up to the game, Hughes dead-panned to the out-of-favour striker that he might as well stay at home on the Saturday.
Only when Mckay begged for a chance did his former Caley Thistle manager let him know he was already in the team.
It proved a masterstroke as a Mckay-inspired County saw off Kilmarnock with a barrage of three goals either side of half-time.
Hughes said: “I’m delighted for Billy. He’s found himself out of the team but he’s a goalscorer.
“He’s bitterly disappointed he’s not been playing football.
“I tried to press a few buttons with him the other day – I said I was struggling to get him into our squad.
“He said ‘all I want to do is play football’ and I said ‘good, you’re playing’.
“I don’t know if that was part of it. I know Billy and he’s got plenty to give. He feels the frustration when he’s not playing.”
Hughes praised his team as a whole after the huge win, but warned against complacency.
He said: “Everyone played their part. I felt we showed great character coming from a goal down.
“From now until the end of the season, it’s about showing a spirit and togetherness.
“Any of them come in with a swagger on Monday morning they’ll be getting sent home.
“We’ve still got business to do. It’s going to go down right to the wire.”
Killie, succumbed to their ninth defeat in 10 winless games and are now a point adrift of Hamilton with an extra game played.
They find themselves at huge risk of losing the top-flight status they have held for 28 consecutive seasons.
It was tense and ragged until the 18th minute when the visitors stormed ahead.
County should have cleared the danger but the ball bobbled to Lafferty, just inside the area.
After the Northern Irishman’s initial strike was blocked, he connected sweetly with the rebound with his left foot and beat Laidlaw to his right from 16 yards.
The visitors were a touch fortunate to see Lafferty stay on the field after 33 minutes when he caught marker Alex Iacovitti with a straight arm.
County, though, hurt Killie in retaliation where it mattered most – with a 36th minute equaliser.
A terrific ball in from the right Jason Naismith bobbled up behind the away defence and Mckay ghosted in with perfect timing to apply a closerange finish.
The second half opened with the Staggies grabbing two goals in three minutes to storm 3-1 up.
First Jason Naismith swept the ball across the box from right to left to find home substitute Leo Hjelde, the teenage Celtic loanee, powering a first-time left foot strike past keeper Colin Doyle.
Then, in the very next attack, a long Jordan Tillson punt forward paid dividends as Mckay controlled the ball superbly and rattled a brilliant 12-yard finish into the net.
With 13 minutes remaining, Killie had a lifeline when Keith Watson was adjudged to have dragged Greg Kiltie down in the area and Lafferty thundered the spot-kick past Laidlaw to put the game back on a knife-edge, but County held on.