Back in the Boyd routine
Kris Boyd celebrates, and grabs the match ball, after his hat-trick at Dumbarton.
Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke has set his players a very simple challenge – keep getting crosses to Kris Boyd.
The veteran striker came off the bench to claim a hat-trick and help the Ayrshire side to their first win of the season.
Killie were 2-1 down when Boyd swept home a Chris Burke pass to kick-off a tasty treble.
He then headed home a Burke corner and completed his afternoon with a cool finish after a highly unusual sprint from the half-way line.
Clarke said: “I expected him to score when he went on to the pitch – but I didn’t expect three.
“He has kept himself in decent shape over the summer.
“If we can get the ball into the box with any sort of quality then Kris will always be a goal threat.
“I thought he would help us when he went on and that is the way it transpired.”
Clarke confirmed he is still looking for new players but said the market isn’t being kind to him at the moment.
Killie were dealt a blow when Stuart Findlay and Greg Taylor had to be replaced after only 20 minutes.
There was real concern for the players when they fell to the turf after a sickening clash of heads in their own penalty area.
It was a relief to see both men eventually walk off the pitch unaided and Clarke says they could feature against Spartans in midweek.
Findlay came off worst and was sporting belter of a black eye.
Clarke said: “The boys are both very sore. The next time they’ll maybe give each other a shout.
“Greg wanted to continue but the doctor said the cut was too big.”
The pair were replaced by Scott Boyd and Jordan Jones, with Killie altering their formation to a three-man defence.
The loss of two defenders was exploited by Dumbarton just before half-time when Craig Barr sent a diving header flying past Macdonald.
It was a goal that was very much against the run of play but Steve Clarke’s men had done little to threaten the home goal with their possession.
They levelled just after the break when on-loan Bournemouth striker Mikael Ndjoli fizzed the ball home from just inside the box.
It was the 19-year-old’s first goal for the club. He has come to Scotland to get a bit of experience and playing alongside master goal-grabber like Kris Boyd could prove invaluable.
The 34-year-old was called into action just before the Sons had again gone in front. Bobby Barr punished some hesitant defending to score from close range. Dumbarton could have secured qualification for the next round of the League Cup had they stayed 2-1 ahead.
Instead, they could only watch as Boyd claimed a 22-minute hat-trick.
Home manager Stevie Aitken was philosophical about the defeat.
He said: “We asked them a couple of questions but they then brought on the country’s top goalscorer.
“He’s been doing it for years and when you give him opportunities to score, which we did, then you’re in trouble.”