Defeat doesn’t wipe smile off Clark’s face
LEE CLARK had a smile on his face despite being sent to the stand after 10 minutes of his side’s opening- day defeat.
The Kilmarnock boss was delighted to announce that Josh Magennis would be staying at the club.
Whether or not the Northern Ireland man is still at Rugby Park when the transfer window shuts remains to be seen.
He was left out of yesterday’s game after Killie turned down a £ 100,000 bid from Charlton Athletic. Clark hopes that is the end of the matter. He said: “We’ve had three or four inquiries from different clubs and only two bids came close to the figure we were looking for.
“We didn’t want to let him go and during the game the board spoke to Josh about it.
“He said he is prepared to come back and give us everything.
“I’m delighted. I didn’t think it was going to happen and was planning to move forward without him.”
Motherwell boss Mark McGhee also has a player at the centre of transfer speculation.
Marvin Johnson, who scored his fourth goal in four games, has already been the subject of bids by Oxford United.
His manager is desperate to keep him but couldn’t help smiling when it was suggested his impressive headed goal will have bumped up his price.
He said: “Marvin’s goal could have been Thierry Henry or Les Ferdinand. It was a great cross but he produced a centre- forward’s header.
scottish premiership
Kilmarnock’s Callum McFadzean, right, pulls away from Motherwell’s Craig Clay.
“Everyone knows what I think of him and I just hope we can hang onto him.”
The game took place on the Rugby Park artificial surface that has been reduced in size on Clark’s instructions.
He maintained the change had been planned for some time but could not be done until last week to maintain guarantees issued by the pitch installers.
Clark was sent to the stand by referee Craig Thomson on the instructions of fourth official Gavin Ross.
He said: “I was sent off for foul and abusive language. I don’t know if it was directed at an official but I certainly didn’t and I refute that suggestion 100%.”
Motherwell took the lead thanks to an exquisite finish from Lionel Ainsworth.
He ran past the home defence to collect a McDonald pass and neatly chipped over the
advancing Jamie MacDonald. The fans had hardly settled back into their seats after halftime when Marvin Johnson put the Steelmen further ahead.
Tait crossed from the right flank and the Englishman sent a header into the net.
Killie then decided it was time to beef up their attack, introduced Kris Boyd and looked a better team.
Former Sunderland midfielder Martin Smith nodded home on his league debut shortly after coming off the bench.
Right at the end, Coulibaly went down under a challenge from McManus as the fans screamed for a penalty.
Referee Craig Thomson awarded Motherwell a free- kick but didn’t book the attacker for diving.
The player was perplexed, the supporters enraged. It was that sort of afternoon.