New Killie boss Clarke gets given the credit
By Mark Guidi sport@sundaypost.com
Kilmarnock’s new boss Steve Clarke watched the 90 minutes from the stands, but he was given the credit for the club’s first league win of the season after he delivered an inspiring team-talk during the pre-match meal.
Paul McDonald and Andy Millen were put in charge after Lee McCulloch’s departure and they prepared the players for this vital game.
Clarke was appointed in the morning, but allowed the interim duo to make the decisions during the 90 minutes.
They got it right and won this match convincingly to move off the bottom of the Premiership table after their first league win of the season.
Partick Thistle, on the other hand, now sit bottom and without a victory in nine attempts since this campaign kicked off in August.
Clarke immediately vowed to “fix” the club and the 54-year-old Scotsman – former West Brom and Reading boss and assistant manager of Chelsea and Liverpool – wants to take the Ayrshire side clear of the relegation zone and towards the top six.
He said: “I’m delighted to be back in football and as the manager of Kilmarnock.
“In my discussions with the board, we spoke about stability and, while we need to fix the current situation, I’m looking to provide that stability to this great club.
“I’m looking forward to working with the board, staff, players and supporters to ensure future success.”
McDonald has now handed over full control to Clarke and will revert back to his job as head of the club’s academy. He enjoyed the 90 minutes, the victory came courtesy of goals in either half from Kris Boyd and Adam Frizzell, and said: “It was a thrill to get the three points.
“Credit to the players, I just don’t think previously the results went for us. Today we got the bit of luck we needed.
“The club appointed the new manager before the game and Steve Clarke is a massive name. It shows how ambitious our club is to appoint somebody of his stature. He met the players at the hotel. The pep talk he gave worked wonders. It gave the players a massive lift.”
The deadlock was broken five minutes before the interval and it was a deserved lead.
A Jordan Jones cross should have been easily dealt with by Niall Keown. But the Jags defender’s header was weak and into the path of Boyd.
During his career, the veteran striker has scored countless goals from such
positions and he added another to his impressive tally when he kept his composure to side-foot the ball home from 12 yards.
There was no doubt that Thistle displayed more desire and energy after the interval. Paul McGinn had a powerful shot from 22 yards out well saved by Jamie MacDonald, his first save.
But the game was quickly into the same flow as the first half. Boyd was denied his second goal in the 62nd minute when his header was cleared off the line by Milan Nitriansky.
Just 60 seconds later, when a powerful 25-yard shot from Frizzell gave Cerny no chance for as good a goal as you’ll see all season.
In stoppage time, Kris Doolan forced MacDonald into a brilliant save and sub Conor Sammon hit a post with his shot.
The home fans booed at time-up and manager Alan Archibald insisted they were right to do so.
He said: “We were really poor. We’re not adrift, as yet.
“The fans, quite rightly got on their backs and they deserve to boo. They are frustrated.”
It’s understood Archibald retains the full backing of the board at this moment as they believe he will turn things around.