Alessio in a stormy mood as 10-man Accies down Killie
Kilmarnock manager Angelo Alessio was an angry man after watching his team lose against 10-man Hamilton.
There’s a lot of anger surrounding the Ayrshire club at the moment.
The supporters are still fuming at being knocked out of the Europa League by Welsh minnows Connah’s Quay Nomads and remain sceptical about appointing an Italian boss.
A battling performance against Rangers last weekend raised morale, but this defeat will see black clouds reappear.
Alessio was critical of his players for the for conceding two goals and failing to hit the net.
That’s unlikely to help matters with Killie now sitting bottom of the Premiership.
He said: “We are disappointed and very angry because we conceded two stupid goals.
“At the same time we created a lot of chances to score but there were some great saves from their goalkeeper or mistakes from our strikers.
“We tried when they had 10 men. I put on the pitch another striker and asked my team to play wide and we created some opportunities.
“At the beginning we had control of the match but at the first situation we conceded.
“Then in the second half we conceded another goal and it was very difficult to come back.”
Killie had 65% of possession and that shows they badly need someone to stick the ball in the net.
The deal with Belgian striker Floriano Vanzo, however, is definitely off.
Accies fans had predicted a difficult season unless they strengthened at the back.
Sam Stubbs, son of former Celtic defender and Hibs manager Alan, was brought in on loan from Middlesbrough earlier in the week.
He was pitched straight into the team and partnered veteran Brian Easton in the middle of a back four. The 20-year-old had an impressive debut, especially given Easton was shown a red card for flattening Killie striker Liam Millar in the 53rd minute.
Alex Gogic then stepped back from midfield, while Stubbs continued to organise the backline.
His dad, watching from the stand, must have been pleased he persuaded his boy to move north.
Hamilton badly needed to show more solidity after losing their opening league match 3-0 at Ross County.
They stood up to early pressure from Killie and went ahead against the run of play.
Smith’s curling shot from the edge of the penalty area was a real thing of beauty.
The 19-year-old was on to McGowan’s knock-down in a flash and raced towards goal before curling the ball inside the post.
Kilmarnock pressed forward after the break but quickly found themselves further behind.
Oakley ran forward on the break but seemed to have missed his chance to threaten the goal. The ball then found its way to Smith via Alston and he drove into the box.
It might have been a cross or a shot from the youngster but Oakley was happy to prod it past Branescu.
Kilmarnock brought on a third striker in 18-year-old Innes Cameron in an effort to exploit having an extra man.
He had a header saved by the goalie just after coming on.
Chris Burke was the visitors’ main attacking force but they found it hard to create clear-cut openings.
These teams meet again at Rugby Park in the Betfred Cup on Saturday. All the pressure will be on Kilmarnock.