CUPS & DOWNS
Broadfoot’s shooting for silver but desperately trying to dodge the drop as Killie fight for lives
AS a former Rangers player, Kirk Broadfoot is familiar with entertaining thoughts in late April of playing at Hampden in May.
The uncomfortable feeling he has never dealt with is juggling a relegation battle at the same time.
Such are the oddities of 2020/21, Kilmarnock have only four fixtures in which to save their Premiership lives but remain serious contenders for the delayed Scottish Cup with three rounds to go.
Kyle Lafferty’s early opener, an own goal from Andrew Steeves and a Greg Kiltie finish did the damage for Killie against Montrose, with Cammy Ballantye pulling one back.
While Broadfoot rather likes the look of the last eight of the tournament, the perilous picture at the bottom of the top flight is unsettling.
It pitches Killie in with Ross County and Hamilton in a scrap set to go to the last afternoon.
Before hosting St Mirren in the quarter-finals this weekend, there’s a massive midweek contest at home to Dundee United.
So the notion of being only 90 minutes away from the National Stadium must be firmly parked to the side until Thursday morning.
Being culpable for a relegation with the Rugby Park club, says Broadfoot, would be a stain on the character of every member of the squad.
Broadfoot was one of a dozen players
3 1
FRASER MACKIE AT RUGBY PARK involved in the win over Montrose that’s out of contract at the end of the season or returning to a parent club.
He said: “Everyone has to realise we’re going into every game not knowing where we’re going to be next season. We could get relegated and you could be out of contract. Where do you go from there?
“I’m not being disrespectful but, if you get relegated with Kilmarnock, teams are going to say: ‘Well, if he’s been relegated, I don’t want him.’
“Players need to realise that they are playing for their livelihoods. Teams have lost a lot of money this year and there’s not a lot in Scottish football outwith the Old Firm.
“You’ve got to train every day as if it’s your last training session and play as if it’s your last game. We’ve all got to be at it. I don’t think we’re good enough to carry three or four players.
“We need at least 10 playing a good eight out of 10 to be winning games.”
Boss Tommy Wright was irked by the “loose play” that allowed the League One visitors to bother Colin Doyle several times in the second half.
Broadfoot said: “I agree with that but that’s credit to Montrose. They came here to play and had a go.
“They didn’t just sit in and invite us to try to break them down.
“They’re a good side and were a credit to the tournament, trying to play from the back.
“Maybe there were some slack passes from us. But it was just one of those afternoons. You’ve got to go into it so switched on and, if you’re not, then you could face an upset.”