Good Jord makes case as Diamond in the rough
THE STATS
LEAGUE ONE AIRDRIE striker Jordan Allan hopes scoring once and setting up two in a 3-0 win over East Fife is enough to keep him in the team.
The 23-year-old struck two minutes into the New Broomfield clash before nodding down for Dylan Easton to deliver a cross that Adam Frizzell buried for the second goal.
Allan then sent Easton clear to bag the third two minutes before the break.
The frontman said: “I’m delighted with the win and my performance – when the chance comes you’ve got to take it, and I think I’ve done that.”
Elsewhere, Falkirk boss Martin Rennie tipped hattrick hero Anton Dowds to become a fan favourite after the striker scored a hat-trick in their 6-2 win over Dumbarton.
His treble was added to by Callumn Morrison, debutant Aaron TaylorSinclair and Aidan Keena, with Paul Paton and Stuart Carswell on target for Sons.
Rennie said: “Anton is someone the Falkirk fans will really love when he gets the chance to get going. We’re happy to have him back and excited he got off to a good start.”
Iain Vigurs’ third goal of the season proved to be the winner for Cove as they extended their lead to seven points after beating Clyde 1-0 – and made it 11 games unbeaten for Paul Hartley’s side.
Montrose lost further ground despite coming from behind to draw 1-1 at home to Alloa.
Steven Boyd fired the Wasps ahead before half time but Liam Callaghan arrived off the bench to score a free kick and earn Stewart Petrie’s side a share of the spoils.
DEREK McINNES waited nine long months for that 4.45 on a Saturday feeling that meant three points and up the road.
He was reunited with it at Palmerston as his Kilmarnock side delivered the victory he sought at the end of a hectic first week in charge of the Rugby Park.
Killie were well worth the victory, even if Oli Shaw’s second-half spot kick that sealed the deal shouldn’t have been awarded after the striker was fouled outside the box.
Queen of the South were raging at that but can have no complaints about the result, having been outplayed by a Kilmarnock outfit desperate to impress their new gaffer. And the did just that. McInnes, who brought in his old Aberdeen backroom staff Tony Doherty and Paul Sheerin, admitted he was thrilled to be back in the game and the win means Killie can go top of the Championship if they beat Partick Thistle at Firhill on Friday night.
He said: “‘I couldn’t wait to get here. Because 3 o’clock on a Saturday is always the best part. It should be for players and certainly for myself.
“Physically it feels a wee bit
DAVID McCARTHY AT PALMERSTON
different when you wake up and know it’s game day.
“I’m always up early anyway, I’m institutionalised that way. Even though I did nothing the last wee while at times, I was always up at the back of six. Even on a day off.
“Everyone was sleeping when I left this morning so there were no other dramas in the McInnes house!
“I was really looking forward to the game and now getting back after winning. That feeling at a quarter to five is why we’re in the game.”
Killie started brightly with
Shaw and Scott Robinson, who went off with a heel injury after the break, combining well up front.
But it took until a minute before the break to open the scoring with Chris Stokes ramming home after Shaw’s header from a Chris Burke corner hit a post.
But despite a dip at the start of the second period when Allan Johnston’s Queen’s came more into the game, Shaw’s penalty after he was fouled by Roberto Nditi clinched the win in front of only 500 fans.
McInnes admitted it was a
TEAMS QOS: Rae 6, Debayo 6, Nditi 6, East 7, Johnston 6; Todd 7, McGrory 6 (Fitzpatrick 77, 2), Cooper 6, Paton 6 (Roy 83, 2), Soares Jnr 6 (Liddle 65, 3), Connelly 6. KILLIE: Hemming 7, Hodson 7, E. Murray 7, Stokes 7, Haunstrup 8; McKenzie 7, McGinn 7, Polworth 6 (Alston 62, 5), Burke 7 (F. Murray 80, 2), Robinson 7 (Hendry 59, 3), Shaw 76 (Liddle 65,3), Connelly 6. Referee: Colin Steven. MAN OF THE MATCH BRANDON HAUNSTRUP Bossed the whole midfield for Kilmarnock and former Portsmouth man made a real case to be an important figure in the side under new boss Derek McInnes.