Kyle says Killie’s fourth-placed finish feels like a promotion as he revels in perfect Paisley day GOING UPIN THE WORLD

KYLE VASSELL was the man to get the job done and he admitted the party in Paisley felt like a promotion.

The Kilmarnock hero enjoyed Wembley glory with Blackpool and went up with Rotherham.

And he admitted sealing fourth spot in style against St Mirren on Saturday and setting up a Euro adventure felt every bit as sweet.

Vassell’s first-half strike was enough to see off Saints and spark wild scenes at the end with the jam-packed away end at the SMISA Stadium.

Not many would have had Derek McInnes and his squad doing aeroplane dances in front of thousands of jubilant fans on their Premiership predictions at the start of the season.

But this Killie side have defied the odds all term – and have fully merited their tag as the country’s fourth force.

Those punters could fly to Europe without a plane given the highs of this season and Vassell was thrilled to lead the lift-off.

He said: “I’ve had a few promotions and I’ve won at Wembley but finishing fourth with Kilmarnock is like a promotion, with the teams in this league and how hard it is.

“This is right up there for me – perfect way, perfect place, perfect day. I’m so happy for everyone involved – the players, fans, staff, everyone at the club.

“It’s been a tough old season so yeah, I’m delighted.”

Kilmarnock are no one-man band as McInnes has built a side who are a match for anyone in the Premiership.

But Vassell – who took his tally to 11 for the term – has been an inspirational leader in the group, playing through the pain barrier to achieve his European dream. He said: “It was special. I can’t explain how hard the season has been. For me personally, I’ve been playing with injuries for quite a while now.

“It’s been a dream, an ambition to play in Europe, and now I’ll be able to tell my family and kids when they grow up that hopefully I’ll play in the Europa League. It’s a dream come true.”

Vassell has secured his place as a Killie hero but he’s got plenty for company among the Rugby Park squad. Saturday’s win against Saints showed every side to their game that’s proved so successful this season.

St Mirren are a top side – and they have enjoyed a tremendous campaign as well with Europe coming their way too. But Killie have just been

that bit better and McInnes’ role cannot be underestimated. The former St Johnstone and Aberdeen gaffer has achieved plenty in his dugout career but restoring Killie is right up there.

The Ayrshire side were fourth when he arrived more than two years ago – in the Championship.

Dragging the club back to the top flight, keeping them there and then building a side to get back into Europe is a heck of a job.

It’s no wonder he’s been the frontrunner for the manager of the year awards and it’s no contest as far as Vassell is concerned.

He said: “It’s all him. I’m so grateful to him. He’s been brilliant for me. He’s helped me flourish and given me the responsibility of being captain.

“I’ve taken that with two hands and I’ve got nothing but great things to say about him. “What is the key? Togetherness with the group. We’re genuinely friends outside of football, spend so much time together away from football.

“And the mentality. The boys are winners and don’t really care how we win, and that’s what today was.

“The message all week was that it was all about winning this week and we’re glad we’ve done that.

“The manager has brought in good players, but he’s brought in the right mentality too. I can’t tell you how important that is, just boys who do it right every single day, and that’s what he’s brought into the building.

“It’s a joy to go into training. I feel so privileged to play with some of the boys and achieve this this season.

“We were here last season for completely different reasons and the win was just as important. But this is far more special.”

A year ago it was the battle to avoid the drop. Now things are looking up.

Saturday summed Killie up. Vassell slammed in the winner after David Watson pounced on a slack ball to allow Marley Watkins to burst to the byeline to tee up his partner.

Killie were dangerous in attack and then tough and solid at the back when the Saints came on strong towards the end. McInnes’ men earned their celebrations but Vassell reckons this might just be the start for this group.

He said: “I hope so. We can’t get ahead of ourselves. It’s one game at a time, it’s keeping hold of the boys who are going to have some interest in them now.

“It’s about sticking to what we’re doing, to our blueprint.”