Top-six finish remains top priority for Killie ace Kirk
KILMARNOCK will return to the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership table with a victory this afternoon but defender Kirk Broadfoot insists even finishing in the top six ought to be considered a success for the Ayrshire club.
Steve Clarke’s men will look to put last weekend’s defeat to Celtic behind them by returning to winning ways at home to Dundee this afternoon, a result that would see them move a point clear at the top.
That might prompt some Kilmarnock fans to start dreaming again about an unlikely title success but Broadfoot instead set a much more manageable target.
He said: “We can go back top again with a win and that would be great for our fans if we could do that. But we’re not getting carried away in the dressing room. We know where we want to be which is getting as far away from relegation trouble as possible. We’re not even thinking of things like qualifying for Europe at this point. With the club’s size and budget compared to other clubs, if we can finish in the top six that would count as a great season.”
Broadfoot missed the loss to Celtic after being knocked unconscious by his own goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann following an accidental collision in the previous match against Livingston.
The former Rangers defender wanted to continued playing but the club’s medical team stuck to the rules on concussion that also saw him miss the trip to Parkhead.
“Daniel just caught me with his knee in the back of my head and I was knocked out completely,” he added.
“I woke up with a black eye and a cut on my face from how I landed. It was quite weird as I didn’t remember anything until I watched it back.
“The physio said I was out cold for about 20 seconds and then when I woke up I was more annoyed that they were taking me off! I wanted to keep playing and tried to stay on but obviously that wasn’t possible.
“I was annoyed at missing the Celtic game too. We did a concussion test the day after it happened and I passed that okay. I tried to argue my case and said I was fine to play but because I was knocked out I wasn’t allowed to. The medical staff were quite strict at sticking to the protocol which is fair enough.”
Meanwhile, Dundee midfielder Jesse Curran admits Dens Park is a more joyful place after their recent run. Jim McIntyre has led Dundee off the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership ahead of Saturday’s trip to Kilmarnock following a fourmatch unbeaten run.
Curran feels hard work has been the main ingredient to their improvement as McIntyre beds himself in following Neil McCann’s departure and he is eyeing an even happier environment.
The Australian said: “We are four now unbeaten and if we take that into Kilmarnock I feel we will do well.
“You can tell everyone’s a lot more joyful and happier in the club. Obviously we still have a lot of work to do, we are not there yet.”