POINT COULD BE BIG ONE FOR ’LIE
Gaffer Reilly says draw might prove vital in bid to beat drop zone
St Mirren’s black-and-white army have snapped up approximately 2,000 tickets for Saturday’s big showdown with Kilmarnock.
The Buddies will be backed in huge numbers in East Ayrshire as fans dream of back-to-back top-six finishes and a crack at European football.
Manager Stephen Robinson and his players will be greeted by a wall of noise from the Chadwick Stand which will have both the top and bottom tiers open.
Tickets remain on sale online by visiting https://kilmarnockfc. ticketco.events/uk/en and clicking on the link to the St Mirren fixture.
Prices are as follows:
Adults – £25; Concessions – £20; Under-18s – £15; Under-16s – £8 and Under-fives are free.
Saints currently sit fourth in the Premiership table – a point ahead of Killie in fifth – with four games remaining until the split.
The teams have met twice already this season with the Buddies yet to get the better of Derek McInnes’outfit.
In October, Saints earned a 1-1 draw when an own goal from Kyle Magennis cancelled out Brad Lyons’opener for Killie.
And there was little festive cheer at the end of December at the SMiSA as Marley Watkins fired Killie to a 1-0 victory.
Meanwhile, Buddies defender Elvis Bwomono has been called up for Uganda’s friendlies with Comoros and Ghana.
Colin Reilly wants his Arthurlie stars to pick up the pace in the fight to beat the drop.
The Dunterlie gaffer watched his side come from behind at the weekend to earn a 1-1 draw at home to Gartcairn.
Mark McGuigan gave the Airdrie side a half-time lead but Lee Roulston levelled early in the second period.
Arthurlie were the likelier outfit from that point but couldn’t force a winning goal.
When the dust settled, ‘Lie remained in the relegation zone – three points adrift of safety – on an afternoon when it was very much a case of as you were.
Kirkintilloch Rob Roy, who sit just outside the West of Scotland League Premier Division relegation zone, drew 1-1 with fellow strugglers Glenafton Athletic. It looks certain to be a nervy end to the season.
“We came out much better after the break which is what we spoke about in the dressing room at the interval,” boss Reilly said.
“We were disappointed not to win it in the end as we limited Gartcairn’s chances and created some of our own as we took the game to them a lot more.
“We started very cautiously after a poor performance last week and that’s how we fell behind by giving away an early goal.
“We worked on things, though, and were a lot more organised and far the better side in the second half.
“Come the end of the season, this could prove to be a big point gained.
“It’s a big one next week when we face Troon and these games are the ones we have to win.
“And to [be able] to do so, then we have to ensure that we start a bit more positively.”
Gartcairn started strongly and took a 13th minute lead through McGuigan when he chased down a home defensive mistake to punish ‘Lie with a close-range finish.
Despite creating opportunities, the visitors could not add to their advantage.
‘Lie came out after the break grateful to be only a goal behind and began in more determined fashion.
The second half was barely a couple of minutes old when Max Kerr ran at the Cairn defence, beating two men, and his execution of a measured pass was stroked into the far corner of the net by Roulston from five yards.
The Barrhead men enjoyed a lot more possession in the second half but could not really break resolute Cairn down.
Defender Bryan Wharton came the closest to finding a winner when he headed Mark Docherty’s inswinging corner against the woodwork.