JOHNSTON IN FAN RALLY CRY

ALLAN JOHNSTON has urged Kilmarnock fans to get behind the team in their bid to break into the top six. Killie supporters were calling for the manager’s head last Saturday after his side threw away a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1 at home to 10-man Inverness Caley Thistle. While Johnston (pictured) insisted the crowd have every right to express their views, he said their positive backing will be crucial if the Rugby Park side are to record their best league finish since 2011. ‘It’s probably because of the way we started the season so well but then went on a bad run,’ said Johnston when asked if fans should be more patient. ‘But now we’ve got to look at the next three fixtures — Motherwell, Dundee and Partick Thistle — as important ones against teams that are around us in the league. ‘These are games we can win and we are going to need the fans to get behind the players. ‘Look at the backing the team got towards the end of last season, like the Hibs game (which Kilmarnock won 1-0) when they turned up in big numbers and really got behind the players. ‘It does make a massive difference.’ Killie supporters were enraged their side missed the chance to leapfrog St Johnstone into sixth place at the weekend but Johnston isn’t fazed by the criticism. ‘You’re going to expect that as manager,’ he said ‘You’re the focal point, the one who gets the plaudits when it goes well and the stick when it doesn’t. ‘The fans pay their money and are entitled to their opinion. ‘The big thing is, we make sure we respond to that and get ourselves in the top six. ‘We’re only two points off that at the moment and that’s the target we set out to achieve at the start of the season. ‘If you look at the last seven seasons, we’ve only finished in the top six once.’ Having scored 21 goals this campaign, Killie are averaging just a goal per game and Johnston confirmed he is in the hunt for a striker. ‘You are always looking at what players are available but we would need to get somebody out first before we could bring someone in,’ he added. ‘I’m looking at all areas of the pitch but we are lacking goals so, if we did get the opportunity, we’d probably be looking for a goal scorer.’