CLARKE CLAIMS REFS WON’T BRAND JONES A DIVER

KILMARNOCK boss Steve Clarke has dismissed fears Jordan Jones is gaining a reputation for diving among referees. The Northern Ireland international is suspended for today’s showdown with St Mirren after his controversial Dundee tumble. Jones accepted a two-match ban despite insisting he did not go down deliberately in his side’s 2-1 win at Dens Park last time out. Clarke accepted Jones’ claim and suggested the incident — which fooled referee Steven McLean into awarding Killie a penalty — was caused by the 23-year-old losing his balance. Neil McCann, subsequently sacked by Dundee, was furious at the decision, while in March Aberdeen boss Derek McInnes claimed Jones dived to win a spot-kick in a Scottish Cup tie against his side. But Clarke (left) has faith the officials will judge Jones fairly. ‘To think anything else would be to cast aspersions on referees that aren’t fair,’ he said. ‘All referees I’ve ever come across are very honest. ‘We spoke to Jordan about the incident. We looked at the footage but didn’t have any angles that would make people change their minds. ‘Sometimes it’s best to accept your medicine and move on. Player reactions are the best to go by and if you look at Jordan, he didn’t jump up looking for a penalty, he wasn’t trying to deceive the referee. He says that and I believe him. ‘There aren’t many as fast as Jordan and any little touch, any little movement, can cause a loss of balance, that would probably be the best way to describe it.’ Clarke celebrated his first anniversary with Killie last weekend after a hugely successful first year at Rugby Park, but insisted he is not resting on his laurels. Bottom of the table when Clarke arrived, no team have picked up more Premiership points than Killie in 2018. Clarke said: ‘I’ve enjoyed working with these players, putting a smile back on fans’ faces. We can be happy with what we’ve achieved but in this game if you settle for being happy it will soon catch you out. The day you wake up and think you’ve cracked it is the day you head for the golf course or the beach. ‘There’s more to come from this team.’