NOMADS VERSUS NO HOPERS
EUROPA LEAGUE Euro dream turns into a nightmare as Killie crash out to Connah’s Quay
HAVING worked so hard to secure European football for the first time in 18 years, there must be an almighty sense of deflation among Kilmarnock supporters this morning.
Before the winning putt has even been holed in the Open Championship, their team have been turfed out along with the also-rans.
With a trip to face Partizan Belgrade seemingly within their grasp, a visit to north Wales will now be the grand sum of their travels in this season’s Europa League.
This was a horrendous way for Angelo Alessio to mark his first home match in charge, a night forever destined to be known as ‘The Nightmare Against the Nomads’.
Having bossed the play for much of the first half, Kilmarnock simply fell apart after the break. The concession of a 50th-minute goal to the Welsh side set the tone for a truly awful second half.
By the time Stuart Findlay had conceded a late penalty, Kilmarnock’s backside had collapsed as Connah’s Quay fired the second goal they craved.
In doing so, this team who were priced at 20/1 by some bookmakers last night had sprung the most remarkable of shocks to overturn the 2-1 deficit from the first leg.
It will be Andy Morrison’s men who now progress, having collected yet another Scottish scalp to go along with their exploits as runners-up in last season’s Challenge Cup.
Make no mistake, this was utterly embarrassing and there is no point in Scottish clubs complaining about being pitched into these early European qualifiers if they can’t see off opposition of such modest ability.
This was supposed to be a night to savour for Alessio. Instead, he and his players will now be forced to do some serious soul-searching ahead of their Premiership opener against Rangers in a fortnight.
Alessio opted to make one change to his starting line-up from last week’s first leg, with Dutch midfielder Mohamed El Makrini handed a full debut as Dom Thomas dropped to the bench.
Thomas fired 15 goals in 26 games in a loan spell at Dumbarton last season and was nominated for League One Player of the Year, but it remains to be seen whether he can make an impact under his new manager.
One man who is certain to feature prominently in Alessio’s plans, despite seeing red last night, is Findlay. Fresh from scoring a stoppage-time winner last week, the big centre-half had Killie’s first chance of the night.
With just five minutes on the clock, Kirk Broadfoot cushioned a header down from Rory McKenzie’s free-kick. From 12 yards out, though, Findlay shot straight at Nomads keeper Lewis Brass.
Nomads boss Morrison had joked before this match that,
rather than trying to plot Kilmarnock’s downfall on a suave new tactics board, he would have been better off with a prayer mat.
Well, his prayers are now well and truly answered.
They really should have taken the lead in the ninth minute, but midfielder Callum Morris blazed wide at the back post with the goal at his mercy.
It was a remarkable miss. Rugby Park held its breath, waiting for the net to bulge, only to be let off the hook.
From that scare, Kilmarnock went straight up the park and almost scored 30 seconds later. But a terrific double save from Brass denied Greg Taylor and then McKenzie.
Taylor was denied once again in the 18th minute when his effort was repelled by another sprawling save from Brass.
Brass may not be one to blow his own trumpet. But full credit to him. He was outstanding last night. If it hadn’t been for his interventions, Killie could have been out of sight by half-time.
Stephen O’Donnell was next to see a rasping effort thwarted by the Nomads keeper as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark.
Alessio is in the market for not one but two new strikers to add some firepower alongside Eamonn Brophy — and you can understand why.
Despite their overall dominance and possession, there was a definite sense of frustration among the home fans as the teams went up the tunnel at half-time at 0-0.
You could have heard a pin drop, then, when the visitors notched the opening goal of the night in the 50th minute.
Killie just switched off. From John Disney’s cross into the box, they allowed Ryan Wignall to ghost in and head the visitors into a shock lead.
The Welshmen landed a sucker punch which would set the wheels in motion for Killie’s capitulation.
Alessio’s ability to change things from the touchline is limited by the fact that his English is still only semi-fluent at best.
His decision to replace Chris Burke, who was having a decent game, with young striker Innes Cameron late in the game was met with a chorus of boos.
O’Donnell had Kilmarnock’s best chance to equalise but the full-back fired over from the edge of the area in the 70th minute.
When Findlay hauled down Michael Wilde, a red card was all that could follow. Morris atoned for his earlier miss by stepping up and sending Jamie MacDonald the wrong way.
Broadfoot hit the bar with a late header. But, for the manner of their collapse, Kilmarnock didn’t deserve anything more on the night.
Wignall was sent off for a second booking late in the piece. But, by then, the Welsh joy was unconfined.