My team talk left Killie in a right Mess
Malky: Leo pics inspired Staggies
Eamonn Brophy and Jordan White came back to haunt old club Kilmarnock – with a little help from Lionel Messi.
Ross County gaffer Malky Mackay turned to the Argentinian superstar to help inspire his side ahead of this bottom-of-the-table clash.
He flashed contrasting pictures of Messi downcast following the World Cup defeat to Saudi Arabia and after lifting the trophy.
And it worked a treat as Brophy marked his debut on loan from St Mirren by scoring the first and setting up strike partner White for the second before Yan Dhanda’s killer third leapfrogged County above Killie on goal difference at the foot of the table.
Delighted Mackay said: “I showed the boys a picture of Lionel
Messi before the game, with his head in his hands standing next to a Saudi Arabian, then a picture of Messi holding the World Cup aloft.
“Things change quickly in football and I said if we won today we’re back and it’s all guns blazing.
“I’m really delighted for them because they’ve been put t ing incredible effort in and the roll of the ball hasn’t gone their way. We very much hope to get the bounce from this.” Brophy, who earned a Scotland cap while with Killie, got a hostile reception from the away fans, hoping their side could end a run which hadn’t seen them win on the road in the league since March last year. The striker soon silenced them, though, with his first goal of the season in 12 minutes. Nohan Kenneh won a full- blooded challenge with Liam Polworth and raced on to Dhanda’s pass to cross for Brophy to apply the finish from close range.
Killie came more into the game as the half wore on and Kyle Vassell, Lewis Mayo and Ash Taylor went close.
County stepped it up after the break and three minutes in Brophy controlled the bal l outside the area then timed his pass superbly for Ross Callachan on the left. The midf i e lder ’ s measured ball across the six-yard box was slid home by White. The crucial third came in 64 minutes when Dh a nd a hammered in a powerful 20- yard drive that Zach Hemming looked set to save, only to fumble it as the ba l l trickled over the line.