Kilmarnock turn on the style amid off-field tumult
KILMARNOCK climb to seventh but at the moment the Ladbrokes Premiership table almost feels like the least of their worries. A day of further grim developments in the Rugby Park boardroom ended with this group of players producing the finest performance of Lee Clark’s time in charge to crush Hearts’ ambitions of climbing to second spot.
Souleymane Coulibaly might have been producing somersaults towards the Frank Beattie stand at the final whistle but not everyone connected with the Ayrshire club was turning cartwheels yesterday. Earlier in the day, the local paper had carried a statement from Alan McLeish, the managing director of QTS, the club’s title sponsor, threatening to pull the plug on their involvement unless company secretary and former chairman Michael Johnson quits the club. He was speaking at the end of a week which saw Russel Smith resign as director – bringing the numbers on the board down to three – and almost 1,500 fans sign a petition demanding Johnson’s resignation. McLeish reminded everyone that his company’s involvement, which began as humble kit sponsor, now encompasses the academy, youth, community and ladies’ programmes. He feels the £1.9m which Johnson has reportedly been offered should be accepted forthwith.
“The only way the club can move forward now is for Michael to stand down from the board and let the club move into a new era,” said McLeish. “QTS would seriously be considering its sponsorship position if Michael stayed in place on the board. We feel the only person who can take the club forward at this moment in time is Billy Bowie.”
If this was a further illustration of the gloom and despondency which has seemed to be a permanent fixture at this ground in recent times, the players would show every bit as much stubbornness and staying power as their company secretary. “I thought we were superb from start to finish,” said Clark after what he felt was the best win of his eight months in charge. “I am very, very experienced at knowing how to take it [the off-field troubles] away from the players. We have just got to try to do our job, lift the fans with our performances and results.”
Hearts should have gone ahead early on when Robbie Muirhead, formerly of Kilmarnock, swung over a devilish cross to the far post but Tony Watt somehow failed to capitalise from close range. It was to prove costly as Coulibaly added another superb goal to his showreel. Last night was the Ivorian’s ninth goal in 15 appearances this season. It came after he slithered past Faycal Rherras and Muirhead down the Kilmarnock right and curled a sweet left-foot shot into Jack Hamilton’s top corner. The same player should really have made it two on the night shortly afterwards with a close-range header.
No matter, because this was a fine showing from a Kilmarnock side who pressed their opponents at the right time and dropped off when it was right to do so. Such little threat did Watt and Conor Sammon pose that the Irishman was applauded off the pitch more by the home fans than the away ones when the strike pairing were withdrawn in a double change just on the hour mark. If an exasperated Robbie Neilson had thought Bjorn Johnsen would do any better, he was disabused of that notion when the beanpole American striker comically mishit the ball straight at Jamie MacDonald from close range with the goal gaping.
By that time, Hearts hopes of going second were all but gone, courtesy of a terrific second Kilmarnock goal. Rory McKenzie was the game’s best player and he had already clipped the crossbar with one fine strike before he stole another loose ball in midfield and fed Steven Smith. The former Rangers player’s first time left-footed strike arced over Hamilton and in off the bar. “It’s frustrating because we had the chance to go second and we spoke about that in the dressing room,” said Robbie Neilson. “It was a massive wake-up call for us.”
MacDonald; Hendrie, Addison, Boyd, Taylor; Dicker, Smith; Coulibaly, McKenzie, Jones (Frizzell 89); Tyson (Boyd 89). D Mackay, Boyle, M Smith, Bojaj, Wilson.
Hamilton; Paterson, Souttar, Rossi, Rherras; Djoum, Cowie, Kitchen (Buaben 87), Muirhead; Watt (Walker 63), Sammon (Johnsen 63). Ozturk, Noring, Oshaniwa, Nowak.
Kilmarnock Hearts Subs not used Referee Attendance
A Dallas 3,917
Subs not used