Suits you Sir as hosts top table
KILMARNOCK 3 DUNDEE 1
DOES the tannoy announcer at Rugby Park have an in at Buckingham Palace?
As the Kilmarnock manager strolled to his position at the start of yet another superb afternoon, he was introduced as “Sir Steve Clarke”. Come New Year, you will likely see many less deserving recipients handed a knighthood.
Killie are top of the league, for the second time in December, which isn’t quite a Christmas miracle but is verging on the ridiculous. Granted Celtic can go back ahead of them today at Easter Road, however, as it stands Clarke is surely the favourite for manager of the year.
Clarke played down the “Sir” stuff and blamed the guy for getting carried away. Can you blame him? Could you blame any Kilmarnock supporter?
The manager said: “It was a good win and important to bounce back after the disappointment from last week when we dropped our standards a little bit against Celtic [a 5-0 defeat at Parkhead last week].
“The first half was a little bit open, they had too many chances, and second half we put that right. It took a scrappy goal to get us in front but then we never looked back.
“Being top of the league isn’t important. That we have 34 points f rom 18 games is i mportant. Our points-per-game record is good. The league table is a not a true reflection. Celtic have three games in hand and I am looking forward to next week already.
“I thought right from the start of the second half we were the better team, right on top. Once the game opened up properly for us we played some terrific stuff.”
It seems it would not be a Premiership game this season without the referee making at least one howler.
Remember when Jordan Jones dived against Dundee earlier in the season? He was heavily criticised and even Clarke admitted he would have a word about him staying on his feet.
Well, at 2-0 the winger got past Genseric Kusunga who pushed him inside the box. Jones stayed on his feet when on this occasion he had every right to go down, he tried to score and the only reason he did not was that he had stumbled after the foul. No penalty.
Clarke decided to “let off” official Kevin Clancy and felt it might have been a free-kick. He will not enjoy watching the replay.
“I thought Jordan was terrific today, said his manager. “He had a little spell when he sat out for a couple of games and he wasn’t happy with me or with himself. Since he got back in the team his performances have been absolutely electric.
“He’s a great talent and carries the ball very well for us. He creates chances for us so I’m delighted with Jordan and for Jordan.”
Kilmarnock showed no effect from their thumping at Celtic Park. They passed well, pressed well and should have scored two or three more. In saying that, Dundee missed some really good chances in the first half.
Indeed, the visitors were marginally the better side in that 45 minutes in that they had better opportunities.
Kenny Miller shot wide from eight yards when he was unmarked and it should have been a goal, Kilmarnock keeper Daniel Bachmann pulled off a great save to deny Martin Boyle’s back- post header and, with six minutes left of the half, Miller’s low cross picked out Jesse Curran who