Clark canes critics as Killie get back to winning ways
ST JOHNSTONE
KILMARNOCK
S Boyd 76
0
Lee Clark reckons Kilmarnock’s critics have been too quick to write off his side.
The Rugby Park side could have dropped to the bottom of the Premiership on Saturday had results gone against them.
But they have now climbed to ninth after claiming their first win in two months. Their scrappy 1-0 victory means they now sit level with Motherwell, Inverness and Ross County on nine points.
Clark, pictured, says his side have been unfairly picked on. He knows much of the criticism stems from the ten goals Killie shipped in their recent defeats to Aberdeen and Celtic but the Englishman believes they can build on their Saints display if they maintain their disciplined approach.
He said: “People were talking about how Inverness have had a brilliant start to the season but we have the same points as them now. For some reason, there seems to be some negativity around our football club but we have to have a bit of realism.
“That’s now two losses in six. We have won one and drawn three. We were doing okay until we played Celtic and those games hit us a little bit hard.
“We have a tough game against Inverness next week but itgivesusabitofa boost to know that, if we can give the type of performance we did in Perth, we can give ourselves a chance to win the game.”
Scott Boyd fired in the winner with 14 minutes left but Clark was just as grateful for goalkeeper Jamie Macdonald’s display. He produced two first-class stops to deny Liam Craig and Blair Alston during the opening period to ensure the visitors picked up their first clean sheet in the league this season. “Every game he is outstanding and too often he has to make too many saves,” said the manager. “I’m like a broken record because every game he pulls off top saves.
“We are delighted we have him and I inherited a top keeper. I’m really pleased for him and the defenders because they are desperate for clean sheets and Jamie deserved it.”
Saints manager Tommy Wright was looking for a repeat of his team’s win at Ross County earlier this month but admitted they failed to put Killie under enough pressure.
“We’ve been away from home and been brilliant,” he said. “Then we come back home to face a team coming off two poor results who were not on a great run.
“But I felt in the second half we played into their hands for too long and it was only when we were 1-0 down that we upped the tempo.”