Rejuvenated Erwin gets it spot on for Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke praised the improved attitude of match-winner Lee Erwin after the striker netted his second goal for the club against Ross County.

Erwin, pictured, came off the bench for designated penalty-taker Kris Boyd and took the initiative after his side were awarded an 88thminute spot-kick when Tim Chow was adjudged to have pushed Rory Mckenzie.

The striker finished emphatically to hand Killie a 1-0 Scottish Cup fourthround victory and Clarke hopes the goal can help his confidence. “I’m delighted for him,” Clarke said.

“He has been working really well since we came back from the winter break. We have had a couple of good weeks’ training and Lee has shown up really well, so I don’t know what has happened over the break. But he has obviously gone away and reassessed himself and come back and shown his qualities in training.

“So hopefully that will kick-start the second half of the season for Lee and he will do better second half of the season than he did first half.”

There was little in the game and County were aggrieved at the penalty incident after Mckenzie appeared to stumble after bringing down Alan Power’s lofted pass, especially as Chow was subsequently sent off by Bobby Madden. Goalkeeper Aaron Mccarey almost snatched a sensational stoppagetime equaliser but his header was saved after he went up for a corner and County boss Owen Coyle was heartened by the spirit his side showed with six players missing. “It would have been lovely to have a cup run but, let’s be honest, our priority is to make sure we move away from where we are [in the league], and we’ll do that,” he said.