Sport: Killie go top as Dons beat Rangers at Ibrox
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke watched his side storm to the top of the Premiership and then revealed his players were disappointed with the second half against Livingston.
The Rugby Park outfit climbed to the summit following a 2-0 win over the West Lothian side thanks to Greg Stewart’s first-half double.
Kilmarnock have now had just one defeat in their last 11 league games and sit one point ahead of both Rangers and Celtic. But Clarke refused to get carried away by their ascent to top spot in December as he knows it is where you finish at the end of the campaign that counts.
Clarke, pictured, said: “I’m still trying to get over the second half, to be honest, because I thought we slipped out of the game. Listen, it’s nice for the supporters – they’ll have enjoyed the night and looking at the league table but, for us, it’s just another three points. i’ve got such an honest bunch that the feeling I got in the dressing room was that they were a little bit disappointed with their second-half performance.”
Kilmarnock climbed to the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership after a Greg Stewart first-half double saw off Livingston.
Steve Clarke’s impressive side cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win and maintained their fine recent form that has seen them lose just once in their last 11 outings. That consistent run means they move one point ahead of Glasgow giants Rangers and Celtic, who they face on Saturday at Celtic Park.
The Rugby Park floodlights cut out twice during their weekend win over Hibs, but Killie are burning bright under Clarke and Stewart, pictured, lit up this contest with two clinical finishes. He got them off to a flying start with the opener after three minutes and added a second after 21 minutes. Kilmarnock made one change to the side that defeated Hibs 3-0, with Chris Burke coming in for Rory Mckenzie.
Livingston welcomed back Dolly Menga following his two-game ban for a headbutt on Celtic’s Ryan Christie, while Steven Lawson also came into the starting line-up, with Keaghan Jacobs and Jack Hamilton dropping to the bench following their 2-0 win over Motherwell.
Livingston’s strength on their return to the Ladbrokes Premiership has been their mean defence, having conceded only ten goals in their previous 14 league games and keeping eight clean sheets, but it took Kilmarnock just three minutes to break the deadlock. Burke whipped in a corner and Stewart darted to the near post and glanced home a header from close range. Kilmarnock threatened a second as Burke fired straight at Liam Kelly and then Greg Taylor tested Livingston’s goalkeeper after he bustled his way into the box.
Killie doubled their lead after 21 minutes as Alan Power played a long ball over the top of Livingston’s defence and Stewart was on to it in a flash, twisting and turning to create space before drilling a low angled drive beyond Kelly.
Livingston had been second best during the first half and manager Gary Holt opted to make a change six minutes before the interval, Craig Sibbald replacing Lawson.
Killie were forced into a change six minutes into the second half when Kirk Broadfoot departed the pitch on a stretcher and was replaced by Aaron Tshibola. The Killie defender inadvertedly collided with his goalkeeper as he shepherded the ball back to Daniel Bachmann.
Broadfoot lay motionless on the pitch and Bachmann placed him in the recovery position as Killie’s medics raced on and the defender was conscious as he was wheeled off.
Livingston’s Nicky Cadden tested Buchmann with a snapshot from the edge of the box before Pittman was booked by referee Bobby Madden after hauling down Stewart as the striker broke upfield.