Boyd is deadly hitman again as Killie’s great run continues
THERE are few players who characterise the resurgence of Kilmarnock under Steve Clarke as well as Kris Boyd, whose laudable Indian summer continued with a landmark goal at Easter Road yesterday.
The 34-year-old former Rangers and Scotland striker took just 62 seconds to continue his prolific exploits of recent weeks, curling his 12th goal of the season beyond the despairing clutches of Ofir Marciano.
Oli Shaw did salvage a draw for the hosts with a 23rd-minute equaliser, but Boyd’s intervention — and a resolute defensive display from Steve Clarke’s side — ensured they left Edinburgh celebrating a sixth successive match without defeat.
In that period, Killie’s veteran hitman has been on the scoresheet six times.
Moreover, Boyd has now usurped Hearts icon Jimmy Wardhaugh to fourth place in the list of all-time post-war goalscorers in the Scottish top flight after reaching the 211 mark.
Only former Celtic players Joe McBride (221) and Willie Wallace (223), along with Rangers stalwart Ally McCoist (260) have found the net more often at the highest level in this country.
‘It’s yet another good finish from Kris. He is a goalscorer and you know if he gets the ball in and about the penalty box, he is capable of scoring,’ said manager Clarke. ‘That’s what he did and it got us off to a really good start.
‘I can only judge my players since I came to the club. They’ve been great on the training pitch and they have taken on board every message we’ve given them and transferred that to the pitch. The results are there to be seen.
‘I think that’s only two defeats since I came to the club (in October). There’s still a long way to go and you’re always looking over your shoulder in this league because it’s very difficult to move away from the bottom when you’ve only picked up three points from the first eight games.’
In the one change from the side which played out that contentious goalless draw against Hearts in midweek, Neil Lennon fielded Danny Swanson in place of Marvin Bartley for the midfielder’s tenth appearance of a campaign hampered by illness and injury.
Clarke, understandably, made just a sole alteration from the side which beat Rangers at Rugby Park in their last fixture, with Chris Burke replacing Eamonn Brophy in the starting line-up.
Boyd, revitalised under the new manager, took only 62 second to underline his prolific pedigree.
His former Rangers team-mate Burke latched onto a weak clearance by Paul Hanlon and slipped a neat pass to the 34-yearold, whose left-footed curling finish found the net via a post.
The last thing Marciano needed was to be beaten with little over a minute on the clock, as news broke of Hibs’ impending capture of Dundee keeper Scott Bain broke.
‘Scott has been in talks with us and, hopefully, that will go ahead, because we have only one fit goalkeeper right now,’ said Hibs assistant manger Garry Parker at full-time. So it will be competition for Ofir.’
Under Lennon, Hibs are nothing if not purposeful, and responded well to that early blow.
A surging run by Anthony Stokes caused havoc in the Killie penalty box and Swanson reacted to hit a powerful drive inches wide of the post. Albeit the ripple of the side netting convinced some home fans that parity had been restored.
They did, however, find a leveller after 23 minutes courtesy of a horrendous error by Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald.
Somehow, he conspired to drop a simple John McGinn corner-kick at the feet of Shaw just two yards from goal. The young striker, barely able to believe his good luck, lashed the ball into the net.
‘It was good to get the goal. I was a bit fortunate but they all count,’ said Shaw. ‘Thankfully, I was there to make sure it went over the line this time.’
After a tumultuous week due to his controversial ‘ghost goal’ against Hearts, the 19-year-old was finally able to raise a smile.
Afforded the opportunity to regroup at the interval, Killie again emerged determined to wrestle back the impetus, with Jordan Jones firing a ferocious shot just inches over the crossbar in front of the boisterous band of away fans.
With Killie well drilled and solid, Hibs were indulging in efforts from distance, with MacDonald forced to parry a Stokes free-kick wide of the post before Martin Boyle, seeking to toast his new contract until 2021 with a goal, lashed a volley over the crossbar.
For all Clarke’s side were stubborn, they were becoming increasingly penned in as the second half progressed. Only an instinctive clearance by Boyd denied the hosts a lead when Shaw headed a McGinn corner towards goal, only for Killie’s goal hero to divert the ball to safety.
McGinn, superb in the second half, took matters into his own hands with 15 minutes left to play, unleashing a left-footed drive from 30 yards — but it struck the bar as the visitors held on for a point.
‘We just couldn’t break them down but it wasn’t for the want of trying,’ added a rueful Parker.’