Killlie lament late lapse by keeper Rogers which gifts Saints precious point
A BIZARRE own goal by Kilmarnock goalkeeper Danny Rogers in the final minute of regulation time cost the Ayrshire club two priceless points and gave St Mirren a draw they barely merited.
With the clock ticking down, Kyle McAllister swung in a cross from the right, which looped off the head of home defender Stuart Findlay. It was a simple enough catch for Rogers but he appeared to have lost his bearings.
Instead of catching the ball and holding it at arm’s length, he clutched it to his chest and took two backward steps, carrying it over the line.
Assistant-referee Sean Carr immediately signalled for the goal and Killie’s half-hearted protests were quite correctly waved away.
‘I’ve seen it back and Danny has carried it over the line, there is no doubt about it,’ claimed Saints manager Jim Goodwin. ‘I thought someone had pushed him but no-one was near him — he’s just unfortunate he lost his balance and carried it over the line.
‘It didn’t look like the goal was going to come, I thought it wasn’t our day. It is a good point as we were nowhere near our best.
‘Kilmarnock were excellent in the first half and deserved to get the lead. In the second half we were better and moved it quicker.
‘I have to credit the players as it has been a busy three weeks with seven games in it. We didn’t have a great deal of joy in the wide areas, despite having someone like Dylan Connolly, because we didn’t use his pace enough.
‘The surface was difficult so all the players deserve great credit as the game was touch and go.
‘On balance, Killie were better in the first half, we were better in the second. Neither keeper had a lot to do and a point was probably fair. This is a difficult venue so we are delighted with that.’
Findlay passed up a great opportunity in the second minute when Chris Burke’s corner found him unmarked, just eight yards out. But the former Scotland star, under no pressure, screwed his shot horribly wide.
Even so, Killie didn’t have to wait long before taking the lead. Another set-piece from Burke wasn’t dealt with properly, Youssouf Mulumbu gave the veteran winger another chance to put in a delivery and this time Danny Whitehall headed past Jak Alnwick for his second goal in four days.
The 25-year-old’s short-term deal at Rugby Park expires this weekend and it would be a major surprise if the Ayrshire club do not offer him the extension he is seeking.
Richard Tait, one of Goodwin’s shrewd summer signings, lasted
only 23 minutes here before being concussed in an aerial collision with Rogers. He was replaced by McAllister.
Jamie McGrath also suffered a head knock when he was caught by Youssouf Mulumbu’s elbow during a tussle. Saints’ players surrounded referee Craig Napier, demanding a red card but the official decided yellow was the appropriate colour.
Kilmarnock had lost eight of their nine games prior to their 2-0 midweek victory at Motherwell but they were totally dominant here, with Greg Kiltie’s prompting and intelligent movement causing the visitors all sorts of problems.
They continued to look the better side after the restart but the fragility of their one-goal lead was emphasised in the 53rd minute when Jamie McGrath was inches away from restoring parity with a swerving free-kick from 30 yards.
Burke’s close control and change of pace continued to cause concern in the Saints’ rearguard but even so, Saints could have snatched a leveller in the 83rd minute when Rogers parried a powerful Joe Shaugnessy header and Conor McCarthy nodded the rebound over the crossbar.
That warning wasn’t heeded and Rogers’ late gaffe proved costly.
‘He’s maybe caught between whether to punch it or catch it,’ said Kilmarnock manager Alex Dyer.
‘He’s gone to catch it and then his momentum took him back and the ball went over the line.
‘I’m gutted for him and the team because they played well during a game which game really should have been put to bed by half-time.
‘We had enough opportunities to do that.’