Warning signs for Killie after Caley collapse
IT WAS a late collapse that shattered Kilmarnock’s momentum and reignited Dick Campbell’s chances of pulling off the unthinkable. Part-timers Arbroath are now two straight victories from Championship title success and automatic promotion to the Premiership.
As Killie defender Ash Taylor sees it, though, the crushing setback in Inverness changes nothing.
The former Aberdeen centre-half insists Kilmarnock always knew they would have to look to beat the Red Lichties this Friday.
Regardless of what happened in Inverness, Taylor expected Campbell’s team to maintain pressure by beating Queen of the South, rendering Friday’s next televised showdown at the very least a must-not-lose match.
Taylor, speaking after his team’s setback at Inverness, said: ‘It was a disappointing night for us in terms of result, but we go into next week knowing that it is still in our hands.
We know what we need to do going into the game with Arbroath
‘We were always fully expecting Arbroath to beat Queen of the South, to do what they needed to do, so nothing changes.
‘We will focus on having a good week now and put this defeat behind us as quickly as possible.’
Taylor opened the scoring in Inverness with a deft touch over goalkeeper Mark Ridgers’ head.
Time and again this season, Billy Dodds’ Caley Thistle side have refused to let matches slip away from them and they rallied with late goals from Billy Mckay and Logan Chalmers.
Taylor, who in January returned to Scotland for the third time under Derek McInnes after two previous Aberdeen spells, admitted: ‘It was really frustrating at Inverness. We were quite comfortable during the game and got ourselves in front. We just didn’t manage the game properly after taking the lead. We weren’t like ourselves.
‘We had a warning just before their equaliser, with one of the crosses but we just didn’t react as we should have.
‘Over the course of the season, by and large, we have dealt with those situations very well. So it was disappointing to not deal with it against Caley, but we now have to look at the positives going into next week.
‘We take that into a huge game on Friday, at home in front of our own fans. We have a great bunch of boys, a great squad. We know what we did wrong in Inverness and we know we will rectify that.
‘We’re a strong bunch in terms of character and we have a strong staff as well.
‘We know what we need to do and nothing changes going into the Arbroath game.’
Taylor has scored twice this season for Killie and neither has been a typical centre-half’s finish.
Last month at home to Queens he drilled a low, angled strike expertly into the corner of the net, reacting swiftly and instinctively as the ball spun to him.
His goal, the opener in Inverness, was one any striker would have been proud of given the delicate touch and opportunism involved.
Taylor added: ‘Funnily enough, that’s two striker finishes, really, that I’ve managed this season.
‘Neither was the kind that centre-halves tend to score. It was an enjoyable moment and obviously I was pleased to get another goal, but it wasn’t about that on Friday night.
‘It was about getting the three points. We didn’t get the win and we fell short. We didn’t react well enough after going in front.
‘We knew Inverness were on a good run themselves. It is always difficult against them, especially at their place.
‘Credit to them, though, for never giving up the fight and then getting in front with those late goals.
‘But we certainly won’t let that defeat affect what now lies ahead of us.’