SWEET REVENGE
Armstrong winner erases memory of Dingwall misery for McInnes
DEREK McINNES masterfully managed to turn the visit of Ross County into a grudge game, from which Kilmarnock secured a hard-fought win to move three points clear of the Premiership basement.
The Killie boss was at pains to point out, after Danny Armstrong’s 20th-minute strike separated the sides, that he and his players had finally purged the memory of a defeat in Dingwall nine weeks ago. He set his men on a revenge mission for that dismal experience which featured officiating grievances, the concession of a late goal scored by Owura Edwards and an utterly miserable trip home.
It was the low point of Killie’s period of adjustment to life back in the top flight and McInnes didn’t forget. But now they can entertain ideas of challenging further up the table because their form of late suggests a top six-surge.
Were it not for Hearts scoring in the 96th minute a fortnight ago, the Rugby Park side would have nine points from their last three home league games.
Seven is a decent outcome, however, as was booking a Premier Sports Cup semi-final spot in midweek. ‘There’s a lot of satisfaction from this win,’ revealed McInnes ‘We felt really angry at ourselves, and frustrated with some of the decisions, at County last time.
‘We lost to a late winner. It was a sore one to take, a long journey back and a tough few days after that.
‘County should have been down to nine men that day. We were angry about that — and we mentioned it.
‘It’s only by winning today that we started to feel a bit better about that result. We showed good moments in the first half. Then showed real togetherness and steeliness.
‘It does no harm for the players to see games out at Premiership level like that.’
There were only positives, too, in claiming victory in their first of 10 matches minus suspended Kyle Lafferty. With Christian Doidge sidelined with an ankle injury until after the World Cup, Innes Cameron led the line in Lafferty’s place. Teeing up the winner will help his confidence. Alan Power provided the forward ball, Cameron the fine head flick and Armstrong the lethal finish that rocketed into the roof of the net.
Armstrong was helped by Ross Laidlaw stumbling as he rushed to meet the ball but the strike was a most impressive sign of a confident attacker.
McInnes has likened the winger to his old Aberdeen wide man Jonny Hayes and the diminutive Rugby Park star seemed to relish the comparison and revels in the attention. This was his seventh goal of a superb start to the campaign.
‘Our goal was something we’d worked on,’ said McInnes. ‘We wanted to get runs beyond their defence. Innes played a big part — and what a finish from Danny.
‘It shows he’s in a really good place. What a difference-maker he’s been for us recently.’
Cameron and Kerr McInroy could have done better than giving Laidlaw routine saves and Alex Iacovitti cleared off the line from Ash Taylor while the home side dominated. But County stayed composed and crept into the contest despite losing Ross Callachan early. His replacement, Yan Dhanda, then pulled the strings superbly in the middle of the park.
Jordan White flashed a great headed chance wide from George Harmon’s cross. Jordy Hiwula dragged himself in behind for a fine angled effort at goal but keeper Zach Hemming pulled off the first of a string of excellent stops on the stroke of half-time.
County were ferocious in their pursuit of an equaliser early in the second period. The best of Hemming’s saves was a terrific onehanded block to push over White’s swerving drive.
Kilmarnock rather lost their way until McInnes brought fresh legs on in Rory McKenzie and Liam Polworth. His team’s exacting schedule could have played a part, he argued.
Jordan Jones darted in from the left and missed by inches with a splendid curling effort late on but it was more a case of survival down the stretch for Killie, including five stoppage-time minutes.
McInnes noted: ‘I thought the subs helped us at good times. I felt there wasn’t just a physical fatigue with some of our boys, but a mental one.
‘Three games in a week can affect you. While Ross County had their feet up on Tuesday, we were knocking our pan in trying to win a cup tie.
‘That was maybe a factor. But we have come through a big week really well.
‘We should have won at St Mirren, we got to a semi-final and won an important game. We feel better about ourselves after that.’
McInnes reported Blair Alston won’t return until December because of a groin injury.
Ben Chrisene, who was carried off with an ankle problem, will undergo a scan.