Gritty Killie shake off Covid rust with steely fightback
Pittman (11) KILMARNOCK 3 Tshibola (24), Burke (37, pen), Kiltie (57) Kilmarnock boss Alex Dyer admits he was thrilled after watching his team fight back from a goal down to see off Livingston in their first Premiership match since being put through a Covid-19 nightmare.
Livingston knocked back the Rugby Park side’s request for a postponement, with the entire Killie squad short of match fitness following an enforced 14-day spell in self-isolation.
But, in the end, Dyer’s team showed no signs of being ringrusty as they tamed the Lions by scoring their first goals in West Lothian for 15 years.
The result was all the more impressive considering the visitors fell behind to Scott Pittman’s 11th-minute opener.
Aaron Tshibola and Chris Burke, who notched a penalty, put Kilmarnock in front before the break before Greg Kiltie took advantage of a Robby Mccrorie error to seal a third straight league success.
Dyer said: “We came here with a job to do and we did it well.
“We were organised. I’ve got an honest bunch of footballers who enjoy what they do and want to work hard for this club.
“They’ve had two weeks without doing anything and to come in and put in a performance like that is very pleasing.
“We didn’t panic when we went behind, we scored at the right times and that gave us a bit of a lift.
“We went on and dominated the game.”
Livingston were quick out of the blocks and keen to take advantage of any rustiness in Killie after their 14 days of self-isolation.
And, with the visitors still finding their feet, Gary Holt’s side stormed ahead after 11 minutes.
Scott Robinson played in Julien Serano on the bye line and the on-loan Monaco left-back found Pittman lurking on the penalty spot. The midfielder took a touch before planting a low shot into the left-hand corner of the net.
The hosts continued to look comfortable as the Rugby Park side struggled for ideas in the final third. But all that changed in the 25th minute when Killie restored parity out of nothing.
After wasting a free-kick in a promising position earlier, Burke’s shot from just outside the box was repelled by goalkeeper Mccorie.
And Tshibola was on hand to direct the rebound into the net amid shouts for offside.
Now Kilmarnock had their tails up and Dyer’s side made sure they went into the interval in front.
After scoring his side’s goal, Livingston midfielder Pittman then gave away a penalty in the 37th minute. Alan Power burst into the box to meet Greg Kiltie’s lay-off and was upended by the pint-sized Pittman.
Burke stepped up and made no mistake from 12 yards, sending his effort high into the net.
Kilmarnock’s afternoon got even better in the 57th minute when Kiltie took advantage of a glaring error from goalkeeper Mccrorie.
The Scotland squad goalkeeper got caught under Zeno Ibsen Rossi’s cross and could only flap at the ball.
Kiltie was happy to accept the gift, slotting into the gaping goal from close range.
Livingston continued to press. Nicky Devlin struck a low drive just wide before Alan Forrest cracked a left-footed effort off the upright from inside the area.
With the towering Jay Emmanuel-thomas replacing Scott Tiffoney, Livingston had a new dimension to their attack.
The home side fired in plenty of crosses and Efe Ambrose should have done better from a halfvolley from six yards that was deflected wide.
They knew their luck was out when Emmanuel-thomas then clipped the bar from close range in the dying stages.