Murray’s Killie’s Dancing King!
Tommy Wright hailed Fraser Murray’s dancing skills as he set up a crucial win that keeps Killie right on Caley Thistle’s tail.
Murray showed incredible footwork as he dribbled between two defenders to cross for Rory Mckenzie to seal it 15 minutes from time.
Wright said: “Fraser did well, it was a good bit of play. He did well to get in between the two defenders, then it was a good ball in.
“We had a couple of those last week and the opposite wide player didn’t get in to the back post.
“We mentioned it before the game and at half-time to tell the guys to follow in to the back post, and Rory timed his run well and I am really pleased for him.
“I am pleased for the team, even though we didn’t play as well as we can, we dug in and got the result.
“It wasn’t the prettiest of games, we could probably have played a lot better on the ball.
“I think there was periods we were flat, but we produced a real moment of quality and scored a good goal.
“I am pleased with the result, but in terms of level of performance, it wasn’t near how we’ve been this season.”
Killie showed great determination to get the job done on what had been a fairly frustrating day against a resilient Morton side.
Oli Shaw should have done better when he was set up by Liam Polworth in 33 minutes but he pulled his shot wide of the right post.
Murray had a couple of efforts – one wide and one saved by Jack Hamilton.
And it was he who made the difference with that skilful burst 15 minutes from time.
In fairness, Morton caused some problems, too, with big Robbie
Muirhead a real handful for the Kilmarnock defence.
He showed great strength to power towards the box in five minutes and found Tom Allan on the left. His low ball was destined for Gavin Reilly to tap-in but Euan Murray made a brilliant interception.
Muirhead tried to set up Reilly in 15 minutes and this time Brandon Haunstrup came to rescue with a great challenge.
And Reilly was unlucky before the break forcing two saves out of Zak Hemming with shots from tight angles.
Boss Gus Macpherson said:
“I felt we were really good. We worked so hard and created some good chances in the first half and we should probably have been in front.
“So, it was sore to lose it in the manner that we did – that was the frustrating thing. They didn’t play through us. It was just a cross that came in that shouldn’t have cause us a problem but it did.” KILMARNOCK:
Hemming 6; Naismith 7, Sanders 7, E Murray 8, Haunstrup 7; Mcginn 6 (Lyons 62 6), Alston 7; Mckenzie 7 (Mcgowan 88 2), Polworth 7 (Robinson 62 6) F Murray 7; Shaw 6. Not used – Walker, Armstrong, Waters, Cameron, Mcgowan. MORTON:
Hamilton 7; Ledger 7, Lithgow 7, Mclean 7, Strapp 7; Blues 7; Muirhead 6, Oliver 6 (Ugwu 79 3), Oksanen 6, Allan 6 (Knowles 84 3); Reilly 6. Not used – Wylie, Lyon, Knowles, Russell, Hynes.