Dan’s the man to silence boo boys
Kilmarnock silenced the Rugby Park boo boys after they moved within three points of Championship league leaders Inverness with a win over struggling Hamilton.
Sub Dan Armstrong was only on the park for five minutes before he whipped in a cross that eluded Accies keeper Ryan Fulton and ended up nestling in the back of the net.
It gave Killie all three points and ensured the home support found a voice of appreciation rather than continuing their howls of derision – Killie had been booed off the park at the break.
“I’d be first to admit we didn’t play well and because we didn’t play well we gave the support an opportunity to vent their feelings and that creates an atmosphere where the players have got to learn to do better in,” said Rugby Park manager Tommy Wright.
“The message at half-time to the players was deal with it. This is a difficult place to play and they soon let you know if you’re not playing well. I’ve no problem with that. We’ve just got to do better and find a way to make sure the fans are onside for 90 minutes.”
The game got off to a flier with two goals in the opening eight minutes, with Kilmarnock getting the action started before Accies quickly retaliated.
Blair Alston’s through ball to Oli Shaw sent the striker scampering clear before he finished with
aplomb as he speared his effort into the bottom right-hand corner.
Accies reply was swift; Josh Mullin’s corner was met by the Jamie Hamilton who rose to bullet a header into the net.
In fairness to Accies they were the better side for much of the game as they looked to find some composure after their 6-1 walloping at the hands of Partick Thistle last weekend.
David Moyo had a header that looked certain to end up in the net before Zach Hemmings scooped it away and Accies boss Stuart Taylor applauded the spirit of the display if not the result.
The defeat leaves Accies third from bottom and just two points ahead of Dunfermline.
Still, there was enough in the performance for Taylor to be encouraged.
“Goals change games,” he bemoaned. “If we had got that second goal then there would only have been one winner. They will be delighted to have got three points but we looked for a reaction today and we got it, albeit that the result wasn’t what we wanted.”
Taylor also insisted he knows
nothing about a proposed takeover of the club.
“I had a phone call yesterday morning asking if I had read the papers but I don’t, so I didn’t know
anything about it,” he said. “I know the directors at the club and will speak to them after the game.”