Del can see Killie’s away day blues becoming history
Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes believes his team are getting close to ending their disappointing away record.
The Ayrshire men have not won on the road this season and had to settle for a draw at St Mirren.
They last recorded a league victory away from Rugby Park when they defeated Ayr United back in March – that was three Chancellors of the Exchequer ago.
McInnes, however, believes that recording a clean sheet for the first time this term yesterday indicates that things are improving.
He said: “The only away game where we’ve been poor was at Aberdeen.
“But if there’s a pattern there, it’s one that has to stop.
“This felt like a step in the right direction.
“It almost felt like a winning performance from the players but, in
the end, we haven’t quite got the job done.
“We got a lot from the game apart from the allimportant win.
“We knew we would have to overcome a team who has started the season well.
“We were very assured and brave on the ball but we never got the goal.”
McInnes wasn’t surprised to hear that Stephen Robinson had credited his goalie, Trevor Carson, for denying Kilmarnock a win.
He said: “In the Premiership, your No. 9 and your goalkeeper normally wins you points when you’re not doing so well.
“Stephen’s pleased with his own goalkeeper and I can see where he’s coming from.
“He made a couple of great saves but we should have been doing better in these moments.
“St Mirren have set standards for themselves this season and they have been very good.
“You saw against Celtic how difficult their front two are to handle.
“It’s always a tough place to come to get a result.
“I thought this would be an important week with us trying to get to a cup semi-final and a home game next week against Ross County.
“This was a tough start but I’m pleased with a lot of what we’ve done.”
Kilmarnock now prepare for a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against Dundee United at home on Tuesday night.
They lost Blair Alston to injury yesterday and McInnes is concerned that he may be without the midfielder for the visit of the Tangerines.
He said: “He is a worry. There are one or two others causing a bit of concern.
“Blair felt his groin. I think it is just a tightening of his groin rather than a tear.
“Normally the first 48 hours are important, so
with the game coming on Tuesday he would obviously be a risk for that game.”