Kilmarnock

    • 11-7-20
    • 10th in Scottish Premiership

      Kilmarnock 1-0 Heart of Midlothian

      Lee Erwin's early strike was enough to give Kilmarnock a winning end to a memorable campaign against a Hearts team featuring eight teenagers.Erwin struck the only goal in the 10th minute as Killie claimed their first victory since the Ladbrokes Premiership split.Steve Clarke's side had already secured fifth spot but treated the home fans in the 6,273 crowd at Rugby Park to another impressive performance which might have yielded more goals.Hearts arrived in Ayrshire amid a selection crisis after losing six players to injury and suspension following their midweek derby win over Hibernian. They were without 15 players in all, including Malaury Martin, who was on paternity leave.Craig Levein started with two 16-year-olds in Chris Hamilton and Cameron Logan, and two 17-year-olds in Harry Cochrane and Anthony McDonald. The latter two have been regulars in the first-team squad this season but the younger pair were both making their debuts. Lewis Moore, 19, also started while 17-year-old Euan Henderson came off the bench along with 16-year-olds Connor Smith and Leeroy Makovora.The hosts went for the kill immediately and Greg Kiltie and Aaron Tshibola both had efforts saved before Erwin capitalised on a loose pass, ran at the visiting defence and fired in off goalkeeper Jack Hamilton.Kris Boyd curled a free-kick just past the top corner but Hearts had their moments in the first half and Jamie MacDonald saved one-on-one from Kyle Lafferty after Don Cowie had sent the striker clean through on the counter-attack.Boyd had another effort saved and Killie midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu was just over with a thunderous strike.The hosts took time to put Hearts under pressure in the second half but the visitors somehow survived a bombardment in the final 20 minutes.Hamilton made a brilliant save to touch Boyd's left-footed volley over the bar, Stuart Findlay headed just over and the Hearts goalkeeper denied Eamonn Brophy and twice saved well from Erwin.
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        Hibernian 5-3 Kilmarnock

        Hibernian moved level on points with third-place Rangers with a 5-3 win over Kilmarnock in a thrilling Ladbrokes Premiership encounter at Easter Road.Returning Hibs midfielder Scott Allan fired in the opener in the 29th minute only for Killie skipper Kris Boyd to level with a header three minutes later.Midfielder Steven Whittaker restored the home side's lead in the 53rd minute, but that was cancelled out by Kilmarnock's Stuart Findlay on the hour mark.The Leith side stretched ahead with goals from by Jamie Maclaren and Florian Kamberi before Boyd flashed in a free-kick to reduce the deficit.But substitute Brandon Barker scored an injury-time fifth to continue Hibs' push for second spot. They sit three points behind Aberdeen with three games remaining.It was a game packed with incident.In the fifth minute there was a Killie penalty claim ignored by referee Don Robertson when Jordan Jones went to ground in the area as he tried to get past Hibs defender Darren McGregor.Hibs looked more creative, but the visitors missed a good chance in the 27th minute when full-back Stephen O'Donnell's cross from the right found Boyd at the back post, but his tame header dropped harmlessly into the arms of Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano.A minute or so later the visitors found themselves behind.The energetic and creative Allan, back in for the injured Dylan McGeouch, worked a one-two with Kamberi and then, on the angle, drilled the ball low past Kilmarnock keeper Leo Fasan and into the far corner from eight yards.However, in the 32nd minute Boyd made amends for his earlier miss when, from Jones' deep cross from the left, he headed in from six yards for a simple goal.Hibs stepped up the tempo and seconds before the interval Killie defender Kirk Broadfoot cleared a McGregor header off the line after Fasan had clawed away an Allan cross.The Ayrshire side were on top at the start of the second half, but they were undone when John McGinn's inch-perfect pass found midfielder Whittaker inside the box and he guided the ball past Fasan from six yards.Back came the Ayrshire side and Boyd headed weakly into Marciano's hands from a Lee Erwin cross before Findlay converted a Jones cross from close range to make it 2-2.Hibs responded positively and Maclaren knocked in a McGinn cross three minutes later and appeared to have been awarded a penalty in the 70th minute when Kamberi went down in the box under a challenge from Greg Taylor.But, after consulting his assistant, Robertson gave a drop ball which was uncontested.However, home jeers turned to cheers five minutes later as Allan split the Killie defence with a wonderful pass and Kamberi swept it past Fasan for number four.It looked all over for Killie, but Boyd's free-kick from outside the box in the 80th minute beat Marciano and went in off a post to set up an exciting finale.Kilmarnock had the ball in the net with two minutes remaining - Boyd was involved in the melee - but the offside flag was up and then Barker, on for Maclaren, scored a breakaway fifth to clinch the points.
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          Aberdeen up to second after overcoming Kilmarnock

          Aberdeen piled the pressure on to Rangers in the race for second in the Ladbrokes Premiership as they claimed a vital 2-0 win at Kilmarnock.With Hibernian claiming victory over Celtic at Easter Road, Derek McInnes needed a big response from his side at Rugby Park.And the Dons boss got it as goals from Kenny McLean and Shay Logan saw them move back in front of Graeme Murty's Gers, who return to action for the first time since last week's Old Firm humiliation when they host Hearts on Sunday.McInnes had questioned his side's strength of character after they crashed out of the William Hill Scottish Cup to Motherwell last weekend - but there was no sign of weakness as they became the first team in 12 attempts to beat Steve Clarke's team in league action.Aberdeen defender Anthony O'Connor was given a start despite his part in a social media storm after he was caught attacking the Dons support following that Hampden defeat.Skipper Graeme Shinnie, defender Logan and midfielder McLean were also back after missing that 3-0 defeat through suspension and their return made a noticeable difference as the visitors started with a hunger that was totally absent during the semi-final.They took just two minutes to threaten, with Scott McKenna's glancing header from Stevie May's free-kick drawing a stunning reflex from Leo Fasan.Killie were looking to arrest a run that had seen them fail to win any of their 19 previous encounters with the Pittodrie men but were thwarted when Joe Lewis made an equally impressive stop as he pushed Alan Power's effort away after 13 minutes.But Fasan - starting in place of injured number one Jamie MacDonald - let his team down as he failed to keep out McLean's opener eight minutes before half-time.There seemed little danger as McLean picked up the ball 35 yards out but the former Celtic stopper was slow getting down as the Dons midfielder drilled the ball low into the bottom corner at the near post.Kris Boyd came close to levelling for Kilmarnock early in the second period as he was left free to step on to Greg Kiltie's corner, but a combination of Shinnie and Dom Ball rescued Aberdeen with a goal-line clearance.But it was Aberdeen who pounced again after 59 minutes as Logan put the Reds 2-0 in front.May's free-kick was met by O'Connor and while Fasan did well to palm away his header, he was helpless as Logan smashed home the rebound.Fasan prevented things becoming even worse as he kept out Shinnie and Adam Rooney but defeat now leaves Kilmarnock seven points adrift of Hibs.
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            Kris Boyd the goal hero again as Kilmarnock win at Hamilton

            Kris Boyd's 21st goal of the season gave Kilmarnock's European hopes a boost in a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hamilton at the Superseal Stadium.After a goalless first half, Kirk Broadfoot headed the visitors in front before Hamilton substitute David Templeton levelled up.But veteran striker Boyd had the final say when he finished off a flowing move to stretch Kilmarnock's unbeaten run to 11 games and move them to four points behind fourth-placed Hibernian heading into the post-split games.Hamilton remain ninth, five points clear of bottom-placed Partick Thistle and facing another battle to avoid the drop.It was a bruising encounter in the early stages. The visitors had the first sight of goal but Boyd dragged a shot wide.Kilmarnock were forced into an early change when Alan Power replaced Rory McKenzie who had picked up a knock.Steve Clarke's men started to take control with Youssouf Mulumbu at the centre of things. Boyd appealed for referee Barry Cook to show Xavier Tomas a second yellow after the striker tripped over the Accies defender - who had slipped himself - en route to goal but the official rejected the suggestion.Accies nearly scored with their first effort of the game after 41 minutes when Darian MacKinnon thundered a shot off the bar from 20 yards.That galvanised the hosts as they searched for an opener and Rakish Bingham and Lewis Ferguson brought out good saves from Leo Fasan - who was making his league start in place of the injured Jamie MacDonald.Jordan Jones was fairly quiet in the first half but looked to have the spark that could ignite Kilmarnock in the second and he did just that. After a couple of efforts on goal he won a free-kick in a dangerous position.Gary Dicker swung in the ball and Broadfoot powered a header beyond Woods from six yards.Hamilton boss Martin Canning sensed the tide was turning and made a double substitution with Georgios Sarris being replaced by Antonio Rojano and Templeton replacing Ali Crawford.It proved to be a masterstroke as Templeton notched his eighth goal of the season from a free-kick after 73 minutes, when his effort went in via the post.Kilmarnock's response was swift as they restored their lead when Boyd finished off Aaron Simpson's cross after 79 minutes following good build-up play.
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            Kilmarnock

            SOCCER

              Findlay wins it for Kilmarnock

              Stuart Findlay's first-half header gave Kilmarnock a 1-0 win at struggling Partick Thistle to leave the hosts one point adrift at the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership.Killie's on-loan defender from Newcastle headed in a Jordan Jones cross in the 35th minute at the Energy Check stadium at Firhill, which proved enough to extend in-form Killie's unbeaten league run to 10 games.Thistle, who dropped to the bottom of the table on goal difference after a 4-0 defeat by Ross County on Tuesday night, are now without a win in nine league games and have not scored in the last five as they head into the split - as the Staggies drew 1-1 with Hibernian.Jags boss Alan Archibald made five changes as he sought solutions to deepening problems, with Callum Booth, Blair Spittal, Chris Erskine, Steven Lawless and Andrew McCarthy coming back into the starting line-up.Kilmarnock defender Kirk Broadfoot returned from suspension with midfielders Youssouf Mulumbu and Jones also returning.The home side began at a decent tempo but found the Ayrshire men equally hard-working with the early stages more perspiration than inspiration.Killie slowly began to impose themselves and in the 18th minute captain Kris Boyd looped a header from a Stephen O'Donnell cross over the bar from 14 yards.Moments later, a perfectly-weighted through ball from Mulumbu found Jones racing clear of the Thistle defence but he was foiled by Jags goalkeeper Ryan Scully at the edge of the box, with defender Christie Elliott clearing Boyd's follow-up shot for a corner which was defended.The Jags rearguard were less alert 10 minutes from the break when Jones' cross from the left, after taking a Gary Dicker free-kick, was met by Findlay who powered a header past Scully from six yards.Thistle started the second half with some purpose.Attacker Chris Erskine tested Jamie MacDonald with a powerful drive before the Killie keeper blocked a close-range effort from striker Conor Sammon.Broadfoot blocked an Erskine drive before O'Donnell had the ball in the net at the other end, well after the flag was up for an infringement.The final 20 minutes, played in drizzling rain, saw tired passes from both sides go astray.The home side tried everything in their power to fashion an equaliser but found a Kilmarnock foot or head blocking the way.After once again coming up short, the hosts will look at their post-split fixtures - published early next week - as they try to plot their course away from relegation.
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                Kilmarnock 2-0 Hamilton Academical

                Two first-half strikes from Lee Erwin and Stephen O'Donnell were enough for Kilmarnock as they kept up their remarkable home record with a comfortable 2-0 Ladbrokes Premiership victory over Hamiton.The win, Killie's eighth in the last nine league games at Rugby Park, keeps them in pole position to finish fifth while defeat for the visitors means they are still looking anxiously over their shoulder at the relegation scrap.It was not a sensational performance from Steve Clarke's side - but the near 5,000-strong home support still left well satisfied with what they had watched.The game was a turgid affair for long spells with the in-form hosts only showing their full capabilities in glimpses. Boss Steve Clarke had rung the changes with top-six football already guaranteed post-split and some tougher looking matches on the horizon. Consistent performers Youssouf Mulumbu and Jordan Jones were rested and the Ayrshire side did perhaps miss their energy and drive at times.Only five minutes had elapsed by the time Erwin had the hosts in front. O'Donnell floated in a cross to the back post and the former Motherwell man used all of his strength and finesse to first touch the ball past the defender and then smash it into the net.Rory McKenzie then sent a swerving volley just over the bar minutes later. The emphatic right-footed strike would have been a contender for goal of the season had it found a way past goalkeeper Gary Woods.Former Accies favourite Eamonn Brophy then fizzed a shot over as the onslaught continued and then right on the stroke of half-time, Killie doubled their advantage.The industrious O'Donnell will probably score better goals in his career, but he's unlikely to score many more bizarre ones. His prodded effort from 30 yards out would barely have registered as a shot on most occasions. But the ball bobbled and trickled, and aided by a deflection, found its way past the despairing Woods in the 49th minute of the first half.The Lanarkshire outfit did create a string of chances late on but Killie could have been out of sight by that stage with Alan Power going close from long range and Kris Boyd denied a goal by a stunning save from Woods. The Accies keeper clawed away the top scorer's hooked effort from close range - but that was a rare highlight for the visitors as they fell to a sixth defeat in nine games.
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                2022-23 SPFL Standings

                TeamGPWDLGDP
                Celtic383233+8099
                Rangers382954+5692
                Aberdeen3818317-457
                Heart of Midlothian3815914+654
                Hibernian3815716-252
                St Mirren38121016-1846
                Motherwell3814816+250
                Livingston3813718-2446
                St Johnstone3812719-1843
                Kilmarnock3811720-2540
                Ross County389722-2334
                Dundee United388723-3031

                2022-23 Team Leaders

                Scottish Premiership

                11

                Danny ArmstrongM #11

                9
                Matches37
                Assists5
                19

                Joe WrightD #19

                5
                Matches34
                Assists0
                5

                Ash TaylorD #5

                4
                Matches32
                Assists1

                Rankings

                Scottish Premiership

                Goal Difference
                -25
                11th
                Goals Scored
                37
                Tied-10th
                Assists
                15
                Tied-11th
                Goals Conceded
                62
                11th
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