Search the Community

Rugby Park Loss Inverness made the long journey home with no points after Kyle Lafferty scored an early goal after good work by Daniel Mackay down the right wing. What a kick in the teeth that was. Very little to choose between the sides as neither side dominated and clear chances were at a premium with Killie probably having the better of them. Without five regulars, this was always going to be a difficult ask, and so it turned out, but our recent signings look like they could offer something once they are up to speed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Billy Dodds shoestring squad were bolstered by January sales incomers Logan Chalmers, Sam Pearson, Joe Hardy and Austin Samuels. However, we were without regulars Scott Allardice, Danny Devine, Aaron Doran, Roddy MacGregor and Billy Mckay through injury and that leaves us with the bare minimum on the bench. Chalmers and Pearson started and Wallace Duffy was at right back. Killie have the luxury of a large squad and experienced January signings. They will be looking to the selected players to guide them back to the Premiership at the earliest opportunity given the resources they have spent trying to achieve this. None moreso than new gaffer Derek McInnes, Kyle Lafferty and Ash Taylor, with former Caley Jags players Liam Polworth, and Daniel Mackay also in the squad, with nine players on their bench, almost enough for two strong teams. After a tentative beginning, Kilmarnock opened the scoring when Shane Sutherland failed to deal with a ball cleared towards the halfway line by Tom Walsh. Instead of creating an attack, he ended up passing the ball back towards Cammy Harper. Unfortunately Daniel Mackay read it and skinned Harper with a burst of pace before firing a dangerous cross low into the area, where high profile signing Kyle Lafferty met the ball at the far side of the box to power a controlled shot into the net from six yards. We responded well to this setback and Walsh shot from a tight angle, but the ball was tipped round the post for a corner by keeper Hemming as it flashed across the goal. Mackay went close for Killie as he was set free on the right side of the box, but his low shot rolled across the face of the goal and just wide. Despite the Caley Jags enjoying plenty of possession, it was the same old story of little to no clear chances in the opposition box and we went in one down at the interval. HALF TIME : 1-0 Five minutes into the second half and Killie had the ball in the net, but it was ruled out for a hand ball as Euan Murray tried to force the ball in from close range. Oli Shaw should have added a second after the ball landed at his feet in the box from a rebound, but he fluffed his shot and it rolled harmlessly wide.... thankfully. Ridgers pulled off a good save from the industrious McKenzie as he shot from the edge of the box to keep us within touching distance. Austin Samuels had been introduced in the second half and looks to have something different, a bit of pace and the newbies looked a bit more direct than what we have been subject to in recent weeks. Samuels did have a half chance charged down as he cut along the line towards goal, the final ball being blocked and cleared when a cut back might have produced something, alas, still an all too familiar scenario. Plenty of the ball around the box, but little real opportunity to score. FULL TIME: 1-0 Despite our possession, we were still unable to create any clear chances and a draw would have been the most we could have come away with. However, you pay the right money for the right player and you reap the rewards, and that's what Killie got with Kyle Lafferty and his smart finish from a tremendous cross from Dan Mackay. That's six games without a win, and that's relegation form in any language. Just as well we caught the rest cold at the start of the season. Maybe the January sales will have unearthed a wee gem, here's hoping... From BBC Sport Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "The goal was terrific. Dan MacKay was very capable today and Kyle Lafferty still had a lot to do - the technique to put the ball in the back of the net was really pleasing. The fans were different class and really played their part." Inverness CT manager Billy Dodds: "First half I thought two or three of my players didn't believe we were going to win the game. That let us down and we lost the goal. In the second half we really dug in, but I still think they have to push their bodies that bit more." Highlights from Killie TV Another cut'n paste from Billy... Austin Samuels Date: 29/01/2022 Venue: Rugby Park, Kilmarnock Attendance: 4790 Referee: Don Robertson Kilmarnock: 1 Manager: Derek McInnes Lineup: Hemming; Hodson, Sanders (E Murray 45), Taylor, Haunstrup, McKenzie, Tait (McGinn 88), F Murray, Mackay (Alston 74), Shaw, Lafferty (Burke 68) Subs (not used): Walker; Waters, Armstrong, Polworth, Cameron Scorers: Lafferty (9) Booked: Haunstrup (61) Sent Off: none Inverness CT: 0 Manager: Billy Dodds Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy (Carson 82), Broadfoot, Deas, Harper (L Nicolson 82), Walsh (Hardy 46), Welsh, McAlear, Pearson (Samuels 63), Sutherland (Duku 86), Chalmers Subs (not used): C Mackay; Hyde Scorers: none Booked: Deas (2), Broadfoot (25) Sent Off: none a