GREG SPARKS KILLIE TO LIFE
Kiltie strikes in win that could save gaffer’s job
GREG KILTIE and Danny Whitehall repaid boss Alex Dyer’s faith – and may have saved his job.
The Kilmarnock forwards were brought into the starting line-up in a bid to find a scoring spark sadly lacking in a sorry run of eight defeats in nine league games.
And they struck either side of the interval against a 10-man Motherwell side that rued missing a string of chances when in first-half ascendancy.
This had the look of a game that would determine who would be casting a nervous eye over their shoulders in the table and who might glance up to sense a top half opportunity in 2021.
It was Killie who conjured a victory to move to within four points of sixth spot.
Players taking a knee pre- match carried extra significance following the revelation that Dyer had received a letter containing racist abuse.
That matter is now in the hands of the police. The task of his players was to spare their manager from having to address his own future again, as he did following the late loss to Livingston.
It was time for bold decisions. Whitehall started his first league game ahead of Nicke Kabamba and Eamonn Brophy, with Mitch Pinnock also promoted from the bench.
Whitehall’s only starts since signing a six-month contract in July had been two in the Betfred Cup, scoring twice against Clyde.
Stephen Robinson’s only switch from his side’s draw at Dundee United was bringing in Devante Cole to partner
Tony Watt. And from the moment Watt skipped past Calum Waters before forcing Danny Rogers into an early save, it was obvious the home side fancied preying on any nerves in a Killie side toiling for confidence.
Cole went close with a header and an ambitious overhead kick. Allan Campbell dragged a shot across goal that scraped the outside of Rogers’ right-hand post then brought the keeper off his line to block a header.
Ricki Lamie should have fared better with a free header from Liam Polworth’s free- kick before, on 41 minutes, Kiltie scored Killie’s first goal from open play in six matches. Pinnock laid off for Kiltie who was lurking just outside the penalty area.
Well didn’t close him down quickly enough, allowing the forward to gather, turn and fire a neat reverse finish low past Trevor Carson.
Carson gave the home side a scare in the opening minute of the second half, going down unchallenged in a heap collecting a cross.
And he only lasted until the 64th minute when Aaron Chapman was one of three Robinson changes made in an ultimately unsuccessful bid to save the game.
But by then Well were staring at a two-goal deficit. Mark O’Hara was dismissed for denying Whitehall an obvious scoring opportunity, dragging down the striker as he latched on to Kiltie’s pass.
With Chris Burke and Kabamba on the bench, penalties were up for grabs so Whitehall made a beeline to grab the ball and blast an emphatic spot-kick home.
Killie were in rampant form for a spell thereafter and should have scored more. Aaron Tshibola was wasteful right in front of Carson and Kirk Broadfoot grazed the bar with a header.
But any margin of win would have done for Killie. And that’s the demand for Well who now face Hamilton on the back of eight league games without success.