Season Diary - Week 9

It was double trouble last week for us as we failed to progress in the cup and lost yet another home league match. We seem to be a first half team this year with decent displays in the first 45 minutes of both games, only to be undone in the latter half of the game.

We have been chopping and changing things at the back on a regular basis and it seems to be taking effect as we can’t seem to defend as a unit and leave far too much space for the opposition to penetrate which inevitably leads to losing goals.

Going forward we seem to have gotten our act together with Josh finally looking a bit more potent and Kiltie at the heart of anything productive…but we are still scoring less than we are conceding and that only leads to more heartache for the fans. Congratulations to the Hamilton squad on winning their collective black belt for moaning and time wasting, some things never change.

Déjà vu - Again

It used to be a well versed phrase that we were a "second half team" and would come good in the latter forty five minutes of a game - well it would appear that we are now a first half team and that we are worse than a two year old with a Rottweiler at holding on to a lead! There were some positives (Kiltie and O'Hara for instance) to be taken from the game with Hamilton despite the 1-2 reversal, but sadly you only get points for results so it has to be chalked up to another bad day at the office. You can read David Shaw's Match Report and see Sandy Ferguson's match photos on the website now.

Half Time v Hamilton

It is probably fair to say that we have had the best of the first half...although had it not been for an outstanding save by the returning McDonald it might have been a different story. World class save from where I sit anyway, only the highlights will confirm that.

Kiltie had a great chance early doors getting one on one with their 'keeper coming in from the right hand corner of the box, but the wee man skelped the ball off his legs. We did have another good attempt at the half hour mark with Tope playing a ball in from a similar area, but the ball deflected wide.

The breakthrough followed minutes later and it was young Kiltie again, coming in from the left this time. If we don't get him under contract soon we will end up having to pay far more than we are refusing to stump up now...or lose him. The opportunity arose when the wingers switched side, a tactical boost by Locke?

Killie are playing some great stuff, especially Kiltie and O'Hara...Hamilton appear to be concentrating on moaning at the ref. Some things never change. Here's hoping we don't have the same kind of second half as Wednesday.

Broken by Hearts

It all ended in metaphorical tears last night as Killie failed to maintain the superiority they showed in the first half of the match and fell foul of two goals in the dying minutes which saw us exit the League Cup in the third round, losing 2-3 to the Jambos. It is never easy to lose a match in such circumstances, even more so to get knocked out of a cup in a tie which we looked so capable of winning, being in front twice no less; but the rough-house tactics of Hearts proved to be our undoing and we will just have to console ourselves with the fact that we are now considered to be playing at a level which makes this result more of a disappointment than a foregone conclusion...scant consolation though that may be. Hopefully revenge shall be ours a week on Saturday when we visit their house. You can read Alan Walker's match report and see Sandy Ferguson's images HERE

Half Time v Hearts

Killie are really looking up for the fight here as Saturday's run of form continues. Once again it was youngster Kiltie was turned on a dime and delivered an inch perfect cross to big Josh's head to put us into a well deserved lead.

Balatoni and Ridgers are both doing well with O'Hara strolling it. Hammill also looks like a different player from the start of the season. Findlay took a sore one and was replaced by Smith at left back, no reports on the extent of it yet.

If we continue in this vein then things look bright but we really need another goal as Hearts are in kicking mode and the referee appears a bit clueless.

Crisis Loan Keeper

Gary Locke has swooped in to sign St Mirren #1 Mark Ridgers until January as he faced taking on Hearts in the League Cup third round tomorrow night with no one available to play between the sticks. The former Scotland U21 international becomes the sixth 'keeper on our books this season and will go straight into the team with first pick Jamie McDonald injured, back-up Conor Brennan cup tied after playing in the previous round with Stranraer, loanee Oliver Davies still crocked and Devlin McKay down at Leeds.

Locke said: "It has been a very difficult 48 hours for us. I am grateful to Ian Murray and everyone at St Mirren for their professionalism and for allowing us to bring a player of Mark’s quality in under these circumstances”. Ridgers added: “It was a bit of a whirlwind. I am really pleased to have joined Killie and to get the opportunity to play in the Ladbrokes Premiership again. Tomorrow night is a good opportunity for me to show what I can do.”

Season Diary - Week 8

Killie are back! Is that too soon? Probably, but it is still great to have won two on the bounce regardless of how frail our defence still looks. At times you could drive a bus through there and that is exactly how St Johnstone opened the scoring last Saturday.

Still, I feel a bit of a grouch complaining when we bag all three points…I’ll be happy to moan all year if we keep getting results. Tactically nothing much changed as we started with the same eleven who won at Tannadice, quite rightly, the players seem to have got a boost of confidence with that win though and it was pure determination that won through over the Saints.

 

One player who encapsulates that grit is Rory McKenzie who has played all season like every game was his last, the referee gave him that audacious winner from the byline and as far as I’m concerned he deserved it. Is a win on Wednesday too much to ask for with our star goalie out injured? You’ll have to go along to find out.