Killie tame the Terrors

When they saw off the Taysiders here back in October it represented the high water mark of the season as it was their third straight home league victory, After that just three wins were registered from their next 15 games to send them spiralling down to eighth.

But they rekindled that early season spirit with a swashbuckling display to give interim manager Gary Locke his first victory.

However the new man at the helm dedicated the win, sealed by an injury-time winner from Sammy Clingan, to former manager Allan Johnston who stepped down just over a week earlier.

Locke said: “I am delighted with the win, it was a great spectacle with a goal that would win any game. To come back from a goal behind shows the character we have. Allan (Johnston) did a good job here as well. It’s been a hard couple of weeks, and that result was for him. In the second half we sorted some things out and I am really over the moon with the performance.” Wideman Chris Johnston, who scored the second goal said afterwards: “It was good to come behind twice against a team like Dundee United. The fans got behind us and that gave us a massive boost. The new boss tells me to take risks and if I take someone on and lose the ball, so what, instead of playing safe. It was a good pass from Tope Obadeyi for the goal, he had a really good game. Hopefully we can string a few results together and push up the league. We want the manager to get the job and he will with results like that.” Added Clingan: “When I saw the free-kick I really fancied it. That was probably the most important goal I have scored here, considering we were 2-1 down. We have some great free-kick takers here like Chris Chantler and Alexei Eremenko so it was good for me I scored that one. That’s the best I have seen us play in the second half.” Back to the action and Killie got off to the worst possible start by conceding a penalty inside two minutes. Eremenko upended John Rankin inside the box and Nadir Ciftci stepped up to beat Craig Samson from the spot. Six minutes later home defender Mark Connolly made a goal-line clearance to keep out a Rankin shot from the edge of the box.

However Killie were level two minutes later as a brilliantly struck free-kick from Eremenko was swept home at the far post by the commanding Josh Magennis.

United regained the initiative in 13 minutes as Henri Anier thundered the ball home from 12 yards. The hosts then twice came close as Obadeyi sent a 16-yard effort narrowly wide in 15 minutes and Eremenko had a shot from 20 yards deflected wide by the home defence five minutes later.

United were unlucky in 38 minutes Paul Dixon had his shot from 25 yards well saved by Samson.

Killie looked up for it after the break and five minutes in an Eremenko free-kick from 30 yards was well saved by Radoslaw Cierzniak. Just two minutes later it was all-square as man-of-the-match Obadeyi battled to win a challenge and slipped a through ball to Johnson whose shot from eight yards trickled over the line and into the net.

Obadeyi shot inches wide from 16 yards in 58 minutes and 20 minutes later Magennis had his shot from 16 yards deflected wide.

Eight minutes from time an Eremenko free-kick from 25 yards was well saved.

However with literally the last kick of the ball Killie seized victory. Paul Cairney was tripped 22 yards from goal and the unflappable Clingan smashed the resultant free-kick into the top corner.

STARMAN: Tope Obadeyi 3 Alexei Eremenko 2 Mark Connolly 1.

IMPRESSIVE Kilmarnock went back to the future as they twice came from behind to topple the Terrors at Rugby Park.

When they saw off the Taysiders here back in October it represented the high water mark of the season as it was their third straight home league victory, After that just three wins were registered from their next 15 games to send them spiralling down to eighth.

But they rekindled that early season spirit with a swashbuckling display to give interim manager Gary Locke his first victory.

However the new man at the helm dedicated the win, sealed by an injury-time winner from Sammy Clingan, to former manager Allan Johnston who stepped down just over a week earlier.

Locke said: “I am delighted with the win, it was a great spectacle with a goal that would win any game. To come back from a goal behind shows the character we have. Allan (Johnston) did a good job here as well. It’s been a hard couple of weeks, and that result was for him. In the second half we sorted some things out and I am really over the moon with the performance.” Wideman Chris Johnston, who scored the second goal said afterwards: “It was good to come behind twice against a team like Dundee United. The fans got behind us and that gave us a massive boost. The new boss tells me to take risks and if I take someone on and lose the ball, so what, instead of playing safe. It was a good pass from Tope Obadeyi for the goal, he had a really good game. Hopefully we can string a few results together and push up the league. We want the manager to get the job and he will with results like that.” Added Clingan: “When I saw the free-kick I really fancied it. That was probably the most important goal I have scored here, considering we were 2-1 down. We have some great free-kick takers here like Chris Chantler and Alexei Eremenko so it was good for me I scored that one. That’s the best I have seen us play in the second half.” Back to the action and Killie got off to the worst possible start by conceding a penalty inside two minutes. Eremenko upended John Rankin inside the box and Nadir Ciftci stepped up to beat Craig Samson from the spot. Six minutes later home defender Mark Connolly made a goal-line clearance to keep out a Rankin shot from the edge of the box.

However Killie were level two minutes later as a brilliantly struck free-kick from Eremenko was swept home at the far post by the commanding Josh Magennis.

United regained the initiative in 13 minutes as Henri Anier thundered the ball home from 12 yards. The hosts then twice came close as Obadeyi sent a 16-yard effort narrowly wide in 15 minutes and Eremenko had a shot from 20 yards deflected wide by the home defence five minutes later.

United were unlucky in 38 minutes Paul Dixon had his shot from 25 yards well saved by Samson.

Killie looked up for it after the break and five minutes in an Eremenko free-kick from 30 yards was well saved by Radoslaw Cierzniak. Just two minutes later it was all-square as man-of-the-match Obadeyi battled to win a challenge and slipped a through ball to Johnson whose shot from eight yards trickled over the line and into the net.

Obadeyi shot inches wide from 16 yards in 58 minutes and 20 minutes later Magennis had his shot from 16 yards deflected wide.

Eight minutes from time an Eremenko free-kick from 25 yards was well saved.

However with literally the last kick of the ball Killie seized victory. Paul Cairney was tripped 22 yards from goal and the unflappable Clingan smashed the resultant free-kick into the top corner.

STARMAN: Tope Obadeyi 3 Alexei Eremenko 2 Mark Connolly 1.