There was plenty of pre-Christmas drama last night as Kilmarnock fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Motherwell at Fir Park.
Kevin van Veen opened the scoring for the Steelmen who doubled their advantage through Callum Slattery after Killie skipper Alan Power was sent-off.
But an own goal from Paul McGinn and a glorious long-range effort from supersub Liam Polworth rescued an unlikely Premiership point for the East Ayrshire side.
Killie jumped out of the Premiership relegation zone for Christmas and there was much for manager Derek McInnes to chew over ahead of his Christmas dinner when he faced the media.
Thoughts on a quite dramatic evening...
“It was one team with a poor home record and one team with a poor away record. It was almost [a case of] sussing each other out.
“We felt we would get the benefit of the front two being in the opposition half but it never really worked the way we wanted. We huffed and puffed a wee bit.
“We lost more of the midfield battle and it allowed them to play forward passes. The [first] goal was ridiculous to lose from our point of view. We’ve knocked off from a throw-in and a simple ball into the box and they’ve scored.
“I think we should have done better for the second goal and I’m angry at that type of goal we lose. I can never fault my team for effort and their spirit and togetherness but we need to wise up in these types of games and stop giving ourselves a mountain to climb.
“That game was so much more difficult for us than it should have been. We have to look at that. That feels like a very important point for us but we’re not gushing about it as this was a game I thought we could have won.”
The impact of half-time substitutes Rory McKenzie and Liam Polworth...
“At half-time, we made a couple of changes and the subs were brilliant. That’s all down to the players and nothing else.
“[Rory] McKenzie gave us energy, gave us life running beyond. He picked up second balls. [Liam] Polworth put his foot on the ball, gave us composure.”
That goal from Polworth...
“The second goal is nothing but sheer quality which Liam has. He turns that shot down too often, even in training. He is a technician, he likes to play that final pass. He would rather give someone else the chance to shoot.
“He even looked to play the pass but there was no one to his side because we were down to 10 men! It forced him to shoot and I’m glad he did. It was as good a strike you will see from that distance.
“Liam knows he has that quality and that will do him no harm in training or the next game we play. He will take confidence from that.”
Spirit and character of the players to come back while down to 10 men...
“From then on [making it 2-2] it was all about guts and bags of spirit. I thought we deserved a point but I’m just disappointed we put ourselves in that position.
“We’re down to 10 men and we have it all to do but you always remember how a game ends not how it starts. We’ve scored a fortunate [first] goal but credit to the players, they haven’t felt sorry for themselves going down to 10 men.
“The players believed. Motherwell might say it’s not always easy playing against 10 men but it’s a lot harder the other way. There would have been long odds on us getting something out of that.”
The 1,046-strong travelling support who backed the team...
“I’ve got to thank the supporters who stayed with us. At 2-0 down, they could have felt like it was another nothing away trip. They came in big numbers and stood by the team.
“They were just looking for something; looking for a bit of hope and encouragement. They drove us over the line.”
Schedule for the next few days...
“We’re in Christmas Eve and we’ve got an earlier start although the players in for recovery will be in a bit later than the boys who are training.
“It lets staff get out to games. We’ve got St Mirren v Aberdeen and Dumbarton in the Scottish Cup in a couple of weeks. We have the chance to pick them up.
“Players have Christmas Day off, just with the way the fixtures landed, and we will be in Boxing Day, the 27th and then the game against Aberdeen on the 28th.”
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