Kilmarnock claimed a place in tonight’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final draw with a spirited performance at Rugby Park and, although the winning margin was narrow, there was no doubt that they deserved to go through.
Manager Derek McInnes looked drained afterwards but was thrilled that his newly-promoted team have managed to make it to the national stadium for the first time in over a decade.
“I’m delighted: it wasn’t easy and we didn’t expect it to be,” he said. “It was always going to be tight but we got off to a great start by applying pressure and getting the first goal.
“By going with two strikers up front, our best moments caused a bit of panic for them. Kyle tucked away the penalty but I’m so annoyed that we immediately gifted United an equaliser, which was ridiculous from us.
“We thought we could cause them problems with two traditional No.9s playing and I wasn’t expecting 5’ 4” Danny Armstrong to score with his header but I shouldn’t be surprised. He’s scored six goals in ten starts for us this season and had a few assists as well.”
Two goals inside the opening ten minutes lit the blue touchpaper for this engrossing tie. The opener came from Kyle Lafferty, the former Rangers striker who could be banned until mid-January by the SFA at Hampden tomorrow after being charged for making a sectarian insult to a Celtic fan which was subsequently posted on social media.
If that was preying on the Northern Ireland frontman’s mind he did a good job of disguising it here. He was in the right place at the right time when Ryan Edwards headed a Rory McKenzie cross straight to him and his venomous drive was deflected to safety by Liam Smith’s elbow, which was not pinned against his body.
From this weekend VAR will help (?) to adjudge these matters but referee Kevin Clancy appeared to call it right when he pointed to the spot without overdue deliberation, showing a yellow card to Smith before he even began to plead his innocence.
Lafferty was composure itself as he waited for the paperwork to be completed before sending Carljohan Eriksson to his right and the ball to his left. Just as they did when going 2-0 up against Hearts recently, though, Killie conceded almost immediately.
Smith was allowed to atone for his earlier offence by rampaging down the right and crossing for Glenn Middleton, who was given the time and space to fire low behind Zach Hemming from eight yards. Game on.
That goal should have galvanised the visitors: instead, it had the opposite effect. They retreated into their shell – or perhaps were forced on to the back foot by Kilmarnock’s pressing – and were not seen as an attacking force for the remainder of the opening 45 minutes.
Lewis Mayo hit the post from six yards and Ryan Edwards was then a foot away from conceding another penalty when he hauled Christian Doidge to the turf just outside the area and received a caution for his trouble.
Danny Armstrong also came close for the hosts three minutes after the restart when he cut inside to caress a left-foot shot just beyond the far post. United responded with a series of unimpressive set plays which failed to put Hemming or his defenders under pressure.
Even so, when a Dylan Levitt cross was allowed to reach the six-yard box, Tony Watt was caught flat-footed and the ball bounced harmlessly off his shin to be gathered gratefully by the goalkeeper.
They would not have a better chance to progress. Kilmarnock showed them how it should be done when Armstrong eluded his marker, Scott McMann, to bullet home a header from Jordan Jones’ cross.
“Fair play to Kilmarnock for getting a second goal to win the game but it’s disappointing for us,” admitted United manager Liam Fox. “This is a missed opportunity for us but the games are coming thick and fast, so we can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves.”
