Kilmarnock 3-1 Ross County: Three things we learned
The players warming up before kick off (Image: Laurie Finlayson)
In their final game of the season, Kilmarnock secured their Premiership status with a 3-1 victory over Ross County, condemning the Staggies to a playoff. Let’s look at what stood out at a sunny Rugby Park:
Confident Killie steer themselves clear of the drop
Kilmarnock knew that a point would confirm their place in next season’s Scottish Premiership, whereas the Highlanders had to win to avoid facing Partick Thistle in the playoffs. The hosts came into this one in confident mode following a 3-0 win away to Dundee United in midweek, and as a result, Derek McInnes named an unchanged side.
For the most part, the first half was a nervy affair, which is understandable when you consider what was at stake. Killie broke the deadlock after 36 minutes through Brad Lyons who connected with an Armstrong corner kick, poking the ball beyond Ross Laidlaw to score his first Killie goal.
The Rugby Park side took the positive momentum they had gathered at the end of the first half into the second, with Daniel Armstrong scoring a penalty just four minutes after the restart.
Ross County were awarded a spot-kick after 63 minutes when Ash Taylor clumsily pulled Keith Watson’s shirt. Yan Dhanda emphatically thrashed it into the top corner, leaving Sam Walker helpless. After halving their deficit, Malky Mackay’s side had a strong spell in the game, but they couldn’t capitalise.
Killie ended the Staggies’ faint hopes of avoiding an 11th-place finish in the 78th minute after Kyle Vassell showed great determination to score his side’s third goal. The Northern Irish striker’s first two shots were blocked, but the ball broke back towards him and he rose to score a looping header past Laidlaw.
Ross County’s lack of urgency leaves them facing a playoff
The hosts were by far the better side as County appeared to struggle to get to grips with the occasion. They looked vulnerable defensively and toothless in attack, although that might not have been helped by the fact that Jordan White was substituted at half-time after sustaining a head injury.
For a brief spell after Dhanda’s goal, it looked like the Dingwall team could have snatched a draw, but even that wouldn’t have been enough to avoid the playoffs.
Ross County will face Partick Thistle in a bid to preserve their Premiership status. The Jags will come into next week’s two-legged tie high in confidence after beating Ayr United 8-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals. The Staggies won’t be able to stay up without a fight.
Despite surviving, it’s a huge summer ahead for Killie
Last season, Kilmarnock got promoted from the Championship at the first time of asking. The aim for this season would naturally have been to stay in the league, and with this result, Derek McInnes’ side have achieved that, albeit almost solely based on their home form. The Ayrshire club only won twice on their travels in the Premiership all season.
Kilmarnock have only seven players under contract for next season including talismanic figures Armstrong and Vassell, as well as young midfielder David Watson. They have been heavily reliant on the loan market, so there is likely to be a high turnover of players at Rugby Park this summer. Perhaps a rebuild is necessary if they want to avoid being in another relegation battle next season.