Recent wins over Hamilton and St Mirren are the only highlights in a dozen games for Killie. Despite an excellent start to the campaign they have dropped out of the top half of the table but still have a ten point advantage over Motherwell.
The dwindling number of regulars at Rugby Park last weekend gave Allan Johnston pelters as his team was beaten by the ten men from Inverness. The substitution of Eremenko twenty minutes from time with the score level was to draw an apology from the manager in his post match interview.
Magennis we keen to deflect the blame from his boss arguing that it was the players’ responsibility once the white line had been crossed. He finished saying, “But the only way we can repay the gaffer, ourselves and the fans is to kick on and win against Motherwell. That’s the aim.”
A quick look at the fixture list underlines the importance of this game for Motherwell. With visits to Parkhead and Tannadice to follow next week, the need for a positive result is clear.
Since the miserable performance at Dundee last Saturday, ‘Well fans have had a series of admissions from the manager and senior players that this season’s form has been a disappointment, whether they can do anything about it remains to be seen. The leaky defence has conceded eleven in the three games since the start of the year with only one in reply.
Ojamaa’s needless red card will force a change to our plan of attack. Our reliance on the ever-present Sutton will continue and the strategy will demand that he is served with scoring chances. Without his four goals in our last six outings our sorry state would be much worse.
Baraclough’s selection will still be restricted as a number of players are still recovering from injuries. Hammell and possibly Ramsden may feature but the sick list includes Moore, Francis-Angol, Lawson, Leitch and McHugh.
With both teams faltering it might be that the side in greatest need will produce the extra effort needed to snatch the points. No one expects a classic to be produced in what are likely to be difficult winter conditions but if our defenders can get their act together we may escape with a 1-0 win.
Remember the last Kilmarnock visit to Fir Park?