Kilmarnock 5-2 St Mirren: Killie romp to victory after trailing St Mirren

Derek McInnes wanted to “get up” some Kilmarnock gamers at half-time earlier than his facet scored 5 in an unbelievable comeback victory over Scottish Premiership top-six rivals St Mirren.

Kyle Vassell started the fightback on the hour and the hosts had been quickly in entrance due to a Danny Armstrong penalty and Marley Watkins header.

A superb particular person objective from David Watson and Vassell’s second sealed the beautiful revival as Kilmarnock leapfrogged the guests into fourth place.

“Any time you lose two poor objectives from set-plays, it may well knock the stuffing out of you, and it affected us first half,” supervisor McInnes advised BBC Scotland.

“We spoke at half-time about what we anticipated of ourselves, and to a person everybody was excellent.

“It was a prime efficiency from a bunch of lads who do not know they’re beat. We’re so motivated to do nicely and that was an enormous step in the direction of the highest six.

“Typically you want half-time to present them a mild reminder of what is required. Some gamers wanted woken up, reminded why they had been within the workforce, reminded of their obligations.”

The primary half was about as dangerous as McInnes may have hoped for – the brand new form did not work, his facet couldn’t get the ball to creator-in-chief Armstrong, and so they conceded two unbelievably comfortable objectives, each from corners.

Not that Stephen Robinson would say that. These objectives can be well-worked set-pieces in his eyes.

The primary might need been a penalty anyway, had Dunne not booted the leather-based off the ball as he hammered in from shut vary for his first objective since 2017. Conor McMenamin, who laid the ball off to Dunne, had been dragged to the ground within the course of.

The second was a pleasant, and authorized, little bit of blocking that allowed Mandron to peel off Joe Wright and volley house.

One change to the form was all it took for Kilmarnock to spark the fightback. Watson moved from midfield to right-back, and instantly it clicked.

Kilmarnock’s first objective got here from a easy lengthy ball. Initially cleared, Liam Donnelly headed it again right into a harmful space and Vassell prodded previous goalkeeper Zach Hemming on the second time of asking.

The temper noticeably shifted and the hosts took full benefit. Watkins beat Ryan Flynn to a ball in behind and referee Ross Hardie pointed to the spot. Armstrong’s exact penalty nestled into the nook and the rating was degree solely three minutes after Kilmarnock’s first.

Three minutes later, they led. Armstrong clipped in a comfortable nook and Watkins muscled his header into the highest nook from the penalty spot.

The comeback sparked delirium within the stands however Kilmarnock weren’t finished. Watkins’ lengthy ball excessive discovered Vassell and he took a contact earlier than rifling into the underside nook.

Watson fancied a little bit of the motion, too. Selecting up the ball 30 yards from objective, he skipped by three St Mirren defenders earlier than tickling the ball previous the stranded Hemming to wrap up the scoring.

Participant of the match – Marley Watkins (Kilmarnock)

Killie crack conundrum to scythe St Mirren aside – evaluation

To name this a recreation of two halves does not do it justice.

Even probably the most optimistic Kilmarnock fan might need solely hoped for a draw once they had been two objectives down due to uncharacteristically comfortable first-half defending.

Nonetheless, the great feeling that McInnes has constructed up meant only one objective put the wind absolutely again within the Kilmarnock sails and as quickly as that they had made that breakthrough, they had been irresistibly unstoppable.

The frustration is likely to be – why did McInnes really feel the necessity to change the techniques earlier than kick-off and transfer to a few on the again, in an try to match St Mirren up?

As for the guests, the unstoppable Killie wave led to a collapse hardly ever seen by Stephen Robinson’s workforce. They did brilliantly to get two forward with out taking part in all that nicely, however lacked management to cease the rot when it began to creep in.

What they stated

Kilmarnock supervisor Derek McInnes: “When the questions had been getting requested of my gamers at present, they met that duty brilliantly. It was a correct grown-up efficiency.”

St Mirren supervisor Stephen Robinson: “Onerous to elucidate. We had an ideal first half and the whole lot good we did first half, we did not do within the second.

“We did not take care of it in any form or type. We confirmed quite a lot of inexperience. Loads went in opposition to us, we now have to carry our arms up and say we received bullied. We’d have been fortunate to get out with 5.”

What’s subsequent?

Kilmarnock journey to the capital after the worldwide break to face Hearts on Saturday, 30 March, whereas St Mirren go to Motherwell on the identical day (each 15:00 GMT).