Kilmarnock 3-1 Ross County: Hosts condemn Malky Mackay's men to relegation play-off

1 year ago 34

Brad Lyon's flicked successful his archetypal Kilmarnock extremity for the first-half opener

Kilmarnock ensured their Scottish Premiership endurance with a rousing triumph implicit Ross County whose destiny volition present beryllium decided successful the relegation play-off.

Derek McInnes' broadside needed conscionable a constituent but collected each 3 to decorativeness successful 10th spot and warrant they debar an contiguous instrumentality to the Championship.

Brad Lyons and a Daniel Armstrong punishment either broadside of half-time cemented the hosts' superiority and Kyle Vassell made definite of triumph aft Yan Dhanda's spot-kick had reduced the arrears.

County, who decorativeness 3 points supra bottommost nine Dundee United, ne'er looked similar salvaging the triumph they required and volition present look Championship broadside Partick Thistle successful the two-legged Premiership play-off final.

Despite lone needing a draw, Killie manager Derek McInnes had pledged to spell afloat throttle for the triumph and his broadside delivered with gusto astatine sun-drenched Rugby Park.

The hosts played with intent and precious fewer nerves arsenic they took bid and forced County into retreat.

Christian Doidge's header brought a fingertip prevention from Ross Laidlaw earlier Lyons opened his relationship for the nine successful timely and awesome fashion, leaving his marker David Cancola dozing astatine a country to dart to the beforehand station and clip a terrific decorativeness past Laidlaw.

County needed to execute thing they haven't managed since 2017, a triumph astatine Rugby Park, but the paucity of their show gave small hint of the high-stakes occasion.

Nohan Kenneh sliced wide from the borderline of the country arsenic the visitors tried to summon a response, but soon aft the interval their task became adjacent tougher.

Alex Iacovitti swiped Daniel Armstrong's legs distant connected the right-hand borderline of the punishment country and aft consultation with the video adjunct referee, Kevin Clancy pointed to the spot. Armstrong coolly completed the job, sending Laidlaw the incorrect way.

Just arsenic Killie looked to beryllium cruising to victory, Ash Taylor needlessly tugged the jersey of Keith Watson arsenic they jostled astatine a County corner. VAR intervened, Clancy opted to grant the punishment and Dhanda thrashed an unerring onslaught into the apical corner.

The midfielder scooped a abbreviated implicit soon aft but Killie soon regained their composure and Vassell sent the location enactment chaotic with joyousness and alleviation erstwhile helium looped a header successful disconnected the crossbar to seal a deserved win.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Kilmarnock

Formation 3-5-2

20Walker
2Mayo
5TaylorBooked astatine 62mins
6StokesSubstituted forWrightat 70'minutes
11ArmstrongSubstituted forWatsonat 82'minutes
7McKenzieBooked astatine 90mins
17LyonsBooked astatine 75mins
31PolworthSubstituted forAlstonat 90'minutes
24Chambers
26DoidgeSubstituted forCameronat 89'minutes
23VassellBooked astatine 68minsSubstituted forRobinsonat 89'minutes

Substitutes

1Hemming
8Alston
10Jones
14Sanders
16Robinson
19Wright
21McInroy
27Cameron
34Watson

Ross County

Formation 3-4-1-2

1Laidlaw
15Watson
5BaldwinBooked astatine 26mins
6IacovittiSubstituted forSmithat 66'minutes
2Randall
42Kenneh
4CancolaSubstituted forTillsonat 66'minutes
16HarmonSubstituted forEdwardsat 63'minutes
10Dhanda
25SamuelSubstituted forLoturiat 84'minutes
26WhiteSubstituted forMurrayat 45'minutes

Substitutes

3Purrington
7Edwards
11Sims
14Loturi
17Murray
21Munro
22Tillson
30Smith

Referee:Kevin Clancy

Attendance:8,301

Live Text

Match ends, Kilmarnock 3, Ross County 1.
Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 3, Ross County 1.
Offside, Ross County. Simon Murray tries a done ball, but Owura Edwards is caught offside.
Rory McKenzie (Kilmarnock) is shown the yellowish card.
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Rory McKenzie.
David Watson (Kilmarnock) wins a escaped footwear successful the antiaircraft half.
Foul by Owura Edwards (Ross County).
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Blair Alston replaces Liam Polworth.
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Scott Robinson replaces Kyle Vassell.
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Innes Cameron replaces Christian Doidge.
Ash Taylor (Kilmarnock) wins a escaped footwear successful the antiaircraft half.
Foul by Jordan Tillson (Ross County).
Foul by Liam Polworth (Kilmarnock).
Jordan Tillson (Ross County) wins a escaped footwear successful the antiaircraft half.
Substitution, Ross County. Victor Loturi replaces Alex Samuel.
Attempt missed. Simon Murray (Ross County) header from the centre of the container misses to the right. Assisted by Yan Dhanda with a transverse pursuing a corner.
Substitution, Kilmarnock. David Watson replaces Daniel Armstrong.
Delay over. They are acceptable to continue.
Delay successful lucifer due to the fact that of an wounded Brad Lyons (Kilmarnock).
Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Joe Wright.