Steve Clarke admitted he was still learning about his players after Scott Boyd marked his first start of the Ladbrokes Premiership season with the winner against Motherwell.
Boyd scored from close range in the 42nd minute after Russell Griffiths failed to deal with Chris Burke’s corner. But it was the centre-back’s role in keeping a clean sheet that impressed his manager after the former Ross County defender came in for the injured Gordon Greer.
Kilmarnock have taken 10 points from their last four games, and have gone from bottom to eighth – two points off the top six – since Clarke was appointed in October.
The former West Brom manager, who returned to Scotland after a 30-year absence, said: “Coming up here has been an education, a process of learning about the players and the league. And when you come in as a new manager, you spend the first however many number of training sessions learning about the players.
“I am learning all the time and I am still learning about my players. Scott Boyd hadn’t featured at all. He’s not the prettiest training-ground player you’ve ever seen, but on the pitch on a match day, he knows how to defend. His record will tell you that.
“For me, the pleasing aspect is when your squad players come in and stand up and do their job for the team, that means they are working properly day in, day out on the training ground. That’s a good message for everyone else in the squad who is waiting for their chance.”
Another player to feature for the first time under Clarke was Greg Kiltie, who drew a good save in stoppage time after making his comeback off the bench following time out with a broken ankle.
“He has worked hard to get over his injury troubles,” Clarke said. “He worked well in training and it’s just nice to get him on the pitch. And you saw his little cameo at the end, he has a lot to offer the team going forward.”
Motherwell suffered a fourth consecutive defeat but manager Stephen Robinson took plenty of encouragement as he adjusts to life without Preston-bound Louis Moult, missing through injury.
Jamie MacDonald made good saves from Craig Tanner and Alex Fisher before sub George Newell came close on his return from injury.
“As much as Louis has scored a lot of goals, I’m sure he would be the first to admit we have created a heck of a lot of chances for him,” Robinson said. “You don’t score goals on your own.”
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