IT must be a testing experience being the less celebrated half of a double act; Robin to Batman, Dr Watson to Sherlock Holmes, Chewbacca to Han Solo or, indeed, Eamonn Brophy to December player of the month Kris Boyd.
If one wonders whether Brophy ever craves his moment in the spotlight, then spare a thought for Lee Erwin, a striker very much reduced to a supporting role at Kilmarnock owing to the sharpshooting B&B duo.
There have been minutes from the bench but merely two starts under Steve Clarke since his appointment as manager in October, and not a single goal prior to Saturday’s late Scottish Cup winner against Ross County to add to the two scored early in the campaign.
The Kilmarnock fans pay homage to Clarke to the tune of Quiet Riot’s ‘Cum On Feel The Noise’, but after Saturday’s daring, perhaps Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Holding Out For a Hero’ would be more suitable – for both himself and Erwin.
With 17 minutes remaining of an infinitely forgettable tie – “a horrible game”, was how Erwin succinctly described it – Clarke brought off Boyd and Brophy for Erwin and Greg Kiltie with the game goalless.
For Ross County, however, the man in black Bobby Madden most certainly proved to be the Darth Vader of the piece, with a decision that decided the match with mere minutes remaining. Madden ruled Tim Chow placed his hand on Rory McKenzie’s back with sufficient force to send the Kilmarnock player flying and awarded a penalty.
With regular kicker Boyd removed, Erwin showed the confidence and courage required for such a high-pressure situation and grabbed the ball and duly converted low into the corner.
“I thought it was a penalty,” said Erwin. “Rory did well to get in behind him. I just ran to get the ball. Luckily I found the net.”
The script was very nearly re-written however in the most dramatic fashion by the very player he had just placed the ball behind into that net.
In injury time, Ross County goalkeeper Aaron McCarey headed goalwards when up for a corner and protested vociferously that his effort had crossed the line before opposite number Jamie Macdonald saved.
Full marks for honesty, however, for team-mate Ross Draper, positioned right on the line desperately hoping for any slips in the goalkeeper’s handling.
“No, no,” insisted Draper. “I was right by it and I don’t think it went over the line.”
Draper also followed manager Owen Coyle’s candour by admitting that for bottom-placed Ross County being out of the cup is not a disappointment.
“The cup’s not a major issue really, we need to get back to winning ways in the league,” said Draper.
For Erwin, it’s getting back into a winning team that’s the issue, with Clarke hinting there has been a change in attitude from the 23-year-old former Leeds United forward that could ensure he becomes more than a bit part.
“I don’t know what’s happened over the break but he’s obviously gone away and reassessed himself,” said Clarke. “Lee’s shown up really well in training.”
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