KRIS BOYD was quite right. Losing on penalties in a Scottish Cup quarter-final against Aberdeen was not a setback for his Kilmarnock team.
It was a disappointment, sure, but when 9000 packed out Rugby Park and the home support stood and applauded their losing team, if ever a defeat showed how far a team had come then this was it.
Kilmarnock are a proper football club again. Steve Clarke has been a wonderful addition to the Scottish game because for our top league to flourish, we need our top clubs to be at least heading in the right direction.
For too long, Ayrshire’s biggest name was just about treading water, losing money and not making a huge contribution.
However, Kilmarnock are back and look set to finish in the top six, which does explain Boyd’s upbeat attitude.
He said: “I don’t think you can look on the Aberdeen result as a setback. Yes, we are disappointed to lose the game, but I think there is a genuine belief around here that we have come a long way in a short period of time.
"We can kick on and hopefully use nights like Tuesday to get the same amount of people back to come and see us on a Saturday.
“I’ve said for a few years now that we want the fans to come back, but at the end of the day if the product wasn’t right on the pitch, then you can understand why they wouldn’t come back.
“But I think that has totally changed now. We want more nights like Tuesday night – obviously with a different result – but there has been a big difference in performance over the past few months, and hopefully we can finish the season strong and set ourselves up for next season.”
Boyd, now 34, is enjoying a new lease of life. He didn’t manage the 120 minutes but he’s still a goal-threat almost every time the ball come near him inside the box. The veteran has even been tipped for a Scotland recall.
Before you scoff, think about this. Is there anyone else Alex McLeish could call upon who you would bet on scoring a goal in the last ten minute of the game?
But Boyd admitted: “For me, my days in a Scotland jersey were numbered. It wasn’t something I was getting caught up in - for me the most important thing was getting games for Kilmarnock and scoring goals. I’ve been playing with a smile on my face and I’ve been enjoying it.
“When you get to my age, it was the right decision by Alex McLeish (not to pick him). There is a new generation coming through, so what would be the point in playing someone who is 34.
“I can totally understand Alex’s decision with a lot of the older guys…I think there was an opportunity there to go and get youngsters and give them games and international experience in time for the next campaign.
“Players aged 34 or 35 can’t go on forever, so it is good to get youngsters in there. I wish Scotland all the best.
Back to Kilmarnock and they are at Ibrox on Saturday where last time they dramatically drew 1-1, a result which brought an end to the Pedro Caixinha era.
And at Rugby Park towards the end of last year, Boyd scored twice in a deserved win over Saturday’s opponents. Kilmarnock’s players have endured a heavy schedule but they will go to Ibrox believing they can win.
Boyd said: “It’s a big game for us, and it is always difficult going to Ibrox, but the way that we’ve been playing we feel we are more than a match for anyone in the league.
"We are not over-confident. If we go there, and stick to our game-plan, then we can go there and frustrate Rangers and see what happens.
“If you look at our last few performances against the so-called big teams in the league then you can see we have been able to frustrate them and then impose our game-plan on them.
“Yes, the last few months have been good, but we want to finish the season strongly. We are fifth in the league now and hopefully we can consolidate that. If we can get a couple more wins it will give us an opportunity to try to get to fourth place, so you never know.”
We do know one thing. Kilmarnock are going places.
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