THE sodden red cards were plastered to the pavement outside Rugby Park on Saturday evening, discarded by the supporters who had so vehemently brandished them that same afternoon as part of a raucous protest against chairman Michael Johnston.

The usefulness of the props had diminished after the second staging of the demonstration - the display in the 69th minute mirroring one made after 18 minutes, the timings a reference to the year of Kilmarnock's formation - but the impact of the message they conveyed would linger longer.

"Support the team, change the regime," read the placards, but more visceral was the volume and ferocity of the "we want Johnston out" chants that reverberated around the ground. Even the chairman, for all his practised insouciance, must surely have been disconcerted by the scale of the venom spat in his direction by what appeared to be the majority of the crowd. But then a strange thing happened. Kilmarnock recorded their first victory in 11 attempts this term and those clad in the colours of protest - blue and yellow scarves, sold outside pre-match and worn by plenty - cheered their team off the pitch and scurried home through the Ayrshire rain without stopping to pour further opprobrium on the beleaguered Johnston.

Could it be, then, that winning on Saturday was the worst thing that could have happened for those agitating for change in the boardroom? After all, surely it was easier for the disaffected fans to attract support for their cause when the team was losing and in increasing danger of being dragged into a relegation scrap? Furthermore, another victory when Hearts visit on Saturday would move Kilmarnock 16 points ahead of the Tynecastle side, an advantage which could effectively safeguard their place in the SPFL Premiership. Would that hush some of the less committed complainants? Or does that underestimate the ill-feeling around a club that enjoyed one of the greatest days in its history when winning the League Cup just 19 months ago?

It is clearly a difficult situation for all involved, which makes the efforts of Allan Johnston and his players on Saturday even more impressive. The manager stressed this win was just a start, something upon which to build, but there was enough in Kilmarnock's performance to be enthused by. The Ayrshire side were resolute and organised in defence, combative in midfield and lively in attack and at no stage looked under any great threat from an abject Ross County.

"We probably should have won by more," admitted Kris Boyd, who himself lashed a shot against the crossbar having opening the scoring. "But the important thing was that we got over the line. We've talked the talk about us being a good team and today we showed that on the pitch."

Kilmarnock had lost six of their previous seven matches but there was a feeling, too, that their dismal run was only temporary and, certainly, their XI on Saturday was not one most observers would expect to be struggling so badly. "I think you'll see a different Kilmarnock now we've got a little bit of confidence," added Boyd.

That quality, or perhaps more accurately belief, is one County seem to lack just now. For all Derek Adams' upbeat protestations that there were "some good things, some bad" to take from this perfunctory defeat, it is hard to see exactly what those positive aspects were. His side offered next to nothing in an attacking sense, were second best in midfield, and looked panicked whenever their hosts advanced. "We conceded two goals and never scored any in reply," acknowledged captain Richard Brittain. "That tells its own story."

Kilmarnock supporters can only hope that the same cannot be said about the discarded red cards.