Now here’s a phrase that probably won’t become a regular utterance in Scottish football. “And there’s Stuart Findlay keeping up his prolific goalscoring rate.”
Let’s face it, the Kilmarnock defender’s chief purpose is to keep things tight at one end not rattle them in at the other. By his own admission, though, Findlay is just as keen to bolster the goals for column as he is limiting the goals against tally.
The 23-year-old’s crisp, controlled clatter against Forfar on Saturday was so clean and clinical it looked like it had been put through a steriliser.
That strike, which put the hosts on their way to victory over a spirited and impressive Forfar, was Findlay’s third of the season. He’ll be challenging for the Golden Boot at this rate.
“As of now, this is my joint-highest tally of goals for a season,” he said with a smile. “Until last season, I hadn’t scored a senior one. I got three by the end of last season, so that’s three by the end of January.
“We were having a laugh during the week because, not only do I not normally score in games, I don’t usually hit the target in training, either.
“My biggest job is at the other end of the park, but it’s good to add things to your game and it always helps the teams to get vital ones at vital times and chip in. Kris Boyd carried us on his back last season with his goals, but this season other boys have done well. Others have to chip in. Goals have to come from other areas.”
With Chris Burke finally putting dogged Forfar to the sword with 12 minutes to go, Kilmarnock made a winning start to 2019. It’s back to league business this week and with Steve Clarke’s men just a point off the summit of the Premiership standings, Wednesday’s huge encounter with table-toppers Rangers is being feverishly anticipated.
The January transfer window has already blown in a shuddering draft as far as Kilmarnock are concerned. Jordan Jones will be off to Rangers in the summer while Greg Stewart, so impressive during the first half of the campaign, was recalled to his parent club Birmingham and then swiftly loaned out to Aberdeen in a deal Clarke called “bulls**t” at the weekend. Findlay remains confident that continued unity will be Kilmarnock’s strength, however, as the title race heats up.
“What happens with ins and outs in January, we as players can’t have an effect on that,” he added. “We know we have a strong nucleus of a squad which has been here for a couple of years. We have a lot of trust in each other and the same mentality for any game.
“This week’s game is the sort of game, especially under our manager, where we’ve thrived.
“Obviously, apart from a disappointing one at Celtic Park when Celtic played really well, there’s not been one other game against them or Rangers where we have looked out of place. It’s something we relish as we know we are a match for anyone.”
And on the prospect of finding the net again on Wednesday? “If we win, I don’t care who scores the goal,” he said with a smile.
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