STEVE CLARKE is ready to concoct another target for his remarkable Kilmarnock side after revealing that they have ticked off all three goals that he set for them before a ball was kicked this season.
With European football within reach, there would seem to be an obvious choice for objective number four.
Clarke’s primary aims of avoiding relegation and securing top-six football seem ludicrously modest in the face of another sensational campaign.
And following their 1-0 triumph over Hearts, secured by a thunderous Stuart Findlay strike as the clock ticked down, Killie have reached 61 points, beating the 59 from last season.
Moreover, the victory sees them leapfrog Aberdeen into third spot, putting Clarke in pole position to take Kilmarnock back to the Europa League. If Celtic win the Scottish Cup, fourth will be enough to secure that.
“Objective one was to stay in the league, which we did comfortably,” he said. “Objective two was to secure back-to-back top six places. The third objective was to beat last year’s points tally and we’ve done that too.
“Everything I ask the players to do they keep doing. I’ve ran out of objectives after the third one! I’m sure between now and seeing the lads again on Tuesday we’ll come up with another one.”
It appeared destined to be a frustrating afternoon for Clarke’s men as they passed up a swathe of opportun-ities in the first half, most notably Eamonn Brophy rattling the base of the post.
The visitors had already seen John Souttar produce a masterful late challenge to deny Liam Millar a tap in while Zdenek Zlamal made two sharp blocks from Brophy.
There was a collective intake of breath inside Tynecastle at the start of the second half when Uche Ikpeazu limped off with an apparent hamstring injury. However, Craig Levein said: “He didn’t pull up or clutch the back of the hamstring or writhe about in agony. I am fairly confident he will be fully fit for the Scottish Cup final.”
That is where the good news ended for the hosts, with Findlay, pictured, pouncing on a loose ball in the Hearts box before lashing a ferocious drive beyond Zlamal four minutes before the end.
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