KILMARNOCK’S Oli Shaw said there was “real excitement” among the squad after they found out who their new manager would be.
Derek McInnes took charge last week after 10 months out of the game and led his new side to a 2-0 victory away at Queen of the South. Shaw netted from the spot in the second half after captain Chris Stokes had given the side a first-half lead.
"When we walked in on Thursday and when it got announced there was a real bounce about the boys – there was real excitement,” said Shaw.
“We knew coming in that the manager was going to make slight changes, we've only worked with him for a couple of days.”
Shaw netted his ninth goal of the season, the second time he has done so this season after his goal versus Dunfermline, also a penalty, last month was expunged when the fixture was abandoned – the final match that Tommy Wright took charge of Kilmarnock.
The more recent penalty incident saw him pulled back by Queens defender Roberto Nditi though the contact appeared to have taken place outside the box.
Shaw said: “I've not seen it back yet. I felt the contact when he pulled my arm, I've gone down and I've just seen the ref point to the spot. I'm not going to argue with it.
“I went a few games without a goal and then the Dunfermline game got wiped, and my goal, so I'm happy to get back to scoring goals. It's what I want to do as a striker and help the help.
“To come away with a goal and the three points, it's all-round a good day."
For Queens the match, much like the dire run they are on, was frustrating. With their main attacking threat ineligible – Kilmarnock’s Innes Cameron – they struggled in front of goal.
Winger Josh Todd was their main threat and one of their most experienced campaigners on the day. At 27 he was the second-oldest player in the Queens starting XI in a side with an average age of under 23.
The defeat saw them slip into the relegation play-off spot and on a run of two wins in 15. "We're in a tough position,” said Todd. “As a team we need to galvanise.
"Kilmarnock are pushing for the top. The new manager comes in and they're going to be buzzing and they gave us a really tough game.
“It was a few defensive errors on our part to give them the two goals – as much as they were the better team today."
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