IT was a day for headlines writers everywhere.
A day they have hoped and dreamt for all season. For, let’s face it,
there is no end to the ways this band could dress up a game in which the
issue is settled by two goals from a striker by the name of Danny
Invincibile. With Men At Work’s Down Under blasting from the Tannoy at
full-time to honour the double-hitting Australian’s first ripple-rigging
moments in Killie colours, yesterday in Ayrshire might not have been one
for music purists, however.
Invincibile, who the detractors mocked had been anything but in front of
goal in failing to find the target in 10 starts and four substitute
appearances, deserved the plaudits for a rambunctious leading of the
line that still included plenty of chance-missing. Kilmarnock should
have closed out a comfortable victory when he put them 2-1 in front, but
wobbled in being pegged back to 3-1 before Invincibile struck again.
Killie manager Jim Jefferies had been forced to make four changes.
Colin Meldrum replaced Francois Dubourdeau in goal, while defender
Freddie Dindeleux came in for the injured Gordon Greer, midfielder James
Fowler replaced Martin Hardie and striker Invincibile came in for Gary
McSwegan.
With just one league win in 11 games, the worst defence in the league
and plummeting confidence, after their best-ever finish last year in the
SPL, it was entirely predictable that Kilmarnock should almost
immediately go behind. And the script also demanded that Nacho Novo,
back after the death of his mother, should be the scorer.
Eric Skora tried a cute backheel in the Dundee box – too cute for his
team-mates – and, picking up the loose ball, Gary Brady clattered it
upfield where the little striker took it, teased and then passed Barry
McLaughlin, before sliding a drive into the left-hand corner.
Goalkeeper Julian Speroni had to save a couple of long-range Invincibile efforts as Killie tried to respond immediately.
The home side grabbed a deserved equaliser after 31 minutes.
Jamie Fowler crossed from the right, Kris Boyd chested the ball back
to the waiting Eric Skora and the midfielder drove a low
shot from just inside the box past the helpless Speroni.
There was more joy for Kilmarnock a couple of minutes later when they
took the lead with Danny Invincibile's first goal for the
Ayrshire club.
Boyd battled for the ball in a packed penalty area and, when it fell
to the Australian, he slammed the ball high into the net from 10 yards
out. (Right).
Only a fine Speroni save from Boyd in the 39th minute prevented a
third for the home side and Invincibile nearly knocked the rebound into
the net.
Three minutes from the interval Boyd incredibly managed to head a
Skora free-kick past the post from only three yards out.
Dundee should have been level early in the second half, when Novo's
cross found Milne unmarked at the back post only for the striker to send
his side-footed effort wide of the far post. Killie's fortune held out
again when the post came to Killie's rescue when Milne's header came off
the woodwork.
Then Dee were attempting to claw their way back
from a 3-1 deficit before Speroni unceremoniously clattered Invincibile
to bring Kilmarnock a 52nd penalty kick that was cooly converted by
Boyd.
This was Kris Boyd's 23rd first team goal for
Killie, and Killie have never lost when "Boomer" has scored!
Kilmarnock's lead was reduced in the 62nd minute.
Jonay Hernandez's cross from the left found Milne at the back post
and he slotted home with his right foot.
Jefferies side always looked to have that bit more order and control
throughout their ranks, though, and snuffed out any possibility of an
unlikely comeback when Danny Invincibile lashed a low
effort into the corner of the net after a Boyd flick-on had put him
one-on-one with Speroni, in the 64 minute.
Kilmarnock, then, were Invincibile in the end
