DEADLY Kris Boyd destroyed United with a
five-goal blitz to equal the Premier League record for the most
goals in one match.
But the Killie hitman was robbed of his own
place in history as ref Kevin Toner ruled out an amazing SIXTH strike.
The Scotland Under-21 striker hit the net four times in 29 minutes
before notching the fifth late on.
His stunning display matched the feats of
Dundee United's Paul Sturrock and Rangers strikers Marco Negri and Kenny
Miller but Boyd must have been thinking about the one that got away.
Bungling ref Toner chopped off a perfectly
good goal in the first half and six strikes would have set him apart
from any hitman in Premier League history. Killie boss Jim Jefferies
wouldn't have been worried about that as he watched his side bounce back
in style from two defeats.
Things could have been
a whole lot different though had former Rugby Park favourite, Jim
McIntyre, showed more composure seconds after Boyd’s opener when he
lashed a better than decent chance high over the bar from 12 yards.
McIntyre’s chance aside it was all Kilmarnock, who were playing some
fabulous football with wide men Invincible and Johnston providing the
visiting defence with real problems and the front two of Boyd and Craig
Dargo with steady supply of ammunition. At times Kilmarnock were playing
with four upfront and as a result the panic, not to mention indecision,
in the Tangerine backline was palpable.
Craig Dargo ought to have opened his account for the season instead of
hurriedly blasting over, when teed up perfectly by Danny Invincible
following a dashing run by the deceptively nimble footed big Aussie.
Home fans needn’t have worried about missed chances coming back to haunt
them.
Canadian goalie Lars Hirschfield started his
first league game for the Arabs due to the collarbone injury Tony
Bullock picked up last week against Motherwell.
But he had a game to forget and gifted the
home side the lead after seven minutes.
Hirschfield should have dealt with a simple
back pass from Alan Archibald but his woeful clearance fell straight to
Boyd and lashed home from 20 yards. (right)
Jefferies men were in the mood and could
have made it 2-0 moments after the opener.
Danny Invincibile beat the United offside
trap but Allan Johnston blasted his cut back over.
The same duo combined again moments later
but Johnston fired wastefully over under no pressure.
United were in disarray and it was only a
matter of time before Killie increased their lead.
And Boyd crashed home the second in 16
minutes from Craig Dargo's excellent cross.
Ian McCall's men were stunned but had a
strong case for a penalty after 23 minutes.
Shaun Dillon's tackle on Killie old boy Andy
McLaren in the box was clumsy but ref Toner awarded only a corner.
However, the Tannadice men found a vital
goal five minutes later when Archibald stabbed home Barry Robson's
corner.
Boyd missed a glorious chance for his
hat-trick from Johnston's teasing cross but blasted home the third after
32 minutes.
Former Rangers kid Peter Leven drove at the
United defence and after a perfectly-weighted pass the Killie
goal-machine rifled home.
Just when the striker thought things
couldn't get any better he grabbed a FOURTH.
Archibald took the legs away from
Invincibile for a clear penalty and Boyd buried it with ease.
(right & left).
United's defence was all over the place and
Boyd had the ball in the net again after 39 minutes only for ref Toner
to harshly rule it out for an alleged push.
The big question on everyone's lips at
half-time was if the Killie wonderkid could equal or beat the five-goal
record.
The last Kilmarnock striker to hit four
goals in one match was
Gary McSwegan
- in
April 2003 when they crushed Hibs 6-2.
Raging McCall had to make changes at the
break because United were a shambles. The ineffective duo of Grant
Brebner and McLaren were replaced by Mark Kerr and Jason Scotland and
the Arabs looked more solid.
Boyd was closely marked after being given
the freedom of Rugby Park for the first 45 minutes.
Killie still looked the stronger outfit and
Johnston should have made it 5-1 on the hour mark.
Gordon Greer sent over a great cross for a
volley but the winger took a touch on his chest and failed to get his
shot away.
McCall's men had to throw bodies forward in
a bid to salvage some pride.
Veteran striker Billy Dodds was thrown on
for Mark Wilson with 20 minutes left and grabbed one back after 73
minutes from Stuart Duff's knockdown.
The wee man looked offside but coolly
converted from 12 yards.
United pressed forward fruitlessly, given
the margin against them, and it led to Boyd’s final flourish.
Invincibile once more picked up the ball just inside the opposing half
before speeding clear into the box and, with a choice of arriving
players, he seemed to wait for the big striker before clipping the ball
in for Boyd to stroke home his final goal.
Were you watching Mr Vogts?
Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Dindeleux, Invincibile,
McDonald, (Fowler 71 mins) Johnston,
(Dodds 83 mins)
Boyd, Dargo, (Wales 74 mins)
Greer,
Dillon, Leven,
Subs: Smith, Murray, Canning, Naismith
Attendance: 4,711
None.
