Kilmarnock 0-2 Ross County

Owen Coyle started his reign as Ross County manager with a comfortable win against struggling Kilmarnock.

Craig Curran headed his sixth goal of the season from an excellent Davis Keillor-Dunn cross.

Dutchman Kenny van der Weg notched his first ever County goal to extend the visitors' lead with a nice, dinked finish before the break.

Killie brought Kris Boyd on for the second half and he squandered two good chances when well placed.

Ross County have now won on six of their last seven visits to Rugby Park.

Back in the nineties, Killie manager Lee McCulloch used to clean the boots of new Staggies boss Coyle when they were players at Motherwell.

Kenny van der Weg scored his first goal for Ross County to make it 2-0

They were reunited at Rugby Park today after former Burnley, Blackburn and Bolton boss Coyle was brought in to replace the sacked Jim McIntyre this week.

This was the Staggies' first Premiership victory since the opening day of the season at Dundee, and it was another bad home result for winless Killie, as the pressure mounts on manager Lee McCulloch.

Coyle commented in his pre-match interview that he really liked what he had seen from youngster Keillor-Dunn in the couple of days he had conducted training this week.

The 19-year-old lived up to the billing as he created the opening goal, waiting patiently for the perfect time to curl in a cross for Curran to clinically nod the ball past Jamie MacDonald and into the corner of the net.

Booing ensued from the home fans, but worse was to follow.

Only Jordan Jones and Adam Frizzell had seriously threatened for Killie, and the hosts fell further behind before the break.

Owen Coyle oversaw a convincing win for Ross County in his first match in charge

Van der Weg picked up the ball just inside the Killie half, broke forward and released Curran whose attempted shot broke back to the Dutchman. He showed good composure to clip a shot over the onrushing MacDonald and into the net.

More booing followed and McCulloch responded by bringing striker Boyd off the bench for the second half.

The former Rangers man put a header well over the crossbar from a great position and spurned another close-range chance as the hosts tried to rally.

Jamie Lindsay and Curran had opportunities to make County's win even sweeter, going close with efforts from distance, and captain Andrew Davies was brave to throw his body on the line to block Dom Thomas's low drive.

Post-match reaction

Kilmarnock manager Lee McCulloch: "That was pretty bad. I feel we weren't at it in the first half. I've told the players I feel really let down by their application in the first half.

"In the second half we gave it a go but the game was won and lost in a 30-minute period in the first half when we didn't get close to anybody. At 2-0 it didn't look as if we had that spark to get it back.

"No, I don't [feel under pressure]. I am feeling all right just now. I have just told the players my honest opinion. Of course we are [going to bounce back].

"The truth has been told in the dressing room. The fans are entitled [to boo]. With that first-half performance, the fans were pretty kind, to be honest."

Ross County manager Owen Coyle: "We were well worth the points and could maybe have added to the tally. When we did have to defend, we were brave and stood up. So I'm delighted with how they went about it.

"We're trying to encourage them to pass the ball and move at the right times and there were spells when we looked very pleasing on the eye. But that counts for nothing if you don't get the finish. We had the penetration to go with the quality of passing. It's the first clean sheet in the Premiership this season, which is so important, it gives you the platform to win football matches.

"Jim McIntyre and Billy Dodds are good friends and good football people. They did very well at Ross County. Unfortunately the season didn't start well for them. I know that feeling, it happened to me at Wigan. I feel for the lads, but we know the nature of football, sometimes it can be a difficult business. We've all experienced that, but they'll bounce back. There's a good job out there for them."