Partick Thistle 0-2 Kilmarnock
- Published
Kilmarnock claimed their first Scottish Premiership win of the season as new manager Steve Clarke watched from the stand against Partick Thistle.
Kris Boyd gave the visitors the lead shortly before half-time, pouncing on a slack clearance by Niall Keown.
And Adam Frizzell's stunning 25-yard strike doubled Killie's lead in the second half.
Clarke will formally take charge next week with his new side three points above bottom team Thistle.
Killie had been at the foot of the table, trailing the Jags on goals scored, but move on to six points after nine games while Thistle still await their maiden league victory this term.
Academy boss Paul McDonald took charge of the visitors and with former Scotland defender Clarke in the directors' box, Kilmarnock understandably looked keen to impress.
Clarke takes over at Killie after spells in charge of West Brom and Reading
Though Thistle played some pretty football, they failed to test Jamie MacDonald before the break, whereas Killie, when piling forward, looked to carry a menace.
Greg Taylor, Jordan Jones and Rory McKenzie had all threatened Tomas Cerny's goal before they finally took the lead.
When that came about, it was every bit as much about dreadful defending as it was clinical finishing.
Jones sent a speculative ball into the penalty area, which Keown failed to deal with. The Thistle defender headed straight into the path of Boyd, who slotted in from eight yards.
Killie's second was a different story. It owed everything to superb technique on the part of Frizzell.
Just a minute after Boyd had watched a header cleared off the line by Milan Nitrianksy, the ball broke to the midfielder, whose fierce drive flew into the top corner.
Frizzell's goal was his first of the season
Perhaps the desire to impress the new manager played its part, but worryingly for Thistle boss Alan Archibald, Kilmarnock looked hungrier for the points.
It was not until added time they seriously tested MacDonald - Kris Doolan forcing a brilliant save from the keeper with his effort from the edge of the box before Conor Sammon knocked the ball against the post.
But it was much too late for Thistle, who have a lengthy injury list, matched only by the length of their winless run, which now stretches to 15 Premiership games going back to last season.
Archibald has survived similar periods, most recently at the beginning of last season, when they had just one win in nine but recovered to reach the top six.
But they desperately require inspiration from somewhere, whereas Kilmarnock's outlook suddenly looks a great deal brighter.
Post-match reaction
Partick Thistle manager Alan Archibald: "We didn't deserve to win the game, no doubt. We had a lot of the ball but we didn't do enough with it. We didn't move it quick enough.
"Disappointing goals - one's from a throw-in and one's from a kick-out.
"Bitterly disappointed. The first goal was always going to be vital in the game and Kilmarnock got that and they made it really difficult for us. We had a lot of possession but we weren't penetrative enough, we didn't get in behind them enough to cause them enough problems and it allowed Kilmarnock to play on the counter.
"It was a real good away performance from Kilmarnock, they deserved their win.
"Confidence wasn't there today. After we went a goal down you could see that a little bit. It was on for us to get on the ball, go and play and we need to be brave. We need to make sure our players get on the ball and still look to play at the right times because it'll only get harder."
Kilmarnock interim manager Paul McDonald: "Today wasn't about me. Today was about the players and the effort and commitment they showed on the pitch, so all credit to them. I'm quite happy now the game's out the way, the new manager's in place and I can go back to the shadows of the academy.
"Steve [Clarke] introduced himself to the squad this morning, gave them a pep talk and it certainly worked. When this club brings in such an ambitious manager as Stevie, it shows the direction we want to go.
"He'll have his own aspirations for the club and he'll take us forward using the experience of the levels he's played and managed at."
- Published14 October 2017
