KILMARNOCK manager Steve Clarke admitted he was still learning about his players after Scott Boyd marked his first start of the Ladbrokes Premiership season with the winner against Motherwell.
Boyd scored from close range in the 42nd minute after Russell Griffiths failed to deal with Chris Burke’s corner.
But it was the centre-back’s role in keeping a clean sheet that really impressed his manager after the former Ross County defender came in for the injured Gordon Greer.
Killie have taken 10 points from their last four games, and have gone from bottom to eighth – two points off the top six – since Clarke was appointed in October.
The former West Brom boss said: “Coming up here has been an education, a process of learning about the players and the league.
“And obviously when you come in as a new manager, you spend the first however many number of training sessions learning about the players.
“I am learning all the time and I am still learning about my players. Scott Boyd hadn’t featured at all.
“He’s not the prettiest training-ground player you’ve ever seen, but on the pitch on a match day, he knows how to defend. His career and his record will tell you that.
“For me, the pleasing aspect is when your squad players come in and stand up and do their job for the team, that means they are working properly day in, day out on the training ground.
“That’s a good message for everyone else in the squad who is waiting for their chance.”
Another player to feature for the first time under Clarke was Greg Kiltie, who drew a good save in stoppage time after making his comeback off the bench following time out with a broken ankle.
“He has worked hard to get over his injury troubles,” Clarke said. “He worked well in training and it’s just nice to get him on the pitch.
“And you saw his little cameo at the end, he has a lot to offer the team going forward.”
Motherwell suffered a fourth consecutive defeat but manager Stephen Robinson took plenty of encouragement as he adjusts to life without Preston-bound Louis Moult.
“We create a lot of chances, and our build-up play was excellent. There is very little I can say was wrong with the performance. We got punished for one mistake.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here