killie.net

Wednesday, September 15, 2004

Keeping the sheets clean

Turns out we're not that bad after all. Since my last post Killie have managed to put the skelping at Tyncastle behind them to turn in three pretty decent performances that now sees us sitting joint second in the SPHell (with Aberdeen) and in the next round of the CIS Cup.

The 3-0 cup win over Hamilton Accies came first, with second-half goals from Danny Invincibile (2) and Gary MacDonald easing us through after a forgettable first period. We now face Hearts, again at Tyncastle, on Wednesday in the third round, giving us an early opportunity to put in a better showing than our last visit.

Then came the victories against Dunfermline 1- 0 at home (Invincibile) and Ferranti Thistle 2-0 away (David LIlley and that man Invincibile again) that have lifted us to lofty heights in the league. Aberdeen come calling to Rugby Park on Saturday - a fixture that looks much more attractive than it would have in previous seasons given Aberdeen's good form and a travelling support that has swelled in numbers recently.

It's not hard to see what this turnaround in form is based on. That's six matches into the season and we've had four clean sheets. We only managed three in the whole of last season. The arrival of Alan Coombe in goal has certainly steadied us, and the big man has at times kept us in matches with successive saves. He's starting to look like a very good buy indeed.

The biggest influence, however, has been the form of David Lilley at centre-back. At a time when we were crying out for a presence in the heart of defence, Jim Jeffries has somehow transformed this average right-back into a formidable - and our best - central defender. He's got that kind of no-nonsense uncompromising style that all fans love; powerful in the air and fearless in the tackle. And with Lilley at his side, Frederic Dindeleux also looks a more settled player, able to concentrate on what he does best. The emergence of Lilley - easily Killie's player of the season to date - has been a real boon for the side. His importance being underlined by the fact that in the two games we have lost this season (where we shipped 7 goals), Lilley was sent off in the first and suspended for the second!

Fans of a certain vintage may remember that we had another right-back arrive at the Club from Dumbarton back in 1988. He turned into one of the best centre-backs and Captains Killie has ever seen. It's a lot to live up to, but Lilley is certainly on the right road...

¶ 8:15 PM

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life as a Killie fan

if you care to, you can watch the Killie's season unfold here in dramatic fashion. ok, it won't be dramatic. it'll be full of the usual stuff, but i'll do my best to make it interesting. you'll get the away U21 reports here too. i should be committed.