Some of the shine is off Killie's season

WILLIAM HUNTER

4 Apr 1994

A SMALL win by Hearts at Rugby Park made them quits with Kilmarnock.

It meant their association for the season has ended on what politicians like to call a level playing field.

(There is no such thing).

Each team has had one narrow victory that brackets two draws.

Because Hearts have a payroll that resounds with well-known names, such a grey statistic highlights how much has been achieved so far by Killie.

Their heroes remain household names only in their own household.

Local support, however, has been adoring -- so far also.

But there was a new restive mood among the fans on Saturday.

In one way it failed to add up.

The supporters didn't like the team selection and said so.

They disliked more, and shouted about it, the substitution of Shaun McSkimming.

Some loyalists started to drift home early.

Tickets for Sunday's cup semi-final against Rangers at Hampden have not yet disappeared.

Possibly, a week will be a long time for the optimism of the players and their public to improve.

But these are tricky days for them just the same, especially the punters.

The shine has gone off their season.

On the one hand they have been told that their stadium has too many old- fashioned shortcomings and has to be improved pronto, and on the other hand their manager, Tommy Burns, has declared that the entertainment they pay to watch lacks old-fashioned values.

Unless the decline is halted, he has told them memorably, Scottish football will be reduced to the potato fields of the world game.

A more immediate worry was Killie's powerlessness in the air.

They were beaten to just about every header against Hearts.

When John Millar rose to nod in the only goal he made Kilmarnock's defence appear to be standing in a trench.

Killie were the more fluent side, with the lively Ally Mitchell always ready to have a pot, including a drive from 35 yards or so that Henry Smith had to move sharpish to parry.

Hearts defended resolutely around the twin pillars of Craig Levein and Alan McLaren.

Stephen Frail settled quickly to defensive chores with his new club.

Tommy Burns said he was unlikely to be fit for the cup semi.

Still, it will be an escape from the ordinary worries which are tightening around all the lower clubs like a clenched fist.

Taken from the Herald