Annan 0 Kilmarnock 2: Lee McCulloch praises Kris Boyd after scoring brace
The Rugby Park have moved level on points with rivals Ayr following their 2-0 win over League Two Annan in the Betfred cup
LEE McCULLOCH hailed his Captain Fantastic as Kilmarnock kept their cup bid on course.
Kris Boyd netted in either half to give the Rugby Park side a comfortable win at League Two Annan to go level on points with rivals Ayr.
The Killie boss said: “It was a captain’s performance from Kris.
"Even when he isn’t scoring he is talking and organising things on the park for us and in the dressing room he is very motivational.
“I have seen it for 15 years with Kris he has been written off but when you have the finishing ability and the stats to back it up you can’t write him off.
"It’s pleasing he got his goals and I’m sure he would look to kick on.
“I thought we were dominant but if I was ultra-critical we could have had a few more goals.
"I’m delighted with the way we played and it’s good we have put a few wins together now.”
Galabankies boss Peter Murphy dropped himself to the bench for his first game at home to make way for Rabin Omar in the only change from the side that lost 2-1 at Clyde last time out.
McCulloch made two changes from the team that saw off the Bully Wee 4-2 on Tuesday night - Chris Burke made his first start, while Stephen O’Donnell returned as Alan Power and Daniel Higgins had to make do with a place amongst the substitutes.
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The game kicked off in torrential rain which made for tricky conditions but Killie didn’t let the weather get to them though as hitman Boyd got his season up and running by firing them ahead inside seven minutes.
Dom Thomas skinned his marker on the right hand side of the box before squaring it across for the striker to slot past the helpless Jim Atkinson.
Thomas went close with a fizzing drive on 14 minutes before producing an inch-perfect cross soon after which Jordan Jones should have at least put on target but he sent his header over.
It was one-way traffic with Thomas the architect and another superb delivery found Jones who blasted his shot goalwards only for Annan skipper Peter Watson to throw himself in the way to block the effort.
Atkinson kept the deficit to one six minutes before the break as he got a hand on Rory McKenzie’s strike after a solo run by Jones had carved open the home defence.
Boyd could have doubled the advantage after finding a yard of space inside the area early in the second half, only to have a fresh air swipe at O’Donnell’s cross.
Despite their pressure they just couldn’t get the second and they were almost punished on the hour mark as Watson outjumped his marker at a corner, his header beat Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald only for Jones to get back in the nick of time to hook off the line.
That miss proved vital as within two minutes Boyd once again showed his predatory instincts to put the game beyond doubt.
Thomas’ ball across saw the prolific hitman drop a shoulder to leave his marker before curling the ball into the bottom left hand corner giving Atkinson no chance.
Aidan Smith almost got a consolation with three minutes left as he intercepted Iain Wilson’s pass but MacDonald came to the defender’s rescue by blocking the shot.
Galabankies boss Murphy said: “Kilmarnock are a Premiership side so it was going to be tough.
"We had a few chances but we couldn’t take them so it wasn’t to be for us but I’m pleased with the players.”
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