Source: Team_Talk
Alexei sails through Killie debut
Alexei Eremenko finished off St Mirren at Rugby Park on Saturday and then declared it was only the start of what he can do for Kilmarnock.[LNB] The Finnish midfielder, signed on a season-long loan deal from Ukrainians Metalist Kharkiv, secured a 2-1 Scottish Premier League victory in the 56th minute to mark an outstanding Kilmarnock debut.[LNB]With 44 caps for his country, Eremenko is a player of obvious pedigree and his range of passing and composure stood out against St Mirren even before his expertly-taken free-kick.[LNB]But Eremenko shrugged off the plaudits and insisted the best was yet to come.[LNB]The 27-year-old said: "It was my first game and I was a little bit nervous beforehand because my first training session with the team was Friday.[LNB]"I didn't really know what to expect, but I think it was okay for the first game.[LNB]"I made some good passes at the start of the game which gave me confidence.[LNB]"It was an okay performance from me, but I can even play much better than this."[LNB]The transfer is a coup for Eremenko's compatriot Mixu Paatelainen and the Kilmarnock manager has told the player he will be given the freedom to play.[LNB]Eremenko added: "I think Mixu expects from me a more offensive role than defensive.[LNB]"He's not expecting me to run like crazy after the ball, he's expecting me to give the passes and score goals.[LNB]"If I do the job that he has told me, it's not that I have to run after the ball. I was a little tired but I will get in better shape.[LNB]"I've scored many goals, especially from that free-kick position. In the national team I've scored many goals from the same position on the left, it was a little bit lucky.[LNB]"I saw the keeper (Paul Gallacher) was moving the other way. I don't think he expected a shot, he thought I would cross so I knew that if I hit the ball right he would not save it."[LNB]Kilmarnock dominated the first half with only a James Dayton goal to show for it and needed Eremenko's strike after Steven Thomson had levelled for the visitors.[LNB]It was a fluent display from the home side, although Paul McGowan's 63rd-minute sending-off did not help St Mirren.[LNB]Paatelainen said: "All the players are comfortable with their roles and it's coming on well.[LNB]"It's early doors and there are still loads of flaws in our game, like the goal we conceded when a player fell asleep and was punished.[LNB]"Manuel Pascali thought it was handball and stopped playing for half a second which allowed Thomson to get into that hole."[LNB]St Mirren manager Danny Lennon admitted his team, seldom in the game, lacked the kind of creative spark that Eremenko provided.[LNB]He said: "We were at fault for our own undoing. Take nothing away from Kilmarnock, but we had highlighted the dangers.[LNB]"I felt we lacked a bit of creativity which again is probably credit to Kilmarnock. We should have been more patient on the ball, it's choosing the right moment.[LNB]"Eremenko supported Conor Sammon well and picked the ball up in little pockets, he's an intelligent player who can find space. His goal was a decent strike, but I expected our goalkeeper to do better."
