Source: Team_Talk
Calderwood cools talk of top six
The duo were not exactly in agreement after Killie's superb run continued with victory over St Johnstone.[LNB]Killie were in danger of slumping to the bottom of the table less than two weeks ago but three-successive wins - four in all competitions - have propelled them up to eighth place.[LNB]Saturday's thrilling 3-2 victory at Rugby Park put them eight points clear of rock-bottom Falkirk and moved them to within six of sixth spot.[LNB]"That was the plan," joked manager Calderwood, whose appointment last month has been the catalyst for Killie's revival.[LNB]Asked if a top-six finish was now on, he added: "No comment! No, no, no, no no.[LNB]"We'll try to keep this run going, we've got another home game next week, and we'll see what happens.[LNB]"Ask me in about four weeks if I'm still undefeated - I might give you an answer then."[LNB]But star striker Kyle, who yet again proved Saints' nemesis by scoring the decisive goal against them for the third time this season, said: "We're now trying to catch sixth place rather than worrying about Falkirk.[LNB]"Depending on results and how things go, we can start looking if we can catch sixth place.[LNB]"About two weeks ago, you thought we'd never catch anybody."[LNB]Calderwood was rightly proud of his record since succeeding Jim Jefferies, with Killie now unbeaten in six.[LNB]"Not bad, eh?" he said.[LNB]"We've not got a midweek game for a change - that's even better!"[LNB]Calderwood admitted he could never have envisaged such an immediate turnaround.[LNB]"We've obviously carried a bit of luck, that you always need in this game," he added.[LNB]The loan signing of livewire Scotland Under-21 striker Chris Maguire from Aberdeen kick-started the current winning run.[LNB]"He's fabulous, he really is," said former Dons boss Calderwood, who admitted he and his successor at Pittodrie had not given Maguire a fair crack of the whip.[LNB]"I was just the same as Mark (McGhee) - maybe I never played him as much as I should have.[LNB]"But that's always in hindsight.[LNB]"He's been knocking on my door for five years."[LNB]Calderwood added of the forward, who made it 1-1 on Saturday: "He's a pest to play against, he's got pace, he's clever.[LNB]"It's wonderful that he's come in."[LNB]Saturday's win lifted Killie above their opponents, though Saints have played three fewer matches.[LNB]Kyle said: "St Johnstone have got two or three games in hand but games in hand don't mean anything if you don't get the points.[LNB]"We've got the points on the board."[LNB]Both managers agreed the visitors had been the better side yesterday but Saints boss Derek McInnes admitted concern over his team's defending from set pieces.[LNB]Killie twice came from behind to cancel out goals from Peter MacDonald and Graham Gartland to score from dead-ball moves through Maguire and Garry Hay.[LNB]McInnes added: "We came here against a team who are in good form and have got some talented players.[LNB]"For us to improve and try to move the whole thing on and try to get away from the bottom end of the table, we need to pick up points when we play as well as that.[LNB]"Until we do so, we'll find ourselves in a battle.[LNB]"That's the motivation and challenge for us."[LNB]Saints play one of their games in hand when Hibernian travel to McDiarmid Park in midweek.[LNB]McInnes said: "We'll pick ourselves up ready for Wednesday - there's still a lot of positives from it - and hopefully learn from one or two things that I spoke about."[LNB][LNB]
