Fernandez keen to make amends

06 February 2009 19:09
The Spaniard sat dreading the wrath of manager Jim Jefferies after being sent off for lashing out at Ayr defender Martyn Campbell with their fourth-round replay tied at 1-1.[LNB]However, his team-mates scored twice more to set up a fifth-round trip to Inverness and Fernandez wants to sign off in style before serving a two-match ban sparked by the red card.[LNB]The former Celtic striker joked: "I did it for the team because we played much better when I got sent off. The lads were very pleased about that.[LNB]"No, I was really pleased. If we ended up losing the game I would be dead by now.[LNB]"I was relieved more than anything when the final whistle went and we went through."[LNB]Fernandez was dreading a derby defeat as he sat alone in the dressing room following his dismissal.[LNB]"It's a lonely place to be, especially if you see the gaffer coming towards you," he added. "I need more people around me to help me.[LNB]"No, the gaffer was really pleased with the result. He wasn't pleased with the sending-off but it would have been a totally different matter if we had lost the game."[LNB]Fernandez added: "This is my last game before the ban and I'm going to try my best to help the team."[LNB]The former Dundee United player won the 2004 CIS Cup with Livingston but he has never played in a Scottish Cup final.[LNB]So the 33-year-old is eager to go all the way with Killie.[LNB]He said: "That would be fantastic, especially in the Scottish Cup, but we need to go step by step and be focused.[LNB]"I went to a Scottish Cup final with Celtic but I never played. I played the CIS Cup final with Livingston.[LNB]"Every single footballer wants to win medals. Everyone involved in Kilmarnock would be pleased to get to the final but this is a difficult game."[LNB]Fernandez will continue his promising partnership with Kevin Kyle, who marked his debut with a goal in the 1-1 draw with St Mirren last weekend.[LNB]Fernandez said: "He played very well last week and scored a brilliant goal. He could actually have scored a hat-trick in the first half.[LNB]"He has great presence and I think he will get better with a few more games.[LNB]"If he can play half as well as last Saturday I think everyone will be pleased."[LNB][LNB]  

Source: Team_Talk