Source: Team_Talk
Mixu happy with Killie's good run
Mixu Paatelainen was overjoyed as his Kilmarnock side secured a second successive emphatic victory in the SPL with a 3-0 win at St Johnstone.[LNB] After last Sunday's 3-0 win at Hearts, Killie triumphed in convincing fashion again as Michael Duberry deflected Ben Gordon's 36th-minute cross into his own net before Conor Sammon struck after 83 minutes and Liam Kelly added a third in stoppage time.[LNB]"We came here hoping to win and we did," said Paatelainen.[LNB]"The result is fantastic again. We didn't concede a goal and scored three. It's tremendous."[LNB]The opener came nine minutes before the break through the Chelsea connection - but not Jody Morris and Duberry, as St Johnstone fans would hope.[LNB]Killie left-back Gordon, on loan from Stamford Bridge, raced down the left unchallenged and the ball was deflected into the hosts' net off the outstretched leg of Saints centre back Duberry.[LNB]The visitors absorbed pressure in the opening 20 minutes of the second half before Craig Bryson fed Sammon and he twisted and turned beyond Duberry and Liam Craig before tucking in between Graeme Smith's legs to put the result beyond doubt.[LNB]And Kelly tucked in a third in stoppage time after being set up by substitute Danny Invincible.[LNB]"We started the match well and got our passing game going straight away," added Paatelainen.[LNB]"We were a little bit lucky with the first goal, the own goal, but I thought it was fully merited from our play before that and I thought it was always coming.[LNB]"The first 20 minutes of the second half they pressed us, tried to bully us, put a lot of pressure on us, they can do that - they're a good team.[LNB]"All credit to the boys, the way they defended and always we looked dangerous on the break."[LNB]Killie's two wins come following a run of four losses in succession and while delighted with the attack, Paatelainen was also thrilled with the defence.[LNB]"We have conceded a lot of sloppy goals this season, but the ability is there and if the boys are tough in their heads they make less mistakes," he added.[LNB]St Johnstone, meanwhile, were reeling following a third successive 3-0 defeat after two losses to Celtic.[LNB]Cleveland Taylor, a first half replacement for Murray Davidson, headed on to the top of the bar and hit another effort against the woodwork as Saints struggled in the final third of the pitch.[LNB]But manager Derek McInnes was disappointed as the hosts were denied a second half penalty when trailing 1-0.[LNB]Andy Jackson went down under close attention from Mohamadou Sissoko in the area, with referee Iain Brines turning down the appeal from the Saints striker.[LNB]McInnes reviewed the incident on video immediately after the match and was frustrated the decision did not go his side's way.[LNB]"I felt at the time it was a penalty," said McInnes.[LNB]"You can normally tell by a player's reaction and Jackson was incandescent with frustration, he was adamant.[LNB]"And having seen it again it was a definite penalty kick."[LNB]McInnes, though believing the incident was crucial, played down its impact on the match amid heightened scrutiny of officials in the Scottish game.[LNB]"They're not going to get everything right, but it would be wrong to say that's why we didn't get something from the game," he said.[LNB]The impact of the loss was compounded by injuries to Davidson, who suffered a recurrence of his ankle problem, and substitute Marcus Haber.[LNB]Haber was on for only a few minutes, but hurt his left knee in an innocuous incident on a poor playing surface, parts of which did not allow the ball to bounce in an inspection before kick-off.[LNB]"With Marcus there is a real concern," said McInnes.[LNB]"Murray we're aware he's got a problem there - we're hoping that will settle down."[LNB]
