Balatoni backs Boyd to continue on Kilmarnock goal trail

Conrad Balatoni has told his Kilmarnock team-mates to continue feeding Kris Boyd's hunger for goals if they want to stave off their relegation threat.

Former Rangers and Scotland hitman Boyd ended his five month goal famine when he struck twice against St Johnstone a fortnight ago.

His brace helped serve up a 3-0 victory as Lee Clark claimed his first win since taking over as Rugby Park boss in February.

But defender Balatoni was never worried about Boyd's dry spell and has now backed him to fire 11th-placed Killie past Inverness as they look to rein in Hamilton's four-point lead to safety.

He said: "Boydy gets chances in every game he plays in. He's like any striker he will miss a few but his record speaks for itself.

"He is a goalscorer and I'm sure if the boys keep delivering for him he will score goals. We just need to keep feeding him the ball and hopefully he will do the business and steer us away from trouble.

"He is always confident he will find the net. He's played at the highest level possible. I'm sure the last two goals he's scored will have done him the world of good. They were a penalty and a free-kick so hopefully he will be adding a couple more from open play and helping us to the victory."

Inverness lifted the William Hill Scottish Cup on top of a third-placed Premiership finish last season but John Hughes' team have found themselves locked out of the top six following a campaign blighted by injury.

Balatoni admits the Highlanders have been hard done by - but also reckons his side are better than the table shows.

"You could say a lot of the sides in the bottom half are top-six quality but the league doesn't lie and everyone is where they are because that's where their results have put them," he said.

"We're in the same situation and I don't think we're a bottom-six side but that's where we find ourselves.

"We've just got to deal with and take things as they come. Inverness are a good side but we've got a good record against them. We've beaten them twice this season so we're not going up there fearing them. We respect them but we're going there to get a result."