Lee Clark pays tribute to grieving Kilmarnock striker Kris Boyd

Published 18th Sep 2016

Lee Clark paid tribute to Kris Boyd after the grieving Kilmarnock striker scored the opener in the 2-2 premiership draw with Partick Thistle at Rugby Park.

Boyd's younger brother Scott, 27, was recently found dead at home in Ayrshire with his funeral taking place on Thursday.

The 33-year-old pointed to the heavens after driving Killie ahead in the 16th minute with a typical poacher's finish.

Steven Lawless levelled before the break and although Souleymane Coulibaly restored the home side's lead in the 65th minute, Liam Lindsay bundled in the equaliser with seven minutes remaining., while Jags skipper Abdul Osman was sent off in the 88th minute after picking up the second of two yellow cards for fouls on Rory McKenzie.

Clark said: ''We're delighted for Kris, he's had a tough week or 10 days, and obviously he had the funeral of his younger brother on Thursday. I had to keep an eye on him, but he's responded in the right way and young Scott will be looking down on Kris with a lot of pride. We're delighted that it was written for Kris today.''

The former Huddersfield Town, Birmingham City and Blackpool boss, however, was left with an overall feeling of frustration after his side twice surrendered the lead to leave them without a win in four games.

He said: ''Of course there is frustration when you score two goals at home and create numerous chances and you don't win the game. From our point of view the two goals we conceded are disappointing. The second one is a continuation of a similar type of one we conceded at Dundee last week, so we need a bit of work there. We just need to get that elusive clean sheet to change these draws into wins, because we feel we might have had another four points this season if we could have done that.''

Jags boss Alan Archibald was pleased by the way his side responded to their third successive league defeat last week, a 2-0 loss at home to St Johnstone.

With four points, Thistle came off the bottom of the table, albeit only on goal difference over Inverness, who host Celtic on Sunday.

He said: ''I think it is a good point when you are twice behind. We showed great character both times to get back into the game but at the same time we missed a one-on-one with 30 seconds to go but there is always that wee bit of ''what if'.''

The goals take away from some great play. I didn't think Killie had to work hard enough. One is a long ball from a free-kick and the other is a throw in. On Osman's sending off, the former Jags defender said: ''I think he has to be a bit more experienced. Once he is booked - you have to watch what you are doing. We became a bit stretched so it was probably a good foul at the time but we have lost him for next week.''