Lee Clark: Play-off had to take priority

Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark felt he had no option but to sacrifice the points in their final Premiership game to ensure he has a strong and fresh team for their play-off.

Clark made seven changes against Dundee United and took off booked defenders Lee Hodson and Conrad Balatoni midway through the second half to make sure they would not be sent off.

Killie led 2-1 at the time but, after the introduction of midfielder Julien Faubert and teenage centre-back Lewis Clark to join fellow debutant Greg Taylor in the back four, United went on to seal a 4-2 triumph at Rugby Park.

Clark was told of the suspension danger by Killie director Michael Johnston, who went down to the technical area during the second half.

And he admitted the priority had to be Thursday's first leg at the Falkirk Stadium.

“It became a bit disjointed with the two substitutions I had to make with Balatoni and Hodson on yellow cards, because I was informed that if they had got another one they could potentially miss Thursday,'' Clark said.

“I had to make those split decisions. And obviously if you are giving debuts and have a really young team and having to play a left-back at right-back, it isn't ideal. Although I've got to say I thought young Greg Taylor had a terrific debut at left-back.”

United took a 12th-minute lead through Mark Durnan's header and looked comfortable before conceding two slack goals in seven minutes to Kallum Higginbotham and Tope Obadeyi.

But Simon Murray struck a clinical double in the final 17 minutes and Harry Souttar headed a late fourth.

Clark said: “It's obviously disappointing but the bigger picture was always Thursday. That's why we left so many players out and that's why I had to make the decisions at 2-1 to take the two senior lads out.

“You want to win every game but Thursday and Sunday are too big for us to take any risks. I hate losing the game but I would have felt worse if Balatoni or Hodson had got another yellow card.

“The team will be completely different in terms of personnel, and with the freshness they will have, because one thing we will need about us on Thursday and Sunday is freshness.”

Gordon Young ended his spell at Tannadice with seven points in three games as caretaker boss and he hopes the future is bright for the likes of Murray and the younger players he has blooded.

“He has plenty of heart, plenty of effort, he's a joy to work with,'' Young said of the two-goal striker.

“And the young boys coming through should not just accept they have made their debut, not just accept they have had one or two games.

“The gauntlet I threw down to them when I was leaving was go and make yourself a first-team regular, and hopefully that's what they do.”