Steve Clarke pleased with 'professional' League Cup win over Spartans

Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke praised his side's professionalism as they scored three second-half goals to see off Lowland League champions The Spartans in the Betfred Cup.

Lee Erwin fired the Rugby Park side ahead in the 63rd minute after their Edinburgh hosts had threatened a major shock with a resolute rearguard effort.

A late double from substitute Mikael Ndjoli, signed on loan from Bournemouth in the summer, earned a 3-0 victory and ensured Kilmarnock top Group H going into the last round of ties this weekend.

Clarke said: “We had to be patient and I thought we were professional from start to finish.

“We got the goals eventually, they took time to come, but we created chances in the first-half, especially early on, and their goalkeeper made some good saves and got some good blocks.

“We showed patience and a little bit of quality at the end got us the win we wanted.

“Credit to Spartans, they set up well and made it very difficult for us. They defended the spaces well and didn't allow us to get behind them too often in the first-half.”

Clarke also brushed off speculation linking Sunderland with an approach for winger Jordan Jones, who played from the start.

He added: “I don't mind answering stories when they are correct and there's some substance to them, but there's no substance to that story at all.”

Coach Derek Riddel, standing in for manager Dougie Samuel, who had a heart attack earlier this month, insisted The Spartans had relished the tie, despite the defeat.

He said: “It was a brilliant experience for the guys to come up against a real top-class side.

“They gave us a bit of a runaround but it's all about the experience and the guys getting to play against guys they wouldn't normally play against.

“And I think they really enjoyed that, despite being on the back foot for most of the game."