Brad Lyons lapped up the love after lashing home the winner against ragged Rangers at Rugby Park.
But he knows that buzz was only the product of a punishing team workload that must be repeated if Kilmarnock are to stun Gers again. The midfielder savoured the career-high spotlight on opening day last season with the only goal of the game in a shocker for Michael Beale.
Killie went on to beat Celtic twice in Ayrshire and battled to a dramatic Parkhead draw. Lyons says confidence is high in the camp whenever the Old Firm come calling. Yet they’ve been warned by manager Derek McInnes that repeating those glory days is a massive task. Lyons said: “It was a great feeling scoring the winner with my family watching. But, as the gaffer has told us, that feeling happened because of all the hard work we put in on the pitch.
“It was a real team performance – every individual was outstanding. We were solid from minute one, at it from the word go, and that’s what we need again.
“At the start of last season I wore the armband a few times with Rory McKenzie and Kyle Vassell out injured. I was captain that day but not when I scored as Kyle had come on the pitch by that point. Those were really proud moments, leading the boys out against the two Old Firm teams.
“To be trusted like that by the gaffer, it’s a really good feeling. That result against Rangers definitely gave us confidence against the big teams.
“That squad have stayed together and we all know each other. We’re all confident we can do it again. We’re not saying it’s going to be easy, though, because we know the talent Rangers have.”
Lyons admits that spirits have soared since Killie conjured an amazing comeback at Dens Park before the international break. McInnes’ men stormed to a 3-2 success – despite being 2-0 down after 85 minutes. The 27-year-old then came on as a sub as Northern Ireland thrashed Bulgaria 5-0 in Belfast to top their Nations League group.
Now he has set himself the hard task of cementing a starting spot in his domestic and national teams this season. He debuted for his country against Slovenia last October but injuries denied him a second cap until last Tuesday’s Windsor Park spectacular.
Lyons said: “It’s a challenge getting in the Kilmarnock side, never mind the Northern Ireland one! I want to get many more caps so I’ll try my hardest to get in the starting team.
“It’s a quick turnaround now before next month’s games. Everyone needs to stay sharp because you can only get into the national team if you’re starting and doing well for your club every week.
“That’s my aim – to get my head down and perform my best over the next few weeks. There’s a real feelgood factor from being away and being part of that result against Bulgaria.
“It’s a dream come true playing for Northern Ireland. To get back in the frame and on to the pitch was amazing. The atmosphere was unbelievable.
“When something positive like that happens it gives you confidence. Add in Killie’s performance against Dundee, and everyone is confident going into playing Rangers at home.”
That was Killie’s first league victory of a season in which early European exertions took their toll on domestic duties. However, Lyons is convinced that’s the turning point their Premiership campaign needed. He said: “The gaffer has noted that, on six points, we’re only one point off where we were at this stage a year ago.
“We beat Rangers then Celtic in the League Cup last season but didn’t actually start the league too well. It felt frustrating when the international break came along as we’d just picked up our first win. But I think we can carry on the momentum from that Dundee win now.
“We’ve analysed that game, so we’re carrying lots of confidence. But we know we can also improve massively on our first half. So we’ve taken all that into account and are ready to go.”