Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes heaped praise on his side after the battled to a 1-0 win over Hearts on Sunday – despite playing 84 minutes with just 10 men.
Robbie Deas saw an early red card for a rash challenge on Kenneth Vargas, but that didn’t stop the hosts jumping three places in the table and picking up a first win in seven – with their last victory having come at Tynecastle against Hearts in October.
Bruce Anderson was the matchwinner with an 18th minute penalty after Joe Wright had been brought down inside the box by James Penrice.
Killie were the better team for large spells despite Hearts having the nuemrical advantange with Craig Gordon making smart saves to deny Marley Watkins and David Watson, while a sturdy defensive display limited the visitors to little.
Yan Dhanda almost snatched an undeserved draw for Hearts in the final moments with a curling strike from the edge of the box that clattered the crossbar but Killie held on for a vital victory.
Afterwards, McInnes said: “The effort was ridiculously good. Any time you go down to 10 men you need to give a performance and a half. We had to play the game a certain way. We had to stay within our shape.
“It’s my job to give us the best chance of winning the game. When Bruce scores it gives us something to hold onto and too often we had our two centre forwards at the edge of our box so we needed to go to a flat midfield three.
“The boys were magnificent. We’re having to work too hard too often this season because of the red cards but there’s only positives. Behind it all was a real effort and I thought the subs coming on and getting to the pace of the game did well too. Good decisions have to be made when you go down to ten men.”
He added: “I know Yan Dhanda hits the bar at the end but he should really be running into a body there. We’re due a bit of luck, there’s no doubt about it. I know everyone is partisan about their club but Kilmarnock deserved a bit of luck.
“We had the best chances in the game. We had the most shots on target. It was a great performance with ten men.
“Sometimes you do some scenarios in 10 men in training for 20 minutes or half an hour and it’s really about planting the seed in terms of decision making but to do it for 90 minutes was a monumental effort.
“Some three points are better than others but that feels like a brilliant three points.”
As for the red card, the gaffer said his only complain was the lack of consistency from officials this term, saying: “At the time I wasn’t sure if it was a yellow but Don Robertson is right next to it and he’s seen it for what it is and he’s given a yellow card.
“When it wass announced it was going to VAR, you always fear the worst. I’ve seen it back and I can see why it does look pretty nasty on VAR. I’m not saying it’s not the right decision. It certainly wasn’t the scissors that Don Robertson indicated but he has come down with his right foot on Vargas and if you freeze it, it doesn’t look great, on his ankle.
“In Deas’ defence he slips at the last bit and losing his footing and I don’t think he comes in at any great speed.
“The thing is consistency though. (Reo) Hatate here a few weeks ago, I wasn’t sure it was a red but when it went to VAR, I don’t know for the life of me it wasn’t given.
“The inconsistency is awful at the minute. There’s a Hearts player who was eventually booked should’ve been booked twice before he actually is booked. He wasn’t booked for offences that my players have been booked for.
“This is what I’m going to keep banging on about and all the managers are the same. The same offence should either be a yellow or not. It shouldn’t be dependant on what referee you get. There has to be a clearer direction but we’re not getting it.”
Don’t miss the latest Ayrshire headlines –sign up to our free daily newsletter