Mikael Ndjoli shines as Kilmarnock kick-off with a win

Posted Sunday, August 05, 2018 by PA

A goal from new signing Mikael Ndjoli helped Kilmarnock win on the opening weekend of the Ladbrokes Premiership season for the first time since 2009 as they defeated St Johnstone 2-0 at Rugby Park.

Goals from Scott Boyd and on-loan Bournemouth forward Ndjoli gave Steve Clarke’s men the three points in a game of two halves.

Killie came to life after the break and Boyd netted after a 58th-minute free-kick before Ndjoli netted in style with five minutes left.

The opening period was scrappy as both sides tried to combat each other’s direct style of play.

The visitors had a half chance in the opening minutes when Aaron Comrie’s deep free-kick eventually found Steven Anderson who fired over from 18 yards.

Saints keeper Zander Clark was then called into action twice in quick succession just after the half-hour mark. He saved a snap shot from Lee Erwin just inside the penalty area and then pulled off a fantastic stop to his left-hand-side to deny an Alan Power strike from 22 yards.

The opening period proved to be frustrating for the more technical players on each side with Jordan Jones rarely getting involved for Kilmarnock and summer arrival Tony Watt left isolated up top for Saints.

However, into the second half Jones became a livewire and had two efforts early on. The first came when the winger nutmegged Comrie on the left and fizzed a ball past Clark’s post, before stinging his palms moments later from a similar angle.

In the 58th minute Kilmarnock’s early second-half pressure paid off when they opened the scoring through an unlikely source.

A set-piece straight off the training ground began when Chris Burke’s free-kick from the right was played short into the box. The pass found Erwin who’s scuffed strike was palmed away by Clark into the path of Boyd who fired into an open goal from inside the six-yard box.

The visitors should have found themselves level when Murray Davidson could only direct his free header straight at Jamie MacDonald from a corner.

Burke then almost doubled Killie’s lead with a controlled left footed strike from 15 yards but Clark made a clever stop low to his right. Jones then rattled the woodwork with a magnificent dipping strike, but the crossbar denied the winger his first goal of the season.

The game was then put to bed when substitute Ndjoli fired a wonderful strike into Clark’s top right-hand corner from 22 yards.