Chester 0 - 1 Kilmarnock: Shiels takes the heat off Boulding

Published on 23/07/2012 00:20

Kilmarnock manager Kenny Shiels has warned fans it will take time before they see the best of new striker Rory Boulding. With Paul Heffernan toiling to overcome a thigh injury in time for the SPL opener at home to Dundee, Boulding, who joined from Livingston last week, is widely expected to be cast as Killie’s main attacker in the early weeks of the season.

However, Shiels insists there will be no pressure on the 24-year-old to hit the ground running. The manager, who saw Boulding shine as a second-half sub in the hard-fought win over Conference North side Chester, said: “Rory is very much a development player. His form will probably fluctuate as we try to get him where we want him to be. It’s down to how quickly he understands us.”

Matthew Kennedy’s late strike ensured Killie rounded off their trip to the Wirral with a victory in a match which saw the travelling support continually call for the head of chairman Michael Johnston, who abstained from voting Rangers out of the SPL. Captain Manuel Pascali got another 45 minutes under his belt after five months out injured.