Josh Magennis hopes to be Killie’s prolific scorer

Kilmarnock forward Tope Obadeyi jousts with Motherwells Craig Reid. Picture: SNS

Kilmarnock 2-0 Motherwell

Scorers: Kilmarnock - Muirhead (9), Clingan (78)

The striker has netted once so far – in the win over Ross County – and passed up a couple of great chances against Motherwell on Saturday.

But the Northern Irishman was one of the home side’s best performers with his overall play and is confident the goals will come.

Magennis said: “I feel like I should be scoring with every shot I hit. That’s just the way I am. Unfortunately that’s not the case and sometimes they go for you and sometimes they don’t.

“I’m just glad I’m in the positions to miss chances, rather than not be in the positions at all. I’m fully confident in myself that I will score a lot of goals this season.”

Magennis believes having an extended run in the team will make all the difference. “I spent four years at Aberdeen where I was third or fourth choice in the pecking order and I wasn’t really getting a run,” he explained. “When I came here, I spoke to the gaffer and said I need a run of games.

“We were honest with each other and he told me if I was doing it in training and showing it in games, I would continue to play in his team.

“I’ve played four on the bounce and it’s fantastic he has that faith in me. When a manager has faith in you, it gives you confidence.”

Goals in each half from Robbie Muirhead and Sammy Clingan secured a comfortable win against a Motherwell side who finished the game with ten men after the dismissal of Fraser Kerr.

Magennis said: “Our display was terrific. From the first minute to the 90th, it was a solid performance.

“You can’t underestimate how strong Motherwell have been over the last few seasons, finishing second and third. We took care of them and our win was thoroughly deserved. We are playing with an arrogance and a style that we think is going to win every game.

“Everyone is chipping in with goals. We are creating a lot of chances and we are going to absolutely turn over a team. We are going to do somebody with a high scoreline. This season we are striving for top six minimum.”

Motherwell boss Stuart McCall said: “They troubled us with their pace and aggressive play more than we troubled them with our intricate football.

“The second goal, with ten men, just killed it off. It just summed things up.

“Stephen McManus collapsed in a heap, the ball bounced around and Fraser Kerr made a challenge, and they scored from the free-kick.”

Kilmarnock’s goals, from Robbie Muirhead and Sammy Clingan in either half, secured the three points and the reverse at Rugby Park was Motherwell’s third league defeat in a row.

Motherwell handed Henrik Ojamaa his first start since his return to the club for this crunch meeting with Killie.

The Estonian forward came off the bench for the second half of last week’s defeat to Inverness. Killie were missing Michael Ngoo and Craig Slater, but it was the home side who made a storming start. Muirhead had passed up a glorious chance in the opening stages, but, with just nine minutes on the clock, he made amends by grabbing the opener.

He collected the ball from Chris Chantler before letting fly with an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area that had Dan Twardzik well beaten.

As the match raced towards half-time, there was no let-up from relentless Kilmarnock. Rory McKenzie had a go with a 25-yard drive that a full-stretch Twardzik just managed to turn past a post. Chances for Motherwell were scarce, but Ojamaa saw an angled drive clawed away by Craig Samson.

But there appeared to be no way back for McCall’s men when they found themselves down to ten men.

Fraser Kerr got a straight red for a high kick on Jamie Hamill on 76 minutes and Clingan stepped up to smash in the free-kick from just outside the area to seal the points.