(Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
Tommy Wright’s Kilmarnock secured a narrow 1-0 Scottish Championship win over Greenock Morton as several debutants like Morton’s Newcastle United loanee Tom Allan were given maiden league starts.
Kilmarnock had Jack Sanders and Oli Shaw making their debuts following permanent switches to Rugby Park while Allan played 83 minutes for Morton after his season-long loan switch from Newcastle United. Jaako Oksanen started alongside him while Gavin Reilly began up front in a game settled by Rory McKenzie’s goal.
McKenzie netted for Kilmarnock. (Photo by Ross MacDonald/SNS Group via Getty Images)
The winger’s strike 15 minutes from time proved enough for Kilmarnock to make it four wins from five Championship matches. Morton have won one of their opening five encounters in the division.
Rugby Park manager Wright said: “I am delighted, that’s what we set out to do – get a win. It wasn’t the prettiest of games, we could probably have played a lot better on the ball. I think there was periods we were flat, but we produced a real moment of quality and scored a good goal. We defended well all game.”
Morton manager Gus MacPherson added: “I felt we were really good. We worked hard and created some good chances. We probably should have been in front. So it was a sore one to lose in the manner we did – that was the frustrating thing.”
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