Kilmarnock 2
Ayr United 0
League (Championship)
Kilmarnock |
2 - 0 |
Ayr United |
 |
League (Championship) |
 |
| Goalscorers | |
| None. | None. |
| Team Managers | |
| Unknown. |
David Hopkin |
| Starting Eleven | |
|
Hemming Naismith Murray StokesBooked at 45mins Haunstrup Burke McGinn Alston Murray Polworth Cameron |
Jordan Houston .2 Patrick Reading .3 Andy Murdoch .6 Aaron Muirhead .4 Sean McGinty .5 Tomi Adeloye .9 Cameron Salkeld .11 Jack Baird .15 Michael Hewitt .20 Charlie Albinson .21 Mark McKenzie .22 |
| Bench | |
|
Robinson Armstrong Walker Sanders Lyons Burrell McGowan |
Aiden McAdams .1 Michael Moffat .7 Daire OConnor .10 James Maxwell .14 Markus Fjortoft .23 Jonathan Afolabi .24 |
| Substitutions | |
| None. |
Daire OConnor for Michael Hewitt (67) Jonathan Afolabi for Mark McKenzie (67) James Maxwell for Aaron Muirhead (82) |
| Cautions | |
| None. |
Tomi Adeloye Jordan Houston Cameron Salkeld Jack Baird |
| Red Cards | |
| None. | None. |
| Match Officials | |
|
Don Roberston (Referee) |
Match Report
Kilmarnock opened their Scottish Championship campaign with a deserved victory over local rivals Ayr United.
In the first league meeting of the sides in 28 years, Killie dominated with Innes Cameron and the outstanding Chris Burke threatening.
Liam Polworth fired Tommy Wright's side ahead in the second half following a forceful run by Blair Alston.
And Cameron netted from the spot after Jack Baird was harshly penalised for handball.
Replays suggested the ball had hit the defender's chest following a shot by Alston.
David Hopkin's visitors struggled to gain territory in attacking areas, though the manager felt his team should have had a penalty in the first half for a challenge on Tomi Adeloye.
Kilmarnock manager Tommy Wright: "I thought we were relentless from the first whistle. It was a really good performance and a thoroughly deserved win. All we've done is get three points and get a good start.
"I know what Chris Burke can give me. He's a tremendous professional and I was so pleased when he re-signed."
Ayr United manager David Hopkin: "Players gave me everything. I thought the referee got two of the biggest decisions wrong.
"It was a stonewall penalty for us in the first half. [At Kilmarnock's penalty] it hits Jack's chest. You can hear with the thud it hits his chest."
Match report written by BBC
Squad Statistics (as at August 2nd, 2021)
| 2021-22 | All Time | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Nat |  |
 |
|
|
|
| Charlie Albinson (GK) | 24 |
|
3 | - | 3 | - |
| Sean McGinty | 27 |
|
4 | - | 4 | - |
| Patrick Reading | 22 |
|
4 | - | 28 | 1 |
| Jack Baird | 25 |
|
4 | - | 38 | - |
| Jordan Houston | 21 |
|
4 | - | 52 | - |
| Andy Murdoch | 26 |
|
4 | 1 | 81 | 4 |
| Michael Hewitt | 20 |
|
3 | - | 11 | - |
| Aaron Muirhead | - |
|
4 | - | 71 | 5 |
| Mark McKenzie | 20 |
|
4 | - | 41 | 2 |
| Cameron Salkeld | 22 |
|
4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Tomi Adeloye | 25 |
|
4 | 2 | 4 | 2 |
| Daire OConnor (sub) | 24 |
|
1 | - | 1 | - |
| James Maxwell (sub) | 19 |
|
1 | - | 1 | - |
| Jonathan Afolabi (sub) | 21 |
|
1 | - | 1 | - |
League Table (as at August 2nd, 2021)
| Pld | W | D | L | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kilmarnock | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 2. | Partick Thistle | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 3. | ICT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4. | Hamilton Academical | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 5. | Raith Rovers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 6. | Dunfermline Athletic | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 7. | Morton | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 8. | Queen of the South | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 9. | Arbroath | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 10. | Ayr United | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |