Football: Walt must pick Locke
BRIAN MURRAYKILLIE boss Jim Jefferies called for watching Walter Smith to include Gary Locke in the Scotland squad after his side steam- rollered Well.
But Steven Naismith is surely a national star in the making as he created the first three Killie goals and his touch and imagination and reading of the game mark him out for a future call-up.
Killie moved the ball with pace and accuracy, creating space that Allan Johnston and Naismith made full use of. They went ahead in the 12th minute when Naismith lobbed a perfectly weighted pass into Johnston's path and he lobbed towards goal.
Keeper Graeme Smith looked to have it covered until the ball careered off retreating William Kinniburgh and rolled in.
Killie back Garry Hay gifted David Clarkson a golden chance three minutes later when his pass back was woefully short, but the youngster seemed hesitant and shot into the side netting after rounding Alan Combe.
Killie doubled their lead with a great goal. They passed the ball all over the park till David Lilley swung in a cross for Naismith at the near post. He could have gone for goal but instead popped the ball over the last defender for Kris Boyd to volley home .
Well got one back four minutes before the break when Clarkson tapped home but they conceded again on the hour as Naismith passed to Gary McDonald who steered into the bottom corner.
It was all over in 73 minutes when Boyd headed home.
Jefferies said. "Johnston and Naismith were terrific but the outstanding man was Gary Locke. I hope Walter Smith was watching."
Well boss Terry Butcher said: "It was 4-1 but it could have been more. It's a real slap in the face, hopefully it'll be a wake up call."
MAN OF THE MATCH
STEVEN NAISMITH
Killie's missing link - created three goals.
KILMARNOCK: Combe 7, Ford 6, Lilley 7, Greer 7, Fowler 6, McDonald 6 (Dodds 5), Locke 8, Hay 6, Johnston 8, Boyd 7 (Invincibile 5), NAISMITH 8 (Nish 5) .
MOTHERWELL: Smith 6, Hammell 5, Craigan 6, Kinniburgh 4, Quinn 5, Paterson 6, O'Donnell 5, McCormack 5 (Foran 5), Kerr 6, Clarkson 5 (A Smith 5), Hamilton 6 (McDonald 5).
MANAGERS: Jefferies 8; Butcher 6
REFEREE: D McDonald 3
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