THERE was to be no Scottish Cup shock at Excelsior Stadium last night as Kilmarnock routinely dispatched of Airdrie United to set up a fifth-round encounter with holders Celtic at Rugby Park on Saturday.
A side from the Scottish Premier League de
feating one from the Second Division is hardly out of the ordinary but as Kilmarnock had managed just one win in their last 13 outings, manager Jim Jefferies could take nothing for granted.
The Rugby Park outfit produced a professional performance to ensure there would be no slip up against Airdrie and secured the win courtesy of first-half goals from Jamie Hammill and Colin Nish, who converted from the penalty spot.
Airdrie never looked as though they believed they could cause an upset and any chance they had of making the closing stages nervous for the visitors was dashed when Darren Smith received a red card following two fouls on Willie Gibson.
Airdrie United, in their previous guise as Airdrieonians, had a rich pedigree for cup giant-killing acts in the 1990's, when the side dubbed "The Beastie Boys" because of their uncompromising style reached two Scottish Cup finals.
Their current manager, Kenny Black, was an integral part of those sides but since those heady Hampden days Airdrie United have slipped down the divisions. Now they ply their trade in the Second Division, and if they had overcome their SPL opponents they would once more be presented with a shot at glory as Scottish Cup holders Celtic were awaiting the victors in the fifth round.
This Scottish Cup tie had already been postponed twice due to a frozen pitch at Excelsior Stadium but the playing surface had withstood the torrential rain over the weekend and at the third time of asking the game went ahead.
It would not be Kilmarnock if Jefferies did not have injuries to contend with and he was denied the services of goalkeeper Alan Combe, who picked up a knock in the 2-1 defeat to Dundee United. This presented South African Chad Harpur, who has been with the Rugby Park outfit since 2006, his long-awaited debut.
Kilmarnock should have edge ahead after just six minutes when Frazer Wright peeled off his marker inside the six-yard area to get on the end of Gibson's free-kick but his downward header was straight at Stephen Robertson and the Airdrie goalkeeper managed to block his attempt with his legs.
Harpur was tested after ten minutes when Stuart Noble spun away from Simon Ford on the edge of the penalty area but his low shot was well taken by Kilmarnock's last line of defence.
Kilmarnock had enjoyed the lion's share of possession but the longer the game went without them taking the lead their nerves would get increasingly frayed. Jefferies and co were able to breath a bit easier when they made the breakthrough in the 24th minute. Gibson's low in-swinging free-kick sliced through a crowded penalty area and Hammill got the merest of touches to divert the ball beyond Robertson.
Kilmarnock thought they should have been awarded a penalty after 33 minutes when Stephen McKenna upended Hammill on the edge of the area but referee Dougie McDonald adjudged the foul to be just outside the box.
However, three minutes later the official was pointing to the spot when Nish, who had just returned from a two match suspension, played a one-two with Hammill and McKenna was the offender again as he tripped the big striker. From 12 yards out Nish made no mistake lashing the ball beyond Robertson.
Nish hobbled off just eight minutes into the second half after twisting his ankle, having come off second best in a block challenge from Robert Donnelly, and was replaced by David Fernandez. Nish is out of contract at the end of the season and having attracted interest from the SPL and the English Championship has so far refused to sign new deal at Rugby Park, but as he made his way round the pitch the travelling support chanted for him to stay put.
Airdrie United made a couple of changes, bringing on Bryan Prunty and Kevin Watt for Ricky Waddell and Marco Andreoni as they tried to force their way back into this fourth-round clash.
Airdrie were full of effort but lacked the guile to unlock the Kilmarnock defence. Jefferies' side had managed just one win in their last 13 games but having secured a two-goal cushion they were not prepared to let it slip.
Airdrie's hopes of forcing their way back into the cup tie appeared dashed with eight minutes remaining when Smith, who had been cautioned just a few minutes earlier for a foul on Gibson, caught the same player late and McDonald was left with little choice but to reach for his red card.
In fairness to Black's side they refused to give in and had Allan Russell's shot crossed the goalline after it cracked off the underside of the crossbar then Kilmarnock's nerve would have been tested in the closing minutes.
It was not to be, however, as Kilmarnock set up a home tie with Celtic.
Airdrie Utd: Robertson, Donnelly, Smyth, McKenna, Lovering, McDonald, Smith, Andreoni (Watt 72), Russell, Noble (Prunty 61), Waddle. Subs not used: Hollis, Holmes, Craig.
Kilmarnock: Harpur, Corrigan, Fowler, Ford, Frazer Wright, Hay, Gibson (Bryson 84), Morgan (Invincibile 74), Hamill, Nish (Fernandez 52), Wales. Subs not used: Rascle, Locke.
REVISED DRAW: SCOTTISH CUP FIFTH ROUNDSaturday, 2 February (all 3pm)
• Morton v Queen of the South
• Aberdeen v Brechin City
• Kilmarnock v Celtic
• Motherwell v Dundee
• Livingston v Partick Thistle
• Ross County v St Johnstone
• St Mirren v Dundee Utd
Sunday, 3 February
• Hibernian v Rangers (12pm)
The full article contains 979 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
