Stevie May provided already-relegated Livingston with the perfect platform by slotting home after 19 minutes, firing the ball low into the net after a cute flick from ex-Hearts and Rangers midfielder, Barrie McKay.
However, Kilmarnock replied five minutes later through former Manchester United striker, Joseph Hugill, and the Rugby Park combine then cruised to a 4-1 victory at The Home of the Set Fare Arena.
The home fans in the 3,000-plus crowd, which included around 1,500 from Ayrshire, voiced their displeasure. Interim boss, Scott Arfield (pictured), was also unhappy.
For the record, Nicky Clescenco added the second ten minutes after the opener and two goals followed in five second-half minutes, Rangers loanee, Findlay Curtis, netting after 53 minutes and Hugill again after 58.
Frankly, it was no more than Killie deserved, and Neil McCann’s rejuvenated team have now won four in a row in the post-split fixtures, the first time since 2018 that they have done so, and on-form Hugill took his late season tally to seven goals in his past eight games.
No wonder, then, that he was in buoyant mood when he faced the media after the comfortable win. The end of the season has come at the wrong time for the Durham-born, 220year-old.
McCann was also upbeat after his side moved onto 40 points, the same as Aberdeen, thanks to the second-half surge in which they dominated possession and proceedings.
Livingston, however, did have their chances. Arfield made changes and Killie goalkeeper, Maksymilian Stryjek, was forced to make diving stops to prevent first May and then substitute, Sam Culbert, from netting late in the game.
Another substitute, Joshua Zimmerman also found himself one-on-one with the Kille goalkeeper but Stryjek smothered the ball and the chance was gone. Cue frustration in the home supporters.
There were bright spots for interim boss Arfield. Cristian Montano was a threat down the left, Macaulay Tait bevered around midfield, Emmanuel Danso showed glimpses, and Cammy Kerr dug in at the back. Indeed, he snuffed out danger with a last-gasp tackle in the box after a slick move involving thee Killie players down the right.
Livi also had spells when they controlled the ball, but slack passing, with McKay a culprit, cost them good on-field positions, and Arfield, who named himself as a substitute v Killie (he did not take the field) did not hold back in the media briefing after the club’s final game in the William Hill Premiership.
By the way, he does not want the Livi job, he wants to play next season, and considers that the yo-yo club needs a manager who has been over the championship course before.
In the future, yes, and he declared that he was not taking coaching badges just to have them.
Asked about his take on the game, the former Rangers player said: “Not great, mate. Half chances after the goal, they become half chances because, with a better pass, we could have been in a couple of times.
“Barrie McKay picks up brilliant positions sometimes. I asked him to play with a bit of freedom, but then you don’t make those wee passes count. Then he does make a play for Maisy (Stevie May) and the goal went in.
“For 20 minutes we were really, really good. For some reason we were surprised to go in front. I said that to the players at half time. Once you get to a stage in the game to make a difference it has to continue.
“We invited a wee bit more pressure and they make it count.”
Arfield admitted that his men could have scored more but revealed that he has had only having four training sessions since he took temporary charge. He stressed to squad that he wanted his players to expand the game.
The fourth goal came, he argued, as Livingston were “expansive” but he said: “Kilmarnock have found great momentum in the past four or five weeks. You can see that in their performance, full of belief. This club has had bad momentum for long periods and it is hard to get them out of that feeling.”
McCann’s men held a 2-1 advantage at the break and he told his squad to respect the opposition to get more goals. They did.
He added: “They played in a manner we demand and I thought they were exceptional, at times. They continued to try to penetrate and score more goals and it could have been a lot more.”
The manager, and former TV pundit, admitted: “It has been a terrific time since I have come in and the boys have really dug in and embraced the challenge that Billy (Dodds) and I have set them. We now have a platform to move forward.”
KILMARNOCK AT ALMONDVALE: Killie fans sing in the sunshine but Livi fans still in the dark over who will manage their side next season in the championship. Picture Nigel Duncan
