Match ends, Kilmarnock 4, Brora Rangers 0.
KilmarnockKilmarnock4Brora RangersBrora Rangers0
Kilmarnock eased into the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a comfortable win over Highland League Brora Rangers.
Midfielder Aaron Tshibola opened the scoring in the first half at Rugby Park, with his first goal on his first start for the club.
After the break, Kris Boyd doubled the advantage with a precise finish, before Eamonn Brophy lashed in a fourth.
Stephen O'Donnell rounded off the scoring with a shot across Brora goalkeeper Joe Malin.
There was a sense of anticipation before this encounter, with Brora playing in the last 16 of the tournament for the first time in their history.
All the pressure was on Kilmarnock, at least according to Brora manager Ross Tokely before kick off, and he kept faith with the side that brought them to this stage of the Scottish Cup.
In contrast, Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke made five changes from the side that beat Celtic last weekend. Among those coming in was Leo Fasan, who replaced Jamie MacDonald in the Rugby Park goal.
Another January signing, Tshibola, was also making his first start for Kilmarnock, and he opened his account as half-time approached.
There was some neat build-up play from Greg Kiltie, who then found Tshibola with a ball across the face of the goal. The midfielder showed composure to turn the ball in from close range.
The finish ended a frustrating first-half for Kilmarnock, who had created chances but had been unable to convert them.
Boyd headed over after three minutes from a Kiltie free kick, while efforts from O'Donnell and Gary Dicker were saved by Malin.
Boyd did have the ball in the back of net after 34 minutes, following some lovely play in the middle of the park by Jordan Jones to set him up, but the goal was ruled offside.
Having opened the scoring, the home side looked more comfortable in the second half. Despite an early flurry of well-taken Brora corner kicks, the second half was really all about Kilmarnock and some terrific goals.
Boyd came close to making it 2-0 as he flew in to head a corner but his effort was deflected wide. The striker did not have to wait long for his goal, though, and a delightful finish it was too. Dicker played him in and Boyd picked his spot with aplomb.
Kilmarnock brought on Brophy and he had quite an impact on the game, first forcing Malin into an excellent save with a stinging shot. But there was nothing the Brora Rangers goalkeeper could do about Brophy's effort in the 76 minute, a rocket of a shot that flew into the net.
The home side weren't finished there, though, and O'Donnell wrapped up the win with a fine finish from distance.
Brora, though, can be proud of their Scottish Cup journey, which started back in September and has seen them travel 2,000 miles.
Post-match reaction:
Kilmarnock manager Steve Clarke: "It was the type of game that we expected, credit to Brora they made it really difficult for us at times. We had to be patient and eventually the chances and the goals came.
"You can get too frustrated in a game like that. We knew it was going to be difficult, Brora defended really well and worked hard, as we knew they would. We just had to keep picking away and waiting on the chance to drop. Fortunately we got one just before half-time, which made it a little easier for us in the second half. But until we got the third goal, the game was still alive.
"We've kept plugging away and found a way of playing here that suits us and gets results.
"The SFA haven't been in touch with me. I'll just continue doing my work here at Kilmarnock, I'm happy here, the players are doing fantastic for me and I have a great rapport with the supporters and long may it continue."
Brora Rangers manager Ross Tokely: "A wee bit sad, it's been a tremendous journey. The guys are gutted to lose four goals. I didn't think it was a 4-0 game, although Kilmarnock were the better team. We played some good stuff and competed, which is what I asked for. I'm proud of the lads, playing against a Premiership side. You could see their class, they put on a great performance and we'll learn from that.
"The movement from Kilmarnock was excellent, they've got guys who are comfortable on the ball. We can learn from that, and the young lads will learn from playing against better players. We'll come away from this much stronger as a team. I wish Kilmarnock well.
"We were massive underdogs and I told the guys to play with no pressure and fear. They could compete, no problem at all, and a lot of them would play at a higher level."
Line-ups
Kilmarnock
Formation 4-4-2
- 32Fasan
- 2O'Donnell
- 5Broadfoot
- 16Boyd
- 17Findlay
- 27Tshibola
- 8Dicker
- 24MulumbuSubstituted forBrophyat 65'minutes
- 11Jones
- 10KiltieSubstituted forFrizzellat 78'minutes
- 9BoydSubstituted forErwinat 75'minutes
Substitutes
- 1MacDonald
- 7McKenzie
- 12Taylor
- 21Frizzell
- 22Erwin
- 25Brophy
- 26Simpson
Brora Rangers
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Malin
- 12PicklesBooked at 18mins
- 5Duff
- 4Williamson
- 3MacDonald
- 17MacLean
- 6MorrisonBooked at 64mins
- 18NicolsonSubstituted forBrindleat 69'minutes
- 10MackaySubstituted forPicklesat 69'minutes
- 7Graham
- 9SutherlandSubstituted forMacleodat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ross
- 8Macleod
- 11Lisle
- 13Brindle
- 15Pickles
- 16Campbell
- 19Hoban
- Referee:
- Euan Anderson
- Attendance:
- 4,278
Match Stats
Home TeamKilmarnockAway TeamBrora Rangers
- Possession
- Home42%
- Away58%
- Shots
- Home14
- Away1
- Shots on Target
- Home8
- Away0
- Corners
- Home4
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away4
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Kilmarnock 4, Brora Rangers 0.
Post update
Corner, Brora Rangers. Conceded by Aaron Tshibola.
Post update
Corner, Brora Rangers. Conceded by Gary Dicker.
Goal!
Goal! Kilmarnock 4, Brora Rangers 0. Stephen O'Donnell (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Lee Erwin (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Foul by Aaron Tshibola (Kilmarnock).
Post update
Scott Graham (Brora Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Adam Frizzell replaces Greg Kiltie.
Substitution
Substitution, Brora Rangers. Kyle Macleod replaces Zander Sutherland.
Goal!
Goal! Kilmarnock 3, Brora Rangers 0. Eamonn Brophy (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Jordan Jones.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Lee Erwin replaces Kris Boyd.
Post update
Attempt saved. Eamonn Brophy (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Brora Rangers. James Pickles replaces Steven Mackay.
Substitution
Substitution, Brora Rangers. Paul Brindle replaces Mark Nicolson.
Post update
Attempt saved. Eamonn Brophy (Kilmarnock) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Kilmarnock. Eamonn Brophy replaces Youssouf Mulumbu.
Booking
Gavin Morrison (Brora Rangers) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Youssouf Mulumbu (Kilmarnock) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Gavin Morrison (Brora Rangers).
