Nikola Katic made a rare Scottish Premiership start as Rangers were held 1-1 by Steve Clarke’s Killie at Ibrox on Saturday.
Rangers’ Scottish Premiership clash with Kilmarnock on Saturday will hardly go down as a classic.
It was a game full of bite and spirit rather than class or technique. Alfredo Morelos’s second-half equaliser secured a point for the Gers against Steve Clarke’s side at Ibrox after the visitors took an early lead through Conor McAleny.
There were few chances but plenty of tackles with Connor Goldson just one of the players who was perhaps fortunate to stay on the pitch. And after Rangers manager Steven Gerrard accused Killie of ‘wiping out’ his players (BBC), Nikola Katic has now followed his coach’s lead.
“In the second half they made bad fouls that were like rugby,” the Croatia international told the Times.
“It was really tough, they stood and blocked us on the edge of the box. We are a team who want to play football, we don’t play long balls. Sometimes they cross the line.”
But did Kilmarnock fans take sympathy on Katic and co? Not exactly. And why should they?
Steve Clarke has built a team far greater than the sum of its parts since taking charge at Rugby Park and, while they can be a little physical at times, you cannot blame the former Chelsea coach for instilling a determined and rugged style in a team who need to find some way to stay at the top end of the table.
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