EAMONN BROPHY is no longer the lone wolf. The striker has borne the brunt of the responsibility for providing goals for Kilmarnock over the past 12 months since Greg Stewart’s departure.
In that time a number of prospective striking partners have been wheeled out – Osman Sow and Simeon Jackson among them – to little success. Now it is the turn of Nicke Kabamba to try to take up some of that slack.
So far it is looking promising. The Englishman marked his 27th birthday on Saturday with his third goal from four appearances, a header from a Chris Burke free kick that sealed Kilmarnock’s first league win in 10 attempts.
His movement and energy also provided an ongoing distraction for the County defence that Brophy was able to exploit with two goals of his own, one from the penalty spot.
That the pair have also struck up an understanding off the pitch seems to have helped with their burgeoning chemistry on it.
“It was good playing alongside Eamonn as we are quite similar in some respects,” said Kabamba.
“We can both hold the ball up and we also have a good relationship off the pitch as well. We have been talking about things and it has helped our games.
“There’s a good connection between us outside of the football pitch and that helps when you get onto it.
“It’s just little things. We’ll do shooting practice and whoever loses is forced to get the teas and the coffees in, so that’s how you build things up.
“All strikers can kick on and play alongside each other and I think the healthy competition is going to get the best out of us. We don’t get in each other’s way.
“There are a few things that I need to be learning as a striker and I’m happy to be doing that playing alongside any striker, to be honest.
“For myself, this was an opportunity regardless of what was going on with the strikers here. If the team was doing well, I’d be coming to try and help them do even better. And if they are not doing too well, you want to help improve it. Whatever way it was going, you just want to take the opportunity when it comes.”
The result should ease some fears that Kilmarnock could have been sucked into a relegation battle had they not ended that wretched run.
“It is a case for us of taking each match as it comes along and trying now to build on this result,” added Kibamba.
“The mood in the changing room is always to be looking up as we have the players and have everything in our favour.”
The result leaves County – who took the lead through Iain Vigurs’ half-volley – embroiled in the battle at the bottom and without a win since mid-December.
“When you are 1-0 up at half-time, you want to go on and get the three points,” said midfielder Don Cowie. “So there is big disappointment there.”
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