GARY LOCKE’S future at Kilmarnock must be in doubt after his side slumped to their second four-goal hammering at home in this brief Premership campaign.
Just three wins in 20 league games since taking charge, initially as interim manger last February, mean that the pressure is on the Rugby Park manager.
Their search for that elusive first victory of 2015-16 continues after being swept aside by Ross County’s four-goal first-half humiliation, with a double from Liam Boyce and others from debutant Jonathan Franks and Andrew Davies.
A 4-0 loss here to Dundee on the opening day was reprised yesterday and the jeering from the fans told its own story. Asked if he had any intention of leaving, Locke replied: “No. I am here to do a job and believe in myself and my ability.
“I’m aware that 4-0 defeats are not acceptable to the fans here. We were really poor. The goals we are giving away just now mean we are not giving ourselves a chance. We have to rectify it and quickly. We can’t do that and expect to win.”
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Kilmarnock were two goals adrift inside four minutes and had it not been for goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald, would have been eight down by the interval.
The visitors went ahead with a sublime move in the first minute as a fine pass from Michael Gardyne was brought down inside the box by Jackson Irvine and was laid into the path of Boyce, whose right-foot shot from 20 yards was deflected past MacDonald by centre-back Lee Ashworth.
Then, Gardyne cut the hosts open again to provide a perfect cutback for Craig Curran, whose shot looked to be over the line before it was cleared by Ashworth but Jonathan Franks steered the rebound past everyone.
Things went from bad to worse for Kilmarnock six minutes later when captain Mark Connolly had to limp off injured to be replaced by on-loan Celtic defender Stuart Findlay.
Ross County scored again on the half hour as Boyce netted his second goal, pouncing at the back post to meet a fierce shot from Jamie Reckord across the face of goal.
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Then Davies was picked out by Gardyne’s corner and hooked his shot down into the astroturf and it bounced up and over Mark O’Hara on the line.
The home fans thought Kris Boyd had at least cut the deficit before the interval when his free kick from the edge of the box got through the wall but the ball struck the base of the post and stayed out.
The second half was more about damage control for Kilmarnock, while Ross County were in cruise control. Their manager, Jim McIntyre, said later: “It is just one result. I believe we are good enough to progress from our ninth place last season That is our record win at Rugby Park.”
Star man: Michael Gardyne (Ross County)
Kilmarnock: MacDonald 8, Westlake 4 (Barbour 24min, 5), Ashcroft 4, Connolly 4 (Findlay 10min, 6), Smith 4, Magennis 4, O’Hara 6, McCulloch 3 (Splaine 40min, 5), Higginbotham 4, McKenzie 7, Boyd 5
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Ross County: Fox 7, Fraser 7, Davies 8, Robertson 7, Reckord 8, Gardyne 9, Irvine 8, Quinn 8, Franks 8 (De Vita 72min, 5), Curran 7 (Graham 34min, 6), Boyce 8 (Murdoch 61min, 4)