Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes rued the defensive error that cost his team a spot in the Europa League qualifying, as they were defeated 2-1 on aggregate by Cercle Bruges in Belgium.
A mistake by Lewis Mayo and Liam Donnelly gifted Thibo Somers an easy goal in the first half 7m. Kilmarnock now faces Tromsø in the Conference League third qualifying round.
“I’m really frustrated about the goal we conceded,” McInnes told BBC Scotland.
“You can always expect the ball to come into the box. They’re not hesitant to test you. We just needed to stay composed—a simple call could have resolved it.”
“Their captain, Somers, is consistently in goal-scoring positions and always finds the net. It’s all preventable, which is why we’re so frustrated.”
Robby McCrorie saved a penalty from Kevin Denkey, shifting momentum back to the visitors, but they couldn’t find an equalizer and now drop into the Conference League.
Norwegian side Tromsø defeated KuPS 2-0 on aggregate and will travel to Rugby Park next Thursday. Cercle Bruges will face Molde from Norway in the next round of Europa League qualifying.
Kilmarnock almost had the perfect start when Kyle Vassell broke through the hosts’ defense early on and passed to Marley Watkins. However, the Welshman missed the chance from just a few yards out.
Similar to last week, the match began with an open tempo but quickly became one-sided as Cercle launched continuous attacks.
The opening goal, however, was Kilmarnock’s undoing. A straightforward cross from the right was mishandled by Mayo and Donnelly, allowing the ball to fall perfectly for Cercle captain Somers to finish neatly.
They nearly received a second goal just before halftime when Robby McCrorie punched a corner directly to Hannes van der Brugge, who headed just inches over the bar.
Cercle’s best opportunity to seal the tie came from the penalty spot after a VAR review led to a handball call against Vassell.
Star striker Denkey faltered in his run-up and sent a weak penalty to McCrorie’s right, with the Kilmarnock keeper diving correctly to block the shot.
This boost of confidence gave the visitors a spell of pressure on the Cercle goal for about 10 minutes, but they couldn’t find the equalizer, despite chances from Stuart Findlay and Watkins.
Missed Chance for Underwhelming Kilmarnock – Analysis
Kilmarnock’s first-half performance was disappointing, a stark contrast to their display last week.
They lacked composure both on and off the ball, which resulted in minimal control and mistakes. The Cercle goal was entirely avoidable, and Kilmarnock also gave away several other opportunities.
However, the hosts did not fully capitalize on their chances against Kilmarnock, and there was a period in the second half where it seemed the visitors might score.
Yet, there was a lack of composure in the box as well. Findlay and Watkins both squandered opportunities in the second half that should have resulted in goals, and as those chances went unconverted, hope began to fade.
What did they share?
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: “We were missing a bit of quality, and at this level, it’s fair to admit we’re not quite there yet. It was a close game, much like the one at Rugby Park.
“What’s surprising is the type of goal we conceded. We usually defend the central areas of our goal well, but it let us down tonight. The players’ effort was not at fault.”
What is next?
Kilmarnock will face reigning champions Celtic in their Scottish Premiership opener on Sunday at 16:30 BST.
