Kyle Vassell shrugs off Kilmarnock snipers as skipper reveals how players are digging each other out

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Kyle Vassell insists he has no problem blocking out the noise from the critics - because Kilmarnock are turning up the volume on each other on the pitch.

The Killie skipper was instrumental in Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Hearts at Tynecastle as he set up Matty Kennedy’s equaliser before bundling home the winner himself. But it was a moment early in the second half - with Hearts leading 1-0 - that seemed to really spark the fightback.

Vassell launched a furious tirade at goalkeeper Robby McCrorie and his defenders from the halfway line after a ropey clearance almost gifted the Jambos a second goal. The fact it came at a stoppage in play meant the entire ground heard his explosion. Minutes later Killie were level when Vassell outmuscled Frankie Kent to tee-up Kennedy before the powerful hitman completed the turnaround with his own close range finish shortly after the hour mark.

It was the striker’s second goal of the season in his 16th appearance - and his first since the Euro draw with Tromso on August 8. That run has seen the 31-year-old become a target for the snipers.

But the big frontman insists it’s the self-criticism inside Derek McInnes’ squad that’s helping drive them back up the table. He said: “Sometimes you have to dig people out. People might say things about me but, believe it or not, I am actually a nice guy!

“But when I’ve had enough I’ve had enough. I had a go at one of the lads in the Hearts game, I think it was deserved and shock-horror, after that his kicking was much better.

“Boys do it to me and too right if I miss chances, one hundred percent. If I am not winning flick ons and not at my best, then they will tell me - Danny Armstrong always does and so does Liam Donnelly when he plays.

“That’s part of the game, you have to be able to dig each other out as well as praise each other. And I’m the first to praise boys as well. It’s a great dressing-room but what you saw in the second half against Hearts, that is us.

“The manager is the most important, it’s him who everyone feeds off. On the pitch it’s more my role to bark orders, but in the dressing-room it’s about listening to the gaffer. He will see things so we trust what he says.

“If we do go behind, we never give up and there was anger in the dressing-room at Hearts the other night. We got more aggressive in the second half, were better in our press and it worked out.”

The experienced hitman insists flak from the stands is water off a duck’s back. Vassell’s strike in Gorgie lifted Killie back into the top six. And he said: “It was great to get the goal, I have been playing well so I wasn’t worried about not scoring.

“I don’t listen to noise, so if there was stick then fair play, they’ve got the right. I’d be the first to say I’ve not been good enough in front of goal.

“But I think outside the box I have been good this season, sometimes I have to be the unselfish one who makes runs. That has to come into it as well but I will score goals and can score goals.

“I don’t really look at the league table right now, it’s more after Christmas you do that. That’s when you get a bit more distance in the league, right now teams can go from the bottom two to top six. It’s about being consistent now, getting the wins we need so when the new year comes we’re in there. I think the league is more competitive again this year.

“Everyone can get a result against anyone, you can’t just turn up in this league because it’s so competitive. You get found out in this league if you’re not on it.”

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