ARE KILMARNOCK REALLY THAT GOOD?

Yes, they most certainly are.

Folk outside of Ayrshire might be getting tired by of the ‘what a brilliant manager Steven Clarke is’ but for two years he has stood above everyone else in Scottish football with the sixth or seventh biggest budget.

And with that pitch which, and this is true, even his own players don’t like.

They play good football, they entertain, are solid at the back, nobody is coasting and can run all day.

I personally would love Kilmarnock to finish third and get into Europe. It would be one of the stories of many a season.

The fans are coming back as well. We will see how many turn up next week when Rangers are in town.

The punters have three stands to fill and, really, those who support the club should get along if they can because a win, which would seal European football, could happen.

Gary Dicker, Alan Power, Greg Taylor, Rory McKenzie are all excellent players. They weren’t two seasons ago. Go figure.

“The aim is to finish the job next week, said Alex Bruce when he wasn’t arguing with the Hibs boss. “It will be a tough match against Rangers next weekend. We know that from our previous encounters this season. We will have to approach it right and fingers crossed we can match Aberdeen’s result and get into Europe.

“We have done well against them in the league season, especially at Rugby Park. It’s one the supporters are looking forward to. Let’s hope we can get them the result.

“I’d like to think that the Kilmarnock fans will pack the place out given it’s the last game of the season and there’s a lot at stake. Rangers won’t have the two ends behind the goal. Hopefully it’s a big day out for the supporters and we can give them something to shout about.”

“It would be a massive achievement when you think back to where the team was when the manager took over and where the team is now. He’s done a remarkable job and it’s credit to the players. I’ve only been here since January but even before that people were looking at the table and saying: ‘bloody hell, Kilmarnock are doing well.

‘It’s been great to be a part of it.”

WILL CLARKE STAY?

Hard to say. His family are down south including his wife who he calls the real boss.

There will be offers from England and, probably, Scotland, but Clarke enjoys his life at Kilmarnock, the club he has always supported, and there is nowhere near the same pressure as he would find at other clubs.

The 55-year-old knows his own mind. He will do what is best for him. If he can take Kilmarnock into third then my guess is he will give it one more season.

Although as he said himself: “It only takes on conversation and everything changes.”

WAS IT PENALTY?

Hmm, a bit of six of one half a dozen of the other.

David Gray did have his hands on Alex Bruce and wasn’t looking at him as the ball was played in, and Bruce did go down.

Referee Andrew Dallas had no doubts but there wasn’t a lot in it and Hibs fans would point to 20 other such incidents which were ignored.

Eamonn Brophy scored from the spot which was the only goal of a good game as it happens.

AND WE GOT ONE OF THE SAVES OF THE SEASON.

Just before the goal. Gary Dicker got his head to a Chris Burke corner, it would have been a goal 99 per cent of the time except Hibs keeper Ofir Marciano somehow got to the ball when there was no real right from him to do that.

“To be fair, it was a good save,” he said. “I only saw the ball late, so it was a quick reaction. But I am happy that I was able to push it away, because it was going in.”

WHAT IS IT WITH PAUL HECKINGBOTTOM?

He's had an easy time of it so far but his behaviour on Saturday was not on.

I was in the press pack which surrounded Alex Bruce as the Hibs manager came down the stairs and twice called Bruce a diver.

If it was meant in jest then the joke fell flat. If looks could kill and all that.

Bruce thought about letting it go but felt he had to have his say.

I couldn't blame him.

Bruce didn't dive. It might not have been a stonewall penalty but he didn't cheat.

Accusing a player of that, in front of a wide-eyed bunch of hacks, is well out of order.

A public apology is required.