SAMMON KEEN TO GO IN DEEP END

Sammon blew a couple of decent openings against Coventry, but the 21-year-old reckons he will make up for that once the real action gets under way.

He said: “The encouraging thing is we are creating chances. We have skilful guys like Mehdi Taouil and David Fernandez and they’re ideal for someone like me.

“When I go on a run then nine times out of ten they will pick me out. Unfortunately, I didn’t take my chances today, but I’ve no doubt with a lot of hard luck and a little but of luck I’ll get the goals — starting against Hibs on Saturday.

“Coming to the SPL is a big challenge for me but I’m getting used to Kilmarnock’s style of play.

“I haven’t set myself any targets yet — I just want to force myself into the team first of all and then I’ll think about my ambitions.

“What I’ve sensed already is how hungry the boys here are to make up for the disappointments they had last season.

“A good start is huge for any team and we’re looking to get some positive results on the board straight away."

Killie gaffer Jim Jefferies backed Sammon to make a big splash. He said: “We’re not looking for him to bear the full brunt of our hopes but he’s a lad who will get better and better.

“He’ll need a goal or two to kick on and then he’ll be a real handful.”

Killie took a while to get going and they weren’t helped by losing Frazer Wright after a clash of heads with Robbie Simpson.

They had the better of the first half and Ryan O’Leary went close with a header from a David Fernandez corner.

New signing Sammon saw a fierce drive parried by Kieren Westwood and the keeper also clawed away a point-blank header from Craig Bryson.

However, the half-time break seemed to disrupt Killie’s rhythm and it was Coventry who looked the sharper side after the break.

They took the lead in the 54th minute when Killie’s sub keeper Chad Harpur sent star man Julian Gray flying as he attempted to take the ball round him.

It would have been an automatic ordering-off in a competitive game, but referee Eddie Smith didn’t even book the South African.

He did point to the spot however, and centre-half Elliott Ward lashed the ball past Harpur to edge City in front. They should have scored again minutes later when Gray’s inviting cross found Simpson at the far post, but the midfielder sliced his effort wide from just three yards out.

Killie still carved out a few openings and Westwood pulled out a wonder save to fingertip a 20-yarder from Mehdi Taouil to safety.

Sammon missed out again with a cheeky backheel after Fernandez and Taouil had sliced open City’s defence. The former Derry City man couldn’t get enough power in his effort and Westwood saved comfortably.

Coventry got their second with nine minutes left and it was well deserved. Yet again Gray was the danger man. Grant Murray appeared to have closed him down, but he feinted to the left and then moved to the right to create some space before curling a superb 18-yarder into Harpur’s top left-hand corner.

Sky Blues gaffer Chris Coleman admitted he had given his stars a rollicking for their first-half display.

He said: “I asked them to up their performance in the second half and they did that. The tempo was a whole lot better from our point of view and I don’t think there’s any doubt we deserved the victory.”

Jefferies believes his side could have gone on to win if he hadn’t been forced to make changes at the interval.

He added: “Damien Rascle had been doing well in goal but he felt his groin tighten and, with Alan Combe also struggling, we felt we had to take him off.

“Ryan O’Leary had also done well in defence but he had a hamstring problem.

“We started slowly but for the last 25 minutes of the first half we played some great stuff. I was delighted with that and told them in the dressing room to keep that going.

“But we were a bit flat when we went back out and the changes definitely had something to do with that.”

The Killie injury curse struck again on Friday when Coventry striker Donovan Simmonds, who’d played against QPR at Rugby Park in midweek, was injured and missed the chance to play against his team-mates.

Jefferies said: “He went over on his ankle in training, but there’s still a chance we could take him on loan.

“Coventry have arranged some bounce matches and once Donovan’s fit again I can have another look at him."

KILMARNOCK: Rascle 7(Harpur 46, 5 ) Fowler 6, Ford 6, O’Leary 6, (Lilley 46, 6 ) Wright 5 (Skelton 14, 5) Hamill 6 (Murray 46, 6) Pascali 5, Taouil 6, Bryson 5 (Gibson 71, 5) Fernandez 7 Sammon 5.