Skipper move paid off for JJ

Jim Jefferies was delighted with Manuel Pascali's reaction to being made Kilmarnock's stand-in skipper for the 2-1 win at Hearts.

The Italian midfielder was handed the armband due to regular captain Garry Hay's injury absence and he enjoyed an impressive game much to the delight of Jefferies.

He said: "I gave him a hard time last week because he sat back and protected the back four and I didn't want him to do that.

"If you look at some of the early games of the season, he was having a pop at goal from 25 yards, he was then having to shoot from 85 yards he was that far back.

"I threw him the armband and I think that gave him the wee spur to go on, because I could easily have gone for Frazer Wright or David Lilley, who both have the potential to be good captains.

"Today, he was winning tackles and setting the tone. He was outstanding."