CRUEL SOMERS

Thibo punishes defensive nightmare to make it Cercle of hell for Killie

- CRAIG SWAN

DEREK MCINNES was devastated as a defensive nightmare left Kilmarnock's Europa League dream battered in Brugge.

The Rugby Park side's hopes of a famous Belgian triumph in front of 2500 travelling fans were wrecked by a brutal concession.

McInnes could only watch in despair as Liam Donnelly and Lewis Mayo got in a firsthalf aerial tangle that was punished ruthlessly by home skipper Thibo Somers.

Although able to fight back from a goal down in the first leg seven days previously, Killie just couldn't repeat the trick in the Jan Breydel Stadium.

Robby McCrorie's sharp penalty save from home hero Kevin Denkey at the beginning of the second period kept McInnes' men in the fight until the final kick.

But in the end, Killie could not haul back the hosts.

It was a sickener. Normally so sound and secure at the back, it was an awful time and occasion for such an uncharacteristic slip.

Just as they did in the first leg, Killie got stronger as the tie progressed and pushed to take it to extra time.