KEVIN Kyle feared he would get a red card to go with his first career hat-trick after securing a priceless victory for Kilmarnock against Falkirk.
But after avoiding any sanction for demanding the ball from a linesman who was reluctant to hand it over, Kyle hinted he could soon be knocking on the door of the Scotland squad.
The 27-year-old former Sunderland and Coventry striker, who won eigh
t Scotland caps earlier in his career, has revived his playing fortunes since moving to Rugby Park in January.
He was too strong for the Falkirk defenders to handle, even though the Bairns had former Scotland centre-back Steven Pressley – currently an assistant to George Burley – and international squad man Darren Barr in their back four.
Kyle was booked during the 3-0 win, and when the linesman initially declined to hand over the match ball to the Kilmarnock match-winner after the final whistle he considered making his point more firmly.
He said: "The linesman refused to give me the ball at the end. I was going to chase him for it, but you know what the referees are like up here, he probably would have given me a red. Anyway in the end he gave me it and I got all the boys to sign it – I'm dead proud."
The Ayrshire club now stand eighth in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, six points ahead of Falkirk at the bottom of the table.
Kyle said: "It's great to get the first win of the year and I think we can move on from here away from the danger zone. I felt I had the beating of Darren Barr and Steven Pressley from the very first minute.
"At the end of the day I scored a hat-trick and won the points, and Falkirk will be raging about it."
After Saturday's display, Kyle now hopes he can stake a claim to get back into the international squad.
He said: "Darren Barr had a hard time of it and he is in the Scotland set-up, I'm difficult to play against and I proved that."
Kyle's first goal came after Dani Mallo in the Falkirk goal only managed to parry Danny Invincibile's shot. Kyle was first to it and slammed the ball home after ten minutes.
He claimed another with his head before half-time and then, with the clock ticking down, he out-jumped a pack of Falkirk defenders to nod home the third.
Winger Mehdi Taouil was an influential figure for Kilmarnock, setting up several chances for Jim Jefferies' side. Kyle said: "He is tricky. The gaffer asked before the game that of all the players in the Scottish Premier League who would you hate running at you with the ball. Well it's Mehdi.
"He got moving with the ball today and got passing. His timing was just right today and he played a couple of great crosses for me.
"He has bags of talent and he just has to believe in himself and apply that talent more each week, like we all do. The boys must be thinking if they put the balls into the box Kevin is going to get at least one or two."
Falkirk manager John Hughes admitted his opposite number Jefferies had won the tactical battle. "We possibly got it wrong on the day," said Hughes. "Playing good football doesn't always win you matches. So from now to the end of the season we're going to have to have a look at it."
He added: "If we have to sit down, roll our sleeves up and go with a different style we have to look at that.
"I'll take full responsibility in terms of the team I picked and the style of play I asked for maybe.
"We have to be more resolute in the way we defend and more demanding of each other."
