STUART FINDLAY experienced the “best moment” of his career when his stoppage-time goal earned Kilmarnock a stunning 2-1 win over his former club Celtic on Sunday.
The 23-year-old defender came through the Parkhead youth system but failed to make the grade and, after loan spells at Morton, Dumbarton and Killie, he moved to Newcastle before returning to Rugby Park.
Findlay’s header from a Chris Burke corner with seconds remaining, after the veteran winger’s 25-yard drive had cancelled out Leigh Griffiths’ opener, extended Killie’s unbeaten run against the champions to four games and confirmed Celtic’s worst start to a Ladbrokes Premiership season in 20 years.
“The best moment I’ve ever had in my career,” he said.
“We came out in the second half knowing we were 1-0 down but the manager told us to be patient, ‘don’t go for it straight away’ and that we’d get our chances.
“Burkey scored a brilliant goal and again we knew if we kept it tight that we’d get one more chance.
“We got the corner and Burkey put a brilliant ball in which I managed to get on the end of. It was a great feeling.
“Burkey has been around the block. He knew how good a result a point would be.
“With me being young, I’m thinking, ‘we can get a win here.’
“We also knew it was the last kick of the ball so we had to go for it.
“I knew he had the quality to put in a great area and fortunately I managed to put it away.”
Findlay’s delight was all to do with helping Killie to a second successive home win over Celtic rather than getting one over his former club.
The former Scotland Under-21 player said: “It’s not a matter of getting one up on them at all.
“I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t cut the standard that was needed at Celtic at that time.
“But I’ve gone away and taken a different path. I’ve gone to Newcastle and tried to develop my game there.
“I’ve played a lot of games for Killie now.
“I don’t care what happened at Celtic as that’s in the past. All that matters is I’m doing it for Killie now.”
Boss Steve Clarke praised Findlay for playing through the pain barrier after missing training all week but the stopper had no intention of letting a knee problem beat him.
He said: “I picked up a knock in the last minute of the Hibs game and I was in pain.
“But I spoke with the physio who told me I hadn’t done anything structurally.
“So although it was sore I knew it wasn’t going to cause me any damage in the long run.
“It was sore at half-time but I just got myself rubbed down and did what I could to get myself out there.
“When I scored in the last minute I wasn’t feeling my knee anyway.”
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