Joe Wright secured instant redemption as he headed Kilmarnock into the Europa Conference League play-offs.
Wright was sent off early in Killie’s 3-0 William Hill Premiership defeat by St Johnstone on Sunday but he was the hero on a famous night for the club in Norway with his deflected goal proving enough to beat Tromso.
The defender’s 11th-minute header was the only goal at the home of the world’s northernmost professional football club, above the Arctic Circle, to earn Killie a 3-2 aggregate win.
It was Kilmarnock’s first European triumph in 23 years and set up a shot for a place in the group stage against either Banik Ostrava or FC Copenhagen.
Derek McInnes had claimed Tromso thought the tie was won despite a late equaliser in Ayrshire from 19-year-old Bobby Wales, who started in the second leg.
The Kilmarnock manager’s determination to upset the odds rubbed off on his players as they took an early lead from Danny Armstrong’s corner. Wright rose well to meet the outswinging delivery and his effort took a massive deflection off the head of Vetle Skjaervik and skidded into the roof of the net.
The home side almost hit back immediately when Jakob Napoleon Romsaas was played in but Robby McCrorie got down well to save. An offside flag would likely have been overturned by VAR if the shot had squeezed past the goalkeeper.
Tromso were mainly threatening from crosses which Kilmarnock defended well. Liam Donnelly made a particularly important goalmouth clearance.
McCrorie survived a contentious indirect free-kick award against him for picking up the ball with his wall doing its job.
Killie had chances to get a second before the break. Matty Kennedy saw an effort deflected wide after a solo run and Kyle Vassell could not turn a couple of dangerous back-post crosses on target.
The Ayrshire side frustrated their hosts after the break. McCrorie showed good handling to hold Jens Hjerto Dahl’s low strike from outside the box and a marginal offside decision came to his rescue after Leo Cornic slotted the ball underneath the goalkeeper following a ball over the top.
The visitors had another let-off approaching the final 10 minutes when Amadou Barry headed against the bar from three yards.
Vassell had a wonderful chance to settle matters when he was inadvertently set up by a loose pass but the Killie captain took a heavy touch and was tackled eight yards out.
But the visiting team survived some late aerial pressure with the final whistle being met with delight from the 300 travelling supporters.
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
