Mehdi Teetotally Behind Killie Deal

May 18 2008 Michael Baillie At Rugby Park

KILMARNOCK 2

FALKIRK 2

MERCURIAL Moroccan Mehdi Taouil inspired Kilmarnock to finish the season with a flourish then insisted he's desperate to stay at Rugby Park.

The midfielder bagged a goal in an outstanding individual display as Killie rounded off a disappointing campaign with a 2-1 win.

Rugby Park boss Jim Jeff eries has already arranged to sit down with Taouil's agent Herve Cros in a bid to tie up a deal for the playmaker.

Jefferies is desperate to keep hold of the 24-year-old and Taouil revealed his boss had joked that he would try plying him with bevvy to get him to sign the deal.

The former Montpellier player, who was signed on an initial one-year deal, said: "My agent is meeting the manager and I hope I can agree with them and stay at Kilmarnock because I really love it here.

"I know the manager wants me to stay. I hope we can agree although I don't drink so he'll need to try another solution."

Although Taouil is keen on Killie Jeff eries won't get ahead of himself until the deal is signed and sealed.

The Killie boss said: "I'm meeting his agent and I'll give him a few bottles of wine but it will be just my luck if he's teetotal too.

"Mehdi has been a real find and put on a show. You can see the talent he has but he could have a better end product sometimes.

"I told him he needs to score more so that's why he signalled to the bench when he scored.

"Mehdi has said he loves it here and wants to stay so that's positive. But I've had a player before tell me he wants to stay, agree a deal and then leave so I'll wait until the contract is signed."

Former Killie boss Tommy Burns was in the thoughts of many at Rugby Park yesterday and the home side should have opened the scoring in nine minutes with a sweeping move their old gaffer would have been proud of.

Danny Invincibile found David Fernandez who squared to the unmarked Paul Dalglish. The goal was at his mercy but from 12 yards out the striker blasted over. And it was to be Falkirk who took the lead just four minutes later.

Pedro Moutinho collected a pass from Arnau Riera and as the Killie defence backed off the Portuguese star let fly and drilled a shot into the corner of the net.

Killie came close to drawing level through Invincibile who fired narrowly wide then Grant Murray had a header cleared off the line by Chris Mitchell.

Taouil was beginning to run the show for Killie and it was fitting that the midfielder drew them level in 24 minutes.

Fernandez released the overlapping James Fowler and although his first cross was blocked he picked out Taouil on the edge of the area with his second attempt.

The Moroccan's shot was deflected and Robert Olejnik should have dealt with it but the keeper allowed the ball to squirm from his grasp and it trundled over the line.

Just after the interval Fowler should have given Killie the lead when he played a one-two with Taouil and burst beyond the Falkirk defence but the full-back dragged his shot inches wide.

Taouil was again the inspiration when he released a wonderful pass that dissected the Falkirk defence and set up Dalglish but the striker was again off target.

It was one way traffic and Fernandez sent Invincibile in on goal but he shot straight at Olejnik.

However, nine minute before the end Killie notched a deserved second as Paul Di Giacomo got on the end of Jamie Hamill's cross to glance a header in off the post.

REF WATCH

ALAN FREELAND was given a guard honour by the players before his final game as a ref and had an easy afternoon. Rating: 7/10

MATCH STATS

7 SHOTS ON 1

9 SHOTS OFF 5

3 OFFSIDE 1

10 FOULS 14

6 CORNERS 4

0 BOOKINGS 1