Copenhagen 2 Kilmarnock 0: Instant reaction to the burning issues

Like a scene out of Hamlet, the Danes stuck the knife at the end of Act One

Kilmarnock suffered late heartbreak in their Europa Conference League play-off as a VAR penalty and a late set piece sickener condemned them to a 2-0 defeat to FC Copenhagen.

Derek McInnes’ men looked comfortable for much of the evening at Parken, with Kieran O’Hara barely having a save to make despite the Danes’ domination of the ball.

The visitors could even have taken the lead in the first half if not for a timely intervention from Nathan Trott to prevent Marley Watkins scoring from close range on a set piece.

But a penalty spotted by VAR was converted by Kevin Diks and Rasmus Falk slammed home in the aftermath of a corner with virtually the last kick of the game to leave Killie with a mountain to climb.

Bold on Burroughs

If the video announcing his signing is to be believed, Jack Burroughs had a Prison Break style dash to make it to the plane for Copenhagen, his loan move from Coventry announced late on Tuesday night.

It was therefore something of a surprise to see the former Ross County man thrust straight into the starting XI for such a huge fixture.

Given he’d be up against former Celtic man Moi Elyounoussi and his Norway team-mate Birger Meling it was a big ask for the new man but he acquitted himself well in his right wing-back role, pressing high when the opportunity presented itself and sticking to his task defensively.

No Parken the bus

Playing away in a two-legged tie to a team that was in the Champions League knockout rounds just a few months ago was always going to require defensive discipline and accepting that the hosts would dominate the ball.

Killie weren’t timid at the Parken Stadium though, getting after their Danish hosts when they looked to play out from the back and creating some good openings on the break.

Copenhagen have had an underwhelming start to the season and the groans of frustration from the home fans became audible from around 25 minutes onward and they booed their team off at half-time.

McInnes’ men did a fine job of controlling the play if not the ball, reminiscent of victories over Rangers and Celtic in last season’s run to fourth place, before the late heartbreak.