Derek McInnes has expressed his delight after Kilmarnock bagged their first league title in 57 years.
The Ayrshire side were crowned Scottish Championship champions tonight after a 2-1 win over Arbroath.
Ash Taylor and Blair Alston delivered the goods with late goals as McInnes' side fought back from behind to secure their first league title since 1965.
The delighted boss said: "I’m just happy for so many people. It’s not easy winning leagues and when you see the crowd turn up tonight, we were too anxious, too excitable in the first half.
“We asked the players to back themselves more after the break, have a bit of composure and I thought we dominated the start of the second half.
“It was just about getting the first goal early enough to give us a chance to get the second.
“There was a goal disallowed, a penalty claim, Gaston has made saves but the perseverance of the team was terrific.
“When I came here people said the team lacked this and that but I quickly realised there was good personality that just needed brought out them.
“When you see nights like tonight it shows you what this club can be. It’s exactly the reasons why I wanted to manage it.
“There was pressure on us tonight and the whole country outwith Kilmarnock seemed like they wanted Arbroath to win it and I get that, it’s a great story. They still might get there.
“But the best team wins the league and we are the best team, that’s a fact.
“We have had to do it the hard way.”
McInnes added: "The most important thing was the players didn’t think it wasn’t going to be our night.
"They kept gong. It was no more than we deserved.
"I thought it was an onslaught if I’m being honest in the second half.
"That’s when you feed off the crowd and you get the benefit of the crowd that turned up.
"It was important we had this occasion. We’ve only ever won two titles and we’ve never won one at Rugby Park. It was important that the fans saw the teams delivering tonight.
"The players deserve so I much credit as they could easily have rolled over and felt sorry for themselves."
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