Combe was not impressed by the New Douglas Park pitch

"Don't get me wrong, they deserved their victory and I'm making no excuses," said the goalkeeper.

"But to play on that pitch is a joke. We train on artificial turf but ours is far superior.

"The balls they use are also a joke. The balls should be used that are used in the Premier League."

Combe had to pick the ball out of the net twice in the first half as goals from James McCarthy and James McArthur sealed a shock win for the First Division leaders.

"It was a bog-standard ball you get in an amateur game on a Sunday and it was not good enough," added Combe.

Kilmarnock's cause was not aided by the dismissal of substitute David Fernandez with 12 minutes to go.

The Spanish forward saw red after picking up two yellow cards for dissent in quick succession.

MY SPORT: DEBATE Is Alan Combe right to criticise the plastic pitch?

But Combe felt the sending-off was harsh, suggesting referee Kenny Clark was unlikely to have understood what Fernandez said.

"Things like that happen," said the 33-year-old of the red card. "But I don't know how good Kenny Clark is at Spanish.

"David got booked and turned around and muttered something in Spanish.

"Kenny sent him off so he obviously has a degree in Spanish or goes there every year on holiday!

"The game is over now and it wouldn't have mattered if we had 12 players on the park - Hamilton were far better in every department and 100% deserved their victory."