Kilmarnock

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Anyone looking at the faces of Killie fans trudging out Rugby Park on Saturday would have guessed they had just suffered a heavy defeat.

Our draw with St Johnstone was yet further evidence the manager has no idea how to organise a team to stop conceding soft goals.

The fact we faced 10 men for most of the game only makes matters worse and it would be fair to say the majority of fans have finally run out of patience with Neil McCann.

Fans will have their views on selection, formation and tactics but there is one glaring stat that tells you his time is up. The number of goals conceded - 28 in just 12 league games - is embarrassing and if we continue down that road we will set new records as we plunge to the Championship.

For the good of everyone McCann should be relieved of his duties now to give the new manager plenty of time to sort out the mess.

We now face the champions at Parkhead and it is very hard to imagine anything other than a heavy loss. Sad times.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

St Johnstone frustrate Kilmarnock in a four-goal Scottish Premiership draw, despite being down to 10 men (UK only).

Killie fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's 2-2 draw against St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Andrew K: Killie were so unlucky yesterday not to have won easily. We created so many good chances and the St Johnstone defence led a charmed life, not without some excellent tackling and cover.

Jim: The problem with Killie is we have let 11 good players go in the last two years and not replaced them with the same or even better standard of the 11 that has left, to name some Bobby Wales, Stuart Findlay, Fraser Murray, Danny Armstrong, Lewis Mayo, Corrie Ndaba. None of the present crop of players are anywhere near their standard.

Nick: Problem is overall team quality - not all on the manager. Lost some good players in the summer and replaced them with lesser quality.

Andrew: It's time for Neil McCann to go. The team selection and system is consistently imbalanced. There is no clear style of play, other than the pedestrian side to side passing which every other coach in the league knows how to effectively counter. We are so so soft. The intensity, both on and off the ball, that the team found for the run-in last season, has not returned and I do not envisage that it will.

Ken: The fans' frustration stems from our inability to learn from previous mistakes. We see the same defensive calamities week after week.

Keren: For the amount of time the 10 men of St Johnstone sat deep defending their box they looked comfortable, compared with how easily any opposition can form one simple attack and it results in us conceding. For the manager to spin this into having control of the game while also criticising fans, who stuck by the team throughout, is a horrendous deflection of responsibility.

Ten-man St Johnstone twice came from behind to deny struggling Kilmarnock a precious Scottish Premiership victory.

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

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Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann: "In terms of the amount of chances we created, we just didn't take them.

"That being said, a man up, 2-1 up, you shouldn't lose two points.

"Sometimes when you're a man up it's difficult because that team are working ever so hard, it's difficult to play against and it requires patience. I felt the uneasiness around the stadium, even when we were 2-1 up, and the players looked like they were being affected by it. We rushed things and when it gets to 2-2, with lots of time left, there's no need to panic. We got into good areas but we just lacked that quality.

"The most galling thing is they've scored two goals with 10 men, that's a sore one.

"We need the support more than ever. The players are working with everything they've got. There's not lack of willingness or effort to win games. We're all hurting that we don't win the games, we haven't lost the game today but it feels like a loss because we dropped two points from a good position.

"Do I feel the pressure? No. I feel it for the boys because they're getting pressure applied."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock were without Mark O'Hara, Bailey Rice and Johnly Yfeko in midweek.

St Johnstone have Liam Smith available after he missed the game against Motherwell with a groin problem.

Kai Fotheringham completes a two-match ban and Sam Stanton faces another week out with an ankle injury.

Image source, SNS

Defender Robbie Deas is aiming for revenge when St Johnstone come to Rugby Park on Saturday.

Kilmarnock suffered an opening-day 4-3 defeat at McDiarmid Park and have struggled since, going into this weekend's game bottom of the table.

Deas is hopeful for a better result to lift the mood.

The 26-year-old said: "I was unfortunately suspended for that game. So it was a tough, tough one to watch. So, look, we owe them one.

"I think we all hurt after that opening game. It was on the telly.

"The boys are hurting just now and we need to get together and get the job done on Saturday.

"Look at the last home game, we won 3-2 against Motherwell. We need to continue our home record and put three points on the board and thankfully the games come thick and fast to right our wrongs.

"It's a difficult league, difficult challenge, but we've got more than enough in the dressing room to get the job done and get three points and get the result that we want. We just need to believe in ourselves and back our ability to do that."

Deas has had a "frustrating" start to the season through injury and suspension.

He said: "It's been really frustrating, not being able to help the team on the pitch but doing my best off the pitch. It's difficult. It's been a really frustrating start to the season.

"And then to come in (against Dundee) and not get the result I wanted was also disappointing.

"There's loads of games coming up and I believe we've got enough in the dressing room to put a run together and start looking up the table."

• Since Neil McCann's first home league game in charge on 31 January, only Celtic (11), Hearts (11) and Rangers (8) have won more home matches in the Scottish Premiership than Kilmarnock (W7 D2 L4).

• Just one of the past 16 Premiership matches between Kilmarnock (5 wins) and St Johnstone (10 wins) have ended in a draw, a 1-1 stalemate in March 2023.

• Six of St Johnstone's 13 points this season have come from losing positions, only Celtic (7) have more, while Josh Campbell's 90th-minute equaliser against Motherwell last time out was their third via a substitute this season, no side has more.

• St Johnstone have won just three of their past 23 top-flight away league games (D4 L16), conceding 46 goals in that time.

• Kilmarnock are looking to win back-to-back home league games against St Johnstone for the first time since April 2019 (3 in a row) after their 3-1 win in February 2025.

Cal Giliknson
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell believes boss Neil McCann's expansive style is "unsustainable".

McCann saved the club from relegation last term but they have failed to kick on in the new campaign.

Kilmarnock currently sit bottom of the Premiership with only two wins out of their opening 11 league fixtures and 26 goals conceded.

Not only that, they have faced the most shots, shots on target, given away the most big chances and scored the joint fewest goals.

As pressure builds on McCann among the Kilmarnock support, Cammy Bell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast what he thinks is going wrong for his former club.

"They need to stop conceding goals. You look at the amount of goals that they've conceded already this season and that has been a theme since McCann came in," said Bell.

"He's quite expansive in the style he wants to play. They've conceded 26 goals, that is just unsustainable to win games.

"You will not win games if you concede that many goals. They've only scored 11, so that tells you Kilmarnock why they are bottom. It's not good enough at the moment.

"McCann needs to turn things around quickly because the fans are now starting to question what direction Kilmarnock are going in. He needs to get some points on the board quickly."

We asked for your opinions following the 3-1 defeat at Dens Park that leaves Kilmarnock bottom of the Premiership.

Here are some of you replies:

Kenny: Surely Neil McCann's time is up, there has to be change.

Brett: Seriously embarrassing stuff. As far back as the last transfer window, the fans were saying that we needed a decent centre-back and we're still waiting. Bringing inexperienced youngsters in on loan isn't working.

Wolfgang: Eleven goals conceded in four games and only one of those came against a frequent top-four team. September felt like we were stabilising in defence, October has felt like we're nursing a hangover celebrating last month.

Isobel: The manager has to take the blame for this defeat. We are nose-diving into the Championship.

Frank: I think it's fair to say that the management team have lost the confidence of almost every Killie fan. His substitutions made the team weaker which shows his lack of tactical awareness. Billy Bowie should thank him for keeping us up last season and tell him to go.

Anna: Enough is enough. It's time McCann was sacked after last night's atrocious performance at Dundee. First half wasn't bad but the second was the worst ever in so many ways. We are bottom of the league with only two wins from 11 and 26 goals conceded. With form like that and the threat of relegation, I can't see Bowie doing anything other than firing McCann. Made me laugh last night with him saying the team had so much promise, well they showed none of that last night.

Watch the best of the action as Dundee win 3-1 with a late Ashley Hay double to go fourth in the Premiership and send Kilmarnock bottom. Available to UK users only.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann says his side "have to do better" after falling to the foot of the Scottish Premiership with defeat at Dundee.

"It was a really even first half," McCann told BBC Scotland.

"When I went in at half-time I was disappointed at being behind but no panic, we knew the game would turn in our favour and I felt we did a lot of good stuff without that wee bit of polish.

"We got level, I felt we could go on and win, and the ball comes into the box and Ashley Hay gets a header and that's really disappointing.

"I felt Tyreece John-Jules is fouled [in the lead-up to the goal] and Duncan Nicolson gives a corner.

"The third goal is just a poor decision from the goalkeeper.

"I don't think 3-1 is a fair reflection of the result. The boys probably deserved to take something from the game. If you don't get chances and you don't defend balls into your box in this league you get nothing.

"If anybody in that dressing room thinks you just roll over – no, you don't. You get back to work. We want to put on a show against St Johnstone on Saturday. We know exactly what we are up against and what we have to do better."

Kilmarnock supporters, how concerned are you after defeat at Dundee sent your side back to the foot of the Scottish Premiership?

Read the full match report here

Have your say on the game via this link

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Fan favourite Aaron Tshibola wants to lead by example as Kilmarnock strive for consistency this season.

With one match remaining in the first round of fixtures Killie are second bottom of the Premiership with eight points before tonight's trip to face Dundee.

London-born midfielder Tshibola signed for a fifth stint at Rugby Park after the World Cup in which he was a member of the DR Congo squad.

Having first joined on loan from Aston Villa when Steve Clarke was Killie manager in 2018, the 31-year-old finds himself as one of the senior figures at Rugby Park.

He said: "It's a challenge in itself, it's a difficult role. When I was a lot younger, I had peers who were tremendous at the club.

"Now, it's obviously on myself to pick up a bit more of a leadership role, having been here for such a long time. I want to pass down my experience and try to lead by example on and off the pitch to help the younger players."

Tshibola reckons Killie have what it takes to climb the table and pull away from the relegation zone.

"We've shown what we're capable of doing. We just need to find that continuity and consistency," he said.

"I definitely believe in the group of players and the staff that we have. I see what we do every single day on the training park.

"You don't win games if you're conceding goals and it's something we're definitely working on, tightening up as a team. We will correct our wrongs."

• Dundee have only lost one of their past eight home league matches (W5 D2), a 2-1 defeat to Hibs in August.

• Kilmarnock have only won one of their past nine league games played on a Wednesday (D2 L6), beating St Mirren 4-3 in February last season.

• Joe Hugill has scored three goals in his two Scottish Premiership appearances against Dundee for Kilmarnock, although both games were at home.

• Dundee have won both of their past two home league games against Kilmarnock, this comes after only winning one of their previous 15 in the top flight at Dens Park against the Ayrshire side beforehand (D10 L4).

• After their 3-1 win in May, Kilmarnock could win back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches against Dundee for the first time since December 2018 (3 in a row).

Image source, SNS

Dundee could have Joe Westley back in contention but Bobby Wales (ankle), Simon Murray, Finlay Robertson and Jack Moorhouse (all ACL) are still out.

Kilmarnock have several doubts including Aaron Tshibola while Bailey Rice and Johnly Yfeko remain out.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Neil McCann has been speaking to the media as Kilmarnock prepare to visit Dundee on Wednesday night (19:45 GMT).

Here are the key points:

• McCann believes last Saturday's Falkirk defeat was not a "big setback" but "a disappointment", saying: "Clearly I'm unhappy about the result and probably elements of the performance, but having watched the whole of the weekend's sport, I think every team suffered with the conditions."

• Killie have the worst defensive record in the Premiership, leading McCann to "put a few dents in my plasterboard with my head" over the goals they are conceding.

• Dundee are a "well coached" team under Steven Pressley and McCann wants his side to be better at the "ugly side" of the game.

• He adds: "I'm very honest in what we need to do better. You don't want to lose two, three, four goals. You've just got to find a way of making sure you don't lose the game. If you can pull it all together then you'll get a really dangerous side in your hands. But we're not quite there yet. Everybody's still searching for the perfect performance."

• After Dundee it will be time to take stock on the first round of fixtures: "As a staff we have to, but I think more importantly it's for the team, for all the new players coming to either the country or the club, is understanding how the opposition have played."

• On summer signings who haven't featured much, such as Mark O'Hara, McCann says: "They've come into a team that's played in a certain way and they've come in and tried to adapt. And when you're trying to find form and wins, its difficult. It's a long season, we're not signing them for a quick spurt of 10 or 11 games, we've signed them for the whole season."

• Injury update: "We've got a couple of issues, one or two, but we'll be ready to go tomorrow."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Another unacceptable defeat for Killie at Falkirk and once again we lose three very soft goals.

There's no doubt that if we continue to ship goals at this rate we will be back in the Championship next season.

Many moons ago when I was a pup, full-backs were told to block crosses. I've no idea when we last blocked a cross. We simply don't have players with the will to put their bodies on the line and opposition managers are taking advantage of that.

Our manager, Neil McCann, slowly appears to be losing the dressing room and we have a massive week in which we travel to Dundee then host St Johnstone.

Credit to the fans who travelled to Falkirk in horrendous conditions and will trudge up to Dundee on Wednesday.

The manager badly needs points from these next two games or once again we may be heading for a new face in the dugout.

Constant changes are not healthy and for McCann's sake I hope we turn things round on Wednesday.

We may see a few personnel changes to freshen up the team and I hope they inject some badly-needed quality and leadership.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Sportscene's Steven Thompson and James McFadden review Kilmarnock's performance in Saturday's 3-0 defeat by Falkirk (UK only).