Kilmarnock

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Killie slipped into the relegation play-off spot with an error-strewn defeat at Tynecastle, not a happy hunting ground on this occasion.

Our Achilles heel all season has been our propensity for conceding soft goals and that was abundantly in evidence on Saturday.

Sadly it has been happening since August and the sooner we stop blaming VAR and take responsibility for our own shortcomings the sooner we might just climb the table.

On a positive note it was great to see Bobby Wales on the scoresheet again following on from Parkhead the previous week.

Along with David Watson he should be starting every week as we need their youthful enthusiasm, allied to their undoubted ability, to drag us out of this mess.

The table is still tight and can change very quickly but it's time to dump the excuses and do our talking on the park.

We have two massive home games now, starting with Dundee United in a televised match on Saturday.

Six points from these two matches could change the whole complexion of the season, however no points could see me increasingly worried.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Watch Sportscene analysis of Kilmarnock's 3-2 defeat against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership.

Watch highlights of Hearts' 3-2 win against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 3-2 defeat against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

Anon: I'm in panic mode. Too many parallels with the season we went down. Two unreliable keepers, a real vulnerability at the back and a blind spot towards out of form players. We're in the mix with St Johnstone and Ross County - both beat us home and away this year. Worrying.

Stephen: Derek McInnes has become very adept at talking up a defeat, but the results speak for themselves. Worryingly, we are losing to teams round about us, teams that strengthened in the summer or January windows where we have stood still. At the moment we're heading for the dreaded play-off, potentially against our county rivals. Losing that would be Armageddon.

John: Killie were poor, poor goals to lose. Kieran O'Hara back making mistakes he is bad for that but pulls off the odd great save. We should try to get David Washington on loan from Chelsea.

Robert: Our defence has gifted goals all season, once is a mistake, twice is unfortunate, but more than two is downright incompetence and needs addressed, both in the transfer market and McInnes giving them a rocket and fining them. Why wasn't Bruce Anderson on before 87 minutes?

Ant: Sick of McInnes. We were chasing the game and he takes Liam Polworth and Kyle Magennis off, arguably our two most forward thinking midfielders. Table is tight but I have no belief in us getting results right now. McInnes tombola every week, with an ever-changing lineup isn't helping, no consistency or fluidity. Another manager could get a better tune from us.

Jim: As has been said before Killie are now in a relegation battle with St Johnstone. We are not safe as St Johnstone have already beat us at Rugby Park. Marley Watkins will not score for us. We need to play the young boys and get rid of the deadwood now!

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock have failed to win in their last three games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 3 November 2024 to 7 December 2024, a run of six games.

• Hearts are undefeated in their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 16 December 2023 to 17 February 2024, a run of 10 games.

• Hearts have beaten Kilmarnock for the first time in the Premiership since 2 December 2023, a run of four games without a win.

• James Penrice has assisted three goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), no Hearts player has more.

• Daniel Armstrong has assisted four goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Kilmarnock player.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "Yeah, I think there were two parts to it, I don't think we played that well in the first half, that said, I thought we dealt with Hearts playing the ball forward long and filling channels and winning that first contact.

"None more so than the goal we feel like Joe Wright is impeded, [Elton] Kabangu is offside when he kicks it when Craig Gordon kicks it, he impedes Joe from winning the header and while you're maybe waiting for the linesman to flag, you're certainly hoping that if he doesn't flag, then the VAR officials deals with that.

"If Kabangu doesn't do what he does, Joe Wright wins the header, he's in an offside position when Craig Gordon kicks it and it's such a poor decision. So we're frustrated with that.

"We're frustrated a bit at half time that we needed to show more. I thought we dealt a lot of their better players, I thought we kind of kept them quiet but we still didn't play well enough on the back of the first-half performance and we spoke about trying to get our strikers more engaged, running more, playing closer together and Marley [Watkins] makes an average ball from [Lewis] Mayo into a good ball, he runs the gap and puts a lovely ball in for Bobby [Wales] across the man and at one each we felt good.

"I felt though that we were playing better, I thought Danny's [Armstrong] introduction helped us, Fraser Murray was a constant threat on that side and we just needed to keep it that for a bit longer.

"There's no doubt the third one quickly after is a mistake.

"So two mistakes and a mistake from the officials, not John Beaton I need to say but from the VAR officials takes the game away from us, we respond as we always do, we score a brilliant second goal, typical Danny, good wing play, stand the ball up, wee Fraser on the opposite side, and it's game on and we missed a few opportunities after that, I think this was a real missed opportunity.

"We always feel coming to Tynecastle, particularly all my teams that have ever come, if you score two goals you normally either win it or get something for it, and two goals should have been enough to get something for the game."

Hearts held off a strong Kilmarnock fightback to win a five-goal thriller at Tynecastle Park and leapfrog Derek McInnes' side in the Scottish Premiership.

What did you think of that, Kilmarnock fans? Was that a fair result or did you deserve more at Tynecastle?

Let us know your thoughts, external.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes was not a happy man at half-time, raging with his players from front to back as he seemed to think they weren't doing their jobs.

In truth, Hearts should have been more than 1-0 up at the break but whatever McInnes said, it worked. He also brought on Danny Armstrong - linked with a move to Hearts - who almost dragged Kilmarnock back into the match.

They immediately had more threat on the wings and both goals came down the right-hand side where Armstrong had replaced on-loan debutant Calvin Ramsay.

The Ayrshire side slip down to 11th place but given they sit seven points above St Johnstone, there is no need to panic just yet. They're only five points off the top six and if they can find the consistency they showed last season they should be fine.

Wales also provided a real threat up top and put in another good audition in the competition to be Kilmarnock's main striker.

Image source, SNS

Danny Armstrong. The winger was introduced at the break and did his best to drag Kilmarnock back into the match, being involved in the first and assisting the second.

That might not be the best thing for Derek McInnes. Armstrong has been heavily linked with a move to Tynecastle and put on a show for his admirers.

Image source, SNS

Hearts could include new signings Sander Kartum and Michael Steinwender, while Lawrence Shankland has a chance of returning after a five-game calf injury absence.

Calem Nieuwenhof is also in contention after being sidelined since last March with a hamstring problem. Frankie Kent (quad) and Stephen Kingsley (hamstring) are out long term.

Killie have lost Robby McCrorie (broken cheekbone), Brad Lyons (hamstring) and Rory McKenzie (stomach) but have Kyle Magennis back.

Matty Kennedy (back), Kyle Vassell, Stuart Findlay (ankle) and Innes Cameron (hamstring) remain out.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Not many would have expected Fraser Murray to become one of the shining lights in a tricky Kilmarnock season, but that is how it has panned out for the former Hibs youngster.

The 25-year-old has made 24 appearances this term and started the past eight league games, having played a bit-part role for the previous two seasons.

Speaking before Saturday's trip to face Hearts, Murray said: "I'm loving it, just getting that feeling of playing every week.

"I just needed a run of games to get back into the swing of things, get a bit of confidence. Hopefully I've showed what I can do and we can start pushing up the table now.

"When a chance comes, I know I need to take it. It's like a cup final for me. Over the last few months I've had a run of games and that gives me confidence."

Starting wingers Matty Kennedy and Danny Armstrong have both had spells out with injury, allowing Murray to come in and impress in wins over Aberdeen, Hearts and St Mirren.

"At the start of the season I just set myself, I wanted to play more games," the winger added. "I'd come back after doing work in the off season, came back fitter than I was the season before.

"I tried to make an impression and take it from there. I want goals and assists and hopefully I can get more as the season goes on. But at the start of the season, I just wanted to play, to get in the team and hold my position.

"That was important for me after not playing a lot. This season has probably been the biggest season of my career."

"I had to come back, fight for my place and show I could play at this level."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes expects Danny Armstrong, who is out of contract this summer, will still be at Rugby Park come the end of the transfer window despite Heart of Midlothian being keen on the 27-year-old and a six-figure bid from an unnamed European club being rejected. (Daily Record), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

• Hearts are winless in four league meetings with Kilmarnock (D2 L2), losing their past two in a row.

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their past 10 Scottish Premiership games away to Hearts (W6 D3), a 3-1 defeat in December 2022.

• Hearts have kept a clean sheet in their past three league games, as many as their previous 22 beforehand. Not since January 2018 have Hearts gone longer without conceding in the Premiership (seven games).

• Kilmarnock are winless in six away league outings (D2 L4), with their last such win coming in October at Hearts (2-1).

• Only Celtic (345) have recorded more pressed sequences in the league this season than Hearts (307), while only Celtic (188) and Rangers (180) have forced more high turnovers than the Tynecastle side (153).

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie is facing a month on the sidelines after suffering a fractured cheekbone in the Scottish Cup defeat to Celtic last weekend.

McCrorie had to be substituted in the opening stages at Parkhead following a collision with Celtic winger Nicolas Kuhn.

The 26-year-old adds to Derek McInnes' long injury list that also includes Brad Lyons and Rory McKenzie before Saturday's trip to face Hearts.

"We've not got our troubles to seek," the Killie boss said.

"Robby has fractured his cheekbone, which was what we thought. He'll be out for probably the best part of three to four weeks. We will maybe get him in a mask.

"As a consequence of that, we have recalled Aidan Glavin from Elgin on an emergency loan with the intention of putting him back out to Elgin. I didn't want to do that, but needs must at the minute.

"Brad Lyons damaged his hamstring last week at Celtic Park as well. We had it scanned and he'll miss Saturday's game. Hopefully it's not going to be too much longer than that, he may have a chance for Dundee next week.

"Rory McKenzie's getting a scan on a stomach issue. It might be the onset of a hernia that he's been trying to manage the last wee while and it's got to the point now where it probably needs a wee bit of investigation. So we are without those lads.

"Matty Kennedy has upped his work, but this game is going to come to a quick for him, but hopefully we have him back full training next week. Kyle Magennis is back for this weekend."

The injury list - and the recall of loan players Jack Burroughs and Oli Bainbridge - means McInnes continues to look at the transfer market after Calvin Ramsay joined from Liverpool.

"Finances are tight and it's not easy to to get things done," he said.

"We are trying to deal with a situation with quite a lot of key players out and unavailable. So I think it's my job to continue to look. Whether we can get anything into the building remains to be seen."

Sandy Amour
Fan writer

Defeats can fall under the acceptable or unacceptable category, our narrow defeat at Parkhead is the former.

Celtic paid us full respect by fielding their strongest XI so it says volumes for the efforts of every Killie player that we had them worried right until the final whistle.

Special mention also to the travelling fans who gave tremendous backing for 90 minutes. In difficult games like this you need to strike the fine balance between being strong defensively while carrying a threat at the other end and we almost got it spot on.

Special mention to Joe Wright who, along with Lewis Mayo in defence, was superb. The big man got justified criticism early in the season for poor performances and lack of discipline but he has been outstanding since Stuart Findlay picked up his injury.

A couple of fresh injuries at Parkhead has further depleted the squad so new faces are required. It's maybe time to cash in on the ineffective Danny Armstrong to free up some cash.

We are off to our happy hunting ground Tynecastle this weekend and three points would be very welcome as we start the final push up to the split.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

We asked for your thoughts after Kilmarnock exited the Scottish Cup with a 2-1 loss at Celtic.

Here's what you had to say:

Frank: Solid performance by Killie, unfortunate to lose two important members of the team through injury. Speedy recovery for both of them. A special mention for Robby McCrorie - what a brave effort he made getting injured in the process.

Stewart: Injury to McCrorie was deliberate and the officials should have taken appropriate action. If it had happened at the other end, it would have a different outcome. The foul before Celtic's goal should have been to Killie, but again officials chickened out due to the venue. When are officials going to give fair decisions when playing the Glasgow clubs?

Anna: A battling performance I thought. Celtic were always going to be tough to beat, but we didn't back down. Okay, injuries didn't help us but there's plenty of positives to be taken from that and if we can apply them to our league form, I feel a top-six place is within reach. If we can strengthen the squad, even better.

Doug: I thought Killie played well. There were so many individual performances that were good. Pleased for Bobby Wales getting the goal; another strong showing from Fraser Murray. Lewis Mayo, Joe Wright and Robbie Deas were excellent. We just need to keep that level up in the league now.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, PA Media

Kilmarnock defender Joe Wright believes there are a lot of positives to take from the performance after succumbing 2-1 to Scottish Cup holders Celtic in Glasgow.

After falling behind to Callum McGregor's first half opener, Derek McInnes' side adopted a risk and reward strategy and managed to get level through Bobby Wales' goal just before half-time, before Daizen Maeda's late finish proved decisive.

"We tried to mirror what we did at our place last time out," Wright told BBC Scotland.

"We tried to be aggressive all over the pitch, going man for man at times and promote Corrie (Ndaba) into midfield and cause them a few problems that way.

"I think we did that."

"We managed to get a goal, made it uncomfortable for them," he continued.

"Their second goal, in the build up, there's probably a foul on Marley (Watkins) which we were disappointed with obviously, but I think we can take the positive from that performance."

Celtic were wasteful having created any number of glaring chances but what was impressive for the Ayrshire side was their pressing approach and the calculated risk in going one-on-one at the back.

That left gaps which Maeda eventually exploited but they did manage to trouble their opponents.

"It's something that we work on," Wright said. "We set up in training to do that. It requires a lot of communication, when to promote people, when we need to give those people a little break as well.

"At times where we're asking a lot from Corrie, we're asking a lot from our midfield and then we have to see when we need to sit in as well. So, it's about recognising the opportunities to go and and the opportunities to sit in as well."

"I think the form that we've been in, there's been a few draws in there, but we've certainly tightened up at the backer. Performances like the 0-0 at Motherwell, we more than deserved to win in that game. So, I think we have to take the positives."

Daizen Maeda's second-half goal ensured holders Celtic started the defence of their Scottish Cup with a victory over Premiership rivals Kilmarnock.

Victory extends Brendan Rodgers' unbeaten run in this competition over his two spells in charge but, after initially dominating, his league leaders were fully tested by their impressive visitors.

Celtic's intent was clear from the off. Nicolas Kuhn raced clear within 20 seconds, took a heavy touch, and caught Robbie McCrorie in the face, with the goalkeeper having to be replaced by Kieran O'Hara.

Despite that blow, the visitors almost struck first. Fraser Murray won a free-kick, took it and his curling shot thudded off the crossbar.

Immediately, Khun raced away, played in Maeda but he couldn't convert. It was an frantic opening.

Celtic were firmly on top, though, and while the opener was a great finish from Callum McGregor, the Celtic captain was afforded far too much space.

Killie fans, did you make the trip to Parkhead on Saturday or were you following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the performance.

Have your say, external

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "We wanted to come here, with the odds stacked against us, and be competitive. We had a dressing room full of belief.

"We came here depleted and it didn't help much when we have two injuries in the first half.

"Celtic were enjoying the first half too much for my liking. We finished the first half strong and we went, as we planned, man for man in the second half. Risk and reward.

"We spooked Celtic in the second half. You saw the reaction of the supporters at the end, I think they knew the players gave everything to try and win a cup tie. I said before it you're either in it our out it and we're out it.

"The cards were stacked against us when the draw was made, the cards were stacked against us with the injuries but I think the players gave us everything so it's hard not to feel sorry for them."