Kilmarnock

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Saturday's visit of Dundee United.

Here are the main points:

• McCann admits "it was a strange dressing room" after the 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen last weekend because his side had "performed really, really well" despite conceding in the opening minute for the third successive away game.

• Although pleased with the performance, McCann stresses "if you don't take the chances and you don't get a bit of luck then you'll get nothing from the game".

• The Killie boss says it is "infuriating" to have lost to an early goal again, adding: "It was from a throw-in, a wicked deflection thrown into the mix as well. Other than that, Max Stryek had one proper save [to make] from a header. We've just got to turn that performance into points."

• The Rugby Park side have been working on their finishing after "not being clinical enough" at Pittodrie, where they hit the woodwork three times.

• There was "frustration and anger" among the squad after the defeat but McCann says: "I've never had to work hard in picking them up, I think they're believing in how they're playing. We're at the stage of the season where it's really important we don't let our confidence go."

• With Killie in the relegation play-off spot, McCann stresses survival is "completely down to us".

• He praised goalkeeper Max Stryjek, who made his comeback at Pittodire and has "had to be patient" in his return from heart surgery.

• Moldva winger Nicky Clescenco was "brilliant" on his first start for the club after taking time to adapt to Scottish football since signing in January. "I think he's really been caught unaware at the pace of our game here and that's no slight on him," says McCann. "But finally I just felt that he was due a chance to go and play and he was exceptional, he showed exactly what to bring on here in terms of the forward play."

• McCann insists Saturday's visitors won't "turn the engine off" despite being safe from relegation: "They're on the back of a really big derby win, I don't see any dip in Dundee United."

• He believes his side have been "so hard done by in terms of the punishment at this level" and adds: "Football management is not easy, being a football player is not easy, but we've got to try and make that as easy as possible for the boys in terms of the information we've given them. And I think they know that they're going into games feeling like they can win every game, it's just executing."

• Killie may have to "rely on the squad" this weekend because of injuries, but McCann wouldn't reveal which players were a concern.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

When you have an abysmal away record the last thing you should do is give away a soft goal inside a minute.

Amazingly Killie have now done this in three consecutive away games - surely that is some kind of world record?

It is shocking and I don't know if it's a job for Neil McCann or a sports psychologist following our latest calamity at Pittodrie.

Following that initial collapse we settled into the game fairly well and should have taken something given we hit the woodwork on three occasions.

The return of Max Stryjek has been long overdue and it was fantastic to see him back on the park following heart surgery.

The only positive from the weekend was St Mirren surprisingly losing at home to Livingston.

Thankfully we are back at home this Saturday to face Dundee United, who we have an excellent record against this season.

It's an absolutely massive game and I predict we will sneak a 1-0 win.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

ARE HEARTS DESTINED TO WIN THE TITLE? 🏆

It was a seismic weekend in the hunt for the Scottish Premiership crown. Are you rejoicing, are you quietly optimistic, or are you chucking it?

Join the debate with Ray Bradshaw at 18:00 BST TONIGHT on the BBC Sport Scottish Football YouTube channel, external to give us your views in the chat. The show is fully interactive, so have your say.

Remember to like and subscribe to not miss it!

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Kilmarnock's lack of concentration after conceding a goal in the opening minute for the third game in a row.

"It's concentration," former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart said.

"Somebody has to be in front of Jack Milne to start with, then three midfielders get attracted to Stuart Armstrong and that leaves the edge of the box free.

"It's bad luck in terms of it's not the best strike, but again, they are 1-0 down after a minute. It saps away the belief and the confidence, as much as performances have been pretty good."

Watch all the highlights as Afeez Aremu's early goal helped Aberdeen to all three points against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users only

Killie fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Robert: One minute of mental weakness and three points lost, the story of a season exacerbated by the previous regime. These mental lapses have cost us dearly. Glorious responses don't matter if we don't score.

James: We never learn. Same mistakes, same result, same outcome. We'll be in the Championship next year.

Frank: Losing goals so early in matches is our downfall. No use crying over spilled milk but the last two away games we should have had at least a draw. Hitting the crossbar twice where it could quite easily have gone in. It's definitely between us and St Mirren for the play-off spot now.

David: If I could ask Neil McCann one thing it would be please drop Dom Thompson from the team - and even the bench - his ability is so poor. His play is so poor and let's not even mention his distribution from dead ball situations.

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Bologna are stepping up their interest in Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, according to reports in Italy. (The Herald - subscription required), external

Aberdeen took a significant step towards Scottish Premiership safety by digging out a vital victory at home to Kilmarnock, who stay in the relegation play-off place.

What did you make of Kilmarnock's performance? Did you see enough to be positive about the final four games?

Have your say.

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "It's like a repeating movie - giving teams an early goal. It's always going to be difficult.

"I thought we came into the match, and on reflection we were the better side.

"But we can't keep sticking that record on. It's a difficult one to take right now. It's difficult to have a go at them - their application levels were brilliant and we played some great football.

"We created chances. We hit the bar three times and missed a couple more. We should have taken something from the game, but if you make a mistake like that early in the game you're going to get punished.

"The mistake happens and then you have boys who are trying to recover that mistake and take themselves out of position - and bang you're 1-0 down.

"It's a sore one."

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Aberdeen are set to welcome centre-half Mats Knoester and on-loan Hoffenheim midfielder Dennis Geiger back into contention.

But Nicky Devlin, Kristers Tobers and Nick Suman remain out.

Marley Watkins and Jack Thomson will be assessed by Kilmarnock head coach Neil McCann.

However, Tyreece John-Jules, Djenairo Daniels and Matty Kennedy are sidelined.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Aaron Tshibola has lost one relegation battle with Kilmarnock, but the London-born midfield player is confident it won't happen again.

The DR Congo international is in his fourth stint with Killie, having initially signed on loan from Aston Villa in 2018 under Steve Clarke.

In his third spell in the 2020-21 season, under Alex Dyer and then Tommy Wright, Killie finished second bottom of the Premiership and couldn't beat the drop, losing to Dundee in the play-off final.

This time, though, he says it will be different.

"The team's positive," fan favourite Tshibola said.

"With the recent games that we've had, we have every right to be positive, we feel things are going to change for us.

"We have a good atmosphere around the camp. It feels totally different to the last time, so much more positivity going around, the team, everyone believes in it.

"We know what we can do, we've shown it in games, and we most definitely feel like we can turn it around.

"Personally, having seen some of the clubs around us, I believe we're definitely one of the better ones, if we're judging based on our recent games.

"I see the last five games as five finals and we have to win every game, there's no way around it."

The 16-cap international's travels have taken him to clubs in Belgium, Turkey, Dubai and Portugal, as well as a host of English sides. He rejoined Killie in a surprise January move, having most recently played for Levadiakos in Greece.

Since returning, Tshibola has been impressed with the club's latest management team of Neil McCann and assistant Billy Dodds.

"Every gaffer's had their own way of doing things. Since I've come in, they've been nothing but amazing," he said.

"Everybody has really just embraced the fact that they've come in and changed things around.

"They're really demanding of us in training, I think you can see in games how hard we're working.

"We have one of the highest stats in terms of running capacity now, I believe it's a reflection of how they've been with us and the demands they put upon us and how much they've been able to get out of the team."

Keeping Killie in the Premiership would mean a lot to the much- travelled midfielder who has taken the Ayrshire club to his heart since his first spell with the club.

"It's a great club, great people in the club," he adds.

"I remember obviously coming in on my first loan from down south, and at the time it was a difficult period for me in my career, being so young.

"I remember Killie just giving me the platform and really just giving me everything that I needed at that time, and that always had a massive place in my heart from then on."

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• Aberdeen have won their first game after the Scottish Premiership split in five of the past seven seasons (L2), with two of those wins coming against Kilmarnock in 2017-18 (2-0) and 2018-19 (1-0).

• Kilmarnock have only won their first game after the split in three of their past 18 top-flight campaigns (D2 L13), although one of those was last season, beating Ross County 2-0.

• Aberdeen have won eight of their past nine Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock, losing the other 1-0 in December 2023.

• None of Aberdeen and Kilmarnock's past 15 league meetings have been drawn, with the Dons winning nine and Killie winning six since a 2-2 stalemate in March 2020.

• Kevin Nisbet has scored in his past five home games in the Premiership (eight goals), the first player to do so for Aberdeen since Adam Rooney in December 2015. The last player to score in six successive home appearances for any side in the competition was Kevin van Veen in May 2023, while the last Scottish player to do so was Kris Doolan in May 2017.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann has been talking to the media before his team's Scottish Premiership trip to Aberdeen on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his news conference:

• McCann wants his team to go "full throttle" for the final five matches as they try to escape the relegation play-off spot.

• He won't accept any player going around with "faces tripping them". He believes morale in the squad is high and that has been reflected in recent performances. "We've shown in games that we're very much together, we understand what's going on, we're not stupid."

• The tight nature at both ends of the table brings a "wonderful excitement", according to the Killie boss.

• McCann is keen to use the split to prove they are better than their league position suggests: "All the teams in the bottom six we are going to face have their own strengths, but I believe we are a team that can really make a mark, and in the last five games it gives us an opportunity just to show how good we can be."

• And he is bullish about their chances, starting at Pittodrie: "I'm expecting a big performance from our boys on Saturday. I'm looking to try and go and win five games."

• Killie beat Aberdeen 3-0 in January and defeated Stephen Robinson's St Mirren 4-3 in February, but McCann isn't reading too much into those results. He says: "Beating St Mirren when Stevie was the manager, irrelevant really, but we've come out on the right side of both of those games. I think we are better than what we were when we beat Aberdeen here. I'm very aware of how Stevie plays, I'm very aware of how Aberdeen have been playing. We'll respect our opponents, but this is about us."

• Team news: Marley Watkins is still not fully fit, Jack Thomson is a doubt after picking up a "nick" in training, but other than that Killie are "full steam ahead".

We asked for your views on which Kilmarnock player has failed to live up to expectations this season.

Here are some of your comments:

David: Well - there's a few this season but number one has to be Dom Thompson, quickly followed by Tom Lowery and Scott Tiffoney and why oh why did we re-sign Kyle Magennis?

Jason: For me it's been David Watson. Being what is to be his final season for us, I thought he would grab this last opportunity to really shine and go out with a bang. Instead, it's been a whimper and you can see he has had his mind elsewhere for the majority of it. Shame really.

Robin: Watson has been a huge disappointment. He had the potential to drive the whole team forward but has drifted into the shadows and has added nothing to the team's fight for survival. At one point he was on a par with Lennon Miller and now he can't even get a start for us.

Frank: It has to be Robbie Deas. He seems to have lost his confidence which has made his judgement a bit suspect. He may have relied too much last season on Stuart Findlay and Joe Wright.

Tom: Liam Polworth always flatters to deceive - he is not Premier League class - gives the ball away far too often and lacks any " dig " in the tackle. Get rid.

Last week we asked for your Kilmarnock player of the year - and Tyreece John-Jules was a no-brainer.

Now we want to know the Rugby Park player who has been the biggest disappointment this season.

It could be a new signing who has underwhelmed or an existing squad member who has failed to kick on.

Share your thoughts here.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

I must confess that when the split was introduced into the Scottish leagues I thought it was convoluted and meaningless.

Fast forward to now and it really does create excitement at both ends of the table, even though Killie could do without being involved.

Our poor recruitment last summer both in terms of management and players is the main reason we find ourselves in real danger of getting dragged into the play-offs.

It's a tense time for fans and players alike but we still have five games left to rescue our season.

We start with a difficult trip to Aberdeen where our record is poor. However, a win at Pittodrie was the catalyst to our great run into Europe two years ago.

It looked like we had sorted out our defensive frailties when we managed successive clean sheets recently but we lapsed against Dundee and maybe the manager should look at a couple of changes.

I'm heading for a sociable trip on the train and predict we will battle to a 1-1 draw.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Ray Bradshaw will be joined by fans up and down the country on Monday for This Is Fans Only to discuss the weekend's biggest points.

Supporters will come on live and viewers will get the chance to join in on the debate, as well.

The show will be broadcast live on the BBC Sport Scottish Football YouTube channel at 18:00 BST.

To make sure you don't miss any bespoke video content, make sure to subscribe to the channel HERE, external.

Image source, SNS

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's player of the season.

Here's what some of you said:

William: Tyreece John-Jules was my player of the season. He is what you want to see in a striker but got injured when he was at his peak.

Dougie: For Killie player of the year it has to be Aaron Tshibola. A late arrival to the squad following Stuart Kettlewell's departure but he is the ingredient we were missing in the first half of the season. Had we had him from the start of the season we wouldn't be second bottom just now. A solid, attacking midfielder, can put his foot on the ball, rarely loses possession and links the defence to the attack. He has to be a signing priority for the 26/27 season.

Matt: Greg Kiltie.

William: Kelle Roos is a legend.

Frank: John-Jules by a county mile.

Anna: I would have to say a toss-up between Findlay Curtis and Max Stryjek. Max was a huge presence in goal for us, nothing fazed him. It was only his health issues that hindered his progress this season but if he keeps fit and well, he could well be our number one goal keeper next season.

It's fair to say it's been a turbulent season at Rugby Park.

The end of Stuart Kettlewell's tenure, the appointment of Neil McCann, numerous injuries and a desperate fight for Premiership survival.

Currently in the relegation play-off spot, only five points separate 11th and eighth in the table with five games to go.

But who has been a standout amid the Killie chaos?

We want to know your choice for the Rugby Park club's player of the year. Tell us here

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Prior to the game on Saturday I attended the Killie Trust event and had the privilege of interviewing Willie Watters, a true hero to myself and countless other Killie fans.

Willie recalled some great memories of his time at the Theatre of Pies and it reminded me of how those were my favourite times as a Killie fan.

My thoughts before the Dundee game were we needed to win if we want to avoid the play-off place.

Unfortunately we managed only one point rather than all three so it is going to be extremely difficult for us to climb higher than 11th.

We are only two points behind St Mirren but it's our poor away form that kills any optimism I may have.

Saturday was a microcosm of our season as a whole. We had chances to put the game to bed but poor goalkeeping and weak defending contributed to us missing out on an invaluable win.

When we got relegated it was down to those two glaring weaknesses in the team and I pray history is not repeating itself.

There is time for us to recover but it will require instant improvement on our travels. We head to Aberdeen a week on Saturday while St Mirren host Livingston so we need to get something at a ground where we have a poor record.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine