Kilmarnock

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

There really is a stark difference between top and bottom six and reality hit home as I took my seat for the Ross County game last Saturday.

A year ago we were praying we would be visiting some of Europe's beautiful cities and that dream incredibly came true. On Saturday thoughts turned to Arbroath on a Friday night with howling gales and hungry seagulls.

Hopefully our solid win against the Dingwall strugglers set the tone for our remaining four games and sets us up for a strong finish from what has been a disappointing season.

Young David Watson was man of the match although he wasn't in the original starting XI. Brad Lyons was injured in the warm-up and that allowed the Prestwick Pirlo to step in and display the type of commitment and passion that rubbed off on his team-mates.

I'm not sure why the manager has used him so sparingly this season but if my sizeable butt was in the manager's chair he'd be starting every week.

Unfortunately we are away from home this weekend as we travel to Perth but maybe the confidence gained from Saturday can spark a rare win on the road.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine.

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse Kilmarnock's chances of survival after their win over Ross County on Saturday.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Kilmarnock put three points between themselves and Ross County with a 2-0 win over the Staggies on Saturday and they've got two players in my team of the week as a result.

Influential defender Stuart Findlay played a key role in the clean sheet, while there was a steadfast display from midfielder Liam Donnelly, who delivered a goal.

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock pick up a vital win against Ross County.

Available in UK only

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly has called for the squad to retain their focus after earning an important three points in their 2-0 win over Ross County.

The Northern Irishman scored his first goal of the season to seal a win that moves the Ayrshire side three points clear of County, who drop to the play-off position.

Victory also delivered a considerable nine-point cushion over bottom-placed St Johnstone, who they visit next weekend.

"We know obviously the job's not done," Donnelly told BBC Scotland.

"We know we still need to keep our focus for the St Johnstone game, get a good week this week leading up to that and we'll go there looking to get another [result].

"It's a great result for us. All the results, if we can get them, are going to be massive at this point of the season."

After a slow start from both sides, with limited chances, Derek McInnes' side got a crucial advantage when Danny Armstrong delivered for Bruce Anderson to nod home at the back post.

Kilmarnock became increasingly convincing with Donnelly's second delivering a deserved win.

"Obviously getting the first goal gives us a bit of relief almost, sort of relaxed everybody," Donnelly added.

"You can go and start getting about your work a bit more relaxed and we knew coming in at half time it would be ideal to go out and get a second.

With just one goal this term, Donnelly is hardly renowned for the art of goalscoring but showed great skill and determination to cleverly beat a number of defenders before finishing in style.

"It's something the coaching staff have have been speaking about, trying to get a few midfielders on the edge of the box more often, chipping in with a few goals," he explained.

"It's been a while since I got one myself so I'm delighted to get on the scoresheet again."

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 2-0 win against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

John: Good display and a great result, same again next week would be great, we need a win.

James: A good disciplined performance. County were never able to put us under any sustained pressure. They didn't have a shot on target until the 83rd minute. David Watson did very well having to step in when Brad Lyons got injured. Hopefully another two wins will see us safe.

Gary: Very scrappy first 20 minutes but Killie started to settle, great cross from Danny Armstrong and goal from Bruce Anderson - we can't let him leave. In the second half Killie should have been out of sight before Liam Donnelly scored a great goal.

Robert M: This was more like the Killie of last season. Solid at the back with no crazy mistakes costing us goals. Hard working all over the pitch and two good goals. Great to see Danny back playing like we know he can and the difference having Stuart Findlay back is enormous. Very happy man.

Robert J: Good steady performance and a clean sheet.

Image source, SNS

• Ross County have lost their last five games in the Premiership, their last longer losing streak was from 7 May 2022 to 13 August 2022, a run of six games.

• Kilmarnock have scored in each of their last five games in the Premiership, scoring seven goals in that run.

• Ross County have failed to score in 15 of their 34 games, more often than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• Daniel Armstrong has contributed to goals in his last three games in the Premiership (one goal, two assists).

Kilmarnock earned a potentially vital three points in their bid to remain in the Scottish Premiership as Bruce Anderson's first-half header and Liam Donnelly's fine finish saw off relegation rivals Ross County.

Killie fans, give us your thoughts on the game here.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Who knows [how important that result will be], but it was just important for us to bounce back after our disappointment at Celtic Park. It was a tough afternoon, you're never truly judged on those games, but we are judged on these.

"In the last two games, Motherwell and Ross County, [we were] quite similar, we weren't enthralling or too exciting it but it was efficient, professional, and got the job done with two cleansheets and 2-0 [in both games].

"The first goal is a great goal with a lovely stood-up cross from Danny Armstrong and Bruce Anderson finding space amongst all the size. He's the smallest player in the box, and he finds that space, which he's always done. A great goal.

"In the second half, we wanted to keep that momentum going. We were pretty steady with our work. The second goal comes from Liam Donnelly, I thought he was our best player today - a real responsibility and presence in the middle of the park and lovely quality for the second goal.

"And from there on in, it was just about keeping the freshness to keep Ross County at bay, the press and the energy in the team. And we had a couple of wee moments after that, but I thought it was just a very efficient performance and exactly the performance we need at this moment.

"I thought we just kind of negated everything that was there to negate.

"But we were still quite dynamic when we needed to be dynamic, positive when we needed to be positive. Getting the second goal let everybody in the stadium, ourselves included, breathe a wee bit easier, and I thought the players from there on in were quite commanding and quite assertive with their work.

"You still look at the league table and you come in and you look at results, but ultimately, and I've said to the players all week, it's what we do, we don't depend on anybody else.

"I think if you start looking to depend on other people, then you don't get the job done. And I think we've got to be responsible, got to take ownership of it and just grab the situation we're in.

"And if we can continue over the next four games the way we played today, I think we'll get more good results but next Saturday is another Saturday and we need to do it all again and it would be nice to follow up today's win with another win which then we can start to breathe a wee bit easier because I do think still… there's still too much to play for so we're right in the middle of it."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Fight and scrap are qualities McInnes demanded heading into this. That was there, but the key bit seemed missing until the crucial opening goal.

This game marked 150 appearances for Armstrong, in what hasn't been his most productive season, but he delivered a key assist at a key moment to mark that landmark, with Anderson doing very, very well to make it count.

The tension was clear around Rugby Park up to then and didn't fully evaporate, but Kilmarnock built on it rather than stepping back, were rewarded and were thus rarely under pressure.

Three points deliver a little bit of cushion to ease the pressure, with the chance to take on a now-desperate St Johnstone, who are well adrift at the bottom.

McInnes suggested two wins out of five may be enough for safety. If right, they're already halfway there. Matters are now very much in their hands.

Image source, SNS

Making his 150th appearance for Killie this afternoon, Danny Armstrong turned up when it mattered most.

An assist for the opener and a game-high four chances created by the winger.

He hasn't quite had as impressive a season as last year, but he was back to his dynamic and creative self against Ross County.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell has had a setback with an ankle injury, but Rory McKenzie is available after recovering from a thigh injury and Matty Kennedy is back training. Kyle Magennis (knee) remains out.

Ross County's Andrew Macleod will see a specialist to ascertain the seriousness of a groin injury. Noah Chilvers (knee) and Ryan Leak (Achilles) remain out.

Image source, SNS

Corrie Ndaba hopes Kilmarnock can claim their first win against Ross County this season when the Dingwall side travel to Rugby Park on Saturday.

Derek McInnes' side are ninth in the Premiership table, above County on goal difference and just one point in front of Dundee in the relegation play-off spot.

Ndaba helped his side secure European football last season while on loan from Ipswich and made the permanent move in the summer, but Killie have not hit the same heights and will end this season in the bottom six.

County have won all three matches against Killie this season and the 25-year-old defender wants to end that run as his side try to avoid a relegation battle.

"[County] made it difficult for us," Ndaba said about the previous meetings.

"The games have been very physical and they've just always edged it and I'm buzzing to be playing them in the first game. We owe them one, so I'm excited for Saturday.

"When you do great things and get into Europe, you want to consistently do that and you have the hunger to do that again.

"Obviously it's disappointing not to be up there, you want to be in the best games against the best teams, but we're in the position we are. We have to accept that and do as well as you can here.

"At the start of the season we had a lot of disciplinary issues, a lot of games haven't gone our way, but ultimately we just haven't been good enough, we've been conceding too many goals, maybe not scoring as many as we have last season.

"We have to accept that and get focused on these games and do as well as we can."

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes is "annoyed" Kilmarnock have found themselves in the bottom six of the Scottish Premiership but insists they will "fight and scrap" for survival.

With five fixtures remaining the Rugby Park outfit, who finished fourth last season, are in ninth place, one point ahead of current relegation play-off spot occupants, Dundee and six in front of bottom side St Johnstone.

Before the first post-split game on Saturday at home to fellow strugglers County – who have won all three meetings so far this season – McInnes couldn't hide his anger at his club's predicament.

"I'm annoyed that we're in a situation," the Kilmarnock manager said.

"I'd rather not be in the bottom six, but the fact is we are and we've got to be honest and say that while there's not been a lot between us, we've not been good enough to get away from the teams that are around us.

"We've still got that opportunity now to deal with it, so it's just try to be as professional and switched on as possible and just deal with what's in front of us."

If Killie are to get the better off County for the first time this season, they'll need to do so without captain Kyle Vassell, who has had another setback with an ankle problem which has kept him out since January.

"We've had chances against Ross County but getting the first goal would be really key," McInnes added.

"I think we've beaten every team down there, except Ross County, but equally we've been beaten by everybody, so there's nothing between a lot of the teams.

"We've got to make sure we just concentrate on performance, concentrate on being more disciplined because I think that's a big part of it, as well when the games get a bit fraught ,but really just tap into what we've got here.

"We need to just try and make the most of the five games we've got and I believe we have enough in the squad to get the job done.

"But nobody's going to give us it, we're going to have to fight and scrap. No one is just going to not give us three points."

Image source, SNS

• Along with Celtic, Ross County are one of two sides to win all three of their Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock this season; the last team to beat Killie four times in a single top-fight campaign were Rangers in 2010-11.

• In their top-fight history, Ross County have never beaten a particular opponent four times within the same campaign.

• Kilmarnock have only won one of their past seven league games (D1 L5), although that was their last at home, beating Motherwell 2-0. Indeed, a league-high 74% of their points in the Scottish Premiership this season have come at home (26/35).

• Ross County have lost their past four league games – the longest ongoing losing run in the Scottish Premiership this season. The Staggies last lost more in a row in August 2022 (six), and last did so within a single season in December 2020 (six).

• Ronan Hale has scored nine league goals this season and could become only the sixth player to score 10+ in a top-fight campaign for Ross County, after Liam Boyce (three times), Alex Schalk (2017-18), Regan Charles-Cook (2021-22), Jordan White (2022-23), and Simon Murray (2023-24).

Image source, SNS

Kyle Vassell and Kilmarnock are "definitely in the right place" over talks to extend the captain's stay at Rugby Park.

The 32-year-old striker remains a key part of Derek McInnes' squad, despite not featuring since early January because of injury issues.

But the forward is determined to make an impact on the survival push and is keen to remain at Rugby Park beyond this season, although he admits his future could hinge on what division the club are in.

"The club want me to stay and I would like to stay," said Vassell, whose current deal expires this summer.

"I have just said to the club, 'I just want to get fully fit, I want to get on the pitch first and then we will take care of everything else'.

"I would say [there's a] verbal [agreement]. It's not a written agreement because I haven't signed a contract, but we are definitely in the right place.

"My kids were born in Kilmarnock, we have roots here technically now, I have really enjoyed my time here. I could definitely play the rest of my good days here.

"I would probably say my future somewhat [depends on survival], although I have no doubts that Kilmarnock will be in the top flight next season."

On his current fitness situation, Vassell, who scored 11 goals last term but has netted just three times this season, added: "It's been a tough couple of months, but I'm heading in the right direction.

"I'm still not full match sharp, that will come, but I'm looking forward to the run-in.

"[Being out has been] Really hard, especially being captain, you feel like you are letting the team down, letting the club down, but it's part of football and you can't think like that."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

How many times have you heard a relegation-threatened manager talk about the need to hit the coveted 40-point mark?

Well, the truth is, no Scottish Premiership team has ever required that total to avoid the bottom two since the play-offs were brought back more than a decade ago.

However, that is projected to change this season.

Based on current points-per-game averages, 11th-placed Dundee are set to end on a total of 39, meaning 40 could be the magic number to guarantee safety.

If that is the case, that would mark the highest tally required to ensure survival in Scotland's top tier since 38-game seasons were reintroduced in the 2000-01 campaign.

That would also mean Hearts are effectively safe, given they are already on 40 points and four teams would need to make up ground on them, while eighth-placed Motherwell would need just a single point from five post-split games.

With Kilmarnock in ninth and Ross County in tenth both currently on 35, which is just one more than Dundee's 34, the fight to avoid 11th is clearly likelier to be between those three.

But that is not set in stone. The nature of the split means each team in the bottom half will face the other before the end of the campaign, so there is scope for points-per-game averages to fluctuate.

And what does all of this mean for St Johnstone? Well, the 33 points Simo Valakari's side are projected to finish on would be the highest for a bottom-placed team in the Premiership since 2017.

That would be no consolation for the Perth club if they go down, but that is certainly not guaranteed to happen just yet.

However, they have a real fight on their hands to make up a five-point gap while improving their inferior goal difference.

Image source, SNS

With five games left of the league season, Kilmarnock fans are understandably worried about their team's survival chances.

Derek McInnes' side have won only one of their past seven matches and are just one point above Dundee in the Scottish Premiership relegation play-off spot.

They have shipped 17 goals in that time and must find a way to arrest that slide as they prepare to face the other bottom six clubs before the end of the season.

Given the tight nature of the league, it is more than feasible the relegation battle will come down to the final day of the season.

Killie host Hearts that day - the team in the bottom half with by far the largest budget and the team most in the bottom half wanted to avoid when the league split last weekend.

McInnes and the club's fanbase will obviously hope to have secured safety before the final day, but if they haven't and need a win against the Tynecastle club, they can take heart from two of the other three meetings this term.

Killie won 1-0 at Rugby Park in December despite Robbie Deas' early red card and came from a goal down to win at Tynecastle in October.

Matty Kennedy and Kyle Vassell scored in the space of five second-half minutes to secure all three points.

They may well need to find a third win over the Jambos if they are to avoid the dreaded relegation play-off.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Our last pre-split game went very much like most of our away performances this season with a shambolic display and a predictable defeat at Celtic.

The possession and passing stats were totally embarrassing especially when you consider we gave them a decent game in the Scottish Cup three months ago.

Our focus is now on the upcoming five cup finals and with three games at home there can be no more feeble excuses.

Our previous home game against Motherwell provided a solid showing and a welcome three points. We need to replicate that as we simply cannot expect anything away from home as our record on the road is horrendous.

There is plenty of unrest among the fans around the manager but that needs to be parked for now.

I'd ask all Killie fans to make a special effort to get to the Theatre of Pies and play your part in helping us secure our Premiership survival.

The club should be congratulated on freezing the season ticket prices for next season. Once again we are running our 'Growing the Killie Family' initiative to help deserving families get a family ticket when they otherwise wouldn't be able to do so.

If you would like to nominate a family or donate a ticket please email me at [email protected].

Sandy Armour is editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine.