Kilmarnock

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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

Kilmarnock moved a point closer to safety on Saturday when they drew 2-2 with Dundee in an action-packed game where they led twice but then needed a late penalty save from Kelle Roos to avoid defeat.

The result brought the team a point closer to 10th-placed St Mirren and boosted hopes of climbing away from the relegation play-off spot in the post-split fixtures.

Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell thinks the team has been demonstrating the ability to get the results they need but is concerned by defensive lapses that could prove costly if they aren't eradicated.

He told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast: "I do think they've got enough. They need to start showing it on a little bit of a more consistent basis.

"They've got some games now where they're obviously facing everybody in the bottom six that they can go and make huge margins by winning games of football.

"I think they've got players going forward that can score goals. Defensively, it's always concerned me this season about Kilmarnock conceding far too many goals. And again, at the weekend, you look at the goals they conceded.

"Simon Murray, a top striker, is standing in the middle of the six-yard box all alone just to head into the back of the net. That's not acceptable. You're going to lose goals if you allow players like that the space and time in the box.

"So Neil McCann needs to find a way to be tighter defensively, not gift teams goals, and I think they'll be OK if they can do that. But they've got some big, big games coming up."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Kelle Roos (Kilmarnock): Not the finest all-round performance but came up clutch deep into stoppage time to deny Dundee from the spot and save a potentially priceless point for Killie.

Alexander Jensen (Aberdeen): Pushed back a little bit but impressed at wing-back against Hibernian. Tanked up and down the touchline and coped well when Hibs were trying to put him under pressure.

Krisztian Keresztes (Dundee United): Admittedly, not the finest weekend for defenders, but the substitute hauled United level with an important header to allow them to push on for a late win against Livingston.

Will Ferry (Dundee United): And here's the man who set him up. Ferry also opened the scoring with a superb solo goal at Tannadice.

Hyun-jun Yang (Celtic): Few in green and white impressed in a narrow win over St Mirren at Celtic Park, but the South Korean showed up again.

Nicolas Raskin (Rangers): For his second-half showing at Falkirk. The Belgium international was like a man possessed after the break with an abundance of fight, quality and creativity on show. Displayed his very best as Rangers ripped Falkirk apart in a bonkers second 45.

Beni Baningime (Hearts): Back alongside Cammy Devlin in the engine room and back pulling the strings for Hearts. A classy performance - again - in the crucial win over Motherwell.

Emmanuel Gyamfi (Aberdeen): Outside his needless incident with Hibs striker Owen Elding, for which he was shown a yellow card after a VAR review, the wide man was Aberdeen's biggest threat in one of his better performances for the Dons. Hooked balls in at every chance he could, something Stephen Robinson will be desperate to see more of.

Sabah Kerjota (Hearts): Came on in the 66th minute and immediately became Hearts' set-piece taker, whipping in inviting deliveries - including one that led to the second goal. His cameo performances have impressed to the point there is clamour for him to start the upcoming Edinburgh derby over Alexandros Kyziridis.

Kevin Nisbet (Aberdeen): The man grateful for those deliveries from Gyamfi. Kept his cool from the spot against his former side before smashing the much-needed second over the line... just. Big, big goals and an equally impressive all-round performance.

Lewis Smith (Livingston): Doing all he can to keep Livingston in the league, chipping in with another two goals. Even if the Lions are relegated, which is increasingly likely, Smith should remain in the top flight. One wouldn't think he'd be short of suitors.

Watch all four goals of Kilmarnock's draw against Dundee.

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Neil McCann is confident that Kilmarnock can draw away from the William Hill Premiership drop zone after the split.

Killie remain in the relegation play-off berth but edged to within two points of St Mirren thanks to a dramatic 2-2 home draw with Dundee on Saturday.

McCann felt his team merited more than a point, even though they relied on Kelle Roos saving a stoppage-time penalty after an eight-minute VAR delay.

The ex-Dundee boss has steered the Ayrshire side to four wins and a draw from their last six Rugby Park contests, losing only to Celtic in injury-time.

Killie kick off their post-split schedule with a trip to Aberdeen a week on Saturday before hosting Dundee United.

McCann said: "It's five games we're going into after the break, so there's a lot of hard work ahead of us. But if they show how they played for most of the match – and the bravery they tried to play with – then I'm confident.

"The players are really disappointed. But it's not disappointment in the performance. We should have won; we were the better side. We've improved massively and played some brilliant football.

"Dundee didn't have to work hard for their second goal. It's a soft one conceded by our standards. But they will recover, have a couple of days off and there's no question they'll be positive coming back in."

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 2-2 draw against Dundee. Here's what some of you said:

Eddie: I know we've had a really poor season but in this game there were 31 fouls given, about half of them were very soft. Ross Hardie, not for the first time this season, seems to leave his common sense in the building when he steps over the white line. We deserved nothing more than a point, another hard watch.

Frank: It felt like points dropped. Same old defensive let downs. Has been the story of our season. We are now in the cut-throat part of the season where all the teams in the bottom-six are capable of beating each other. Going to be interesting but listening to Neil McCann, he is full of confidence which is not a bad thing.

Robert: Says everything when the referee is Dundee's best player - a shocking performance. Then the penalty decision at the end is a joke. Over 13 minutes from award to penalty being take.

Kenny: Should have killed the game in the second half before they got the equaliser. Absolutely nobody in the ground thought that was a penalty in the last minute apart from the referee. He was very poor and there has to be some punishment for him. Anybody who knows anything about football will understand that it's simply not a penalty. VAR is useless.

Robert: We couldn't take our chances, a lot of backwards play and apart from the penalty save, the goalkeeper was saved by VAR after losing the ball and rushing out for Dundee's second. Once again, the refereeing decisions were baffling, and it appeared every time a Dundee player fell to the ground it was a foul. Time for independent review on inconsistency, all teams have had issues with referees.

Second-bottom Kilmarnock edged a point closer to St Mirren - and safety - in the Scottish Premiership, but only after surviving an agonising wait and a stoppage-time Dundee penalty award at Rugby Park.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann spoke to BBC Scotland following Saturday's 2-2 draw with Dundee, which ended with the visitors missing a penalty deep into added time after a lengthy VAR delay.

Jamie Brandon was penalised for a challenge on Scott Wright and Joe Westley's spot-kick was saved by Killie goalkeeper Kelle Roos.

"It was chaos," McCann said. "It's a ridiculous situation when the referee's got to come over and he's got to judge whether that's offside or not. I think it was offside. I don't think it's a penalty either. It's so soft. There's a wee bit of contact but this is a contact sport, he's clearly not going to get on the ball. Kelle makes a good save.

"We were told that they couldn't calibrate the machine and they couldn't get the lines in and then they've had to support the on-field decision.

"I'm standing here probably a bit disappointed we've not got three points from the game. You're looking at a game that we probably deserve three points, I feel certainly, that we could've got nothing. In hindsight, maybe tomorrow it might look like a good point.

"We just didn't take a couple of chances that came our way but I can't have any complaints in how we approached the game. I thought the boys were brilliant. They were brave, loads of courage, worked their socks off."

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Kilmarnock forward Marley Watkins will be assessed.

But Tyreece John-Jules, Djenairo Daniels and Matty Kennedy remain out.

Dundee are without suspended defender Ryan Astley, while winger Tony Yogane is doubtful with an Achilles strain and centre-half Clark Robertson remains out.

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Former Kilmarnock forward Cillian Sheridan says a Killie win on Saturday will drag back Dundee into the relegation play-off fight.

Neil McCann's side saw a slight upturn in form before the international break - winning back-to-back games for the first time all season, however, their 3-0 loss to Hibs last weekend still has Killie in the play-off spot.

Sheridan is expecting a four-horse race for safety as Killie welcome Dundee to Rugby Park tomorrow afternoon.

"If Kilmarnock can go and win, and get three points, it drags Dundee really into it." he told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.

"I feel like Dundee are well and truly in a fight with all those teams. And it's sets up a great fixture for going into their post-split fixtures.

"I know all the chat has been about the top six, the way it's kind of worked out, it's set up for a real good build-up into that for the bottom six, which usually gets overshadowed by the top-six fixtures.

"So I'm just looking forward to see how all that plays out. I don't think we really would have anticipated so many teams competing for 11th place."

Hibernian Women's coach Joelle Murray also weighed in on the debate, believing Killie's improved defence may prove key in Saturday's battle.

"They're making Rugby Park a fortress now, making it a difficult place to go", she said.

"I think at the back end of the pitch they're not conceding as much as they have been. It'll be a very, very interesting game.

"Three points for Kilmarnock will put them right back on the coattails of the teams above them.

"It won't be an easy game, Dundee are turning things around under Steven Presley, picking up form at the most important point of the season."

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• Kilmarnock's Scottish Premiership games this season have seen more goals than any other side's (98 - 35 for, 63 against). Killie last saw 100+ goals in their matches at the split after 33 games in the top-flight in 2005-06 (115 - 59 for, 56 against).

• Dundee have lost both of their last two league matches; only once this season have they endured a longer losing streak, losing four in a row from October to November.

• Kilmarnock have won four of their last five home league games (L1), including both of their last two without conceding. Killie last won and kept a clean sheet in three successive home league matches in January 2025.

• After their 2-1 win in December, Dundee could enjoy back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over Kilmarnock for the first time since August 2015 (three in a row).

• Kilmarnock have avoided defeat in each of their last seven Scottish Premiership home games against Dundee (W3 D4) since a 0-1 reverse in May 2017.

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Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to welcome Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Here are the main points:

• McCann insists he's "not looking" at pulling other teams into a relegation battle and is more interested in ensuring his side climb the table.

• The Killie boss says his side "need to arrest disappointing form away from home" but has been pleased with their performances at Rugby Park.

• The visit of Dundee is a "great opportunity" to rectify the mistakes they made against Hibs last weekend but McCann stresses "this is a completely different set of circumstances".

• Looking ahead to the split, the former Dundee boss insists: "I've been involved in the split before, it doesn't worry me. I don't get sleepless nights about what's ahead."

• Fighting in the bottom six, the 50-year-old knows "it's absolutely dog eat dog, no matter where you are, but it's a wonderful opportunity to go against teams that are right there".

• McCann admits "there's always going to be a bit of baggage from before" but stresses "it's really important you learn from your mistakes".

• On whether his side can avoid a relegation play-off, McCann says: "I'm bullish to say that I'm completely confident in what I've got sitting in that dressing room that they're absolutely capable of having a strong finish to the season."

• McCann insists "you get nothing with fear" and is urging his side to "be brave" while admitting: "That has to come from the coaching staff, we can't just send them out with shackles on and worrying about the 'what ifs'."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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When the full-time whistle goes at Rugby Park on Saturday against Dundee, win, lose, or draw Killie will still be in a relegation scrap.

Their fears may have been slightly allayed, or their predicament may be even trickier than it already is.

Regardless, they will have to face their greatest fear three times over in the post-split games - an away fixture.

Killie's away record, for a few seasons now, has been charitably abject.

They have won just twice on their travels this season, against Brora in the League Cup in July and against Dundee United in late September.

The post-split hand that they've been dealt has not been kind, away to Aberdeen and St Mirren, either side of United at home, before Dundee at Rugby Park and a final-day trip to Livingston.

They can take some solace in winning four of their past five home games, only losing out to a late Celtic strike, and will back themselves to continue that trend against relegation rivals Dundee this Saturday.

Since mid-December, the Ayrshire side have been in the dreaded relegation play-off spot and rarely threatened the sides above them.

If they are to escape another anxious double-header against a tricky Championship side, you would reckon at least one away win is necessary.

Killie fans always show up well for away games and the punters in the stands will be crossing their fingers that the players do too after the split.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

It is often a rollercoaster ride being a Killie fan, and that has been perfectly demonstrated in the last few weeks.

We had two excellent home wins without conceding a goal, then at Easter Road on Saturday, the hosts scored before I could get the foil off my third steak pie.

The game was effectively over in the opening fifteen minutes, and although the final scoreline flattered Hibs, they probably coasted a bit after that flying start.

Our away record over the past few years is horrific, and changing managers appears to have no effect on our form away from the Theatre of Pies.

We face Dundee at home this week in what is an absolutely massive game, and season ticket holders are allowed to bring a friend for free.

I'd urge every single fan to ensure this is taken up, as we need a bumper crowd to create a special atmosphere.

A win here is a must if we want to avoid the dreaded play-off.

I'll go for Killie to edge it in a five-goal thriller.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Watch all the highlights as Hibs score three past Kilmarnock.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 3-0 defeat by Hibernian on Saturday.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Jim: Same old problems. Losing soft goals and don't have the front men that can score on a regular basis. Liam Polworth and Brad Lyons are poor. David Watson is not interested, Marley Watkins can't score, Bruce Anderson can't score. Formation should have been changed as soon as the second goal went in.

Iain: Seems as if the players are thinking it's OK, we will get through the play-offs so these games don't matter. Do enough to show they are willing but not put in 100%. Are they really willing to risk the play offs?

Robert: Defensive failure once again down to mental weakness, then the inability to score, keep this up and it's the play-off.

John: Back to old Killie, all positive thoughts knocked out of us, we will just need to play in play-off final. Hope it's Partick Thistle and not Dunfermline.

Bill: Back to costly defensive lapses; toothless in attack; lost more than half our matches; won only one match in five; huge goal deficit! It's clear this squad is not fit for the Premiership. Board needs to recognise this and install an appropriate management team and with them recruit a squad with Premiership quality, though it looks more and more that we will spend next year, at least, in the Championship.

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Owen Elding's goal after just 13 seconds helped Hibernian ease to victory over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership and strengthen their push for European football.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.