Kilmarnock

Dundee took a significant step towards Scottish Premiership safety as they came from behind against Kilmarnock and doomed their visitors to a 13th game without victory.

Read the full match report.

Have your say here.

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Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: "A sore one for everybody, especially after taking the lead in the first half. I thought we scored a terrific goal, we were asking to be clinical when you get fewer chances. You need to be clinical and take them. We did, and at half time there's a lot of optimism.

"We spoke about driving home that lead, going for the next goal, making sure we're the team in the front foot. But then we didn't start the second half well enough, and obviously we lose that goal, which is a poor goal from our point of view.

"That gets them back in the game. It gets their tails up when really we wanted to hammer home the advantage.

"When you take the lead in these types of games, you should go on and win. It's not as easy as that. It's the Premiership."

"It's only the players that can [keep Kilmarnock up]. When you go on the pitch, it's about responsibility. I believe the players can do it. I want to see them do it because I want to see the best for the club and for them as people.

"I thought when we went 1-0 up, we were maybe going to carry that wee bit of luck tonight as well. It went against us, but that's not an excuse to lose the goals we did.

"I'm just hurting for everybody because so much effort goes in, but when you're always chasing the game, it's not a good position to be in."

[On his future] "Whenever there's a decision, we'll all know. I'm sure the board behind the scenes will be working hard.

"No, I haven't been told anything. I just take it day by day. That's the position I'm in. I don't mind being in that position because I just work day to day, knowing full well when the decision's made by the board, it'll be the right decision."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

As we head into a new year and transfer window, Killie's search for a new manager continues.

Finding the right person is crucial and needs to happen quickly. Our Scottish Premiership survival feels more precarious each week, though the point earned at Paisley was a good one.

We fought hard, especially in the second half, but interim boss Kris Doolan's lack of strong bench options was clear. There's a lot of work to repair the damage from Stuart Kettlewell's recruitment - and that won't be easy in the tricky winter market.

Doolan looks set to lead the team for the huge away game against Dundee, which would be the perfect time to get back to winning ways, though they're tough to beat at home.

The games keep coming, with Hibs visiting the Theatre of Pies on Saturday, and I'm hoping there'll be a new boss in place by then so we can focus on the big challenges ahead.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Dundee captain Simon Murray begins a two-match ban while Cameron Congreve is a doubt.

Joe Westley faces a further three months out while Finlay Robertson misses out again. Clark Robertson returned to training after a thigh injury but the game might come too soon.

Kilmarnock have Robbie Deas back from suspension.

Striker Marley Watkins has missed several games while Jamie Brandon, Djenairo Daniels, Matty Kennedy, Kyle Magennis and Max Stryjek remain out.

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• After their 3-2 win most recently in November 2024, Dundee could enjoy back-to-back home wins over Kilmarnock in the top-flight for the first time since April 2005 (three in a row).

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last 15 Scottish Premiership games against Dundee (W5 D9), although that was their most recent away from home (3-2 in Nov 2024).

• After beating Falkirk 1-0 last time out, Dundee could win back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches for the first time since March 2024. At home, the Dee have won four of their last six league games (L2), as many as their previous 21 beforehand (W4 D6 L11).

• Kilmarnock lost their final league game of 2024 to Hibernian (0-1), but haven't lost their last league match in back-to-back calendar years since doing so in 2002 (v Rangers) and 2003 (v Dundee United).

• No side has used fewer players in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee (22, level with Motherwell), while only St. Mirren have made fewer changes to their starting XI in the competition this term (26) than Steven Pressley's side (35).

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Kilmarnock have "so much to gain" from Tuesday's visit to Dundee as interim manager Kris Doolan aims to break the club's 12-game run without a win.

The hosts sit three points in front of the 11th-placed Ayrshire side, with Doolan saying: "We need to look up, catch the team above us."

Kilmarnock drew 0-0 away to St Mirren on Saturday and have yet to score in two games under the former Partick Thistle boss.

"The team defended well," said Doolan of the hard-earned point. "But we showed real quality going forward too. It's just about teasing that last part out.

"For me, it's about being positive and playing on the front foot. I think that's the only way to be."

Doolan would not be drawn on his prospects of staying in the post long term but insists he is enjoying the role.

"They're a great bunch," he said of the players. "Good people make good teams.

"I'll just keep working as hard as I can and my job is to make sure the club is on a better footing regardless of what happens to me."

Watch highlights of St Mirren's 0-0 draw against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 0-0 draw against St Mirren.

Here are some of your comments:

Anna: Can't fault the boys' efforts because they did okay. The only thing that got me was Kris Doolan's 4-1-4-1 formation, that sucked big time as did the substitutions when he took off Tyreece John-Jules and replaced him with a midfielder. Why did he leave Marcus Dackers on the bench until the 80th minute when a goal was required and three points? I can see it being a hard fight the rest of the season to undo the mess Stuart Kettlewell left us in but I think we'll pull through.

James: The draw against St Mirren was welcome, but with Dundee beating Falkirk, it was a terrible result which puts us further behind. We need to appoint a manager who can try and sort out Kettlewell's disaster as quick as possible.

Robert: After the run we've had and the stupid goals lost, a point and more importantly a clean sheet are positives, but we're still woeful in front of goal.

David: Overall another pathetic performance - better - but still pathetic. Change is needed and I have to say - change of captaincy as well.

Gary: Clean sheet, (no Robbie Deas) and probably a better performance with a squad that's almost down to the bare bones. Still lacking quality but the players are at last showing some fight.

Gio: Defence looked better without our vice-captain in it, I'm afraid to say.

Kilmarnock's long wait for a Scottish Premiership win has extended to nearly three months after a pulsating goalless draw at St Mirren.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: "Delighted, in the context of the game, the way things have been going for the club. Any team that comes to St Mirren will find it difficult.

"We knew that. We knew we had to defend well, but I also wanted to see the team play. I spoke to [the players] in the build-up to the game, I want to see us be confident, play forward, create chances.

"That's how you get wins, but I would have taken a point. I think everybody would take a point here. St Mirren, they're a top side and they've showed that all season.

"It's a clean sheet. It's the first clean sheet since October, since we last played St Mirren, so huge positives to take. The fans can go away happy with what they've seen today and the players can be happy with the support they got.

"Lots [to like]. Again, we looked a threat, we looked on the front foot. I asked the team not to just defend on the front foot, but play attacking-wise on the front foot. It doesn't change for me.

"I want to see teams attack and score goals. We're just lacking that wee bit of final cutting edge, but it comes with confidence, it comes with understanding. All the players are with us, they're backing the ideas that we're putting across and slowly but surely we'll start to see those results hopefully start to get churned out."

[On the permanent job] "No, not at all. My position is not important just now.

"It's about getting results, it's about the club. The club will always be first. It's day-to-day and I'll just get my head down and get ready for Dundee now."

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St Mirren remain without Keanu Baccus with a long-term hamstring problem but the midfielder does not require surgery.

Klimarnock defender Robbie Deas is suspended and striker Marley Watkins remains doubtful.

Max Stryjek (heart), Kyle Magennis (knee), Jamie Brandon (ankle/groin), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) remain out.

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Bruce Anderson hopes the "perfect" appointment of Kris Doolan can help him rejuvenate Kilmarnock's season with regular goals.

Former Partick Thistle striker Doolan temporarily replaced the sacked Stuart Kettlewell and has a second chance to end Kilmarnock's long wait for a win when they face St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday.

Frontman Anderson, who has netted four times this season, said: "The change has given us all a lift and brought in a freshness.

"I looked straight away at a former striker coming in and thought it was perfect for me.

"I've been trying to pick his brain over the last few days on how I can get back to scoring regularly. It's been really good.

"As a striker, when you go through spells like this, it's about simplifying your game and getting between the sticks.

"That's what he's been trying to drive home to me and all the other attackers.

"We know as players we have to take responsibility. We've not been good enough or clinical enough in front of goal. Now it's about working our backsides off every day."

A goal from Anderson in Paisley could be a good omen for Killie, who have not lost this season when he has scored. The 27-year-old's four goals have come in games which have earned Killie six of their 12 points.

"I've been in football long enough now that I know one win can spark you back into life," he said. "It would give the fans a lift and the club a lift.

"As players, we're hurting right now. We know it's not been good enough, the amount of time we've gone without a win. It's just one wee result which can kick-start your season."

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• After their 5-1 victory in March last season, St Mirren could earn back-to-back home wins over Kilmarnock in the top flight for the first time since March 2012.

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their past 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with St Mirren (W6 D5), keeping seven clean sheets in this period, including in a 2-0 win most recently in October.

• St Mirren have dropped more points from winning positions (14) than any other team in the Premiership this season, while they have also recovered the fewest points (1) from losing positions.

• Since the start of October, only Livingston (0.4) have a lower points per game ratio than Kilmarnock (0.42) in the Premiership, winning just five points from their 12 matches in this period (W1 D2 L9).

• St Mirren have made the fewest changes to their starting XI (26) in the top flight this season, while only three side have made more than Kilmarnock (49).

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Interim Kilmarnock boss Kris Doolan hopes to see a "more confident" side against St Mirren on Saturday.

Doolan took over from Stuart Kettlewell, who was relieved of his duties last week, but lost his first game in charge of the side as they were beaten 1-0 at home by Kilmarnock.

The Ayrshire club are currently second bottom of the Premiership table, three points above Livingston and only one behind Dundee as they prepare to travel to Paisley.

"For me it's about learning about the players and learning about how they'll react to things," Doolan said.

"But the message for me is always consistent. We try and put the game plan to them nice and early in the week and then we work on it.

"What I've seen at the weekend, they can take information on really quickly. They flip their mindset really quickly.

"We just had that one wee slip-up [against Falkirk] where we got punished and if we can tighten that up, you've got players there who can create, who can score. It's just trying to get that out of them.

"Once we get that one goal, however that may be, one goes in off somebody's backside, it might be the thing that just sparks a completely different Kilmarnock side.

"But loads of positives to take. The players' reaction, the way they try to get back into the game is key, but we just need to try and cut out that wee error if we can.

"When you come to Paisley, it's a tough game. They're always tough games, they're all tough games. But if we go there with that mindset of wanting to play and attack and be strong going forward and strong defensively, you can get results.

"We've got another week to work with the players, hopefully we can bed down more ideas and get that wee bit more confidence in the side as well."

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

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Interim manager Kris Doolan has been speaking to the media ahead of Kilmarnock's trip to St Mirren on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• Says Killie need to work on their "finishing touches," but there are "loads of positives" to take despite their 1-0 defeat to Falkirk last weekend.

• Doolan adds that the players can "flip their mindset really quickly," and he's working on trying to cut out errors as they look to lift themselves off second bottom of the Premiership.

• The interim manager says he's trying to "lighten the mood" at Rugby Park but also doesn't want to "distract" the squad from the job that they have to do.

• Says he's not worried about the incident that occurred between Dominic Thompson and a fan after the Falkirk game.

• Doolan adds it shows that both sides "really care" and stresses that he's going to work on trying to put "a connection between supporters and the players."

• "It's a busy time of year," but Doolan is relishing the festive period and adds being involved in football is "the best job in the world."

• Says "it was amazing" to be back managing at the weekend but is focused on "helping" the team and is hopeful Killie can "do the right things" and force their own luck against St Mirren.

• The 39-year-old, who took interim charge following Stuart Kettlewell's departure, isn't placing any emphasis on a long-term future and insists he will "just keep working hard" for the club.

• The former Thistle manager is expecting a "tough game" at Paisley but is hopeful that a "strong" mindset can help them get a result against Stephen Robinson's side.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Killie fans were optimistic that the sacking of Stuart Kettlewell would signal a change in fortunes but sadly we were left disappointed once again.

The issues at the Theatre of Pies run deep and they become glaringly obvious with each passing week.

The team that got us relegated under Tommy Wright was full of loan players or guys in their last year and we appear to be repeating that mistake.

For many years now the player trading and handling of contracts has been abysmal and the need for a director of football has never been greater. The lack of communication from the board doesn't help and simply leads to the fans pointing fingers and apportioning blame.

Things are just as bad on the park where we have now gone eleven games without a win. I felt sorry for Kris Doolan as you can only play the hand you are dealt and I'm afraid the current mob look Championship material.

Here's hoping the interim boss can get a tune out them as we head to St Mirren for a very difficult fixture, time for Killie fans to forget the football for a few days and have a merry Christmas.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Former Kilmarnock striker Cillian Sheridan says his old club need to act quickly in their search for a successor to Stuart Kettlewell.

Killie are now winless in 11 games - including nine defeats - after Kris Doolan's interim reign began with a 1-0 defeat at home to Falkirk.

The Rugby Park club remain second bottom of the Premiership, three points above Livingston and one behind Dundee.

Speaking to the Scottish Football Podcast, Sheridan says he can't see many signs of positivity around the Ayrshire club.

"I don't think so. I think the only thing they can look for is that other teams around them are equally as bad really," he said.

"That kind of gives them a chance to climb out of it. Dundee are struggling, Livingston are struggling. That's probably their only real positive thing they can look at.

"Once a manager comes in, the players will know actually what's happening.

"I heard good reports about Kris Doolan around the place, but other than that, I don't really know where Kilmarnock are going, if they're going to go down that route or try to maybe bring in someone from outside Scottish football.

"But they need to change something. I think sooner rather than later."

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock lose 1-0 against Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 1-0 defeat against Falkirk.

Here's what some of you said:

Dan: Unfortunately a change of manager did nothing to change our fortunes! The players on the pack are the same and were so poor, lacking in confidence.

Graeme: Can't blame Stuart Kettlewell for that. Anyone that thinks Kris Doolan can turn this around needs their head looked at, need a new manager and fast.

Kenny: Same players - same old rubbish! Killie looked okay until Falkirk scored then the heads all went down! It's hard to back a team when they don't believe in themselves!

Eddie: The effort was there unfortunately the talent is not. We lost too many good players last season and our summer recruitment was way below the level we need. No matter which manager comes in I think bottom two is where we stay.

Anna: Now Doolan understands the size of the task he faces in getting our season back on track and get us winning again. Certain players aren't fit to wear the shirt and the goalkeeper situation is a joke as are some of our strikers, who are firing blanks. Come the January transfer window, the squad needs some major investment. Not going to jump on Doolan after one game, but I think he knows the size of the job he faces.

Kilmarnock slipped to a ninth defeat in a miserable run of 11 games without a win at home to Falkirk.

What did you make of the performance? Where do the club go from here?

Have your say.