Kilmarnock

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock may be yet to train on their new grass-hybrid pitch, but it's fair to say manager Neil McCann is excited about the "sensational" surface.

"I just feel that Rugby Park was always known as having a brilliant surface," said McCann.

"So, hopefully we get a big crowd coming in on the back of the home form last season. I know they'll be disappointed by the last weekend but we look to try and put that right."

Killie opened their Scottish Premiership season with a 4-3 defeat by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park and welcome champions Celtic on Sunday.

And McCann says the new pitch will not change their game tactically at all, although he admits his side will have an advantage over the visiting teams as "it allows you to train on it".

"You've got a certain knowledge of maybe the hard surface and how it may bounce," he explained.

"The pitch won't change how we play. Hopefully, that will help us even more because we are a team that wants to play. We take a lot of risk in our play."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock's Greg Kiltie hopes the club's new pitch will change the narrative over their home form and the theory that their old artificial surface gave them a huge advantage.

The artificial pitch at Rugby Park has been ripped up and replaced with a state of the art grass-hybrid pitch, which gets its first airing this Sunday with the visit of Celtic.

And the 29-year-old is hopeful the Ayrshire club can keep up their strong home record on the new pitch.

"We've had a great home record over the last couple of seasons," he said.

"You don't want to put it down to astroturf, so it would be nice to go out and prove that it was us playing well. It probably does come into play that you want to prove that.

"Everybody's seen it [the pitch] for the first time, but it looks incredible. So, just really looking forward to being out there and hopefully we've got a performance to match how good that looks.

"There's no point in having that out there and going out and being rubbish on it."

Kiltie who's also relishing his role as club captain for the new season, admits they need to "rectify" their poor performance against St Johnstone, when they lost 4-3, as they prepare to host last season's champions.

"Obviously we were disappointed last weekend with the performance," Kiltie added.

"We just lacked a bit of intensity in certain areas. "

"So we look to rectify them this weekend."

"Collectively we thought we all could have done better. So, it's about working together this weekend and as I said, it's just about moving forward and making sure that we play better."

Killie played out two frustrating home games against Celtic last season, with the Glasgow club sealing 90th minute wins on both occasions.

And Kiltie is aware of the threat they'll bring again.

"They're the reigning champions for a reason," he added.

"I think last year, even here, when we went two goals up, they showed their resilience to come back. You just know they're never out of the game."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann says his players have responded well to their opening weekend defeat against St Johnstone.

McCann says it was "pretty clear where they went wrong", and the players themselves were "were angry with themselves, as they let themselves down".

Killie face Scottish Premiership champions Celtic at home this Sunday - a first outing on their new "sensational" grass-hybrid pitch.

McCann says the surface harks back to the Rugby Park he remembers and hopes it will help the team to play how they want to play.

He admits Celtic will be a "tough, tough game" and hopes visiting manager Martin O'Neill will be in away dugout after a spell in hospital this week.

"Everybody at Kilmarnock including myself, wish him all the best in the speed of recovery," McCann said.

"He's a guy that I love spending time with off the pitch and I love going to battle with him, so hopefully he's in the dugout on Sunday.

"I hope it's nice and calm for him. He never seems to get frustrated too often anyway, Martin. That's an old head on you. I'm probably running about like a stolen motor in the other dugout."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Scottish Premiership visit of champions Celtic. Here are some of his key points.

• McCann says it was "pretty clear where they went wrong" in last weekend's defeat by St Johnstone and he will "learn an awful lot" from that loss.

• The manager admits there were many aspects of their Perth performance that "wasn't at top level" but he believes his squad "has got a lot to offer".

• Killie players have "without question" responded to the 4-3 defeat, saying "they were angry with themselves, as they let themselves down".

• McCann is looking forward to playing at home and on their new "sensational" grass hybrid pitch. "I just feel that Rugby Park was always known as always having a brilliant surface," he said.

• On his new look squad, the Killie boss says the "unity is fantastic" and has "happened quite quickly" but will take "bit of time to properly implement everything and get a full understanding".

• McCann would of course like to bring in more players but believes he's recruited players who can be flexible in several positions. Meanwhile, he has not heard anything about George Stanger leaving amid reports linking him with a move away.

• On Celtic, the Kilmarnock manager knows it will be "a tough, tough game" as the visitors have added to their squad.

• On Celtic manager Martin O'Neill, who has been in hospital this week, McCann says "everybody at Kilmarnock including myself, wish him all the best in the speed of recovery" and added: "He's a guy that I love spending time with off the pitch and I love going to battle with him, so hopefully he's in the dugout on Sunday."

• Team news: Tyreece John-Jules is OK after his knock last weekend while Robbie Deas is serving the second of his two-match ban.

Image source, SNS

• No player has scored more goals (17) or winning goals (6) than Celtic's Benjamin Nygren in the Scottish Premiership since the beginning of last season.

• Kilmarnock have lost their past eight meetings with Celtic in all competitions, last enduring a longer losing run to the Hoops from April 2003 to April 2007 (16).

• This will be the 250th league meeting between Kilmarnock and Celtic, the eighth side the Parkhead club have faced 250+ times. Celtic won their 250th game against all but one of the previous seven, drawing 1-1 with St Mirren in May 2023.

• Kilmarnock lost their first league game of the season against St Johnstone and if they fail to win this game it'll be the 13th time in their past 16 top-flight seasons they've not won either of their first two matches.

• Celtic have won their past eight Scottish Premiership games since a 2-0 defeat at Dundee United in March - they last endured a longer winning streak in the league between April and October 2024 under Brendan Rodgers (13).

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Kilmarnock probably created some kind of record in the League Cup group stage by winning it despite scoring only two goals and conceding none.

It would seem strange, therefore, Killie fans were stating the biggest worry was our defence - but the performance at Perth on Sunday showed those concerns were well founded.

I stated in this column back in January, when Neil McCann took over as manager, the main priority was an experienced no-nonsense centre-half. We never addressed the issue and haven't so far this summer.

I hope McCann hasn't got a blind spot when it comes to the heart of our defence.

The goals we lost in Perth were all avoidable and there is a lot of work to be done in training this week. We face Celtic on Sunday and they will pounce on any weakness if we repeat the same basic errors.

I still feel we will have a good season but only if the manager urgently addresses the glaring problems.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Burton Albion are keen on a move for Kilmarnock defender George Stanger, who is in the final year of his contract at Rugby Park. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Tuesday's Scottish gossip.

Kilmarnock fans, we asked for your opinions following the 4-3 loss to St Johnstone in the opening weekend. Here's a taste of what you had to say.

Scott: All the pre-season optimism goes up in smoke after such an abject defensive display. Neil McCann will likely decide the diamond formation doesn't work when we get to October and still haven't won. A long, long season ahead.

Eddie: What a mess. Kept giving the ball away, really poor at the back and the players looked really heavy legged. To score three away from home should give have given us something.

Stuart: Appreciate it's early days but it's clear from today, and the end of last year, that we need two experienced centre backs. We look vulnerable and naive at every cross. Score flattered us sadly, petrified about what Celtic will do to that defence.

Jason: I completely under the optimism around the club at the start of this season, after such a good finish to last season. One of our biggest downfalls was our away record which is appalling, so to concede four away from home in our first game is not the best of starts.

There's a lot of talk about top six, but I think we need to focus on not finishing in the bottom three first and take it from there. Focus is needed and I still think we don't have enough in defence to carry us forward.

Iain: That was one of the most inept performances I have witnessed in a long time. This is going to be a very long season if they continue to perform like this and we next face Celtic. It has the hallmark of a disaster movie that you cover your eyes for.

Neil: Utterly deflated after a shocking performance in Perth. Big away support. Hopes high. Then timorous, wasteful, low energy rubbish from the kick-off. We made St Johnstone look like world beaters. A massive kick up the backside is needed. Immediately.

Watch Sportscene highlights from McDiarmid Park as St Johnstone and Kilmarnock play out a seven-goal thriller in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "I didn't find it entertaining whatsoever. We got exactly what we deserved from the game - nothing.

"Can't defend like that, can't play like that and expect to win a game of football. That said, we're 3-2 up.

"The third goal they get... we need to do miles better from the set piece, and we'll look at it, but it's never a free-kick. Jamie Brandon has won the ball quite cleanly and John Beaton [the referee] somehow manages to give a free-kick. I've asked him why, he said he thinks it's a free-kick. I disagree.

"The video evidence shows Jamie does get a touch on the ball and we are severely punished. We have to then do better with the set piece.

"The fourth goal is just ridiculous. We're miles better than what we showed today and it's a stark reality of what the Premiership is like. St Johnstone deserved to win today, simple as that.

"I don't think our performance today merited anything. The Kilmarnock fans deserve much more today. We didn't start the game, and from the off they looked like they wanted to celebrate being back in the Premiership.

"The first time we played, we scored. I tried to adjust a few things at half time, but it's one of those early games in the season when no one is at top gear, but we need to be miles better."

St Johnstone made a winning start to their Scottish Premiership return as Kai Fotheringham's strike settled a seven-goal thriller against Kilmarnock.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock gaffer Neil McCann admitted he has been impressed by the work Simo Valakari has done at St Johnstone, as the two sides prepare to meet in the league's opening weekend.

The Finn brought St Johnstone straight back up from the Championship at the first time of asking last season, although they exited the Premier Sports Cup at the group stage.

"Simo has done really well with the group," McCann said. "It's not easy when you get relegated, but he stayed with the process.

"He's got a really distinctive way of playing. He stuck to it and it's brave. He earned a lot of plaudits last year and earned promotion back to the Premiership."

Kilmarnock travel to Perth on Sunday in a 2pm kick-off, looking to get off to a good start after their 10th-placed finish last season.

"We know it's going to be a tough game," McCann admitted. They will be really disappointed they didn't come through in the Cup.

"That will be a tough one for Simo to take but I'm pretty sure the long game for them is about consolidating their position in the Premiership and getting over the hit of missing out on the League Cup and trying to have a strong season."

Image source, SNS

St Johnstone boss Simo Valakari has a full-strength squad to select from.

New Kilmarnock defender Johnly Yfeko could make his debut but Robbie Deas is suspended after picking up too many yellow cards last season.

Image source, Getty

Kilmarnock have completed their second signing of the day, adding defender Johnly Yfeko from Exeter City for an undisclosed fee.

Yfeko has signed a two-year deal to join fellow new arrival, German full-back Jonathan Meier, at Rugby Park.

Former Rangers defender Yfeko, 23, played 31 games in two seasons with Exeter.

He previously made one appearance for Rangers after coming through the youth ranks at Tottenham and Leicester City.

The 23-year-old, described by Kilmarnock as a "powerful centre-back who can also play at left-back" is the club's eighth summer recruit.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann is hopeful his side can build on the optimism around the club as they prepare to start their Scottish Premiership campaign.

The Ayrshire side finished strongly last season with four wins in a row to avoid any relegation turmoil and are unbeaten in four competitive outings this season.

Killie topped their Premier Sports Cup group stage to earn a home draw in the last 16 against neighbours Ayr United, have a new hybrid grass pitch at Rugby Park, and a state-of-the-art £1.5m training facility now in operation.

Newly-promoted St Johnstone are the first test for McCann's side this weekend and the boss hopes his side can keep the momentum rolling.

"It's been a great pre-season," he said.

"I've been really pleased with it. Boys have come back in good condition, managed to add some numbers to the squad.

"And then slowly but surely integrate them into how we want to play, into the team.

"It's never easy pre-season, trying to get up to speed. I've already spoken about the League Cup section. I think the main priority is coming through that unscathed, make sure you're in the draw.

"And we have a cracking draw to look forward to against our neighbours."

Kilmarnock fans have been buoyed by a slew of new signings and holding on to key players from last year such as Tyreece John-Jules and Joe Hugill, with stalwart Aaron Tshibola also returning to the club.

The manager wants his players to do their newly-laid pitch justice with their home performances.

"I'm really optimistic. I think the fans have a lot optimism, given how we finished last season, and that's really positive, hopefully that's reflective in the numbers that come in to see us," McCann added.

"And then we've got a job to do, we've got a job to back that support up, the fans were brilliant last season, I expect them to be brilliant this season.

"You've probably seen the pitch, I'm so excited because it's the way Rugby Park should be, it's a terrific stadium and now we have one of the best pitches in the league and hopefully this season we can do it justice by playing some good football."

Image source, Getty

Kilmarnock have bolstered their squad with the signing of German full-back Jonathan Meier before the Scottish Premiership season opener.

Meier, 26, moves to Rugby Park on a two-year deal after leaving SSV Ulm following their relegation from Germany's third tier.

A former Bayern Munich youth player, Meier also has first-team experience at Dynamo Dresden and Hansa Rostock in his homeland's lower leagues.

He is Killie's seventh new recruit before the league curtain-raiser at St Johnstone on Sunday.