Kilmarnock

Rangers reached the Scottish Premiership summit for the first time this season and extended their league winning run to six games with victory over bottom side Kilmarnock.

Read the match report

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "We gifted Rangers three goals. I've got a real probelm with the second one - I think it's a handball.

"We gave Rangers a 3-0 lead but there was still lots we did well in the first half.

"At 2-0, you've got two gilt-edged opportunities and we haven't worked the goalkeeper. At half-time, I had a few words to the team and we've come out and dominated the game.

"Rangers are a good team and I knew it would be difficult but I want us to play with the bravery we showed in the second half from the start.

"It's not good enough to just win the second half. They have to believe in how good they can be. At 3-0 at Ibrox, it's easy to go under and they never did.

"It's very early in the season and the long international break has disrupted our rhythm. We need to start winning games of football and I believe we will."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Neil McCann knows a "massive" challenge awaits on Saturday against a Rangers side brimming with confidence, but says Kilmarnock will head to Ibrox firmly believing they can secure three Premiership points.

Rangers were on a six-match winning run before the international break, including back-to-back victories over Celtic in the League Cup quarter-final and Premiership.

"I just feel like they're in a brilliant place probably mentally which is, anybody that's been involved with Rangers will tell you, that's a big part of the job there," said McCann.

"So we know we'll get a really difficult game coming up at Ibrox, but they've probably suffered maybe a wee bit bigger than us in terms of their international numbers away. So not any different in terms of their broken preparation.

"We need to be at our best if we want to get something from the game."

Killie remain bottom of the table after a difficult start, but McCann saw enough from his side in the away victory over Hibernian and home draw with Hearts just before the break to head to Ibrox with confidence.

"I've never been one to be frightened of a challenge in terms of taking any team anywhere," he said.

"I always have full belief in what we've got in our dressing room. I think we know who we are as a group now. We've found a wee bit of confidence within ourselves in what we want to do.

"I think there's a knowledge there and realisation in what we want to do because of the new guys coming in.

"And we'll set up to try and go and win the game as normal, but it's going to be tough. There's no way we're going to Ibrox not believing we can win, but we'll have to be at our very best."

• Rangers have won their past five league games, conceding just one goal in the process. They could win four successive league matches without conceding for the first time since December 2024.

• After losing their first four league games of the season, Kilmarnock have since avoided defeat in three (W1 D2).

• Rangers have won their past five league meetings with Kilmarnock, scoring 3+ goals each time.

• Kilmarnock have lost 10 consecutive league visits to Ibrox since a 1-1 draw in March 2019 under Steve Clarke.

• Rangers have won 15 of their past 17 top-flight home matches against sides starting the day bottom of the table (D1 L1), including eight in a row since a 1-0 defeat to Hamilton in March 2020.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Neil McCann has been speaking to the media before Kilmarnock's trip to face Rangers in the Premiership on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Here's the key lines from the Rugby Park manager:

• On goalkeeper Dave Richards' proposed move to Rugby Park falling through, McCann says: "There's been a wee bit of a situation arisen that is out of our control, and was outside our knowledge actually as well, but it's been pointed out to us."

• He adds: "I don't want to go into too much detail just now, because I think it would be unfair on the boy himself, but unfortunately he's not able to join us."

• It leaves Killie light in the goalkeeper department following an injury to Max Styjek, who will be out for "quite a considerable bit of time". McCann adds: "If I know Max, given his last return to duty, he'll be pushing so hard to get back as quickly as possible, but it'll be a huge hole in our squad just now."

• McCann says it's "frustrating" the extended international window arrived just as Kilmarnock had started to pick up form: "There was definitely large elements of performances, even ones that we lost, that we knew were coming. It's hard not to look back and see where we were, but it's almost like a completely fresh start."

• A huge test awaits at Ibrox against a Rangers side full of confidence. McCann says: "I just feel like they're in a brilliant place probably mentally, which is, anybody that's been involved with Rangers will tell you, that's a big part of the job there. So we know we'll get a really difficult game coming up at Ibrox. We need to be at our best if we want to get something from the game."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Are underlying numbers from the start of the Scottish Premiership season suggesting a refreshed approach could be taking hold across the league?

Well, the success stories at Motherwell and Falkirk last season seem to have had an influence.

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was humble enough to reveal that Jens Berthel Askou - now head coach at Toulouse in Ligue 1 - has inspired him to change his ways after more than 15 years as a player and manager in Scotland.

Goodwin's side are one of a number of Premiership teams to have undergone a stylistic shift this term, and that is reflected in the league's overall numbers, albeit the sample size remains small after just seven matches for each club.

Compared with the previous five Scottish top-flight seasons, passes per game have soared to 886. That is an increase of 58 on last term. Five years ago, the average was 795.

Passing accuracy is also at a high of 81%, which is quite a remarkable increase on the 73% recorded in 2023-24.

That is down to more short passing. The percentage of long passes across the league (13%) is now at its lowest level of the past five years. Perhaps surprisingly, Hearts and Rangers go long more than any other teams.

Goodwin's United, meanwhile, have gone from average possession of 42% last term to 50% this season. Their accurate passes per match have rocketed from 219 to 320.

It is a similar story for St Mirren under Craig McLeish and Neil McCann's Kilmarnock, while league leaders Celtic and Alfred Johansson's Motherwell are locked at the top of the possession chart on 61%.

The promotion of St Johnstone back into the league, replacing Livingston, has added another side who aim to play a more expansive brand.

The recent appointment of Dutch head coach Marink Reedijk at Hibernian will only enhance that.

Read more: Why early-season data points to Premiership style shift

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Dave Richards' move to Kilmarnock has fallen through after the English FA refused to grant international clearance.

Kilmarnock last week announced the signing of the 32-year-old goalkeeper, who had been a free agent since leaving Dundee United in the summer, on a contract until January.

However, the Rugby Park club have been unable to complete his registration.

"Following our announcement, which was subject to international clearance, the English FA has refused this due to an administrative error related to Dave's previous registration," said Kilmarnock.

"We share Dave's bitter disappointment about this news and thank him for his professionalism throughout. Everyone at Kilmarnock wishes him well for the future."

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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BBC Sport Scotland has been taking a look at away ticket pricing in Scottish football.

It is an issue which has been tackled at the highest level south of the border, with a £30 away ticket cap having been in operation in the Premier League for a decade.

Is anything similar on the agenda north of the border?

While it doesn't appear to be at the moment, we have been canvassing the thoughts of fans across the Premiership.

An adult away fan going to a league game at Kilmarnock will pay £31 (in person at ticket office) or £28 (online) with concessions ranging from £11 to £26.

There is also an option where one under five can go free with a full paying over 18.

Kilmarnock fan Sandy Armour, editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine, says: "In the big wide world, everything else is going up in price. I would say try and limit it to £20.

"Maybe you could get six or seven clubs - the non-city clubs, shall we say - together and say 'how about we have an agreement between us?'."

"I don't think anything will change. If those figures hold up that the percentage of people in Scotland attending games is excellent overall, the argument would be people can't be finding it too dear because they are still turning up. Clubs play on fans' loyalty a wee bit in that sense."

Read more: Are SPFL away tickets too expensive?

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

With several Kilmarnock players away on international duty, manager Neil McCann will be desperately hoping none come back injured.

However, if any of the wide players pick up a knock perhaps we should give Chris Burke a call. At the Tennent's Sixes the 42-year-old showed he is still a class act - and he could use his bus pass to travel up from Brentford.

It's been an intense couple of weeks for international football and there's no time to pause for breath Killie we head to Ibrox on Saturday.

We've had some amazing away wins over Rangers and it would be very sweet to get another this weekend.

The hosts are in very good form so it's an extremely difficult task but still possible. This might make me look like an idiot once again but I'm going for a 2-1 Killie win.

McCann has a decision to make on the goalkeeping front but I suspect he will stick with Calum Ferrie rather than give a debut to Dave Richards.

Best wishes to Max Stryjek on his recovery, it still defies belief we didn't even get a foul for the challenge that wiped him out.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Head of goalkeeping Fraser Stewart has left Kilmarnock to "explore a new opportunity", the club have confirmed.

Stewart's four years at Rugby Park included a fourth-place Premiership finish and European football, while Killie maintained their top-flight status.

Former Rugby Park keeper Bobby Geddes has taken an interim role during the club's search for Stewart's full-time replacement.

Stewart departs "with everybody at Kilmarnock FC's best wishes and thanks for his service", the club added.

Kilmarnock coach Kirk Broadfoot has been impressed with Bailey Rice, 20, since he joined on loan from Rangers and expects the midfielder to be "an asset" to the Ibrox club. (Sun, external)

Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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Kilmarnock have signed former Dundee United goalkeeper Dave Richards on a deal until January.

The 32-year-old Welshman had been without a club since ending a two-year stay at Tannadice - where he made 22 appearances - in the summer.

Richards, who previously had a spell on loan at St Johnstone, bolsters Kilmarnock's options with first-choice keeper Max Stryjek reportedly facing a lengthy lay-off because of a knee injury.

Understudy Calum Ferrie, a summer arrival from Queen's Park, made his Premiership debut in Killie's 1-1 draw with Hearts in the final game before the international break.

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We asked you to rate Kilmarnock's season and tell us what Neil McCann should be focusing on during the international break.

Here are some of your comments:

Graham: We seem to be getting back on track after a terrible start. The new additions have taken time to settle but hopefully none of our players on international duty will pick up any injuries.

Amy: 3/10. And most of that score comes from the wins over Ayr and Hibs. He has bought himself some time with recent results, but his coat is still very much on a shoogly peg.

Robert: Disappointing and a total letdown after how last season ended.

Frank: At the start of the season I thought the good form we finished last season with would continue, how wrong could I have been. They were very poor in the League Cup and that followed into the league. It was all down to the new formation they were playing, leaking goals. It looks now that the ship has steadily got better. Time will tell after the break if the good form recently will stay, hope it does.

John: Poor start but away form looks better. We will get better results.

As the extended international break continues, we want to hear your thoughts on Kilmarnock's opening seven games in the Scottish Premiership.

Neil McCann's side prop up the table and began the season in calamitous fashion with four straight league defeats.

However, they managed to stop the rot and head into the hiatus on a three-match unbeaten Premiership run, including a first victory of the campaign away to Hibs, although the League Cup exit at home to 10-man Aberdeen was a sore one.

How do you rate Killie's start to the season and why? And what should McCann be focusing on during the extended break?

Share your views here

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

As football fans we are obsessed with on-field performance and it is win at all costs - however, it's good to take a step back and look at the big picture.

There have been huge changes over the past year or so with Billy Bowie splashing out to ensure the infrastructure of the club is in good shape for years to come.

Our new training facility will be finished soon and is a tremendous asset that will be a benefit to the manager when he is trying to attract players to the home of football.

The squad will now only see Rugby Park on match days and our famous old stadium is looking fantastic. The new grass pitch is top class and the drone images looking down on the stadium highlight what an oustanding ground we have.

I did love how much the plastic pitch noised up our competitors but I much prefer the grass.

Of course the artificial surface argument rages on with Falkirk now the only club in the Premiership to use one, although high-flying Stenhousemuir may change that next season.

Anyway it's good to see Scotland Under-21s back at Rugby Park this week - it's the best wee ground in the country.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Hearts centre-back MJ Kamson-Kamara made his Sierra Leone debut in Thursday night's AFCON qualifier against Zimbabwe.

Kamson-Kamara, currently on loan at fellow Scottish Premiership side Kilmarnock, played 34 minutes as Sierra Leone were beaten 3-2 by Zimbabwe in their Group E game.

The 20-year-old, who joined Hearts from Lincoln City this summer, becomes the first Jambo to represent the West African country.

Image source, Getty

Kilmarnock defender George Stanger made his New Zealand debut and Dundee United forward Jesse Randall was among the goals in a 2-2 draw with Palestine.

Stanger played the full 90 minutes of the friendly in China while Randall marked his 15th cap by firing the All Whites 2-1 up 10 minutes before the interval.

Former Aberdeen striker Oday Dabbagh levelled for Palestine to wrap up a lively first half.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Kilmarnock's draw with Hearts at the weekend meant five points out of nine from three very tricky games.

That is a vast improvement on the opening four matches so it seems manager Neil McCann has seen the error of his ways at last.

We are now playing four at the back, which makes us much more solid as the goals against stats will show.

Many fans expected to see an expansive and exciting front-foot style this season but that has not happened yet.

After shipping 13 goals in the opening three league matches it was vital we developed a more stable formation and hopefully our own scoring rate will ramp up as the confidence returns.

We have a large number of players away during the international break, which the club can be proud of, although we don't want any coming back with bad injuries.

Young defender Cathal McCarthy, who is away with Republic of Ireland Under-21s, looks a class act and I look forward to see him getting better as the season progresses.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Sportscene analyst James McFadden assesses Kilmarnock's approach after their 1-1 Scottish Premiership draw with Hearts.

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Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann said the break is "probably" coming at the wrong time for Killie after they made it three league games unbeaten, with just one goal conceded, having lost each of their first four.

"We want more points than what we've got but I think on reflection, with the start of the season we've had and the goals that we were conceding early on, to get the return that we've now got and the (recent) goals-against column, is a lot more pleasing," he said.

McCann revealed Killie face an anxious wait to learn the extent of a knee injury sustained by first-choice keeper Max Stryjek, who was replaced by Calum Ferrie for the Hearts game.

"We'll just need to assess it," said the manager. "It would be wrong of me to even speculate, but he's pretty sore."

The manager was disappointed not to close out victory but proud of his team's effort as they made it three league games in a row unbeaten.

"Hearts were asking us all sorts of questions but in terms of sheer endeavour and actually digging in, I thought we had a wee bit of comfort in defending as well," he said.

"When you get so late into the match, you're just trying to see it out so I'm disappointed but there's still an enormous amount of pride.

"To go away to Pittodrie, away to Easter Road and then take on Hearts tonight, to pick up five points from that is really ballsy."

Hearts recover from a disallowed first-half goal and a concession to draw with hosts Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership (UK only).

Kilmarnock fans, we asked for your opinions on the 1-1 draw with Hearts. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

Robert: All I ever want as a Killie fan is that the team leave the pitch having given every ounce of effort for the best possible result. We got that.

Anna: Didn't think we'd get anything from Hearts and Hibs, but four points from six is pretty decent. It was a rather scrappy game but a lapse of concentration cost us the win - at least we didn't concede more goals. There's still work to do for Neil McCann and his team but these last two performances have given me more confidence that we will come good eventually. The only way is up.

Danny: Nice to pick up a point but it's two points dropped. Still not convinced McCann is the right man to take the club forward.

Gary: A better performance from the team but still a big lack of composure, especially from our captain, when getting into good positions. We could and should have been out of sight before they equalised. A few injuries and we are in trouble as the bench lacks any real quality.

Frank: That was a good point. Killie had the best of the first half. When Hearts brought on their second half substitutes there was a possibility we could have been overwhelmed. The group stayed together well during that spell.

There has been a vast improvement over the last two games. The international break could help big Max Stryjek get fit hopefully. Are we now seeing the true Kilmarnock?

Johnny: Much-improved team performance today. Credit to all the guys for sticking together and giving Hearts a game of it. Well-earned point. Here's to more direct, route-one football.

Andrew: Neil McCann is embellishing our performance on Saturday night. Too many loose passes, spells of poor concentration, a lot of back and side passes. Unlike Max, Calum Ferrie is not good at passing the ball with his feet.

Neil may need to reassess our goalkeeper passing out to our defenders as Ferrie had a few scary moments when his passing wasn't accurate enough. Fortunately it didn't cost us losing goals against Hearts.

I am still not convinced our management team can take us up the league to a reasonable position. We cannot afford a Kettlewell situation, similar to last season. For me the tandem should be called for McCann and Dodds when we lose two games in a row.

A foreign coach who is able to entertain, play one-two touch football, sign players with good technical skills with a good CV of playing percentage football should be the Kilmarnock board's next appointment - not the Scottish, recycled management, failures.