Kilmarnock

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell insists he is seeking consistency and correct outcomes in refereeing decisions after admitting "pure frustration" got the better of him during the 3-0 defeat to Rangers last weekend.

Kettlwell will serve a one-match touchline suspension in the Premiership match at Aberdeen on Sunday after being ordered to the stand for his reaction to a decision, having felt a number of key calls wrongly went against his side.

"We all speak about players ensuring that they show discipline, so you obviously get annoyed at yourself with losing the head basically," he said.

"I think everybody will probably understand that this means a lot to me, winning games of football,

"You're not asking for favouritism in decisions, you're just asking for what you believe is the right outcome. I'm a human being at the end of the day. I work hard the same as everybody else here at the football club to try and see if you can get an outcome in a game of football.

"I acknowledge that human beings make mistakes, we all do. It's the consistency."

Kettlewell confirmed he has not sought clarity from SFA head of referee operations Willie Collum having had conversations in the past.

But he revealed the club have sent their own video analysis assessing comparable decisions in games, ahead of a scheduled meeting between managers and officials next week.

"I think there's going to be a lot of people sitting in the same position that I am [at that gathering]," he said.

"I've had really good communication with Willie to date, and I think he's doing a lot to try and improve things, but I think we'll all acknowledge that we're not seeing the fruits of that work at times at the weekends.

"These are massive moments in games of football. I'm not looking for any favours. I just want consistency. I'm trying not to sit here and make excuses."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell has been talking to the media before the trip to face Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key points:

• On his red card during the 3-0 defeat at home to Rangers, Kettlewell says he's "annoyed with losing the head" but it shows just how much "winning games of football means".

• Kettlewell is "frustrated" after feeling Kilmarnock were on the wrong end of a number of decisions during the Rangers match, including Jack Butland avoiding a red card for a challenge on Bruce Anderson and Mohamed Diamonde's pull on David Watson that did not result in a penalty.

• The Rugby Park boss adds: "You're not asking for favouritism in decisions, you're just asking for what you believe is the right outcome, so not to vindicate myself or give myself a pass, but pure frustration."

• Kettlewell reveals he has not sought clarity from SFA head of referee operations Willie Collum following the Rangers game but says the club have sent their own video analysis of several incidents, with a meeting scheduled between managers and officials next week.

• He also concedes Killie will try to use a feeling of grievance to help galvanise the squad and get results on track - "I think you always try and use that mentality when there's a lot of noise, when there's a lot of criticism, when there's things you feel have went against you."

• Kilmarnock are now winless in nine Premiership games, lying 10th in the table and facing fan frustration, but Kettlewell insists he sees signs they can start winning - "I've seen them achieve really good standards in games, my job is to try and see if we can rekindle that."

• The Killie boss adds: "We had plenty of plaudits for the first chunk of the season. The second part of the season to date obviously hasn't been good enough."

• On Aberdeen having watched their Conference League defeat to Strasbourg, Kettlewell says the Dons did "pretty well against a really good side".

• Team news: David Watson is suspended and there is one undisclosed illness. Jack Thompson and Marley Watkins are being assessed after missing out lately.

At £3.3m, Celtic striker Kelechi Iheanacho is the most valuable of the top 30 players based in Scotland who are due to be free agents this summer, with Rangers centre-half John Souttar second at £3.1m and Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson third at £1.6m. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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• Aberdeen have won their past two league meetings with Kilmarnock (both 1-0), after having lost five of their previous seven beforehand (W2).

• Kilmarnock have lost seven of their past eight league visits to Aberdeen, winning the other 1-0 in December 2023.

• Aberdeen have won six of their latest nine league games (D2 L1), more than their previous 33 beforehand (W5 D8 L20).

• Kilmarnock are winless in nine Premiership games (D2 L7), their longest run in the competition since March 2021, when they went 10 without victory.

• Stuart Armstrong, who has assisted a goal in both of Aberdeen's past two league games, has been directly involved in five goals in his latest seven Premiership starts against Kilmarnock (4 goals, 1 assist).

• He could become the first player to assist a goal in three successive league appearances for Aberdeen since Jamie McGrath in August 2024 – the third of which was against Killie.

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell will serve a one-match touchline ban following his red card against Rangers. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Killie's encouraging midweek draw at Tynecastle was quickly forgotten come Saturday night as we folded meekly against Rangers.

We are in a full-blown relegation scrap and if we continue to leak cheap goals in every game we will quickly become favourites for the drop.

I was hoping this week's column would be discussing candidates for the manager's job but Stuart Kettlewell is still there even though we are now winless in nine games.

That is a sacking offence in its own right and there's a growing concern that the longer he stays the more serious damage he will do.

This Sunday we travel to Pittodrie, which is not a happy hunting ground. I'm hoping we stumble across an effective formation, cut out the defensive shambles and steal an unlikely win, although that all sounds like desperation on my part.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Sportscene pundit Richard Foster believes key decisions went against Kilmarnock in their 3-0 defeat by Rangers on Saturday.

Speaking on the challenge made by Rangers goalkeeper Jack Butland on forward Bruce Anderson - which went unpunished - Foster said: "This is absolutely a red card, every day of the week.

"Imagine that is [Emmanuel] Fernandez or [Nasser] Djiga making the same tackle, it's a straight red.

"Anderson gets there first, the speed he comes in and [Butland] cleans him out."

Former Coleraine manager Dean Shiels - once a player with Hibernian, Kilmarnock and Rangers - is in the running for the Greenock Morton manager's job. (Daily Record)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Watch highlights of Kilmarnock's 3-0 defeat against Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 3-0 defeat against Rangers.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: The lack of quality and heart from the Killie players means relegation is not only likely but will be deserved. The board should sack Stuart Kettlewell but don't have the backbone to do so.

John: Despite the awful scoreline there were some positives. An attacking set up looked more like a side showing no fear at home, chances created were more apparent and a better team spirit showed glimpses of hope.

However, when goal chances came they were either wasted, missed or ignored, the midfield is too easy to play through, round or over and lacks any creativity, the defence was poor and often rushed for no reason. The team and staff don't train to be awful, it's players being poor and panicked decisions that are killing any chances of getting results.

Gary: Fifteen shots, only two on target tells its own story. No composure. No one we can rely on. No one able to take control of the game against a poor Rangers side. Manager is out his depth. Robbie Deas belongs in the Championship and I would not give Marcus Dackers a game as a corner flag.

Ken: Time to go Kettlewell! Should never have been appointed in the first place. To the board, get your heads out of the sand and get rid of him.

Stuart: Tried to support Kettlewell up until now but it's over. Totally lost the plot on team selection, tactics and then his own behaviour in this game. He's just not up to it and the players look totally confused in every game. Sad that it hasn't worked out as he seems like a genuine guy but he has to go so we can try and survive in the league by maximising points over this heavy winter period under new leadership.

Brian: We played quite well with a depleted squad. The main difference between the teams was goalkeepers. The sooner Max Stryjek gets back the better.

Kilmarnock assistant Stevie Frail tells BBC Sportsound: "The manager got sent off, which he's really, really disappointed at.

"Obviously something was said and, to be honest, I don't know and I don't know if even Stuart [Kettlewell] knows. The fourth called for the referee to come over and I'm surprised to see a red card, to be honest. It's passionate at the side of the pitch, there's a lot going on.

"I know the manager and I know how he works, he's a passionate, Whatever he's said, it surely, in my opinion, doesn't deem a red card.

"We're disappointed at losing the game and we lose goals and we've been doing it a little this season, losing them, cheap goals.

"We feel there's some big decisions went against us. The second goal comes from... we had possession, we lose it, they break, we make a foul but the referee waves play on and they get the goal and defensively it's not great from our point of view."

Bojan Miovski's two goals helped Rangers secure victory away to Kilmarnock with Stuart Kettlewell's side now 10 games without a win.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Kilmarnock captain Brad Lyons is suspended while manager Stuart Kettlewell has fresh doubts over two unnamed players.

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

Rangers winger Mikey Moore could return but Dujon Sterling will not be risked on Kilmarnock's artificial surface.

Rangers remain without John Souttar, Derek Cornelius and Oliver Antman with muscle injuries. Rabbi Matondo (knee) and Kieran Dowell (foot) are closing in on comebacks.

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Stuart Kettlewell has hailed "walking miracle" Max Stryjek and revealed the Kilmarnock goalkeeper is already out running in his determination for a quick return to action after open heart surgery.

Stryjek, 29, who last played for Killie on October 4, underwent surgery on 18 November and has "blown away" medical experts with his recovery, says Kettlewell.

The Killie boss added: "I always say that I feel that I've seen absolutely everything over the years of managing but it's safe to say this wasn't a situation that I'd ever seen.

"Max has made a personal statement, the club will do their own in the coming days.

"You'll see him running round the pitch at this minute in this time. For me, I need to go on record and say it's one of the most inspirational things from an individual, the guy is a walking miracle in his recovery.

"I think you can see that it's had an impact on everybody at the football club that situation, being delivered that news.

"He's just over two weeks post open heart surgery and he's out jogging, three days after he's out doing 5,000 steps.

"I think a lot of this information is now going back to the surgeons and the specialists and they are absolutely blown away by what he's been able to achieve and what he's been able to do at this point.

"He's just really showing everybody that desire to get back and play and help the football club.

"For me, we always talk about having a burning desire to contribute and to do something. I think when you've been through an experience like that then it's the type of thing that gives the rest of the players a lift.

"We've had him in the dressing room last Saturday against Dundee United, he travelled with us to Tynecastle and you can see that that's having an impact on the rest of the players.

"I keep going back to this screening programme that we've got in Scotland and I think we need to celebrate that, this is an instance it shows it's so worthwhile."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Stuart Kettlewell has been speaking to the media ahead of Kilmarnock's home game against Rangers on Saturday evening.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Ketllewell has called Max Stryjek a "walking miracle" as the goalkeeper recovers from open heart surgery.

• He added: "The surgeons and the specialists are absolutely blown away by what he's been able to achieve and do at this point and he's just really showing everybody that desire to play and help the football club."

• Captain Brad Lyons is suspended for the game on Saturday and Killie will be without "two or three" players through injury following their midweek draw with Hearts.

• Killie will go into the match with "no change in mindset", says Kettlewell, as they seek victory over Rangers who've won the past three meetings.

• The Killie boss has admitted his side have taken some "blows" in recent weeks but they now have more "belief" following back-to-back draws after after a six-game losing streak.

• Kettlewell is hoping to give more minutes to recent signings Tyrese John-Jules and Jack Thomson who are in need of match fitness.

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock have lost 12 of their past 14 league meetings with Rangers, although the two exceptions both came at home, 1-0 wins in August 2023 and October 2024.

• None of Rangers' past 11 league visits to Kilmarnock have been drawn, with the Glasgow side winning five and losing six since a 0-0 stalemate in April 2017 under Pedro Caixinha.

• Kilmarnock are winless in eight league games (D2 L6), last going longer without victory in the Scottish Premiership in March 2021 (10).

• Rangers have drawn their past three games in all competitions, last drawing more in a row in March 2015 (5), and last doing so as a top-flight club in November 2005 (4). In the league, the Ibrox side have already drawn eight of their 14 matches in 2025-26, their joint-most ever at this stage of a league campaign, alongside 1978-79.

• Although Rangers rank second-highest for shots per game in the Scottish Premiership this season (15.2, behind Celtic's 16.5), they have the third-lowest shot conversion rate (8.9%), netting 19 times from 213 shots.

Bruce Anderson has dedicated his late equaliser against Hearts to the Kilmarnock support as he urges his team-mates to build on the 1-1 draw against the league leaders.

Anderson's 90th-minute goal at Tynecastle cancelled out Lawrence Shankland's second-half opener to give Kilmarnock their second point in consecutive games after a six-match losing run.

It was also Anderson's second goal in two matches and the striker told Killie TV: "It's been a difficult last few weeks, so to get a point in that fashion is really good.

"The most important people are the fans at the football club and that goal was for them. Hopefully they can go away from here with something to cling on to and that sort of feelgood factor that's been missing the last few weeks, hopefully there's a little bit of that.

"The captain [Brad Lyons] just said there, we've got to build on it now. It's two draws, we wanted two wins but when you've gone through the sort of run we went through you take these little wins and it's something we need to try and build on now.

"I've always had confidence we would come out the other side and as I say it's all about building on that point because it sort of feels like a win when you score that late on."

Watch the best of the action as league leaders Hearts are held at home by Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

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We asked for your thoughts after Bruce Anderson's late goal snatch a point against league leaders Hearts.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Isobel: If only we could start games with the proper formation and go and attack. We stunned Hearts and looked the more likely to win which was pleasing. Let's continue the progress on Saturday.

Robert: One swallow doesn't make a summer but maybe there are a few shoots of hope.

Davey: Good spirit, thoroughly deserved point and could have snuck all three had Marcus Dackers' late header been a shade lower. A step in the right direction for sure. Credit to Stuart Kettlewell for his team selection and subs.

Jim: Better but still individual mistakes put us under pressure. Hearts' goal could have been avoided, young Jack Thomson should have been changed at half time and replaced with David Watson. Other than that a good showing against the league leaders.

Anna: Yet another insipid performance. Ok, we got a point but that doesn't disguise an awful selection by Stuart Kettlewell again. Three at the back and three up front, why wait until half way through the second half to put three strikers on? Had they been brought on earlier then we might have sneaked all three points.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I thought we were pushing to win it. Firstly we felt we had to give ourselves a foundation in the game.

"We spoke about tying to grow in the game and that was in the gameplan. It's a brilliant finish from Lawrence Shankland, but we roll the dice and put attackers on to get something out of the game.

"The players managed the game well from 1-0 down. We were looking for a big moment and Bruce [Anderson] came up trumps."

Hearts visit Celtic on Sunday for a top-of-the-table clash with their eight-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership gone, after Bruce Anderson's 90th-minute leveller for struggling Kilmarnock left them without a win in four games.

Have your say on the game here.

Read our match report here.

Kilmarnock have offered Rugby Park to Auchinleck Talbot as the West of Scotland Premier League club gear up for their once-in-a-lifetime Scottish Cup tie against Celtic. (Glasgow Times), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.