Kilmarnock

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

The close season has been a rapid one but for Killie fans it's dragged on.

Normally we'd be planning on a wee day out at a League 2 ground for a low-key cup game but not this summer.

The passport is out along with the flip flops, bucket hat and a tourist leaflet about speaking basic Flemish.

The town is buzzing like it did for our 1997 Scottish Cup win as 3000 fans make travel arrangements for the 591-mile trip to Bruges before the second leg of Killie's clash with Cercle Bruges.

The manager has kept faith with last season's squad with just two new faces so far, and the first-leg performance and result gave us cause for optimism for the upcoming season.

I'd expect another few signings but the continuity from last season should stand us in good stead. I can see us going a long way in one of the cup competitions.

Anyway I'm off to pack my square sausage, I do love a traditional Belgian breakfast. I'll apologise for next week's article in advance as I'll have overdosed on strong lager, luxury chocolate and waffles in the days leading up to it.

Predicted league finish: Fourth.

Standout player will be: Kyle Vassell.

Game most looking forward to: On my way to it.

Sandy Armour is the editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine.

Image source, Getty Images

Cercle Bruges suffered a chastening start to the new Belgian Pro League season as they were beaten 3-0 away to Westerlo four days before Kilmarnock's visit on Thursday.

Miron Muslic's side will consider themselves favourites to progress to the Europa League third qualifying round after leaving Rugby Park with a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

But they will be smarting from their defeat by a side who finished 11th - seven places below them - in their domestic league last season.

The home side, with Scotland Under-21 winger Dire Mebude starting on his return from last season's loan spell with Bristol City, went ahead after 18 minutes through Lucas Stassin.

The striker added his second 10 minutes after the break and then set up fellow forward Allahyar Sayyadmanesh just after the hour mark.

Muslic had handed on-loan Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Lawrence Agyekum his debut, while defender Boris Popovic and striker Filipe Augusto also came into the starting line-up.

Former Ross County winger Kazeem Olaigbe, who scored Cercle's goal in Ayrshire, Lithuania midfielder Edgaras Utkus and forward Abdoul Quattara had all dropped to the bench but came on as substitutes shortly before Westerlo's third goal.

We asked for your views after Kilmarnock's comeback draw with Cercle Bruges at Rugby Park. Here's a flavour...

Arron: Great performance. In the first half we were too respectful on the back of being the underdogs, and the players would be mindful of the last home European tie. After the Cercle goal, Kilmarnock we’re forced to push up and realised they were more than a match.

Denis: How did Derek McInnes get the manager of the year award? His 'lump it up the field and long throw-ins' tactic isn’t a sign of a great manager. Plus their only other tactic is to dive in the box at the first chance. Terrible game of football.

Robert: Great night. Maybe the quality didn't match my first ever Euro night when we played Real Madrid in 1965, but the occasion definitely matched. As always, the team put everything into it. Fans were incredible but we need that in every game.

Marwan: Brilliant performance from the boys, maybe should have scored more, but I am still confident that we can beat them in the second leg. Kyle Vassell impressed me, he created a lot of chances, David Watson scored a brilliant goal, but the focus should be on the second leg now.

Robert: Vassell was superb as was Robbie Deas. While next week will be difficult we should be confident of being able to take the tie.

Adam: Kilmarnock deserved the win tonight. Most of their play was very positive. I'm actually disappointed not to come away with the win, but a draw is still a good result and one I'm sure all Kilmarnock fans would have taken before the match started. The goalkeeper [Robby McCrorie] had a few good saves and was impressive throughout.

Kilmarnock fans are "quietly confident" heading into the second leg of the European tie with Cercle Bruges, according to Forever and Ever podcast host Paul Montgomery.

The Rugby Park side were fantastic in their 1-1 home draw with the Belgians - a game in which manager Derek McInnes said they were "underdogs".

"Derek McInnes said we were underdogs going into the tie - we're not underdogs now after that last night," Montgomery told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"We can go there and compete. You'd expect [Cercle] to have a wee bit more of the ball, but the bottom line is we're in the tie. That's what we need.

"We're taking more than 3,000 fans over there. We didn't want to be going there down three or four, that would have kind of burst the bubble.

"If we can play the way we played last night, with Marley Watkins probably back, we'll have a chance.

"I'll say [I'm] quietly confident, but I'm pretty sure that the Killie fans are going to have a ball regardless of what happens on the park."

Despite the rain lashing down in the first-half, there was a carnival atmosphere in Ayrshire that was only helped by the team's strong showing.

"When you support one of the provincial clubs in Scotland, these big occasions mean so much to everybody," Montgomery explained.

"Before the game, the atmosphere was just incredible. You don't want to just go and make up the numbers. You want to go and compete but you can't help but feel a festival and celebratory atmosphere.

"In the ground, it felt quite hostile actually - in a good way - because there was great relations with the Cercle fans before and after, but it really did feel like a proper game."

• You can listen to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds or by clicking the link here.

Image source, SNS

Cercle Bruges are "ready" for "another battle" with Kilmarnock and head coach Miron Muslic thinks it will be his side's turn to take advantage of their home pitch in the second leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie.

The Scottish Premiership side came from a goal behind to draw 1-1 on an artificial surface Muslic described as "very bad" ahead of kick-off.

"We knew Kilmarnock would try to take the advantage from the pitch and the fantastic atmosphere, but I'm really happy with how we faced this," the Austrian said.

"We will do the same next Thursday. We will use our pitch, our stadium.

"It's a good result and we have everything in our hands. It will be another battle, but we are ready for this."

Muslic had "expected a fight", strong backing for the home side from the stands and rival boss Derek McInnes' direct tactics.

"It's not easy playing in such a hostile environment - in a beautiful way of course," he added. "It's not easy defending long ball after long ball, set-piece after set-piece. We picked up the fight.

"It was a ping-pong game and it was hard to get the ball on the ground, but we showed the offensive threat we have.

"It's impossible to defend 50-60 long balls and Kilmarnock turned this game into their advantage."

Almost a historic night at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock fans, but what did you make of it?

Who impressed you? Did you deserve a late winner? And do you feel confident going over to Belgium now?

Let us know your thoughts here., external

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

The Connah’s Quay disaster may have only been five years ago, but with the good feeling around Rugby Park, it feels much longer.

There have been downs and ups since then, and the Ayrshire team are still riding the wave of their latest ascent up the table.

The confidence gained from last season’s overachieving has not evaporated over the summer and Kilmarnock didn’t look out of place against one of Belgium’s best teams.

In the final 15 minutes, it seemed like only one team would win as Kilmarnock threatened to create history. If they had found a winner, it would have been deserved.

Will they go on to regret not finding that late goal? We'll have to wait and see, but Derek McInnes' side will certainly go to Bruges with nothing to fear.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "We made the changes at the right time. Cercle play with high intensity. We thought we might have been able to capitalise on that.

"It was always my intention to get two strikers on the pitch. Frazer Murray has been terrific in pre-season and he gave us a spark. The way we finished the game, we'll hang on to that.

"I'm comfortable with the result. Normally it takes two big performances. We'll take the confidence and the fitness from it."

Image source, SNS

Kyle Vassell. The Killie skipper might have only claimed an assist instead of a goal, but striker led from the front valiantly all night.

A constant threat to the Cercle Bruges defenders, he admitted to watching them on YouTube earlier in the week to try and get a read on them.

It worked. He hassled them all night, and they won't be pleased to see him again next week.

Image source, SNS

Former Rangers goalkeeper Robby McCrorie makes his first competitive Kilmarnock start against Cercle Bruges, but Bruce Anderson will have to wait for his debut as he's named on the bench.

It's a strong line-up named by Derek McInnes, in what appears to be a 4-3-3 formation, but last season's top scorer Marley Watkins misses out completely.

There are potential debuts for youngsters Ben Brannan, Kian Leslie, and Archie Traynor on the bench.

Here's the team news in full...

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Deas, Lyons, Donnelly, Watson, Armstrong, Vassell, Kennedy.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Glavin, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Wales, Brannan, Leslie, Polworth, Taynor.

Cercle Bruges: Warleson, Ravych, Utkus, Daland, Nazinho, Van der Bruggen, Francis, Ouattara, Somers, Olaigbe, Denkey.

Substitutes: Delanghe, De Bel, Popovic, Agyekum, Augusto, Miangue, Bayo, Bruno Goncalves, El Bahri, Lietaert, Kakou.

Image source, SNS

Cercle Bruges head coach Miron Muslic was keen to praise the "aura" of Rugby Park and the job Derek McInnes has done as Kilmarnock manager ahead of Thursday's Europa League qualifier.

While critical of the artificial surface, Muslic said of the team: "They played a very good season, especially in the home games, they’ve been really, really strong, powerful and effective and again using the possibility of the artificial pitch.

"So I’m completely aware about Derek and his job and he has done fantastic. We respect Kilmarnock a lot. This is a team that will give their all, this is a team that will try to make it a real fight."

As the venue, he added: "I heard the stadium is sold out. I was already outside and had a look and it has a little bit of football romance. It was really nice.

"Even if it’s an old stadium, it has an aura and some nice charisma. So we’re going to not only challenge Kilmarnock, also their fantastic home fans. Everything is prepared for a European feast and we just want to make sure that we are performing."

Image source, SNS

Cercle Bruges head coach Miron Muslic has described Kilmarnock's pitch as being "in very bad condition" ahead of Thursday's Europa League qualifier.

In his post-match media conference, the Austrian made several references to the playing surface before he was directly asked about it.

"That’s something we cannot control," he said. "I cannot put too much energy into this.

"Of course, it’s new and challenging and also the pitch is in very bad condition. It's not a new artificial pitch, it's just an old one.

"But that's something we cannot control. We can control a strong performance and this is our plan.

"We have one team in our competition, St Truiden, who play on an artificial pitch, so we face them once a year. The last two games we won 1-0 and 2-0, so hopefully this is a good omen."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock forward Kyle Vassell says the chance to take on European opposition is "special" after a long and varied career of domestic football.

Captain Vassell is likely to lead the line when Killie host Cercle Bruges in Thursday's Europa League second qualifying round first leg.

The 31-year-old played throughout England's lower leagues and briefly in the United States before joining Kilmarnock in 2023.

"It’d be special, the stuff of dreams," he said.

"Obviously I want to win the game but for me personally it’d be amazing to score, and get off the mark for the season. I’m looking forward to trying to do that.

"This place will be rocking tomorrow and if we do our job on the pitch I want to say we can beat anyone here."

Kilmarnock fans have sold out their home and away ticket allocations and manager Derek McInnes has impressed on his players how much the game means to the town and the club’s support.

"The crowd has always played it’s part - some of the most significant nights we’ve had at Rugby Park over the last two-and-a-half seasons have been synonymous with a big crowd and a big effort from the fans," said McInnes.

"There’s a trust in the team from the supporters, which helps and we’re going to need everything we can get to turn the advantage. [Bruges] have got huge resources over us but we feel it’s a game we can win and we’ve got to believe that.

"There’s a generation of Kilmarnock fans who have not had the opportunity to travel abroad with the team and we want to make the most of it.

"This is exactly where we want to be as a club and hopefully once that ball rolls tomorrow we set about that ask of being a good team."

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes recalled his first Kilmarnock game to emphasise how far his side have come during his two-and-a-half years in charge.

The former Aberdeen manager's tenure kicked off with a 2-0 victory at Queen of the South in January 2022 in front of a Covid-restricted crowd of 500 fans.

Then a Championship side, that win put the Ayrshire club two points behind second-tier leaders Arbroath.

McInnes went on to guide Kilmarnock to a dramatic top-flight promotion and Premiership survival the following the season.

After a fourth-placed finish last term, they are now a day away from taking on Cercle Bruges at a sell-out Rugby Park in the first leg of their Europa League second-round qualifier.

Speaking prior to Thursday's visit of the Belgian side, which will be shown live on BBC Scotland, McInnes recalled: "When you look back to when we took over, we had a horrible game at Queen of the South, hardly anybody there.

"Now we've got this type of fixture to look forward to. Now we’re here, we just want to have a go at it.

"The opportunity of competing in Europe doesn't come round every year for ourselves. We'd like to get to the stage where it becomes more frequent."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for their Europa League first-leg qualifier with Cercle Bruges on Thursday:

Here are the key lines:

• McInnes says his side need to remind themselves the game is there to be enjoyed, adding that the opportunity of competing in Europe doesn't come around every year.

• He knows they don't need to win the first leg at home but stressed that everything is much more difficult if you don't.

• McInnes wants his side to prove why they are in Europe and the game on Thursday is an opportunity to demonstrate that.

• He says he's not signed too many players because he enjoyed the team last season and wants to see improvements from that core group, who will be tested on Thursday.

• In terms of other potential new signings, the Kilmarnock boss says they're holding out to get the ones they want rather than ones that are available.

• McInnes feels a sell-out Rugby Park will be big help on Thursday and says they're going to need everything they can get from that advantage.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock's Premiership match against St Johnstone at Rugby Park next month will now take place on Sunday, 11 August at 15:00 BST.

The game was originally scheduled to take place a day prior but has been changed because of the Ayrshire side's involvement in Europe on the Thursday before.

Derek McInnes' men will be playing Molde or Silkeborg in Europa League third-round round qualifying if they get past Cercle Bruges.

If Kilmarnock lose to the Belgian side, they will drop into the same stage of Conference League qualifying and will face Tromso of Norway or KuPS of Finland.

Image source, SNS

The draw for the last 16 of the Scottish League Cup will take place on Sunday.

It will be broadcast live on Premier Sports following their coverage of Motherwell v Partick Thistle at Fir Park, which kicks off at 15:00 BST.

The top-flight's five European representatives - holders Rangers, Celtic, Hearts, Kilmarnock and St Mirren - will enter the draw and will also be seeded, along with the three best group winners.

All last-16 ties are scheduled to played on the weekend of 17/18 August.