Kilmarnock

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Loan striker Tony Watt returns to the Motherwell squad after being unable to play against parent club Dundee United last weekend.

Ross Callachan (hamstring), Paul McGinn (thigh), Callum Slattery (knee), Jack Vale (calf) and Zach Robinson (Achilles) remain out.

Kilmarnock are without the suspended Robbie Deas, while Matty Kennedy remains an injury doubt after missing out against Hearts. Kyle Magennis is set to return after sitting out that game with a bug.

Kieron O'Hara could continue between in goal after Robby McCrorie was forced to be replaced against the Jambos at half-time with an injury. Skipper Kyle Vassell returns after missing the Hearts game as his partner was in labour.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has challenged his players to build on their hard-fought win over Hearts when they take on Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership on Friday.

The Rugby Park side won 1-0 last time out, despite playing for 90 minutes with 10 players after Robbie Deas was sent off.

They now sit eighth in the table, eight points behind fourth-placed Motherwell, who they are yet to play in the league this season.

"Motherwell are going well again," McInnes said. "They had a wee dip but they've now had two wins in a row.

"Any team that can win two games in a row get a clear benefit in the league table and Motherwell are an example of that.

"They are a team we haven't played in the league yet this season and it gives us an opportunity to try and build on the win over Hearts.

"The run of fixtures which takes us to 8 January when we play Motherwell again has three home games in that period.

"But it's also incumbent on us to pick up points away from home. We've got some good points on the road so far, including our last away game at Tannadice.

"We just need to go and put on a performance which gets something from the game. Hopefully we can."

McInnes also defended the "unpopular" decision to substitute young striker Bobby Wales after Deas' red card in the victory over Hearts.

"Sometimes you've got to make unpopular decisions," he added. "Everyone is bursting to see a bit more of Bobby.

"We thought it would be a good game for Bobby to start, being at home. We had spoken about him playing a certain role and having that impact for us making runs beyond.

"Of course he was disappointed at coming off so early. But the team is always more important than any individual."

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• Motherwell have only lost one of their last six league meetings with Kilmarnock (W2 D3), a 0-1 defeat in November 2023.

• Kilmarnock are winless in five league visits to Motherwell (D2 L3) since a 2-0 victory in December 2020 under Alex Dyer.

• Motherwell have won both of their last two league games, but haven't won three on the bounce since September 2023; this is the sixth time since then that they have won back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches.

• Despite playing the most away games of any side in the Scottish Premiership this season, Kilmarnock are one of three sides yet to keep a clean sheet on their travels (also Hearts and St. Mirren). Killie have conceded a league-high 24 away goals in the top-flight in 2024-25.

• Kilmarnock are winless in their last nine Scottish Premiership games played on a Friday (D3 L6), with their last such win coming in October 2014 against Dundee United (2-0). Away from home, their last top-flight win on this day of the week was on New Year's Day 1999 - which was against Motherwell (2-1).

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Football fans are rightly accused of being fickle. However, if we see our team showing desire, character and busting a gut every week then we're generally happy.

All those traits were shown in bundles as Killie secured a superb victory over an underperforming Hearts team.

Following the very early Robbie Deas red card every single player stepped up to the plate to earn a very welcome and badly-needed three points.

The games now come thick and fast over the festive period and hopefully the win starts a run that catapults us up the table.

Bobby Wales was unlucky to be hooked in the wake of the red card but he'll get plenty of game time in the coming weeks.

Next up it's Motherwell on Friday night and with a growing injury list, and Deas suspended, the squad is getting stretched to the limit.

Fir Park is not a happy hunting ground for Killie, however, it's time for us to put a sequence of wins together on the back of beating Hearts.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Joe Wright: A colossal defensive display from Wright who also won the crucial penalty as 10 man Killie defeated Hearts.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 1-0 win against Hearts.

Here's what some of you said:

James: Thought Joe Wright had his best performance for Killie against Hearts, player of the match for me, although everyone else upped their game after sending off. A better result than the win against Rangers.

Wolfgang: I'm both angry and proud, it's a weird feeling! On the one hand, another deserved red card which is pretty unforgivable, but on the other hand, we were the better side and the defence was spot on. Derek McInnes' tactics were spot on for sure.

Anon: Tremendous effort from the players and manager, nobody wanted to take Bobby Wales off but unfortunately, that's what had to be done. The booing at that time of the game was quite embarrassing. Support the team at all times, please.

Derek: Phenomenal team performance and a great result given the circumstances - but again, a completely reckless red card that could so easily have cost us points against better opposition. The contrast between yet another moment of individual madness, and the discipline and composure shown by the rest of the team is maddening. How do we get consistency?

Anon: Great performance from the lads but once again we are left to play the game with 10 men. Don't know the record for most red cards in a season but I think we are trying to beat it.

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Kilmarnock "put in a performance and a half" to earn a "brilliant three points," says manager Derek McInnes.

For 90 minutes, the Rugby Park side played with 10 men against Hearts after Robbie Deas' early red card, but once they went ahead through Bruce Anderson's penalty, things appeared in their favour.

McInnes put that down to "ridiculously good effort".

"Any time you go down to 10 men you need to give a performance and a half," he said.

"We had to play the game a certain way. We had to stay within our shape.

"The boys were magnificent. We're having to work too hard too often this season because of the red cards but there's only positives today.

"We had the best chances in the game. We had the most shots on target, even with 10 men I thought we had some brilliant moments. It was a great performance with 10 men.

"Some three points are better than others but that feels like a brilliant three points."

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• Bruce Anderson has scored five goals in the Premiership this season (one in this game), more than any other Kilmarnock player.

• Kye Rowles attempted 114 passes in this game, the highest total for a Hearts player in the Premiership this season.

Dogged Kilmarnock battled to an impressive victory over Hearts despite playing with 10 men for 90 minutes, to leave their visitors bottom of the Scottish Premiership.

Were you at Rugby Park or following the match from home? We want your views on the game.

Let us know your thoughts on Kilmarnock's performance.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "It's too often this season we're having to deal with playing with 10 men and we're having to work harder to get anything from the game.

"We had something similar at St Mirren when we're behind and go down to 10 men and manage to get something from the game.

"We had the best chances, more shots on target and we counter-attacked brilliantly. When it comes to 10 men, everyone has to give a performance-and-a-half. And that's what we got.

"It's a brilliant day and victory and it's no more than we deserved. When you dress it down, it's just three points and three points we expected. But we've done it the hard way and some three points feel better than others, and because of the context it feels like a brilliant three points."

On the red card, McInnes said: "At the time I didn't even think it was a yellow, because he slipped into it. Having watched it again I can see why it looked nasty on VAR.

"[Referee] Don Robertson has indicated a scissors with his hands, but it's not a scissors movement. But when you freeze the challenge Deas' foot goes right on to Vargas' ankle. I could see on VAR it looked terrible, but in the context of the game I thought he slipped and it's not anything malicious."

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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As referee Don Robertson trooped to the monitor after flashing a yellow card at Robbie Deas for his challenge on KennethVargas, Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes probably had a similar sinking feeling.

He has been here before this season. A lot. The images were not pretty for Deas, who planted his studs on Vargas' ankle.

The defender must have trooped down the tunnel fearing the wrath of his manager, who has continually had to address his side's disciplinary issues after five previous sending offs in the Premiership, six in total.

But Deas was bailed out by the discipline and endeavour of his team-mates, who actually looked the more threatening team until the final half hour when they ceded territory.

Unusually this season has been a struggle at home, with Kilmarnock collecting just six points at Rugby Park, the lowest total at home in the Premiership.

But this was more like the side who finished fourth last season, as they got forward quickly and with purpose while repelling almost everything which came into their box.

McInnes will hope this can be the catalyst for more consistency. Though he probably would not mind if they could get through more games with 11 players.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes hopes to have Matty Kennedy, Liam Donnelly and Robby McCrorie available. Long-term absentee Stuart Findlay (ankle) is the only player ruled out.

Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland is suspended and defender Frankie Kent looks almost certain to miss out after aggravating a quad injury against Copenhagen.

Beni Baningime (knee) is a doubt and both Stephen Kingsley and Calem Nieuwenhof remain out with hamstring injuries.

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Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes has insisted his side won't take Hearts lightly despite their European exertions.

The Jambos lost 2-0 to Copenhagen on Thursday night - a place that Kilmarnock travelled to earlier this season in Conference League qualifying.

"We came back and went to Pittodrie after it," McInnes said. "That type of fixture can take a lot out of you. Obviously, at that stage of the season, we were still finding our feet. No team's fully up to speed.

"I think Hearts or any team playing in Europe now are getting the games through their legs and a bit more game-ready.

"When it's the travelling and travelling, it can be a bit of a disadvantage."

The Kilmarnock manager is experienced in managing sides in Europe, given Aberdeen's travels while McInnes was in charge at Pittodrie.

"I think managers look at 'we've got them after a European game'. That's just natural. You always want to play Rangers or Celtic after they've had a European game and they're getting more distractions or minimum rest. That's just the nature of it.

"But regardless if we're getting Hearts fresh, regardless of who plays on Sunday, I know it's Hearts turning up here on Sunday. We've just got to try and be the team that catches fire a wee bit for ourselves and gets a strong performance because it will need to be that."

It hasn't been long since the two sides met, after Kilmarnock beat Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle at the end of October.

"We beat them at Tynecastle a few weeks ago and it was a really strong second-half performance. But I actually think to beat a team of Hearts' quality, you normally need to turn up for 90 minutes and that's what I'm looking for from my team."

Dundee United midfielder Vicko Sevelj, 24, criticises Danny Armstrong, 27, following the Kilmarnock winger's challenge at Tannadice last weekend. (Record), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Midfielder Brad Lyons says Kilmarnock can "define" their season with five home games in the space of 25 days.

With the busy festive fixture card around the corner, Lyons is looking to drive Killie up from 10th place in the table.

Derek McInnes' side host Hearts on Sunday and also welcome Aberdeen, Ross County, St Mirren and Motherwell to Rugby Park before 2025 is eight days old.

Lyons said: "December is probably the first month that can properly define your season because, if you do start winning, you start building momentum and the games come thick and fast, which is quality.

"As a player, that's what we want, we don't want to be training all the time, we want to be playing games.

"Sunday is all we are focused on now. If we get three points and build momentum off that, it will be tremendous.

"Having this run of home games looming is massive for the whole club, and the fans, If we get that home form right, then after December, January time, we should be right up there."

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• Kilmarnock have only suffered two defeats in their last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with Hearts (W6 D4), winning their first league match against them this season 2-1 in October.

• Hearts have kept a clean sheet in their last two league visits to Kilmarnock (W1 D1), this after conceding 2+ goals in each of their previous three at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership.

• No side has earned fewer points at home in the Scottish Premiership this season than Kilmarnock (6), who have won just once in their last eight league games at Rugby Park (D4 L3), beating Rangers 1-0 in October.

• Hearts have only won one of their last 11 away league outings (D3 L7), beating St Johnstone 2-1 in early November.

• Only Aston Oxborough (55) has made more saves in the Scottish Premiership this season than Kilmarnock's Robby McCrorie (42), who has made at least three saves in each of his last five league appearances.

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Derek McInnes says Kyle Magennis' quality can be key for Kilmarnock but knows a return to the midfielder playing regularly will take time.

Magennis made his comeback from a year out with a hamstring injury when he came off the bench for the final few minutes in last weekend's draw at Dundee United.

"We've all seen him suffer, we've seen him pull up in training, we've seen him pull up in games and walk away with his head in his hands and [he was] inconsolable really, we've seen what he's been through," said manager McInnes.

"I put him on ahead of others, not because of sentiment, we needed a result. I think he's as capable as any of my midfielders are at getting me a goal and bringing a bit of quality, so that was the reason he went on. He was on to do a job and he did his job well.

"I've watched Kyle since he was a wee boy, he played in the same youth team at St Mirren as my son and I always knew his qualities.

"I had an interest in him when I was at Aberdeen and if the circumstance had been right it would have been one I would have liked to have taken.

"With the greatest respect, the reason we managed to get him at Kilmarnock is because of his injuries."

McInnes was keen to emphasise patience is needed as the 26-year-old is still not training "like most normal footballers".

He added: "He trains a day and then he's a physio the next day, he never does two consecutive days with the team.

"We're just trying to share the load a wee bit on his body and on his hamstrings to hopefully get us to a stage where he can train two and three days in a row like most normal footballers.

"But it's not through the want of trying, he is desperate to train and play as much as he can. To give him the best chance at that, we're going to have to be smart and give him the best opportunity."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership match with Hearts on Sunday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Last-gasp point gained at Tannadice felt "more valuable than others" and McInnes is taking positives from recent performances, saying that other than the second half at Ibrox they have been "competing in games".

• "Huge positive" in Kyle Magennis being back after making an appearance off of the bench at Tannadice, ending a year-long lay-off.

• The returning midfielder was brought on over others on Saturday "not because of sentiment, we needed a result".

• McInnes says home form is pivotal in everything Killie are trying to do and they have to try to take full advantage of it: "Our home form won us the title [Championship], kept us in the league, and got us into a European place."

• He reckons that "by 8 January, that's normally where you'll be roughly come end of the season" and is hoping to be mid-table and pushing top six by then.

• On Hearts, McInnes says they have a "set way of playing that they won't change" under Neil Critchley.

• The Rugby Park boss joked he was "absolutely buzzing" Lawrence Shankland is suspended and unable to play on Sunday.

• McInnes says it is natural to want to play a side after a European away tie, but regardless Killie have to be the side that "catches fire a wee bit for ourselves and gets a strong performance".

• Matthew Kennedy and Liam Donnelly have not trained fully this week but could be ready for Sunday's game.

At Tannadice on Saturday the introduction of young Bobby Wales was, once again, the key to rescuing a point for Killie.

It was far from a vintage performance but it felt like a big point in the context of our recent run.

The performance at Ibrox last week was one of the worst in recent years, with the manager's team selection yet again causing us problems.

Derek McInnes really needs to get back to basics, stop the overthinking and put players in their natural positions.

Credit to the team at Tannadice as they didn't show any signs of a hangover, knuckled down to battle and earned the last-minute leveller.

Bruce Anderson fired home a textbook penalty and the wee striker has goals in him if he is given more opportunities with a starting place.

It's a worry that Wales is out of contract at the end of the season, yet he still awaits the offer of a new deal.

The 19-year-old is exactly the type of young player we should be investing in as he could earn us a big transfer fee in the future.

Hearts visit the Theatre of Pies this Sunday and it may be a good time to play them after their midweek European trip. Time for our second home win of the campaign.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine