Kilmarnock

Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock striker Bruce Anderson hopes the boost brought by his late equaliser at Dundee United can be the start of the team "kicking on" after a difficult period.

Derek McInnes' men are still without a win in six matches, but a point at in-form United will bring encouragement.

"It's been a tough spell but hopefully we can take this as a reference point for the rest of the season," Anderson told BBC Scotland.

"It's a brilliant changing room. We got our just rewards."

Anderson scored an emphatic spot-kick in the 95th minute after Richard Odada fouled Bobby Wales.

It was the former Aberdeen and Livingston forward's fourth goal of the season.

"I just thought I needed to make sure I scored so I whacked it as hard as I could and thankfully it's gone in," said Anderson.

"I just want to score as many goals as I can. I love scoring goals; whether it's a tap-in, a penalty or a 30-yarder."

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 1-1 draw against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Barry: Style of football is horrible to watch and totally ineffective. No faith in defence or either goalkeeper, the aimless lump up the park to Kyle Vassell isn't the answer. Bobby Wales and Bruce Anderson have offered so much more whenever they've had the chance. Good to see Kyle Magennis back after a long lay-off though, the boy can play.

Adam: How come Kilmarnock only start playing in the second half? Start at the beginning and lots of these results would be better!

George: Body language from some players is a big question. A good point at the end. The goalkeeper was good until he went off and his replacement is not good enough, time to get players in and move some out.

Scott: Fantastic character and spirit from the players after the Ibrox debacle. We need to start picking up wins but a point here is a good result given United's home record. Hopefully this can be a turning point ahead of a massive game next week.

John: Good point after the midweek roasting, but we need to get back to winning ways otherwise we could be down again at the end of the season.

Jim: We were lucky. The same issues are still there. Our diamonds in the pack are David Watson and Wales, why have them sitting on the bench? Anderson up front was an improvement. We need people with pace and skill up front so Danny Armstrong can have targets in the box. Too often Armstrong gets to the bye-line but there is no-one in the centre.

Image source, SNS

• Dundee United are undefeated in their last five games in the Premiership, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 1 February 2022 to 26 February 2022.

• Kilmarnock have failed to win in their last six games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from May 2024 to September 2024, a run of eight games.

• Dundee United have lost 10 points from winning positions in the Premiership this season, only Hibernian (16) have lost more.

• Kilmarnock have won 11 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, more than any other team.

Did you take in Kilmarnock's 1-1 draw with Dundee United or following the match from home?

Have your say on the match, external

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "It's no more than we deserved. I thought it was a really gutsy, gritty performance. We were competitive throughout. It's exactly the type of performance that was required after the other night.

"I thought it would've been harsh on us to lose this game 1-0. We thought later in the game, the subs would be important for us and I think that proved pivotal.

"Character was screaming out the team and I'm absolutely delighted that we've got something from the game. Some points are massive. In the context of the week, that feels like a really important point for us.

"It was just the impact [for injured goalkeeper Robby McCrorie]. I don't think it's a muscle strain. He seemed pretty confident that it would settle."

Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes said pre-match that his players should not dwell on Wednesday's 6-0 loss away to Rangers.

For 25 minutes or so at Tannadice, it looked like the sequel as Dundee United piled on the pressure.

But after weathering that storm, Kilmarnock got to grips with the challenge with Lewis Mayo, Joe Wright and Robbie Deas getting much closer to the United attackers.

After losing the Sam Dalby goal, Kilmarnock had no option but to go for it and were rewarded with the Bruce Anderson penalty.

A point on the road is a good response to their midweek humbling.

Midfielder Fraser Murray was prominent in Kilmarnock's attack, threatening on three occasions.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin expects to be selecting from an unchanged squad, with Ross Docherty (calf), Craig Sibbald (groin) and Kristijan Trapanovski (hamstring) still absent.

Kilmarnock defender Joe Wright is set to brave some bruising to his forehead after concussion was ruled out following his early exit against Rangers.

Matty Kennedy (back) is unlikely to return while Derek McInnes has other unnamed fitness concerns. Stuart Findlay (ankle) is a long-term absentee and Kyle Magennis is edging close to a return.

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes is seeking more fighting spirit from his Kilmarnock players after accusing them of "moping about" in the 6-0 hammering by Rangers.

He has urged his side to be "a real competitive animal" when they travel to Tannadice to face Dundee United on Saturday.

The Rugby Park men are just three points above bottom club Hearts having lost four and drawn one of their last give games.

"I've no time for people moping about, I've no time for feeling sorry for ourselves," said manager McInnes.

"I felt it was just shoulders slumped and it all became just a bit too much for the lads on the pitch [at Ibrox].

"It's something we spoke about, in adversity we've got to give a bit more and got to stand up to these types of things.

"Rangers had the quality to take full advantage and what we need to do is make sure we're a real competitive animal.

"We need to get back to doing the basics well, being hard to beat, being solid and hopefully find a winning performance from that.

"It's important that we give ourselves the best chance to be that and we move on quickly from the game at Ibrox.

"I do trust the boys, we've worked together long enough. I like the squad that I've got, I like the people I've got in the dressing room.

"It's important to us now that we just go and find a bit of form."

Daldeep Kaur
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Kilmarnock's visit to Dundee United on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• After the "disappointing night" in midweek - losing 6-0 to Rangers at Ibrox - McInnes says "it's up to the lads to respond in the right manner".

• He says most people wouldn't expect Killie to get anything from Ibrox, adding: "Maybe we've heightened expectations because we've beaten Rangers a couple of times over the last couple of years."

• McInnes says he expects better from the players and so should the fans, but called on everyone to "stay strong."

• Wants Killie to get back to the same level as last term: "We've always been pretty competitive, we've not been at the same level for a lot of the games this season."

• McInnes "trusts" the players but is keen to reinforce the squad with new signings in January.

• He says Killie have no time to "feel sorry for ourselves" and insists they need to be a "real competitive animal and get back to doing the basics well, being hard to beat, being solid and hopefully find a winning performance".

• Jim Goodwin has done a "great job" at Dundee United and McInnes' team will need to "find those fine margins to win the game".

Image source, SNS

• Dundee United are winless in three league meetings with Kilmarnock (D1 L2), last going longer without victory over Killie in the top flight in August 2006 (six games).

• After their 3-0 win in May 2023, Kilmarnock could win back-to-back top-flight away games at Dundee United for the first time since August 2002 (four in a row).

• Dundee United have won their last two home league games without conceding; the Tangerines last won three successive home matches in the Scottish Premiership in October 2021, and last did so while also keeping a clean sheet each time in November 2014.

• Kilmarnock lost 6-0 against Rangers last time out, their heaviest defeat in the top flight since a loss by the same scoreline against Celtic in April 2012.

• Since the start of last season, all five of Kilmarnock's league games against newly-promoted opponents have been drawn (four v Dundee in 2023-24, one v Dundee United this term). Killie are winless in five Scottish Premiership away games at promoted clubs (D3 L2) since a 1-0 victory at St Mirren in March 2019.

Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell is concerned by the form of Derek McInnes' side this season and says they need to "quickly" climb clear of a relegation battle.

Listen to the Premiership preview on BBC's Scottish football podcast

Sportscene pundits Steven Naismith and Marvin Bartley analyse Kilmarnock's defending in their 6-0 defeat by Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

Killie fans, we asked for your views after Wednesday night's 6-0 defeat to Rangers.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Thomas: Lucky it was only six! One attempt on goal, off target! Woeful defending, huge gaps. How to describe - pick from abject, ineffectual, outclassed, dire, the list goes on. I fear the worst. Give youth a chance? Main strikers past it? A long hard season awaits.

Anna: Absolute garbage all over the pitch, when will Derek McInnes learn that a back three does NOT work for us, neither does playing defenders in midfield. David Watson was wasted playing behind the toothless Marley Watkins and Kyle Vassell, he'd have been better in midfield with Brad Lyons. At this rate we'll be in a relegation scrap if things don't improve fast!

Robert: The wheels have come off, reliance on some of last year's successes seems to have been over ambitious, time for January.

Anon: Stuart Findlay is a massive loss for us, but even without him there's no excuse for our current defensive record. We've had a non-functioning, gaping midfield all season, causing us to persist with the same ineffective tactics and making us far too easy to play through.

Adam: Not impressed at all, we made Rangers look good, seriously needs to change things or personnel or we are doomed!

Jim: Rangers were not fantastic but Killie were so bad they made Rangers look better than they actually were. Defensively we are rotten, up front we are non-existent, in midfield we are very poor. Vassell and Watkins are finished. Danny Armstrong has given up and the guys on the bench are fed up being left out.

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock have failed to score in 6 of their 15 games, only Ross County (8) have failed to score more often in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have scored in their last 6 games in the Premiership, their longest scoring streak this season.

• Rangers have kept a clean sheet in 8 of their 14 games, only Celtic (11) have done this more often in the Premiership this season.

• Kilmarnock attempted 1 shot in this game, the lowest total for any team in a single match in the Premiership this season.

• Rangers have scored in each of their last 6 games in the Premiership, scoring 12 goals in that run.

• Kilmarnock have failed to win in their last 5 games in the Premiership, their last longer winless streak was from 15th May 2024 to 28th September 2024, a run of 8 games.

• Rangers are undefeated in their last 4 games in the Premiership, their last longer unbeaten streak was from 14th May 2024 to 24th August 2024, a run of 5 games.

• Kilmarnock failed to attempt a shot on target in this game, it's the first time they failed to attempt a shot on target in a game in the Premiership since facing Celtic on 7th January 2023.

Killie were hammered at Ibrox as they failed to create much in a dominant Rangers display.

Let us know your thoughts., external

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Disappointed we've lost the [first] goal because we allowed the cross to come in from the throw-in, it's something that's been quite a common theme for us. A lot of the goals we lose are in a similar area.

"Their movement was spooking us a wee bit and we just tried to simplify it by going 4-4-2 against 4-4-2 but it became clear that we couldn't cope with that.

"And unfortunately for us, although we filled in the middle of the pitch, although we stopped the kind of flow of their front lot enjoying the game, we still failed to stop crosses and we get our just desserts for that. It was such a pitiful second-half performance. We were really disappointed with the manner of the goals.”

"But when we compete against Old Firm and get results it's normally because we do so much right and the second half we were the opposite of that."

Image source, SNS

Killie were unable to influence the game whatsoever.

They failed to register a shot on target with a pitiful 0.08xG as they struggled to break out of their own final third.

Attacks were seldom seen for the visitors and any chance they did have to get up the pitch routinely resulted in a misplaced pass or possession being surrendered far too easily.

After piling pressure on Clement with their October win at Rugby Park, this performance was a complete reversal.

There was little leadership on show with a disjointed side unable to impose themselves on the game in the way McInnes’ sides usually can.

With Aberdeen and now Kilmarnock, Derek McInnes has made life difficult for successive Rangers bosses, including securing a 1-0 win over Philippe Clement's side in October.

However, it's been far from plain sailing since that victory at Rugby Park, with just one triumph in the past six games.

Saturday's draw with Dundee at least ended a sequence of three losses but leaves the Ayrshire club a mere three points above bottom side Hearts.

Replicating last season's fourth-placed finish already appears a tall order.

Having been strongly linked with Rangers in 2017, McInnes may find himself in the spotlight again if he can add to the pressure on Clement and earn Kilmarnock's first win in Govan since March 2018.

But it should be pointed out that the former Rangers midfielder has lost 13 of his 16 top-flight matches at Ibrox as a manager - including all four with Killie - while Rangers have won their past seven in a row at home in this fixture.

Read all tonight's Premiership picks

Image source, SNS

Dujon Sterling remains a doubt after missing the win over St Johnstone with a trapped nerve while defender Robin Propper will be fit following a knock and a bout of sickness.

Oscar Cortes, Tom Lawrence and Rabbi Matondo are getting close to a return following their respective injuries. Neraysho Kasanwirjo is out four to six months after knee surgery.

Kilmarnock are hoping to have David Watson (hip) and Matty Kennedy (back) available again.

Liam Donnelly is suspended and Stuart Findlay (ankle) is a long-term absentee but Kyle Magennis is edging close to a return.