Kilmarnock

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "A lot of things transpired against us. The scoreline was pretty harsh on us. Early part of the game we showed what we've been this season. Vassell and Watkins were doing terrific.

"It wasn't as if Rangers were playing through us, it was their directness that was causing us problems.

"I think Joe Wright is extremely unlucky to concede a penalty and get a red card. If that's the rule that's the rule, but I thought it was extremely harsh on us.

"We'll move on quickly from this. Next Saturday we hope to make it a good day for us because we've had plenty of them this season."

McInnes says an injury to Brad Lyons "doesn't look good".

What did you make of that, Kilmarnock fans? Was it a red card for Joe Wright? Did you feel confident at 1-0 up?

And how do you feel now third is now officially out of reach?

Tell us your thoughts here.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

The only team that has beaten Kilmarnock since the start of December is Rangers.

That is an absolutely astonishing statistic and one Derek McInnes and his staff and players should be rightly proud of.

4-1 was harsh on them. Although they didn't look likely to score any more, they really frustrated Rangers for large parts of the game and even Joe Wright's sending off - although a correct decision - felt harsh.

They switched off just once in the first-half - when Fabio Silva scored - and from there, it was a real struggle for them. They did well in the circumstances.

Rangers defender Connor Goldson is out for the season after picking up a knee injury in training. Ridvan Yilmaz and Ryan Jack returned to training this week but only the former has any chance of making it against Killie.

Attackers Abdallah Sima (hamstring) and Rabbi Matondo (knock) remain sidelined while Danilo (knee) and Oscar Cortes (muscle) are out for the rest of the season.

Kilmarnock midfielder James Balagizi picked up a knee strain and is out but will be back for the St Mirren match the following week.

Greg Stewart has recently had a hernia operation but could be back for the end of the season, while Kyle Magennis remains out long term with a hamstring problem.

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Kilmarnock's place in European football next season has been confirmed after Dundee were defeated by St Mirren on Saturday.

Derek McInnes' side now lead the Dens Park outfit by 11 points with three games to go.

The Ayrshire club have a six-point lead over fifth-placed St Mirren, who have played a game more.

The club wrote on X: "We’ve known it has been coming, but results elsewhere today confirms that Kilmarnock will be playing European football next season.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported on this crazy journey! Now let’s secure fourth".

Iona Ballantyne
BBC Sport Scotland

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Joe Wright wishes he could "bottle" Kilmarnock's campaign, with the Rugby Park club on the cusp of European Football.

Having moved to Ayrshire at the start of last season, the defender endured a gruelling season last year as Killie staved off relegation.

But this term, Wright says the sense of positivity has made coming to work a pleasant experience.

"You obviously look forward to the summer and your break away, but if you could bottle this season it'd be brilliant," the 29-year-old said.

"When you're playing with good players, it just makes your game easier. It's just been enjoyable coming in every day.

"It doesn't feel like a job, you're with your friends and just having a good time."

Kilmarnock are keen to nail down fourth place, says Wright, but would need to win at Ibrox if they're to do so this weekend.

"We want to do that [confirm Europe] as soon as possible," Wright added.

"Mathematically, it's not quite there yet, and with everyone playing each other it can look more comfortable than it actually is.

"We've always got that motivation as a team. When you're playing against the Old Firm, you know you've got to be at is as a group. The games against Rangers have been close.

"It helps when you have positive results and performances, you go into these games without fearing anyone."

We asked for your views on who has been Killie's player of the year. It seemed to be a tough choice for the Rugby Park faithful.

Here are some of your suggestions:

Neil: Player of the season for me would have to be Matty Kennedy.

John: Take your pick from Danny Armstrong, Lewis Mayo, Will Dennis or Marley Watkins.

Steve: Great season. Armstrong the stand out player by far. Looking forward to him tearing up Europe.

Andy: For a player most thought would be a decent squad player, Watkins has been absolutely outstanding. He works his socks off, he’s scored some fantastic goals and his link-up play has been a vital part of the team’s success.

Grant: Tough call to pick a player of the year. Mayo has been outstanding, Kyle Vassell has led the team brilliantly, David Watson brilliant, Kennedy and Armstrong superb and creative. But for me the accolades go to Watkins, who without a shadow of a doubt has been unplayable at times.

Robert: Watkins, Stuart Findlay, Armstrong, Dennis or Kennedy all have good cases for player of the season but my choice would be Mayo. Incredible consistency in every game he has played.

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• Rangers have won eight of their last nine league meetings with Kilmarnock, with the exception a 1-0 defeat on matchday one this season.

• Kilmarnock have lost each of their last six league visits to Rangers since a 1-1 draw in March 2019 under Steve Clarke.

• After winning 10 home matches in a row across all competitions between December and February, Rangers have since won just one of their last four at Ibrox (D2 L1), conceding in all four games.

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last five Scottish Premiership away matches (W1 D4) and could win back-to-back top-flight matches on the road for the first time since October 2020.

• James Tavernier has been directly involved in 11 goals across his last 10 Scottish Premiership matches (seven goals, four assists). Overall, his 26 goal involvements (17 goals, nine assists) this season are the most of any player in the competition.

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Kilmarnock are no stranger to a result against the Old Firm this season but can they do it at Ibrox on Sunday?

Who do you think should be in the starting line-up in Govan?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your XI here.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

One well-used football cliche is 'if you can't win, make sure you don't get beat' - that's exactly what Killie did at the weekend.

Hearts played as well as any team has at Rugby Park this season, in the first half anyway. We rode our luck on occasion but the desire and battling qualities were there for all to see.

We might have even sneaked a win at the end, although that would have been a bit cheeky. But it was a good point - and with other results going in our favour, the passport has now been taken out the drawer and is sitting on top of the suitcase.

We are now nine points clear in third with only four games remaining. There is more chance of Ayr winning a trophy than there is of Killie missing out on a European adventure next season.

It is Ibrox next on Sunday to face a Rangers team who are the only side to have beaten us in the last 18 league games, but we can play with some freedom against a group of players who are showing some nerves in recent games.

Sandy Armour is the editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine.

It's been a superb season for Derek McInnes' Kilmarnock side, but who has stood out to you?

We want to know who you would choose as the club's player of the season.

Give us your thoughts here.

Iona Ballantyne
BBC Sport Scotland

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Derek McInnes says the atmosphere at Kilmarnock makes his job easier after admitting it's "nice" to be nominated for the SPFL manager of the year award.

The Ayrshire club have gone from fending off relegation last season to sitting on the brink of European football this term.

Despite their improved fortunes, the Rugby Park boss doesn't believe he's become a better manager, but says the recruitment and squad has turned things around.

"It’s nice to be in good company," McInnes said. "Not something I was thinking about, but once it was mentioned it’s nice. It’s always a reflection on the whole club.

"This season has been a lot easier to manage even though you get the recognition for it because your team is doing well, and that’s all down to recruitment and the players.

"I don’t think I’ve become a better manager this year than I was last year, I actually think that last year was a tougher test for us, but this year has been so enjoyable, it really has.

"And that’s down to the players every day and it’s down to the staff I’m working with. I still have that enthusiasm – when I wake up I can’t wait to bounce into work and I want my players to feel that work is a good place and hopefully that can continue.

"I’ve really enjoyed the season – four games to go and hopefully there’s a couple of highlights still in us."

Iona Ballantyne
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been talking to the media before his side's Scottish Premiership trip to Ibrox on Sunday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Says "it's nice to be in good company" with his PFA Scotland manager of the year nomination, and stressed it is a reflection of the positive work being done by the club as a whole.

• Insists that last season was a tougher test for him as a manager - "you probably feel you do more as a manager in a season like that, you do a lot of your better work when you have to deal with a crisis".

• McInnes pointed to the "brilliant" recruitment done by the club last summer, which he says has been a key factor in their climb up the league.

• Spoke about the lack of celebrations among players and staff when Kilmarnock secured a top-six finish. McInnes stressed that the goal is European football and wants to seal that as soon as possible.

• McInnes wasn't aware of the SFA's VAR review panel saying 26 Premiership decisions have been incorrect since the start of the season. He says there is "still a bit to go" before the in-game process is "slick and as good as possible"

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Twenty-six decisions since the start of the Premiership season have been deemed incorrect by the Scottish FA's VAR independent review panel.

The tally, based on incidents requested by the panel or submitted for consideration, is a rise of 10 since February's last meeting of the group.

Not among the incidents included was one where Hibernian claimed the Scottish FA agreed an error had been made.

The governing body later disputed that assertion, made after Hibs were not awarded a penalty after Aberdeen's Nicky Devlin handled in February's 2-2 draw.

The 10 incorrect decisions shared with Premiership clubs on Wednesday were:

Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen (6/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to Rangers' Dujon Sterling. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.

St Mirren 2-0 Dundee (7/02/24): VAR intervention was correct, but final outcome should have been yellow card to St Mirren's James Bolton. Referee retained his on-field decision of a red card.

Ross County 1-1 St Mirren (27/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty awarded against Ross County for handball.

Hearts 1-1 Hibernian (28/2/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty decision, which led to Hearts' equaliser, should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded.

Kilmarnock 1-2 Rangers (28/2/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Final outcome should have been penalty decision, which led to Kilmarnock opening the scoring, overturned - no handball offense against Rangers.

Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty decision should have been overturned - no foul and no penalty should have been awarded to Celtic.

Hearts 2-0 Celtic (3/3/24): On-field decision correct, no penalty to Hearts. Handball should not have been awarded for spot-kick that led to opening goal.

Motherwell 0-1 Aberdeen (16/04/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty to Motherwell should have been awarded for handball.

Hibernian 1-2 St Johnstone (6/4/24): VAR should have recommended an on-field review. Penalty should have been awarded to Hibs for foul by St Johnstone goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov.

St Mirren 1-2 Hearts (6/4/24): VAR intervention correct, but penalty should have been awarded to St Mirren for a foul on Conor McMenamin by Aidan Denholm.

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David Watson says Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has played a "massive part" in a breakthrough season that has resulted in him being nominated for PFA young player of the year.

The 19-year-old has been a key cog in McInnes' midfield this term, playing 41 times and scoring five goals.

Kilmarnock, currently nine points clear in fourth, have all but secured a European place in a campaign Watson feels has surpassed his personal expectations.

"It's been good to feature as many times as I have," the midfielder said. "I didn't go into the season with too much expectation, from then I think I've kicked on.

"A lot of it comes from the players around me and the gaffer, that gives me confidence. They trust me so much and have every faith in me.

"[McInnes] been a massive part to my game. He's worked closely with me, especially with adding goals because he put that demand on me.

"I had a target to get five and I've got that. I'm trying to better that now."

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

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The Scottish Championship title, Premiership survival, a place in Europe all but secured, now a PFA manager of the year nominee.

In just over two years in charge of Kilmarnock, Derek McInnes has gone beyond expectations as Rugby Park boss.

After securing instant top-flight promotion in his first few months as manager in 2022, top-flight survival was achieved last season.

Yes, the 2022-23 campaign could have gone better. McInnes would have aimed higher than guaranteeing survival on the final day, but ensuring Kilmarnock remained in the league laid foundations for a mightily impressive 2023-24 season.

A summer of shrewd recruitment and stellar home form have been key in not only securing a top-six place, but almost certainly a spot in Europe next season.

McInnes' achievement has been recognised by his peers, who have voted him on to a three-man shortlist for manager of the year, along with ex-assistant Tony Docherty and Falkirk manager John McGlynn.

If McInnes claims the award, he will be in fine company. The only other Kilmarnock manager to win the prize is Scotland boss Steve Clarke, who was also the last man to guide the Rugby Park side to a European finish.

Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock fans already knew they had a player on their hands in the shape of David Watson last season.

But this term, the 19-year-old has taken his game to a new level.

Derek McInnes challenged his young midfielder to make himself more of a threat going forward in the summer, giving him the task of adding goals to his bite and determination.

Watson has done that, and in some style. There was the gorgeous touch-and-finish winner at Pittodrie. The raker at home to St Johnstone. The mazy that took out multiple St Mirren bodies in that incredible comeback win - from right-back, it's worth noting.

He has also scored twice at the home of the champions, including a 92nd-minute equaliser in the Ayrshire side's 1-1 draw at Celtic Park in February.

His 24 chances created are the most of any teenager in the Scottish Premiership this season.

It's been a breakthrough campaign for the teenager, with Kilmarnock fans well aware of inevitable interest in a young player of his talents.

His already lofty stock could be elevated if he were to be awarded PFA Scotland young player of the year.

To do so, he'll have to beat fellow Scottish midfielder Lennon Miller of Motherwell and Dundee's Lyall Cameron, as well as Rangers' Northern Irish winger, Ross McCausland.

One thing that could hamper Watson's chances is his lack of starts in recent months, with Liams Donnelly and Polworth forging a formidable partnership in the heart of Killie's midfield.

Despite fewer minutes in the second half of the season, Watson's standing as one of the most exciting prospects in the division remains hard to argue against.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Another week, another clean sheet for Kilmarnock.

The Ayrshire club's centre-halves have all been solid this term, but Stuart Findlay has looked particularly assured in recent weeks.

His performance in the goalless draw with Hearts was another reason for Killie fans to hope for his permanent return in the summer.