Kilmarnock

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Derek McInnes says "it's up to us to deal with our own business" if Kilmarnock want to attain a top six finish in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Killie beat struggling St Johnstone 3-1 at Rugby Park last weekend to make it back-to-back wins for only the second time this season, leaving them in seventh place behind St Mirren on goal difference, with seven games remaining before the split.

There are only 11 points separating third-placed Aberdeen – Killie's opponents at Pittodrie on Saturday – and 11th-placed Dundee, and McInnes is in the mood to look up, rather than down.

"I've always tried to remain positive through some difficult results and injuries and stuff like that and I still believe that we've got to have the mindset of just trying to be a top six team," the manager said.

"If you're in the top six, you've got a chance of Europe, of course, and we've got a points tally in mind that we think gives us a chance and that's attainable for us with the games remaining.

"But we've got to perform each game as it comes, there is a different challenge up at Aberdeen on Saturday, to the one we had here against St Johnstone."

The Rugby Park side finished fourth last season, and enjoyed something of a European adventure, something McInnes would like to focus on again, rather than evading a relegation battle. Either way, he doesn't want to be relying on favours from elsewhere.

"Some games are a bit more difficult to win than others but you have to do a lot right to win games in the Premiership, particularly this season, with how tight it is," he added.

"We just need to focus on our own performances, focus on what we can deal with.

"Anytime I've spoken to the players over the last few years, (I've said) don't be dependent on others. Others will let you down.

"It's just up to us to deal with our own business and I think if we can take that responsibility on, meet that responsibility head on, then I believe there's good things to happen for us this season."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

It was a very satisfying weekend for Killie fans as we grabbed three much-needed points while seeing the return of Matty Kennedy to the fold.

He is such an important player for us and it's looking like we'll have everyone back within the next few weeks, just in time for the run in.

Our win over St Johnstone was fully deserved as we dominated from the first whistle and scored three top quality goals, too.

It would seem appropriate to discuss the three scorers who were all outstanding in the game.

Liam Polworth is a big favourite of mine. When he plays well, the team plays well. His finish for the opener was perfection and he orchestrated the game in a way that no other player at the club could replicate.

Fraser Murray was man of the match and has been consistently good for a couple of months now. He provided a constant threat down the left and his 25-yard free-kick was the icing on the cake. A superb individual performance.

Some punters were comparing Bobby Wales to Dennis Bergkamp after watching the youngster's first touch and finish for the third goal. It was a sublime piece of skill and highlights the urgent need to get him signed on a new contract.

We are off to Aberdeen this weekend and a repeat performance should see us take something from the game.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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St Johnstone and Kilmarnock are investigating an allegation of racist abuse in the away end during last weekend's Scottish Premiership match between the sides at Rugby Park.

A club statement from the Perth club said: "We are working closely with Kilmarnock Football Club and Police Scotland to fully investigate. Any supporter with further information is asked to contact the club.

"We are a proud family club and reiterate that there is no place for discrimination in our game or anywhere in society.

"The club will be making no further comment at this time."

Kilmarnock added: "Discrimination will not be tolerated in any form at Rugby Park."

The Sportscene panel discuss Fraser Murray's contribution in Killie's 3-1 win over St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership.

Kilmarnock dispatch bottom club St Johnstone 3-1 to move into the Scottish Premiership top six. (UK users only)

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Fraser Murray praised the mentality shown by Kilmarnock in their 3-1 win over Premiership strugglers St Johnstone.

Murray capped his impressive performance with Killie's second goal in a victory that bumped Derek McInnes' side into the top six, before they were leapfrogged by St Mirren on Sunday.

"We said before the game this was probably a six-pointer for us," the winger said.

"We said we needed to show a better mentality in these games and I think we've done that.

"We've got a tough week next week with three games. Hopefully we can start it off with a good performance at Aberdeen."

Killie fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's Scottish Premiership win over St Johnstone.

Here's what some of you said:

Stephen: As near a complete performance as we have seen this season. The tempo was excellent from kick-off, pressing high up the pitch and dominating a team that has beaten us twice already this season. Another defensive masterclass from Lewis Mayo. Bobby Wales emerging as a genuine talent and in Fraser Murray, surely the most improved player in the league.

John: Another win from a difficult game. Six points from must-win games, keep it going boys. It's about time we tied Wales down or he could get fed up waiting and move on.

Anna: A much better performance this time from the boys. Going 4-3-3, I didn't think would work but it did, big time. We were awesome all over the pitch but the standout man was Murray, who always carried the biggest threat. Good to see Matty Kennedy back because we missed him. Think we might now have a new striking partnership in Wales and Marley Watkins.

Kenny: Manager got the tactics just right, we were in Saints' faces from first kick and did not let them settle. Three very good goals and a 19-year-old that should be straight into the Scotland team. Saints played some nice stuff in game too, value for money on a cold day.

James: An excellent all-round performance with Murray and Wales outstanding, ably supported by Kyle Magennis, Liam Polworth and Brad Lyons in midfield. Three terrific goals sets us up for the next few games and if we keep playing the same way we can definitely make the top six.

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• Kilmarnock have a record of W5, D0, L0 when scoring the opening goal at home in the Premiership this season.

• Kilmarnock attempted four shots on target in this match, higher than their season average of 3.8 in the Premiership.

• Kilmarnock have scored in each of their last three games in the Premiership, scoring six goals in that run.

• St Johnstone have conceded 24 first-half goals in 26 games, no team has conceded more in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have conceded seven goals in the first 15 minutes of the first half, more than any other team in the Premiership this season.

• St Johnstone have failed to score a first-half goal in 19 of their 26 games, no team has failed to do so more often in the Premiership this season.

Kilmarnock cruised to victory over St Johnstone to move into the Scottish Premiership top six for the first time this season and end the visitors' fine run of form.

Graham Carey netted a late consolation but St Johnstone are now six points adrift at the bottom, while Kilmarnock rise from 10th to sixth.

What did you make of that, Kilmarnock fans? As good a performance as you've seen this season?

What did you think of Fraser Murray's performance? And how badly do you want Bobby Wales to stay?

Let us know your thoughts., external

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "That was the motivation for us all, if we could follow up an important victory against Dundee United here.

"We knew we had our work cut out and had to deliver a big performance. We did exactly that. The intention was to stop St Johnstone enjoying the game.

"We had to be more effective with the ball, and turn over possession time and time again. The first goal is an example of that.

"We scored some brilliant goals today, and it could have been more. The only negative was the fact we never kept the clean sheet.

"The game got a bit stretched towards the end, we lacked a bit of legs. We took the luxury to try and get boys on the pitch who haven't had a lot of game time of late.

"We had some strong performance but [Fraser Murray] was a constant threat for us throughout the game. First-half, he carried the fight. He was up against a couple of different right-backs and he enjoyed playing against all of them.

"His delivery, his energy, his willingness to work back, but his quality is what you always look for and it was terrific. His goal is top class.

"We're delighted with what [Bobby Wales] has given us, he had a really strong partnership with Marley Watkins. Of course, we want him to sign a contract. We hang on to the fact that he's playing regularly for the team that he loves, he's a local boy.

"We've made a really strong offer to him, we're giving him the game time that any young player is looking for. We hope if he has that patience and confidence in himself, good things will happen for him. We'd like him to hang about in a Kilmarnock shirt for a bit longer, but I don't want to put too much pressure on him."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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The only surprise at half-time was that Kilmarnock weren't further in front. They completely dominated, camping St Johnstone in their own box.

They pressed high, making the visitors panic as they tried to play through the lines, and it resulted in their first goal. They were also unlucky not to score when Marley Watkins hit the bar with a header.

Although Kilmarnock have won every home game in which they've scored first this season (five), there was a slight nervousness when they didn't fully capitalise on their first-half display.

However, the second goal put them out of sight and it was a well-deserved goal from Murray. The winger has become Kilmarnock's most valuable player in the absence of Matty Kennedy, with Danny Armstrong out of sorts.

He was a constant threat on the left, twisting and turning away from Drey Wright time and again and putting the ball into dangerous areas, creating for his teammates. It really has been a coming-of-age season for the 25-year-old.

Wales was the other stand-out. It may have only been his third league goal of the season, but the teenager plays beyond his years and there will be no shortage of suitors when his contract expires in the summer.

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Fraser Murray. The winger was everywhere today, putting in one of his finest performances in a Kilmarnock shirt to spur them to victory. A goal - and an absolute peach at that - was no less than he deserved.

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Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie has the all-clear to play after a broken cheekbone while Matty Kennedy and Innes Cameron are back training but still touch and go.

Kyle Vassell and Stuart Findlay (both ankle) remain out.

Saints remain without long-term absentees Cammy MacPherson (hip), Uche Ikpeazu (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

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Bobby Wales says "it would be hard" to leave Kilmarnock but he is relaxed about his future amid frequent conversations with manager Derek McInnes over a new deal.

The 19-year-old striker is out of contract at the end of the season and McInnes admitted this week he had been "trying for months" to secure an extension.

Wales' focus for now is on Saturday's visit of St Johnstone after hitting two goals in his past three games to double his tally for the season.

"We've had chats, of course we have, because someone out contract is in demand," he said.

"We have frequent conversations, maybe once a week even, but it's just with where we are in the table, is that what we want to be talking about?

"It's a close game with St Johnstone this weekend, so it wouldn't be on my mind at all. When you have that chat so often, we're kind of just saying the same stuff when we're trying to focus on the present and the games.

"We do speak about it very frequently, but we're trying our best on the pitch and that is kind of back of the mind at times, but it's down to just how busy we are and how the game can go."

When asked if he saw himself staying, Wales said: "Yeah, because everyone knows I'm a Kilmarnock fan and I'm a local boy.

"It would be hard to go, but you need to wait and see what happens."

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• Kilmarnock have only won three of their past 14 league meetings with St Johnstone (D2 L9), losing both previous such clashes in 2024-25 without scoring.

• St Johnstone have won and kept a clean sheet in both of their previous two league games against Kilmarnock in 2024-25; the last side they beat three times in a single Scottish Premiership season were Dundee United in 2022-23, while not since 2018-19 have they recorded three clean sheets against a single opponent in the competition (four v Dundee, three v St Mirren).

• After their 1-0 win over Dundee United, Kilmarnock are looking to earn back-to-back league victories for only the second time this season, last doing so in October.

• St Johnstone have won both of their past two league matches, last winning more in a row in November 2022 (3).

• Each of St Johnstone's past four goals in the Premiership have been scored from corner situations (the last two scored by defender Bozo Mikulic). Since Opta have had this data available (from 2013-14), they are only the second side to have such a run in the competition, after Hearts earlier this season who netted four in a row via corners between September and October.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes believes his side can string together a run of results to secure a top six finish again, but admits they have been playing catch up all season after "making things more difficult" for themselves.

The Rugby Park club, currently ninth in the table, host Scottish Premiership bottom-side St Johnstone on Saturday, and while he was reluctant to use the word "need" when it comes to a win, he stressed the importance of back-to-back wins at this late stage to have a chance of a top six finish.

"I enjoyed last season better as it looked like we were always nailed on for top six," McInnes said. "Sometimes are going to be tougher than others and that's par for the course.

"Bear in mind how difficult it is for clubs like us to get into the top six, I mean you don't get a trophy for it, but I do feel that if at the start of a campaign you can try and be that team, have that objective, then it will suggest good work is being done despite the challenges."

McInnes said teams such as Hearts, Hibernian and Aberdeen should be booking top-half places alongside Celtic and Rangers "with the finances they've got," and reckons that leaves one great opportunity for one other team.

"If they're doing their work right it should be that and everyone else is jostling for that last spot.

"We were that team last season that finished fourth and benefited from a really settled squad. We recruited well, we got a good thing going and I think this season we've suffered because of that.

"We always feel like we are working from behind a wee bit with that European involvement, injuries and discipline - we made things more difficult for ourselves.

But the Kilmarnock manager believes they can still arrive late at the back-post and be among the top teams come the split.

"We've not given up, we still feel as though we can make the ground up," he added.

"The motivation is high for us to try and be that. We're only three points off sixth place, but equally there's another four of five teams saying the something similar.

"So we are in the mix at the minute with those other teams, but we're just focussing on ourselves."

Amy MacBeath
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to host St Johnstone on Saturday in the Scottish Premiership.

Here are the main points:

• While McInnes insists he did not enjoy the break as he "looked on with envy" as other sides were involved in Scottish Cup action, it has given some of his injured players - Matty Kennedy, Innes Cameron and Robby McCrorie - to get back into training, which, is "a real boost".

• The manager said Kilmarnock "weren't great" despite their "great" 1-0 win against Dundee United last time out, though he felt "effort, organisation and motivation in the team was high".

• McInnes said St Johnstone have "committed to a style" under manager Simo Valakari and he likes to see teams "knowing what they are". He thinks the Perth side have recruited well, have good attacking players and as well as not shipping many goals in recent weeks, still pose a threat up top.

• The manager believes "there is enough wins in us to get into the top six," but was reluctant to say the word "need" when it comes to searching for three points this weekend, "as it always feels a bit desperate".

• McInnes is confident his side "will get stronger between now and the end of the season" as players return from injury which would "make it feel like we had a good window", despite a quite January transfer month. And he explained they have been "trying for months to get a solution" to a Bobby Wales contract as Kilmarnock would love to work with him longer term.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

I genuinely detest a weekend without a Killie game. However, the extra week's break may have been beneficial to the squad.

We are heading at speed towards the nervy league split and several teams can finish top or bottom six.

Our injury woes have been well documented but it would be a lift for everyone if Matty Kennedy returns to the squad for Saturday's massive home game against St Johnstone.

The classy winger - out injured since November - has been sorely missed although it may take him a few weeks to get back up to speed.

Stuart Findlay has been the other big miss, although we won't see him until March at the earliest.

Hopefully we'll be well refreshed for Saturday and a win over the Saintees would have us looking at a top-six challenge once again.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Scottish FA head of referee operations Willie Collum says the decision to award Kilmarnock a controversial winning goal against Dundee United last weekend was correct.

Marley Watkins challenged United goalkeeper Jack Walton in the air to head home and the goal was given following a VAR review.

The Tannadice club contacted the SFA after the game to say they feel VAR continues to lead to "inconsistent interpretations" of the laws of the game.

But in the Scottish FA's VAR Review Show,, external Collum said: "We support the decision. There's not enough here for a foul on the goalkeeper.

"The Kilmarnock player makes inevitable contact with the Dundee United goalkeeper and it's not enough to be illegal contact. We believe the goal was right to stand."

Collum admits three VAR mistakes

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's business in the January transfer window.

Here's what some of you said:

Amy: We signed a Scotland international and back-up for the defence, all while having, as the manager said, no money to spend. Striker would have been nice to cover until Kyle Vassell is fit again but where do you get those in January? Fancy us to push on now.

David: Not the strongest transfer window for Killie. Derek McInnes did say he wouldn't sign bench warmers but unfortunately without funding that's what we got. Overall, disappointed and questions need to be raised around our recruitment policy and those involved in it. This isn't the first window where we've lacked ambition.

Gteg: Not surprised by the lack of transfer movement as we have no spare cash. European runs proving more damaging than a benefit financially and on the pitch. We will have enough to stay up but it'll be a slog.

Anna: They will struggle the rest of the season. We needed an attacking midfielder, striker and a better goalkeeper and what did we get? Two defenders on loan. We are short on strikers as it is with two out injured so where are the goals coming from? I feel McInnes could have done more to get more in. I can see us in a relegation battle come May.

Scott: Disappointed we didn't manage to bring in another attacking option as our lack of goal threat this season remains a problem. I think we'll be okay but the squad badly needs a refresh in the summer. I can understand McInnes trying for continuity after how well we did last season but it has led to things going a bit stale.

Anon: Absolute shambles. We needed a striker so the board and McInnes brought in defenders that will warm the bench. We're going down for sure now. McInnes should have been sacked long a go and now we're going to pay for it. We will have the embarrassment of Ayr waving and laughing at us as they go past us into the Premiership to add to our misery!