Kilmarnock

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Derek McInnes wants Kilmarnock to be "courageous" against Copenhagen as his side look to claim a Conference League upset.

Having won 1-0 in Tromso last week, McInnes is eyeing another Scandinavian scalp in the first leg of the play-off where qualification brings a £4m windfall.

"We are under no illusions how difficult the task is going to be, against a team who were in the Champions League last year," said McInnes.

"I remember watching those games and with big Scott McKenna playing for Copenhagen that gave me added interest.

"I was impressed with the speed, athleticism and technical ability of the team - a lot of those players are still there.

"And whether they're struggling for their best form at the moment, this is still a huge task for us to try and overcome this type of opponent.

"But we’ve found ourselves against them and it’s important that we tray and be brave enough and courageous enough to take that on.

"We’re at full stretch at the club, even administratively, everyone is working flat out. It is demanding on such a small squad but while we are in Europe it’s important we try and maximise it.

"We’ve given the fans some good trips and good experiences already, but this would be the best of the lot if we could overcome this type of opponent."

David Currie in Copenhagen
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League play-off first leg in Copenhagen.

Here are the key points:

• McInnes says this is the biggest game by some magnitude since he came to Kilmarnock and "we are determined to make the most of it".

• The rewards financially are "off the scale" – winning this tie could be worth £4m to Kilmarnock.

• McInnes adds: "We are under no illusions how difficult the task is going to be, against a team who were in the Champions League last year."

• Killie will treat the game the same way they would one against Celtic or Rangers. Copenhagen are in the same bracket as them.

• Killie are at "full stretch" on and off the park, but "while we are in Europe it’s important we try and maximise it".

• McInnes has spoken to Scotland defender Scott McKenna, who spent time on loan at Copenhagen last season, about the strengths of the team.

• Copenhagen are huge favourites but Killie have "beaten better teams in the past" such as the Old firm.

• On new loan signing Jack Burroughs, McInnes says: "We are delighted to get him. He was a player we tried to bring in a few weeks back, but it’s taken a bit longer than we’d hoped."

• McInnes has "a few doubts" for the game but Corrie N’daba is back in the squad. Fraser Murray hasn’t travelled and Kye Magennis is still out.

A lack of first-team action given to youngsters in the Premiership backs up the Scottish FA's assertion that Scotland is not bringing through enough emerging talent.

Just three of the 12 top-flight teams are able to say they provided over 2,000 minutes to Scots aged under 21 across last season's pre-split fixtures.

Dundee sit top of the 2023-24 table with 3,538, but a large chunk of that was clocked up by the one player - Lyall Cameron.

The same applies to the three next best clubs on the chart, Aberdeen (Connor Barron), Kilmarnock (David Watson) and Motherwell (Lennon Miller).

At the bottom of the table are both Old Firm clubs, with the pair posting concerning figures - Celtic just 89 minutes and Rangers only 26.

The report uses Hungary's top flight - a 12-team league - as a direct comparison. It shows Honved provided 6,544 minutes to Hungarian under-21 players, PAFC reached more than 5,000 and two more clubs achieved over 3,000.

Click here to read more on how Scottish football is failing young players.

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Clubs in Scotland are failing to bring through enough young players, a report, external by the Scottish FA has said.

The governing body says Scottish football is "significantly underachieving its potential" in youth development compared to countries of a similar size.

Using a range of data to compare leagues across Europe, it shows players under the age of 21 in Scotland are playing fewer minutes in the top-flight than countries such as Denmark, Norway, and Croatia.

Meanwhile, game time for young Scottish players in major European club competitions ranks below countries with smaller populations and fewer resources, such as Montenegro and North Macedonia.

It also stresses clubs are missing an opportunity to reduce wage costs and increase transfer revenue by developing their own players.

The report was commissioned by the SFA's professional game board at the end of 2023, and a working party comprised of SPFL and SFA representatives will now consider its findings.

Read the full story

Former striker Lee Miller, who turned out for Dundee United, Aberdeen and Kilmarnock among others, recounts his experiences of being on the move on transfer deadline day during his playing career.

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish football podcast on BBC Sounds

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Kilmarnock have agreed a season-long loan with Coventry City for Jack Burroughs.

The 23-year-old, who can play in midfield or at full-back, will be included in the squad for Thursday's first leg visit to FC Copenhagen in the Conference League play-off.

Scotland Under-21 international Burroughs has Scottish Premiership experience from a stint at Ross County in 2021-22.

He spent last season on loan at Lincoln City, scoring once in 35 appearances for the League One side.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

My fear for the start of this season was we wouldn't have a deep enough squad to deal with the extra European fixtures, and it's fair to say we are being stretched to the limit.

There is talk of the club asking for a postponement of our trip to Aberdeen on Sunday, but I won't hold my breath for that request being granted.

In all honesty I'm just forgetting about the league and basking in our journey through some beautiful European cities.

Copenhagen is the next destination for our fantastic fans and although Manchester City knocked them out of the Champions League last season they have still to experience Del-ball.

I'm under no illusion that we are massive underdogs but if we can grind out a respectable result in the Danish capital it would set us up for one of the all-time great nights at the Theatre of Pies.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Recent form: Copenhagen will go into the first leg of their Conference League play-off with Kilmarnock off the back of a 1-1 draw with Viborg on Sunday.

The weekend game was their fifth in the Danish top flight this term and the result leaves them a place and a point behind league leaders Silkeborg, having won three and drawn two of those five matches.

After finishing third in the league last season, they entered Conference League qualifying at the second-round stage, where they dismantled Magpies of Gibraltar before scraping past Czech side Banik Ostrava on penalties.

European pedigree: The very fact Copenhagen have competed in the Champions League groups in the past two seasons highlights the scale of the task Kilmarnock face.

In the 2022-23 campaign, they finished bottom of their section but earned draws with Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund.

Last term, they made it to the last 16, where they were again paired with Premier League champions City, after memorable group wins against Manchester United, Galatasaray and an impressive draw away to Bayern Munich.

The Danish side beat Celtic over two legs in the Europa League last 32 in 2019-20 before going on to reach the quarters, but perhaps Kilmarnock can take inspiration from the 4-0 defeat they suffered at Aberdeen in the 2007-08 Uefa Cup.

Dangerman: Picking out one is difficult in a squad of such quality, but teenage striker Orri Oskarsson already has six goals in just nine games this season.

The Icelandic forward also managed 15 strikes last term, one more than ex-Celtic and Southampton winger Mohamed Elyounoussi.

Keeping on the Celtic theme, Jordan Larrson, son of Henrik, is also an attacking option, while former Dortmund and Sevilla man Thomas Delaney is an anchor in midfield.

We asked you for your views following Kilmarnock's League Cup exit after extra-time against Motherwell.

Here's what you had to say:

Robert: You can't fault Killie for lack of effort, but its our mental fragility that's costing us, and that could be down to fatigue from their travels, however it needs addressed as the season progresses as we want European football again.

Jim: Bottom of the league with two hefty defeats and no goals, out of the League Cup in our first attempt, no goals again. Listening to the manager, if this is success, what is failure?

Our European escapade is going to cost us this season, if we don't look out we could be in a relegation battle. Our forwards are poor, and we have no penetration.

A much-changed and 10-man Kilmarnock exited the League Cup after a narrow defeat to Motherwell after extra-time.

Derek McInnes expressed his pride at his side's gutsy performance given the circumstances.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "That was so tough on each and every one of us.

"There wasn't a lot in the first half. We tried to get more penetration, because for all the possession we had, we didn't work the goalkeeper enough.

"It was always my intention to make three or four changes at 55 minutes or so but when Stuart [Findlay] got sent off, it was all hands to the pump. We felt the players needed help out there.

"It was such a gutsy performance. I love managing this group of boys because when more was needed, they gave it. We still carried a fight, we didn't accept what was happening. I couldn't have been more proud of them."

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter at Fir Park

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Extra time is the last thing Derek McInnes would have wanted for his Killie players after their exertions in Europe last week in Norway and coming up this Thursday in Denmark.

Having made nine changes, his side did not appear overly tired, but they did look disjointed and failed to reach the level we know they are capable of. Findlay’s red card left them with an uphill task.

McInnes has always placed a premium on good cup runs and while this last-16 exit will sting for now, a positive result in Copenhagen and another step towards the Conference League would more than make up for it.

David Watson.

Derek McInnes said pre-match that a few starters today could stake a claim for wanting a start week in, and week out. Watson ought to be one of them.

It was another tireless shift from the young midfielder, he just never stops.

For 120 minutes he was box-to-box and hauling his side to an equaliser, though it never quite came.

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Motherwell: Oxborough, O'Donnell, Casey, Gordon, McGinn, Seddon, Wilson, Zdravkovski, Halliday, Miller, Robinson.

Substitutes: Hegyi, Balmer, Sparrow, Kaleta, Ebiye, Wells, Ferrie, Watt, Maswanhise.

Kilmarnock: O'Hara, Wright, Dead, Findlay, Mackay-Steven, McKenzie, Watson, Polworth, Murray, Anderson, Watkins.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Mayo, Lyons, Vassell, Kennedy, Cameron, Donnelly, Wales, Bainbridge.

Follow our live coverage here.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes feels the squad and fans are feeding off each other's enthusiasm during their European tour.

Killie were backed by about 300 supporters as they secured progress to the Conference League play-offs with victory at Tromso, the world's northernmost professional football club.

They were helped along by the vocal backing of their fans but that process had begun long before the game.

McInnes, whose side travel to Denmark to face FC Copenhagen on Thursday, told Killie TV: "We had a meeting with the players at lunchtime on the day of the game.

"The supporters had commandeered a pub right across the road from the hotel, so we were well versed in all their singing throughout the day and seeing how much they were enjoying it.

"My own son was over experiencing it. It's a special time for everybody and we just wanted to try and at least give us one more shot at it.

"Obviously it's going to be like most cup competitions, tougher as you go along. I'm sure the supporters will enjoy it."

Kilmarnock first have a Premier Sports Cup second-round tie at Motherwell on Sunday.

McInnes is hoping to get Marley Watkins back from a groin injury but Corrie Ndaba is still missing.

"I need to utilise the squad," he said. "I could do with Marley coming back, maybe for Sunday. Corrie will maybe be back for next week potentially."

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

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Motherwell's problems continue to mount with the news that Apostolos Stamatelopoulos has been sidelined for six weeks after the former Newcastle Jets striker was forced off during Saturday's defeat by Rangers.

With fellow summer signing Filip Stuparevic recovering from his injury, manager Stuart Kettlewell moved this week to bring striker Tony Watt back to his former club on loan after limited game time with Dundee United.

Well's only wins this season have been over fourth-tier sides Edinburgh City and Clyde and they are without a win in three outings as they entertain a Kilmarnock side on a high after Conference League progress.

A single goal against Tromso in Norway was enough to secure a first win in five outings this season, but visiting manager Derek McInnes will no doubt shuffle his pack again as he aims to end a run of five visits to Fir Park without a victory while looking towards next week's play-off round tie against FC Copenhagen.

Read the Premier Sports Cup preview in full here.

We asked for your views after Kilmarnock’s 1-0 win against Tromso set up a Confernce League play-off against Copenhagen.

Here’s what some of you said:

James: An excellent performance from Killie, the tactics were spot on and for all their possession Tromso created very little. Matty Kennedy was superb and the defence was solid and the young left-back was very good.

Marwan: Not the best performance, but at a knockout game I do not care how we win. Defensively we were very good and Joe Wright was brilliant. Bring on Copenhagen!

Sean: Magical result that could kickstart our season! Impressive and one game away from the group stages. They are back to believing in themselves.

Tam: Brilliant from the team and the manager.

Dougie: Hopefully that result will kickstart their season and do as well if not better than last season.

Ant: A real dogged performance which was much needed after the weekend. Kyle Vassell is still a worry - another poor performance from the captain but the team collectively played well, defence was much more solid.

Jim: Honestly that was the worst referee in the world, he had no control of the game from start to finish. Well done Killie, a workmanlike performance much better than previous games. Hopefully this means the confidence is back and better performances will now materialise, well done.

Stuart: Fantastic lift for everyone connected to Kilmarnock.

Isobel: Take a bow Killie players after a gritty performance which was orchestrated by Kennedy. We had to ride our luck at times but overall we were more creative. The referee was baffling to say the least. A deserved win and hope this springboards our confidence over the next few games.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ollie Bainbridge "couldn’t be more grateful" at being handed a start against Tromso on Thursday as Kilmarnock’s European adventure continued.

The on-loan Sunderland defender, 19, was drafted in for just the second start of his senior career after lining up against Celtic in the Scottish Premiership opener.

Bainbridge played a part in Killie’s fine defensive showing in Norway and "loved the experience" after initially feeling "a bit shaky".

"There's not many times you get to play in Europe in your career, so to do it very early on, I couldn’t be more grateful," he told BBC Scotland.

"We've got a lot of experience and the back four sort of kept us together. A lot of communication, the team stuck together and we saw that with the clean sheet."

Bainbridge is keen to help Kilmarnock find the form they displayed last season after a somewhat stuttering start to the new campaign.

"The gaffer has mentioned they were really solid last season, and in Norway we showed it again," he said.

"So maybe it was just a blip for the past couple of games. He was just so proud and absolutely buzzing for us and the fans. What a win."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Captain Kyle Vassell was "fearing the worst" when he botched a late chance to double Kilmarnock’s lead in Tromso.

He needn’t have worried. Derek McInnes’ side continued their backs-to-the-wall masterclass and, after surviving a major scare when Amadou Barry thumped a header against the bar, marched on to a Conference League play-off meeting with FC Copenhagen thanks to Joe Wright’s early goal.

"We had to defend, so disciplined for 90 minutes," Vassell told BBC Scotland.

"They’re a good team on the ball, we knew that, and I'm so proud of the boys. We stuck together, we dug in and I’m so happy to win.

"We expected it [second-half pressure] to be honest. We wanted something to hold on to because we know when we're at our best, we're hard to break down.

"It was a really tough thing to track your runners for 90 minutes really and do all the horrible stuff that people don't see. But we stuck in, everyone in there is knackered, but we'll do it every day to win a game of football.

"Don’t get me wrong, when I had that chance late on and I messed it up, I was fearing the worst. But then I back my team and I had to dig in a little bit more and we held out, so it's just amazing.”

Kilmarnock’s hectic schedule continues with a Premier Sports Cup trip to Motherwell on Sunday followed by the play-off first leg away to Copenhagen next Thursday.

"We're not a club that has the facilities to recover like the top boys, but the club are doing everything they can to try and get us right," added Vassell.

"And it's so nice to be professional off the pitch as well and and eat and drink and make sure we look after our bodies. I'll push that with the boys, cause it's a massive game Sunday. I’ve already said I want to get to Hamden this year."