Kilmarnock

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kyle Vassell admitted the pressure of not scoring in the league had been "mounting" on him until he scored the winner against Hearts on Wednesday night.

The Kilmarnock captain's only previous goal this season came against Tromso on 8 August in Conference League qualifying before he ended an 11-game barren run at Tyncastle.

"I'm delighted to get off the mark," Vassell said. "It’s been mounting on me as I've not been good enough in front of goal.

"It was a great win for the boys. We dug in during the second half and really got after them and it paid off for us."

Derek McInnes' side were trailing 1-0 at the break but managed to turn the scoreline on its head with goals from Vassell and Matty Kennedy.

"We were winning the ball higher up the pitch in the second half," striker Vassell added. "Even 1-0 down at half-time we knew this was still ours. We back ourselves everywhere we go.

"They're a great team but when we got after them we knew we could make it a bit ugly for them and we got the result."

The result moved Kilmarnock up to sixth in the Premiership table, having won three of the last four. However, the victory at the start of that run - against Dundee on 5 October - was their first of the season.

"It’s been stop-start, it's been frustrating," Vassell said of the season so far. "We've played well in every single game but maybe once or twice we've put a 90-minute performance together.

"That's what we need to do more of. We know that and when we do that we can truly be a test for anyone in this league, especially at home."

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

• Hearts attempted 18 shots in this match, higher than their season average of 12.6 in the Premiership.

• Kyle Vassell scored his first goal of the Premiership season, netting for the first time since 11 May 2024 against St Mirren.

• Hearts have conceded three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half this season, only St Johnstone (four) have conceded more in the Premiership.

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Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "The opening part of the game, we were a bit too passive. I want us to be more us, and we wasted the first 25 minutes. We were guilty of giving away too many set plays.

"Hearts scored when we were having our best period and I thought we'd sorted ourselves out. We had two or three good opportunities first half, so we had to do it the hard way.

"There were a few words at half-time, a reminder of what we need to be. It was a very good second half. As much as Hearts were better first half, we were better second.

"It's a good time to get Hearts, with the physical exertions. They've got a top squad here but there's no doubt about it - third game in six or seven days has an impact and we mentioned that.

"We showed what we were all about second half. I felt there was a goal in us and if we got one, the game is there to be won. We got the points backed that we shipped away on Saturday."

Kilmarnock came from behind at Tynecastle to earn a Scottish Premiership win and hand new head coach Neil Critchley his first defeat as Hearts head coach.

The hosts dominated the ball and looked well worth their lead when Alan Forrest struck near the end of the first-half.

But in a five minute spell, Kilmarnock made the most of poor Hearts' defending to hit twice - first through Matty Kennedy and then through Kyle Vassell.

What did you make of that, Kilmarnock fans? Was that a deserved victory? What went right at Tynecastle?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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When Kilmarnock can keep their discipline, they're a very difficult team to beat.

To say they had two chances and scored them both would be untrue, though. They threatened at time in the first half, and often absorbed Hearts' pressure while remaining unscathed.

They managed the game better than their hosts, rode the wave of momentum they enjoyed briefly in the second half, and left with all three points - and also, notably, no red cards.

It's amazing what you can do with 11 men on the pitch.

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Kyle Vassell. The Killie striker has come in for some criticism as he endured a barren spell, but he set one up and scored another tonight.

Absolutely crucial to Kilmarnock when they play well. He was quiet in the loss to Ross County but back to his best tonight.

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Hearts: Gordon, Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Penrice, Spittal, Boateng, Devlin, Forrest, Vargas, Shankland.

Substitutes: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Oyegoke, Grant, McKay, Dhanda, Wilson, Boyce.

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Deas, Ndaba, Armstrong, Lyons, Watson, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Wales, Bainbridge.

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• Hearts have lost just one of their last seven Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (W2 D4), keeping a clean sheet in three of their last four since a 2-1 defeat in April 2023.

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last nine Scottish Premiership visits to Hearts (W5 D3), although are winless in their last three (D2 L1).

• Hearts have lost just one of their last 15 home league games (W8 D6), going down 1-0 to Dundee United in September.

• Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes is winless in his last eight away games against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L4) since a 2-1 victory with Aberdeen in May 2017.

• Neil Critchley is looking to become the first Hearts manager to win both of his first two Scottish Premiership home games in charge of the club since Robbie Neilson in August 2015.

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Hearts midfielder Beni Baningime could return after missing the last two matches through illness but Yutaro Oda, Gerald Taylor and Calem Nieuwenhof remain sidelined.

Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly is suspended while Stuart Findlay is out for seven to 10 days with a groin issue. Liam Polworth (calf) remains out, alongside long-term absentee Kyle Magennis.

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Derek McInnes is attempting to solve his side's discipline issues by stamping out needless fouls and complaints during training sessions.

Liam Donnelly's sending off in the 2-1 defeat by Ross County last weekend was the fifth time already this season Killie have finished a game with 10 men.

Captain Kyle Vassell revealed the Rugby Park players are fined for committing "silly fouls" in training and mangager McInnes expanded on the issue while also questioning the consistency of decisions.

He said: "We’ve done it for a while now, for things like pulling.

"Sometimes in training games, players will make a foul and I want us to get away from that so we fine players for that type of thing, pulling players back and stopping promising attacks.

"Also questioning and complaining about dubious refereeing decisions, which is a million because I’m the referee most of the time.

"We introduced that and if anybody annoys me too much they get fined for that.

"So we are just trying to train the players to be more disciplined and more accepting of decisions, good or bad.

"Sometimes I'll make decisions that are clearly wrong, just to test them, and I want us to try and be just a bit more concentrated on everything on the pitch.

"The message to the players is to be squeaky clean, to be really sure about our work."

Despite saying he wants his side to "own" their poor disciplinary record, McInnes has also called for greater consistency in the decision-making process from match officials.

He said: "We've got not to give any sort of opportunities for people to be red-carded, but consistency has got to be there, and it's not there.

"I don't care what anybody says, that isn't there at a minute."

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been previewing his side’s trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts this midweek.

Here are the key points:

• After defeat at Ross County, he says this is a "brilliant opportunity" to get points back that they lost at the weekend.

• His message to his players is to be "squeaky clean" after another red card last Saturday, their fifth of the season.

• They "have to own" the number of red cards they're receiving as it's impacting team selection and results, and have to make sure the issue stops.

• McInnes reckons his side could be "seven or eight" points better off if they had kept a full complement of players on the pitch.

• He might need to question the "risk" in keeping players on if they receive early bookings, with players also needing to be more savvy.

• McInnes "always expects" a tough game at Tynecastle, but recognises Killie have a good record in Gorgie.

• He praised Hearts' summer recruitment and reveals he "asked about and tried to get" Yan Dhanda, Blair Spittal and James Penrice.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

The loyal band of Killie fans headed to Dingwall on Saturday full of optimism following a fine win over Rangers only to be let down once again by a ridiculous lack of discipline.

Liam Donnelly's five minutes of madness cost us three points and in the process became our fifth red card of the season.

Earlier in the season the manager stated our disciplinary record wasn't an issue. I'd suggest it's time for him to reassess that opinion.

Our penchant for finishing a game with 10 men has cost us several points and is the difference between challenging for Europe or fighting in the bottom six plus missing a potential trip to Hampden.

It should also be pointed out that the same referee has sent off three Killie players this season and he threatened to make it four with another ridiculous decision involving Joe Wright.

If the same thing happened to any of the big clubs they would be making huge noise about the referee being removed from their games. Killie need to do the same.

Our poor discipline and poor decision-making must stop now and the players causing the issue need a spell on the sidelines to reflect on their actions.

The hard run of games continues with trips to Hearts and Dundee followed by Celtic at the Theatre of Pies. We have been playing well in recent weeks so let's keep that form up and cut out the nonsense.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Lee Miller reflect on Derek McInnes' tactical changes in Kilmarnock's 2-1 defeat against Ross County.

Watch highlights as Ross County win 2-1 against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

Killie fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

John: Another red card cost us dearly, if this keeps up we might get drawn into a relegation scrap. This team could take us down. We give away too many points, we play great one week and then throw away a possible three points again. Players should take more responsibility.

Anon: I mean what can we do when we get a red card? I have no idea why Killie are trying to play on hard mode!

Anna: Joe Wright is a liability we can do without. He cost us the win and was within a whisker of being sent off. As for Liam Donnelly, he's a silly boy getting two bookings. The only plus side was Corrie Ndaba, he's getting better and better as a player. The only criticism is that young David Watson should have started alongside Brad Lyons, we can do so much better!

Frank: What a let down. Cruising at 60 minutes and getting a player sent off gave Ross County their lift and they scored immediately.

Jim: We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Donnelly is not what we need at Killie. The same for Joe Wright. This is not bad luck but it is bad football. Bringing Bruce Anderson on with two minutes left is useless, we keep making the same mistakes. Not good enough.

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• Ross County have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 4th May 2024 against Hibernian (five games without a win).

• Kilmarnock have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 5th May 2024 against Rangers (three games without defeat).

• Noah Chilvers attempted 6 shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a Ross County player in the Premiership this season.

• Kilmarnock have scored in their last 6 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 15 games from 23rd December 2023 to 13th April 2024.

Ross County came from behind to punish 10-man Kilmarnock and end the visitors' run of five games unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership.

What did you make of that one, Kilmarnock fans? How costly was that red card?

What is the cause behind the poor disciplinary record? And how does Derek McInnes address it?

Let us know your thoughts here.

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "Very strong first-half. We were very confident with our work, we dealt with the movement of Ross County. We used the ball well, deservedly went in front. Really pleased with what the players were giving us.

"In the main, we were fine in the game. We didn't need it to be dramatic, we needed to be in charge and for a spell in the second half, we were exactly that. The onus was on County to try and do something and it changes on the sending off.

"We've seen a lot of soft sending offs. The first one - Liam's guilty of stopping the play and he doesn't need to do that. But we've not seen a yellow card for that all season.

"We're not arguing the point too much on that, because it's silly on his part. The second - he's trying not to grab him because he knows he's on a yellow. It's not last gap, he's done everything not to bring him down. I think it's in the soft variety.

"We get another red card which was thankfully overturned and rightly so. The game became too dramatic and once again we're talking about a couple of decisions, and a sending off, that's cost us.

"I'm annoyed and frustrated at my own team, that we've allowed a game to unravel. We're disappointed with a few aspects of the officiating but also with ourselves."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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A 408-mile round trip for the poor, soaked Kilmarnock fans - and all for nothing.

It's a wonder Derek McInnes has any hair left, given how frustrating it must be watching his own side throw away points again and again this season.

A fifth red card of the season - and a really stupid one at that - was the start of their downfall in Dingwall, in a game that looked like seeing out.

They have good Premiership players in this squad - Danny Armstrong, Matty Kennedy, David Watson - but they cannot be expected to continually bail their teammates out.

McInnes had predicted a notoriously tough game up north and that was what he got before the red. Kyle Vassell was quieter than normal and the best first-half chances came from defenders marauding forward.

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Ross County: Laidlaw, Leak, Lopata, Wright, Brown, Randall, Denholm, Reid, Chilvers, White, Hale.

Substitutes: Hamilton, Lamie, Allardice, Loturi, Grieves, Nisbet, Efete, Samuel, Brophy.

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Lyons, Donnelly, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, Wright, McKenzie, Watson, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Anderson, Wales.