Kilmarnock

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The SPFL say the draft report of an independent review of the league's operations shows it complies "with significant elements of the UK Code of Corporate Governance".

The review was commissioned in July after the SPFL's chairman Murdoch MacLennan apologised to Rangers as a dispute over sponsorship was concluded.

The SPFL agreed a deal with car firm cinch in 2021 but Rangers did not promote the deal and took the matter to court, citing a prior agreement with rival car retailer Park's of Hamilton.

"I am reassured but not complacent," said MacLennan of the review.

"We will now take time to consider Henderson Loggie's detailed recommendations before bringing suggested changes back to the 42 SPFL member clubs for their consideration.

“Whilst a number of the recommendations from the draft report are already being addressed, the board and the wider organisation will, of course, take all necessary steps to improve further on the excellent work which has been undertaken to date."

Kilmarnock will face either Brora Rangers or Cove Rangers in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.

Those two sides play on Tuesday 23 January after the fourth round game was postponed.

The tie will be played on the weekend of 10 February.

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We asked for your thoughts after Kilmarnock beat Dundee to reach the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

Paul: Excellent start, and there were some flashes of great play, but Dundee spent too much time in our half throughout the game.

Adam: Good job Killie scoring two goals early on, because Dundee were the better footballing team overall. When are Kilmarnock going to realise things aren’t good in a game and change tactics, and maybe give players on the bench a fair crack at it? It’s a squad game, so use it.

Jack: A barnstorming start for Killie and a disastrous one for Dundee. Kilmarnock more than making up for conceding the late goal to Dundee a few weeks ago. Not a spectacle of a game however the result is all that matters. Good to see a bit of rotation in the Kilmarnock squad in certain areas and other players getting game time. Roll on the next round.

Anon: Great start but we need another midfielder in the transfer window. Dundee dominated the midfield after the first 20 minutes and our defence and bad finishing saw us over the line.

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Martin Dowden, BBC Sport Scotland

Marley Watkins believes winning the Scottish Cup is a possibility for Kilmarnock after two goals in three minutes sent Derek McInnes’ side into the fifth round.

Watkins, who scored the decisive second just three minutes into their win over Dundee, also netted the winner against Celtic at Rugby Park in the Viaplay Cup earlier this season.

“Of course it’s possible because teams worse than us have won it,” the striker told BBC Scotland.

“As long as you’re in the hat, you’re in with a chance. On any given day we can beat anyone so of course we’ve got a chance like everyone else.”

Derek McInnes called for his side to attack this Scottish Cup campaign and they did so with a blistering start that ultimately overcame Dundee.

That built on a promising campaign that sees Kilmarnock fourth in the Scottish Premeirship, having defeated both Celtic and Rangers this season.

“Judge at the end of the season, there’s a long way to go but team spirit is high,” Watkins added.

“We all look out for each other and play some good stuff when we’re at our best we’re very good and can beat anyone. We just have to make sure levels are high and get better and better.”

Killie fans, were you at Rugby Park to see your side reach the Scottish Cup last 16, or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts on the game. Have your say here.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "We couldn't have wished for a better start. Straight from kick-off we score our first goal.

"It was a wee bit of a surprise - Kyle Vassell looked second best to get on the end of the ball through, but managed to get there and it's a lovely finish. We follow it up with Marley scoring from a set-play, so a fantastic start.

"Dundee had a bit more control and threat than we would have liked, and we'd have liked to have played better. We looked a wee bit rusty, but it was a cup tie against a good opponent and we're just glad to get through it."

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Greg Stewart says he has a point to prove in his Rugby Park return after rejoining Kilmarnock.

The forward left the Ayrshire club midway through the 2018/19 season with Steve Clarke's side flying high, instead choosing to spend the second half of the season at rivals Aberdeen.

“It’s good to be back, I am raring to go again," Stewart told club media, external.

“Over the last two or three days I had a couple of conversations [with the manager] and both of us wanted to get it done luckily enough, it was easy enough to be honest.

“I feel like I’ve got unfinished business at Rugby Park because of how I left last time.

“Being here before I know what this club is all about, and they seem to be in a good place again. It was a no-brainer really once we had a conversation we all wanted to get it done.

“I am delighted to be here and I am looking forward to getting started. The boys have done very well, I have always kept an eye out for results.

“Obviously I know some players from my time here before, so it’s good to see them again.

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Derek McInnes believes Greg Stewart will “fit right in” after returning to Kilmarnock for a second spell.

The 33-year-old forward could feature on Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against former club Dundee if paperwork is completed in time, after signing a deal until the end of the season.

McInnes told Kilmarnock's club media, external: “We are delighted to get Greg in, his eagerness to come and be a part of what we’re trying to do here is a big factor.

“He now joins the squad and will try and help us reach our objectives for the rest of the campaign.

“The fact he’s been at the club before means there’s a familiarity about it, he will fit right in.

“We are looking forward to try and get that impact we know he can bring for the rest of the season.”

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Kilmarnock have announced that Kian Leslie's loan deal with Clyde has been extended until the end of the season.

The 19-year-old winger has made 19 appearances this season for the Bully Wee, bagging two goals and five assists.

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Liam Polworth spoke to the media ahead of Kilmarnock's Scottish Cup fourth round game against Dundee. Here were his main points:

On Kilmarnock's season so far:

"Everyone is enjoying being around the place. When you are doing well and results are good, it brings confidence and everyone is happy to come in and happy to put in the work and just enjoying getting the results.

"Winning games breeds confidence and we try to take that into each game. December was a massive month, there was a lot of games. We done well to get through it how we did."

On Scottish Cup hopes:

"Every season everyone knows how big the Scottish Cup is, that is the main one, everyone is going for it. At the start everyone believes they have got that chance so everyone is looking forward to the game.

"We know we have a tough draw. Obviously a home draw is a massive thing in this competition so we are looking forward to it."

"Everyone expects the big teams in the country to get to your finals and semi-finals so we have already proved that we can beat them and hopefully we can get to those stages of the tournament and have that sort of shot."

On Gary Mackay-Steven:

"Everybody knows how good Gaz is, especially in Scottish football.

"When you see him out in training, he is brilliant, especially close up so he is going to add a lot to the squad, whatever the gaffer decides to play, he is definitely going to add, he is brilliant.

"There have been plenty (of clips), we watched some of them on YouTube before. He came up to Inverness when I was younger for a few weeks but it is different now, he has had such a good career."

On being at Inverness when they won Scottish Cup in 2015:

"I am sure at the start of that season we never thought we would ever win the Scottish Cup but it just shows, over the past 10 years, that things can happen and smaller clubs get the chance to win it and I believe we are a much bigger club than we were at Inverness in 2014 so it is a massive opportunity."

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Finally, the football is back.

The last time these two met just at the end of the year, it was a bit mad.

Can Kilmarnock get going in the cup? Pick your team to face Dundee here.

Rory McKenzie hopes to end his career at Kilmarnock as he approaches 400 club appearances. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip

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Andy Burke, BBC Sport Scotland

Derek McInnes says that football's tactical evolution means that there are fewer quality strikers to scout in the transfer market.

The Kilmarnock manager is searching for a goalscorer to add firepower as his side look to cement their top-six place in the second half of the season.

But McInnes - who typically plays with two up top - thinks the sport's shift to more line-ups with a lone frontman has damaged the talent pool.

"I think in every transfer window I've ever been involved in, I've been looking for a forward player," he said. "Everyone's the same, the whole league's looking for a striker.

"January is notoriously a month where clubs hold on to good strikers. It's tough to get them. Unless you're paying top dollar and you can afford to go in a knock doors and make people think twice, it's such a difficult month.

"With me growing up, it was always 4-4-2. There were twin strikers, there was an abundance of strikers. The last 15/20 years, everyone's switched to 4-3-3. A striker needs to do so many things. One of the last things they need to do is score goals.

"We play with a front two most of the time. Most academies have been playing with one striker. You're getting half the number of strikers.

"There is a dearth of number nines. Number nines aren't always good goalscorers, which is mad. There's always a place for a natural finisher. We're all a bit too critical of what a player can't do rather than what they can do."

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Andy Burke, BBC Sport Scotland

Derek McInnes has been talking to the media before Kilmarnock's Scottish Cup clash with Dundee on Saturday.

Here are the best bits from the Killie manager's press conference:

• McInnes heaped praise on his players and staff after he was named manager of the month for December.

• Killie are still on the lookout for a new striker, but McInnes stressed that teams are unlikely to part with a proven goalscorer in January so it’s a difficult window.

• Spoke about why there’s a dearth of strikers these days, with teams mostly playing 4-4-3 McInnes thinks there are fewer traditional number nines coming through, and says modern strikers don’t know how to play in a two.

• ⁠Brad Lyons will be out for 10 weeks with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and Kyle Magennis has suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury. Both players have undergone surgery.

• McInnes is expecting another tight game against Dundee. The previous two gamesthis season have both ended in draws.

• ⁠Over the last 10 years or so around half the cups have been won by teams outside Old Firm. “Why not us,” asks McInnes. He wants Killie to “attack the competition”.

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Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes has been named Scottish Premiership manager of the month for December, after an impressive run saw the Rugby Park side climb to fourth in the table.

Killie beat Celtic and St Johnstone at home, while also picking up victories away to Aberdeen and St Mirren.

“I was happy with our form in December, especially getting two wins away from home," McInnes said.

“I am pleased that we can reflect on good victories against Aberdeen and St Mirren on the road as well as those important wins against Celtic and St Johnstone at Rugby Park.

“The award is shared by my players and staff, recognising their efforts which sees us in a strong position at this stage of the season.

“I am enjoying working with a squad that is so full of motivation, but I still actually feel that there is a bit more to come from them.”

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Sandy Armour, Killie Hippo fanzine

My heart goes out to football fans everywhere who, over the last two weekends, have had to trek round supermarkets, redecorate the house or answer questions from the kids about when they'll get their Easter eggs.

The good news is the real stuff returns this Saturday as Tony Docherty brings his Dundee team down to the Theatre of Pies for a Scottish Cup clash.

If media reports can be believed, the Tayside club are at the front of the queue to sign former Killie star Greg Stewart, who has wound up his successful spell in India.

He was magnificent in his short spell at Rugby Park, so let's hope he doesn't sign this week then come back to haunt us.

The winter break is less than popular but it gives players like Brad Lyons, Kyle Magennis and Liam Donnelly a chance to recover from injury and fight for their place.

Our recent league game was a hard fought 2-2 draw and I suspect we will see another tight game, but I fancy Killie for an odd goal victory.