Kilmarnock

That one will sting, Killie fans. Did you think you were on for a rare away win? I certainly did!

Let us know your thoughts here.

Image source, BBC Sport

Dundee: Carson, Mulligan, Lamie, Shaughnessy, Beck, Boateng, McGhee, McCowan, Tiffoney, Bakayoko, Robinson.

Substitutes: Legzdins, Kerr, Cameron, Pineda, Ashcroft, Robertson, Rudden, Sylla, Lewis.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Findlay, Wright, Deas, Armstrong, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Sanders, Davies, Watson, Polworth, Murray, McKenzie, Cameron, Dallas.

Image source, BBC Sport

Kilmarnock forward Bobby Wales is poised to sign a new two-year contract with the Scottish Premiership club. (Daily Record), external

Brighton & Hove Albion have handed Harvey Gilmour, the 17-year-old brother of their Scotland international, Billy, a trial after the midfielder was released by Kilmarnock this summer. (Daily Record), external

Zach Robinson, Ryan Howley, Scott Tiffoney and Fin Robertson have all picked up knocks and will be assessed for Dundee. Antonio Portales and Aaron Donnelly are back training following injury.

Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly is battling to get over a calf problem while defender Corrie Ndaba remains out with an ankle injury.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes reckons his close friend and former assistant Tony Docherty has landed on his feet by taking charge of a Dundee side on the up in his first managerial role.

The pair will be reunited on opposite sides on Saturday when Docherty’s men host a Killie team who sit above them on goal difference.

“It’s early on but for Doc it was such a good opportunity,” said McInnes.” He’s inherited a newly-promoted team, whereas when you get your first job as a manager you’re normally going in because there’s problems and issues.

“So he’s getting the club in a really good way, there’s a feelgood factor and buy-in from the fans right away as well and you’re trying to keep that bubbling along.

“He’s been backed really well, which pleases me because Doc is a close friend and you want to make sure he’s getting looked after. John [Nelms] and the board at Dundee have really tried to help him and put together a strong squad. I know from speaking to Doc he’s really pleased with the level of support he’s had.

“It’s still early in the season but the signs are there that they can have a good campaign.”

McInnes says bringing Docherty to St Johnstone as his assistant in 2007, beginning a partnership that lasted 15 years, was "one of my better decisions", but played down the significance of their reunion this weekend.

"We worked really well together for such a long time. I think I know him probably better than anyone," he added.

There won’t be many surprises for him or me. Even by this early stage of the season we all have an idea of how teams set up and what they want to do. The person doesn’t really matter, it’s more how their team sets up."

Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Kilmarnock face Dundee in the Premiership this weekend.

Here are the key points from the Killie boss:

• McInnes is pleased goals are coming from throughout the team, with eight different scorers in 10 games so far, and says: “It’s important we try to have as many as we can towards double figures as that will make the difference this season."

• Kyle Vassell was a “natural fit” to be named captain and McInnes feels the striker’s season properly started last weekend as “he’s had a lot to contend with - knocks, injuries and the birth of his son”.

• Dundee have put together a strong squad and Tony Docherty has been well backed by the board, with a feelgood factor at the club after promotion.

• On facing former long-time assistant Docherty: “I don’t know about strange but certainly not the norm. It’s just a job, it’s about Kilmarnock v Dundee and not really anything else. I expect a tough game because I know they’ll be well organised and they have good players.”

• McInnes says his approach to the game hasn’t changed despite Docherty knowing his methods so well.

• After just two away league wins in 19 last season, he accepts it’s important Killie get their first road victory as quickly as possible this term.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

The biggest disagreement of Derek McInnes and Tony Docherty’s fruitful 15-year partnership came in the first few days - and it ended up bringing an abrupt halt to McInnes’ playing career.

The Kilmarnock boss has been reminiscing about the pair’s time together as they prepare to go head to head at Dens Park on Saturday.

“My first game as St Johnstone player-manager we were playing Morton at McDiarmid,” McInnes, speaking to Sky Sports, recalled.

“I was spitting feathers at half-time, we were drawing the game, and as we were walking into the dressing room I said, 'Every one of that back three keep giving the ball away. Which one of them needs to come aff?’

“Tony replied: “I think you need to come aff!” I went, ‘Are you mad?’ and just ignored him.

“But eventually I took myself off. And his reason was he thought the team needed me more in the dugout than on the pitch, which I didn’t agree with at the time.

"It was my last game, although I put myself on the bench a few times after that.”

Image source, SNS

Kyle Magennis is glad to have put the “dark” times of two injury-ravaged years behind him as he thrives in a fresh start at Kilmarnock.

The midfielder, a summer arrival at Rugby Park after his Hibs contract was terminated, has already played more minutes in the early stages of this season than he mustered in the whole of last term.

“I didn’t even play 90 minutes last year and the past few games I’ve played the full 90 here,” said Magennis, 25.

“The past few years I’ve missed pre-season and came in midway through the campaign playing catch up, whereas this season I’ve not missed one training session. I got through the full pre-season and I’m feeling good.

“Injuries can be difficult but it’s part of football. I’ve had a few before so I know what to do and what helps me. Speaking to family helps rather than bottling it up. It does get dark but that’s life, you just need to get on with it.

“I’ve never doubted my ability and I’ve proven to myself that I can be fit and selected for every game. I always knew I was a good player, it was just keeping fit I needed to make happen.”

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes has won each of his last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee by an aggregate score of 30-3, all with Aberdeen from 2015 to 2019. McInnes has never lost as a manager to Dundee in the top flight (P17 W13 D4).

• Dundee are unbeaten in their last five Premiership matches at home (W2 D3); the last time they went on a longer run without defeat at home in the top flight was between November 2016 and February 2017 (7).

• Kilmarnock are looking for their first away league win of the season (D1 L1), and have only won two of their last 21 league matches on the road overall (D3 L16).

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last 11 top-flight away games against Dundee (W3 D7), and are unbeaten in their last seven (W2 D5) since going down 1-0 in January 2015.

• Dundee have won just one of their last 13 Scottish Premiership meetings with Kilmarnock (D7 L5), a 1-0 victory in May 2017. This is the first such clash between the two clubs since a 2-2 draw in February 2019.

Image source, SNS

Dundee boss Tony Docherty has put his friendship with Derek McInnes on hold this week as he prepares for a reunion he's had circled in the calendar.

Docherty served as McInnes' assistant for a decade and a half at four different clubs before parting ways in the summer when the 52-year-old took his first job as a manager at Dens Park.

They will be in opposing dugouts for the first time on Saturday when McInnes brings his Kilmarnock side to Dens Park.

"I'm very much looking forward to it. I looked when the fixtures came out and saw we’d be playing them at this stage," said Docherty.

"He's a close friend, we worked for 15 years together and it's good memories. We had a lot of success, won a League Cup [with Aberdeen], two leagues [with St Johnstone and Kilmarnock] and when you work with someone for that long you develop a real close relationship.

"It’ll be different. I know Derek’s personality, he knows mine. Yeah I keep in touch with him. When you work with somebody for 15 years you become close and your families become close as well.

"We keep in contact but certainly haven’t been speaking this week because there’s a match coming up and both being competitive animals, we want to win it. We’ll be competitive for this match and then we’ll be friends again."

While Docherty knows McInnes' methods inside out, he reckons it won't be any help in plotting how to beat Killie.

“I know Derek and it’ll be full focus on his team," he added. "We'll be trying to make sure – as we do with every opponent – we analyse their strengths and weaknesses and see how we can get the better of them. He’ll be doing the same with our team."

It's master v apprentice on Saturday as Derek McInnes faces his former long-time assistant Tony Docherty at Dens Park.

With Kilmarnock winless in four league outings, does the starting XI need a shake-up for the trip to Dundee?

Choose your Killie team and formation here.

Image source, bbc

Dundee manager Tony Docherty admits it will be strange to face Derek McInnes, who he was assistant to last season, when his side play Kilmarnock on Saturday. (The Courier)

Read the rest of Wednesday's gossip.

Sandy Armour, Killie Hippo fanzine

Killie fans went through the whole range of emotions in our entertaining draw with Hibs on Saturday.

It was a point gained in the end as we were two down and looked like heading for our third defeat on the bounce.

We'll start with the positives. The resilience and spirit is obviously good as the players battled admirably in the last half hour and with a bit of luck we may well have snatched all three points.

The timing of our first goal was crucial then the introduction of David Watson gave us energy and filled the midfield void that Hibs had exploited all afternoon.

We may well have avoided the need to come from behind had the manager not decided on a bizarre starting 11 that included four centre-backs. Square pegs in round holes doesn't work!

It all gave me horrible flashbacks to last season when we regularly selected the wrong starting line-up and had to battle from behind to get a result.

It is clear the Hibs defence is shaky so surely we should have picked a team that put us on the front foot from kick-off. Their deficiencies were there for all to see once we started pressing them.

At least we halted the losses so let's head to Dens Park this Saturday with some optimism and a positive mindset from the first whistle.

Joe Wright has been picked in Sportscene presenter Jonathan Sutherland's team of the week for his role in Kilmarnock's 2-2 draw with Hibs on Saturday.

The defender scored a powerful header to earn Derek McInnes' side a point.

Image source, BBC Sport

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's draw with Hibernian

Anon: Lucky not to lose more goals as Hibs were rampant but they tried to hold on to what they had, let Killie back into game and Killie nearly nicked it at end but a draw was fine from a position of defeat. Killie need to start beating teams at our level, no use beating Rangers in league if we keep losing points to everyone else.

Were you at Rugby Park to see Kilmarnock's comeback, or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your views. Have your say here.

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes on Sportsound:

"That [resilience] has got to be recognised. 2-0 down at home is a tough situation to be in. I thought we were good at the start of the second half, and the [Vente] goal was a bit of a sucker-punch.

"The response was terrific, everything I expect from my team. That's when you really need your team spirit and it was there in buckets. We score one, and it was a matter of time before the next one came.

"It's a great header from Joe [Wright]. We've missed that with him being out. I feel that another five minutes and we could go and win it.

"We started poorly, but the way we finished the first half and for the rest of the game, I thought we were the better team.

"Our bravery, our commitment and our spirit got us a point, which was the least we deserved."

Image source, SNS

Amy Canavan, BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park

What a topsy-turvy affair that was.

Hibernian couldn't have started any quicker and early signs of Nick Montgomery's first week's work were evident - epitomised by some sharp set pieces straight from the training ground. How they were left to rue some decent opportunities.

Because, out of nowhere, Kilmarnock turned the game around. One should know better than to never write off a Derek McInnes side.

It was a combination of both Killie opening up and Hibs regressing. Montgomery has a real task on his hands sharpening up that back line for the Easter Road side.

As much as the freedom and attacking intent of the front four was on show - and no doubt appreciated - Hibs' biggest problem still lies at the back. All too easily, centre-half Joe Wright was allowed to peel away from his marker to nod home the equaliser.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Findlay, Wright, Deas, Armstrong, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Sanders, Davies, Watson, Polworth, Murray, McKenzie, Cameron, Dallas.

Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Bushiri, Stevenson, Boyle, Jeggo, Newell, Youan, Vente, Doidge.

Substitutes: Boruc, Hanlon, Levitt, Le Fondre, Obita, Harbottle, Delferriere, Tavares, Campbell.