Kilmarnock

How about those tricky wingers at Rugby Park?

Danny Armstrong has rightfully lapped up the plaudits for his exceptional form in Ayrshire this term, so it's unsurprising to see him among the best dribblers in the top flight.

Perhaps more notably, he's bested by teammate Matty Kennedy, whose 38 completed dribbles is surprassed only be Elie Youan of Hibs.

Derek McInnes will be hoping his wingmen can continue their excellent form into the second half of the season to fufil Kilmarnock's top-six hopes.

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Image source, BBC Sport

With Derek McInnes celebrating two years in the Rugby Park hotseat on Thursday, we asked for your highlights of his busy tenure.

Here's what some of you had to say...

Hugh: 1. Scottish Championship 2021/22 - 2. Keeping Kilmarnock in Scottish Premiership 2022/23 - 3. Fourth place in Scottish Premiership December 2023.

Three victories over the Old Firm. He has his critics, and I have been one, but his record speaks for itself. He's done really well for us and I applaud him for these achievements.

Frank: We are lucky to have one of the best managers in the league. We got promotion, worked really hard to stop us being relegated last year and has built up a group of players who can hopefully get us in the top six and possibly a European spot.

John: Winning the league at Rugby Park to gain promotion. Another year in the Championship could have caused us real problems as a club. Last season was about consolidation - staying up was vital! This season... Victory against both sides of the Old Firm and some great performances at Rugby Park. Derek McInnes has done a great job.

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Could this year's player of the season be plying his trade in Ayrshire?

Comedian Ray Bradshaw reckons so, telling the Scottish Football Podcast that Danny Armstrong has been the main man in the Premiership so far.

When asked who has been the best player of the Premiership campaign so far, Bradshaw said: “I always like watching tricky wingers, players that light up the game, I've always liked that.

“Someone I've noticed and I've only seen him play live a couple of times this season, but any time on highlights, Danny Armstrong at Killie just seems quite exciting, taking people on.

“It's something that is quite beautifully Scottish, a guy who's kicked around the leagues, Ross County, Raith Rovers, and he's at Killie - and now he's their go-to guy.

“He is taking players on for fun. It's always exciting to watch. And you just want to see where he goes next because the likelihood is it will be a championship move in England and then he'll fall away and come back on loan to Ross County and be called rubbish within about 20 minutes," the comedian joked.

"So that's the career path he's probably got, so it's exciting watching him just now."

• Mid-season review as Premiership goes into winter break on BBC's Scottish Football Podcast

We asked which areas you would like your team to strengthen in the January transfer window, here’s what some of you said:

Amy: I'd be looking at signing Bruce Anderson from Livingston. He'd work well with Kyle Vassell and provide good competition.

Callum: Anderson on a pre-contract agreement, but look to sign him for a small fee in January. This would be a great deal to sign a decent striker, experienced in the league, at a cut price. It would allow Vassell and Marley Watkins who are both struggling with niggles to be rested, share the load for goalscoring and provide options to change tactics.

Derek McInnes is celebrating two years in charge at Kilmarnock today - making him the second-longest serving manager in the top-flight, after Livingston's David Martindale.

What are your highlights from his time in charge?

Tell us here.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock’s 3-1 defeat against Rangers, here’s what you said:

Amy: 3-1 completely flattered Rangers, even with the whole Killie team patched up and thrown out far from fit. Still, a 3-2 record against the Glasgow sides this season is a record every other team would love. The winter break will do us wonders and we're still on track for a great season.

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Kilmarnock defender Corrie Ndaba says Rangers are a different beast under Philippe Clement after his side's 3-1 defeat at Ibrox.

Goals from Ross McCausland, Abdallah Sima and Todd Cantwell did the damage and Ndaba says the Gers were unrecognisable from the side Killie turned over at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership opener back in August.

"We wanted to come to Ibrox and get a result especially going into the break, but fair play to Rangers, they looked twice the team from when we played them at the start of the season," Ndaba told BBC Scotland.

"They are set up well, they do things quickly and they obviously have quality as we know. I really believed we could get a result but we just shot ourselves in the foot today."

Ndaba says Killie gave themselves "a mountain to climb" by conceding two goals just before half-time, and a third just moments after Danny Armstrong's penalty brought them back into the game at 2-1.

However, the Irishman believes the team can be satisfied going into the winter break sitting fourth in the league table.

"We had a good spell, I think it was six unbeaten," he said.

"We have a lot of good players, a good honest group who work hard so I think if we just keep doing things right in training the performances will keep coming."

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Were you in the away end at Ibrox on Tuesday or following the match from home? Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "For 40 minutes, a lot of what we asked for was there. We had good moments. A lot of these little things, we were pleased with.

"It felt so harsh for us [going behind]. We were still a wee bit in shock. The second goal came from nowhere. From a defensive point of view, it's difficult to be too critical of that.

"We knew we would get chances. We just wanted to win the second half. We went a long way to doing that. We get ourselves a goal back. What we needed to do then was just be a wee bit more street-wise. The third goal is the goal where we've really not defended it well.

"We kept going and credit to them. I've been really pleased with the first half of the campaign.

"You can do good work in January. There's two or three things been identified. I actually don't think I've ever been in a transfer window where I've not been looking for a striker. We'll try and bring a striker in or a forward player in that can maybe compliment what we've got. It's free agents and the loan market that we'll look to try and exploit. I just don't want anybody to leave."

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BBC Scotland's Andy Campbell

With his 15th goal of the season, Abdallah Sima demonstrated what Rangers will be missing when he goes to the African Cup of Nations with Senegal.

That tournament runs from 13 January to 11 February, meaning Sima could be unavailable until Rangers' match with St Johnstone on 17 February.

The performance and result allowed Rangers to get their weekend disappointment of losing to Celtic out of their system and go into the winter break with a morale-boosting three points.

After winning the first meeting of the sides on the opening day of the season, Kilmarnock once again showed their ability to restrict Rangers for long spells.

If the passing from the hosts was not precise, there was usually a Killie boot or head in the way.

Going forward, the visitors were adept at getting into the right areas - particularly with Kyle Vassell's first-half chance - but what will frustrate manager Derek McInnes is losing the third goal so soon after getting back into the contest at 2-1.

A late Liam Polworth shot would have made for an interesting finale had it not gone just wide.

Rangers make two changes following Saturday's loss at Celtic Park. John Souttar replaces the suspended Leon Balogun in defence while Kieran Dowell returns in midfield with Dujon Sterling on the bench.

Also among the substitutes are new signing Fabio Silva and the returning Nico Raskin.

There are four alterations in the Kilmarnock side. Corrie Ndaba takes over from Robbie Deas in defence and in midfield Rory McKenzie, Liam Donnelly and Liam Polworth start as David Watson and Marley Watkins drop to the bench with Deas.

Brad Lyons, who scored Killie's winner against Rangers in August, does not make the squad.

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Image source, BBC Sport

Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Goldson, Souttar, Yilmaz, Lundstram, Dowell, Cantwell, McCausland, Dessers, Sima.

Substitutes: McCrorie, Silva, Lammers, Matondo, Sterling, Wright, King, Raskin, Devine.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Findlay, Wright, Ndaba, Armstrong, McKenzie, Donnelly, Polworth, Kennedy, Vassell.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Deas, Watson, Sanders, Murray, Davies, Dallas, Watkins, Mackay-Steven.

Image source, BBC Sport

• Rangers have won each of their last five home league games against Kilmarnock since a 1-1 draw in March 2019.

• After their 1-0 win on MD1, Kilmarnock could win successive league meetings with Rangers for the first time since March 2018.

• Rangers have won all five of their home league games under Philippe Clement by an aggregate score of 13-2.

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in six league games (W4 D2), the longest ongoing such run in the Scottish Premiership. Killie last had a longer unbeaten run of matches in the top-flight in April 2018 (11).

• Rangers right-back James Tavernier has been directly involved in 15 goals in 19 Scottish Premiership games this season (10 goals, 5 assists). He is scoring or assisting a league goal every 113 minutes on average this term, his best ratio in a single Scottish top-flight campaign.

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Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes urges his side to go to Ibrox to face Rangers on Tuesday with confidence. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip

Sandy Armour, Killie Hippo fanzine

The football pundits tell us that the congested fixture list throughout December is pivotal in shaping a season, so Killie can look back on a job well done.

We have showed a remarkable consistency and desire that has catapulted us up to fourth place as we step into 2024, so huge credit to players and management alike.

There are still glaring weaknesses in the squad and I've no idea why the manager decided to tinker with the starting 11 against Dundee, but the players showed that fire in their belly in the second half to grab a point and very nearly three.

It was obvious to every Killie fan that our midfield was being overrun in the opening 45 minutes, but the introduction of the hugely underused Liam Polworth added some class and composure that is sadly missing when he is left on the bench.

Our last game before the winter break is a trip to Ibrox and we can go there full of confidence on the back of our unbeaten run.

Happy new year to Killie fans around the planet and here's hoping one or two quality additions in the transfer window will provide us with a season to remember.

Until Saturday, Rangers were flying. Seventeen games unbeaten - 16 of them under Philippe Clement - with a bit of silver in the cabinet and a Europa League last-16 tie to look forward to.

They were making serious inroads on Celtic at the top of the table, too, but derby defeat has stalled that momentum and shifted the title race narrative again.

How Clement's side - upholstered with new striker Fabio Silva - respond against a obdurate Kilmarnock will be instructive.

They are currently eight points behind their city rivals but retain two games in hand. So still in decent shape. Playing before Celtic kick-off on Tuesday also gives them a chance to reapply a little more pressure.

But more spilled points could further dent their ambitions and Kilmarnock have shown they are capable of big results this season.

Rangers lost at Rugby Park on the opening day, and Celtic have been done there twice this term. Granted, playing in Glasgow and on grass is a different matter, but Derek McInnes' side are enjoying a fine campaign.

Currently fourth, the chance of finishing best of the rest is within their sights along with a European spot. The stage is set for an intriguing contest.

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It's been pretty obvious that Danny Armstrong has had an impressive year, but did you realise he created the most Scottish Premiership goals in 2023?

The 26-year-old Englishman set up a Kilmarnock goal every three-and-a-bit games last year.

Good going for a team who were in a relegation battle for the first half of 2023.

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It might not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but how did your club fare in the 2023 Premiership table?

The disparity in the number of matches played in the calendar year makes a difference, obviously - we're looking at you Rangers, Aberdeen and especially Dundee.

But it still gives a decent barometer of who had a decent year and who didn't fare quite so well.

We asked you for your thoughts after Kilmarnock and Dundee produced an incredible draw at Rugby Park in the Premiership.

Here are some of the top comments:

Robert: Thought in first half Dundee were as good as any team who I've seen this season. They played some good football although we defended well and gave up few real chances. Second half we got going and were more like ourselves. Really thought we had won it but to be fair a draw was about right.

Kevin: Draw was a fair result. The officials indicated four minutes of injury time and we lose a goal in the 95th minute though, so I'm gutted about that. Break coming at a good time for us, starting to pick up injuries. Lyons, Wright and Ndaba need recovery time.

Adam: Outplayed in the first half but much better in the second half, Dundee wasting time towards the end played into their own hands... four minutes added on and they scored in 90+5! Kilmarnock scored in 90+3 so technically it should have been over before they scored. But Kilmarnock don’t do anything the easy way!