Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes has given his reaction to Saturday's loss to Ross County.

There was late controversy when Kilmarnock's Stuart Findlay netted but referee Kevin Clancy awarded a penalty for a foul on Brad Lyons. Danny Armstrong's spot-kick was saved by Ross Laidlaw.

"It's a perfectly good goal," he told BBC Scotland. "The referees will all tell you, we've got to let the phase of play run through.

"The referee's apologised. He said he blew too early. He told me he wasn't expecting Stuart Findlay to score from there. We shouldn't expect the referee to blow. It's not his job to decide that he doesn't think someone's going to score from there. He should let the phase of play run.

"I don't know if he was apologising for giving the penalty that wasn't a penalty or apologising for the goal. But, equally both were bad decisions.

"It should be a draw, there's no doubt about it. We have been so harshly treated. My club deserve better. We deserve better than that. It was clearly a mistake from Kevin.

"It's compounded by us missing a penalty. It just felt a huge wrong, it felt wrong that we never got the goal. We should be getting at least a point for our efforts.

"Nobody's blaming Danny and he shouldn't feel any kind of real weight on his shoulders with that. He's normally spot on with his penalties. Anybody can miss a penalty."

BBC Scotland's Andy Campbell

Kilmarnock were left bemused by the decision not to allow Stuart Findlay's goal to stand but they still had it within their gift to find the net with the Danny Armstrong penalty that was awarded, Ross Laidlaw making the save.

Overall, the hosts had the better chances but their accuracy and composure let them down and they came up against a goalkeeper in inspired form.

On what proved to be an enormously frustrating day for Kilmarnock, Matty Kennedy provided some of their best moments in attack.

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One change for Kilmarnock with left-back Tom Davies debuting and replacing forward Kyle Vassell in the starting line-up. Vassell is not in the squad but new striker Andrew Dallas makes the bench.

Three alterations for Ross County with defenders Will Nightingale and Josh Reid and midfielder Kyle Turner starting in place of benched trio George Harmon, Josh Sims and Victor Loturi. New midfielder Scott High is among the substitutes.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Davies, Armstrong, Watson, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy, Watkins.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Wright, Sanders, McKenzie, Polworth, Murray, Warnock, Cameron, Dallas.

Ross County: Laidlaw, Brown, Baldwin, Nightingale, Leak, Reid, Randall, Turner, Dhanda, Murray, White.

Substitutes: Munro, Purrington, Sims, Loturi, Harmon, Henderson, High, Brophy, Smith.

Barnsley striker Andy Dallas has joined Kilmarnock on a season-long loan.

The Glasgow-born 24-year-old had joined the League One club this summer from Chesterfield but heads to Rugby Park after five appearances.

Dallas scored in his debut after coming on as a substitute as Barnsley thrashed Port Vale 7-0 but was unused on the bench for the weekend's 2-0 win away to Derby County.

He came through Rangers' academy before loan spells with Stenhousemuir and Greenock Morton and was sold to Cambridge United for an undisclosed fee in 2019.

Dallas then had a loan spell with Weymouth before joining Solihull Moors then Chesterfield before signing a three-year contract with Barnsley.

Image source, Kilmarnock FC

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock defender Corrie Ndaba faces several games out with an ankle injury.

Ross County full-back Ben Purrington and forward Jordy Hiwula got game time against Wick Academy in midweek following injuries.

Midfielders Ross Callachan and Ben Paton are out with long-term knee injuries.

We asked what you wanted to see from Kilmarnock on deadline day.

Here's what you had to say:

Amy: All we needed before this week was a striker, but with Corrie Ndaba being out for a while we probably need another left-back for cover, maybe Ben Chrisene who was excellent last season before his injury. As for a striker, I would take Sam Cosgrove all day long please.

Sandy: Killie still need a couple of strikers and a creative midfielder if possible. While Kyle Vassell fully fit, and Marley Watkins should make a good partnership, we need a couple of decent back up strikers.

Callum: We have got to bring in a striker, it’s an absolute must, we've created plenty of chances but not put them away. If we had someone who could finish consistently we would have won all three games. We've dropped points because we didn't put Hearts or Motherwell away and we allowed them into the games. A defensive midfielder would be good, and a full back would be great for flex.

Grant: My dream deadline day would be if we bring in another striker and maybe another attacking midfielder. Cosgrove and Greg Stewart would be a decent bit of business, that’s if Mohamed Salah, Lionel Messi and Erling Haaland can’t agree wages!

Anna: We definitely need another striker as cover for Vassell and Watkins and maybe another creative midfielder but I think that's all as we now have a good solid defence. The only areas lacking are in the midfield.

Jane Lewis, BBC Sport Scotland

Derek McInnes says that Kilmarnock are still trying to get a striker over the line before the transfer window slams shut later today.

They have one specific target that they are working on, and there are two or three other options being worked on in the background if that doesn’t transpire.

“Nobody will be going out,” McInnes assured. “We are still trying to bring someone in. Everyone is working flat out to do that.

“We have one in particular and two or three other plates spinning but we are trying to lean on everything possible to get this done. I’m optimistic and you have to be without being overly confident.

"We're in the mix to make a signing."

• Since the beginning of last season, no team involved in both campaigns has scored fewer Scottish Premiership goals than Kilmarnock’s 39, and only St. Johnstone (0) have scored fewer than Kilmarnock this season (2).

• Ross County have lost two of their three Scottish Premiership matches this season (W1), although both defeats came against last season’s top two (Celtic & Rangers).

• Kilmarnock have only drawn one of their last 12 Scottish Premiership matches (W6 L5), although that was this season against Heart of Midlothian (0-0).

• Ross County are winless in their last seven Scottish Premiership away games at Kilmarnock (D2 L5) since a 2-0 victory in September 2017.

• After a 3-1 win on the final matchday of the 2022-23 season, Kilmarnock are looking to earn back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins over Ross County for the first time since March 2017.

Time is quickly running out, with the transfer window slamming shut on Friday at 23:30 BST.

Where does your team still need to strengthen?

Tell us your dream deadline day here.

Kilmarnock welcome Ross County to Rugby Park on Saturday looking to get back to winning ways after defeat at Fir Park.

Who should get the nod to start? Pick your Killie XI here.

Uncapped Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons has been included in an injury-hit Northern Ireland squad for next month's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Slovenia and Kazakhstan.

Rugby Park winger Matty Kennedy, who won the last of his three caps in March 2021, is also included.

Lyons, 26, has not been capped at any level for Northern Ireland, but is rewarded for his impressive start to the Scottish domestic campaign with Kilmarnock.

He scored the winner against Rangers in the opening league match of the season and played in the Viaplay Cup last-16 win over Celtic.

Lyons helped Coleraine win the Irish Cup in 2018 before joining Blackburn Rovers. Having taken in loan spells at St Mirren and Morecambe, he joined Kilmarnock in 2021 and helped them achieve promotion to the Scottish Premiership last year.

"He's been very combative in the games that I've seen both against Rangers and Celtic at home and Hearts away," NI manager Michael O'Neill said of Lyons.

"He's taken his game to another level. He's established himself in the Kilmarnock team which has taken him a little bit of time to do.

"Everyone that you speak to is very positive about Brad. He merits his place in the squad based on his performances this season."

Image source, sns

Sandy Armour, Killie Hippo fanzine

Firstly, a special mention to the Killie fans who travelled through to Motherwell and gave fantastic support to the team for 90 minutes.

Of course it's hugely disappointing to lose after leading at half-time and then conceding in the 98th minute with the last kick of the game.

It’s time for a bit of perspective all the same. Before a ball was kicked if you'd offered me four points from the opening three games I'd have bitten your hand off.

It's been a superb start and our performance in the first half was that of a team brimming with confidence.

The hosts made a change at half-time and altered formation and that allied with lots of physicality was what seemed to knock us off our stride.

I do think we should have made changes far earlier and putting square pegs in round holes doesn't work. We had players on the bench that allowed us to make like-for-like changes, we just needed some fresh legs for a few players who had dropped off.

However, I'm sure we'll learn and with a good run of games ahead in September there is still a real opportunity for us to be in a great position come the start of October.

Finally, I see Derek McInnes is being linked to the vacant Hibs hotseat. We appear a stable club at the moment so my advice to McInnes is to stay put.

Former Easter Road forward Tam McManus insists Hibs must go for Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes after firing Lee Johnson. (Daily Record)

Read all of Monday's Scottish gossip.

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We asked for your views following Kilmarnock's defeat by Motherwell...

Anna: I feel we were done over by the referee, where did he get eight minutes of injury time from??? Seemed hellbent on doing what he could to get a Motherwell win. Good first half from us, awful second but we will get better, I'm sure of it, season only three games old, there's plenty of time to improve things.

A brutal one for you, Kilmarnock fans. What did you make of the first half, and what did you make of the second?

Are you too disheartened by the loss?

Tell us your thoughts here.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "Extremely disappointed. No two halves are ever the same but first half we were outstanding. We arrived a team in good form and our performance showed that. We deservedly go in front and we should have made more of our opportunities.

"We said at half time that Motherwell wouldn't roll over. The disappointing thing is we've lost two goals from counter attacks. We've got no divine right to come here and expect to control a game for 90 minutes. But I said to the players, if you can't find a way to win a game, don't lose it. That's why with the last kick of the ball, it's such a sore one to take.

"We got a bit excitable instead of making the right decisions. We had enough bodies back to deal with it, but we lost a little bit of composure. We were guilty of not showing calmness.

"I'm not going to criticise the players too much. They've been out, they've given me a lot of optimism about the level of performance they can deliver and they showed that for long spells today."

Andrew Petrie, BBC Sport Scotland

That old cliché of 'a game of two halves' has rarely been as aptly applied to a football match.

Kilmarnock were at their free-flowing best in the first half but they couldn't put Motherwell to the sword.

Matty Kennedy, Kyle Magennis, David Watson - all of them played well in the opening 45 minutes but, apart from a few minutes after the penalty miss, they didn't impose themselves nearly enough in the second-half.

On another day, the game might have been insurmountable for Motherwell by half-time. But Kettlewell inspired something in his players at half-time and that, plus the tactical change, turned this game on its head.

Despite being battered by injury, the hosts found confidence from somewhere and when Spittal pulled that ball back, there was a sense it was destined for the net.

It was a gut punch for Killie, but you get the sense they'll pull themselves off the canvas quickly.

Ultimately, this was a brilliant advert for Scottish football. Breathless.