Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock have secured top six and are now looking towards a European spot - but should Derek McInnes change the side that drew with Hearts?

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Derek McInnes admits there would be a "twinge of disappointment" if Kilmarnock were unable to secure a European spot this season.

Killie sit fourth in the Scottish Premiership - two points ahead of fifth-placed St Mirren - with seven games remaining.

Should McInnes' side remain there they would enter the second qualifying round of the Europa Conference League next season.

“I think it is important that the players get some recognition for their work and it’s good to secure top six with two games to go before the split,” McInnes said. “It was a brilliant achievement by the players.

“But as the week goes on you start to prepare for another game and we are looking for more now, we are looking at what’s next and thankfully we have an opportunity where – if we do our jobs the way we’ve done it over the last few months over the next few months – then we have the chance of maybe getting the club into Europe.

“If we don’t make Europe then there will be a wee twinge of disappointment where there shouldn’t be, but by the same token it [possibility] is there.

“The top three have their own positions sorted. Fourth spot is the only position we can get for Europe. Fifth might be another option for us but we will try to secure that fourth spot and to do that we are going to have to do a lot of good work between now and the end of the season.

“I want us to improve between now and the end of the season if we can and a huge part of that is keeping the motivation, keeping the fires lit, keeping the energy in the team, because if the motivation is there I feel we have a team who can win games.”

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Derek McInnes has faced the media ahead of Kilmarnock's match against Ross County.

Here were his main points:

• Admits there would be a "twinge of disappointment" should Killie not clinch a European spot this season with his side currently in fourth place, two points ahead of St Mirren.

• Added: "Fifth might be another option for us but we will try to secure that fourth spot and to do that we are going to have to do a lot of good work between now and the end of the season."

• Says it was a "brilliant achievement" for his players to secure top six with two games to go.

• Is looking for his side to improve even further between now and the end of the season, "keeping the motivation, keeping the fires lit, keeping the energy in the team".

• Revealed Greg Stewart will need an operation at the end of the season to solve a groin issue and captain Kyle Vassell’s groin problem means he may also go under the knife.

• Fraser Murray should be back for the County game at the weekend while Brad Lyons has also returned to training.

Scotland Under-19s head coach Billy Stark has announced his decision to retire at the end of this month, and believes the future is bright for the national team.

Stark's impressive playing career saw him turn out for St Mirren, Aberdeen, Celtic, Kilmarnock and Hamilton, before he managed at clubs such as Morton, St Johnston and Queen’s Park.

He had a spell as Scotland Under-21s manager, before taking up his current post in 2018.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working with the best young players in Scotland throughout my two spells at the association," Stark said.

“I would like to thank the staff and players who have helped me throughout the years.

“Regarding our most recent group, we are proud of the achievement to qualify for the elite round and, although it was disappointing not to progress to the finals, the players in this group will be better for the experience and I am certain we will see them continue to flourish in the future.”

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

The fact that many Killie fans were disappointed we didn't take three points from Tynecastle tells you how far our club has come this season.

It's a great achievement to have secured a top-six spot with two games to spare and the manager was rightly proud of the squad during his post-match interview. It was an excellent performance against Hearts and Marley Watkins' equaliser is up there for a goal of the season nomination.

Watkins has probably been the biggest surprise of the season for the Killie faithful. He has shown a great work ethic and his goal return has made him a key player, I just hope he signs a new contract in the summer.

There is no time to rest on our laurels. We face Ross County this Saturday who are desperate for points in their fight against relegation. We simply need to continue our high performance levels and I predict a home win that would see us tighten our grip on fourth place.

Sandy Armour is editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine.

We asked for your thoughts after Kilmarnock secured a top-six finish with a draw at third-placed Hearts.

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

John: Another good point but we have to come back from a deficit again. The players did well, though we can't keep getting into these situations every week - we won't always come back. Still it's a great season, maybe third next season and maybe a run in Europe.

Amy: We had the best chances in the game and were unlucky to not have taken all three points. Marley's goal was outstanding but Vassell was unplayable at times and Kennedy never stopped. Games against County and St Johnstone to come, whilst St Mirren face Hearts and Celtic, so what a chance to almost cement our fourth place spot in the next weeks.

Anna: Brilliant away point that's secured a top six place. Even when 1-0 down, Killie had more than enough to bag an equaliser & what an absolute belter from Marley Watkins, that guy was awesome. With form like this, we can go far and a place in Europe would be a just reward after the brilliant season we've had with the magician that is Derek McInnes.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Tynecastle

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Joe Wright says Kilmarnock's internal goal was always to reach the top six at the start of the season, and they will keep their one-game-at-a-time approach in the fight for Europe.

The Ayrshire side's 1-1 draw at Tynecastle secured a top-half finish for Derek McInnes' men, who were battling relegation this time last year.

“Obviously in house the gaffer made us aware that was the target," Wright said. "We kept it to ourselves for quite a while but it was something we set ourselves at the start of the season.

“We will just take it at a game at a time. We won’t get too far ahead of ourselves.

"It’s something we have done all season and just focus on our next game, focus on the performance, focus on getting positive results. Once we have achieved one target we look at the next one.”

Wright believes the unity in the Rugby Park dressing room is a key component of their success this term.

“We have a great group of boys. We socialise with each other outside of football. It’s a happy dressing room as well so to have that togetherness, that quality and that real strength in depth is something that’s terrific.”

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Kilmarnock may be without captain Kyle Vassell for the remainder of the season, with manager Derek McInnes admitting he may need surgery.

“I thought he led the line brilliantly, especially in the second half,” McInnes said of his performance in the 1-1 draw against Hearts.

“He can play, he can do a bit of everything but above all he’s a strong leader of the team. He’s galvanised the dressing room and is key for us.

“He’s struggling with a groin complaint that might need surgery so we might need to nurse him along.

“It might need a operation and he might need to come out of the firing line before the end of the season so we can get him ready for next season.”

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "I thought we were good, disappointed to lose the first goal, I felt we could have dealt with the situation a bit better.

"I thought we had good chances in the first half, real chances, none moreso than Marley’s right on half time. He’s missed from three yards and scored from twenty five yards!

"I thought we were good value for atleast our point and on another day we win that game. We looked confident, we looked assured, we looked like a team that are sitting fourth in the the table.

"When we got the equalsier I felt we were the most likely to win the game.

"We came here to try and win the game but we knew a point could secure top six and to secure it with two games to go, considering where this club was three years ago getting relegated - we came in just over two years ago - and it’s a great note for everyone at the club from the boardroom, all the staff, but particularly the players’ efforts this season that we’ve managed to secure top six football with two games to go.

"I’m really proud of them and pleased for their effort. Now with seven games to go we just refocus and try and finish the season as strong as we can.

On European aspirations, he adds: “Once you get into the top six it’s something that’s really worth working towards, so, yeah, why not.”

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DId you make the trip through to Edinburgh or were you following along with the action from elsewhere?

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Jack Herrall, BBC Sport Scotland

Despite only having rougly 30% possession this afternoon, Derek McInnes side often looked sharp and creative in attack.

Watkins and Vassell's games compliment eachother well and were relentless in their pressing. Usual suspects Armstrong and Kennedy were useful outlets too.

When they were being outplayed for spells in the middle of the park, McInnes must have asked for more width and they often played around Hearts' press with intent and pace.

As good as the aforementioend attackers were, though, this could have easily been a Killie win with a more clinical touch in front of goal.