Kilmarnock

There are some Saturday mornings when you wake up, the sun is splitting the skies and you get a good feeling for the upcoming away day.

Last Saturday was exactly that as a magnificent Killie travelling support witnessed the official European qualification in the sizzling Paisley sunshine.

Killie were their usual solid self and from early on I got the impression that we had the game in the bag.

St Mirren had a few chances but in general our backline was outstanding and the increasingly confident Will Dennis was in good form on the few occasions our defence was breached.

The scenes at the end were memorable as management, players and fans came together as one in celebrating a tremendous achievement.

We have our final two games this week starting with Celtic in our last home match followed by the finale at Dens Park.

Let's ensure a big Killie support at Rugby Park on Wednesday night to show our appreciation for the huge progress made by the team this campaign.

Sandy Armur is editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine

Killie have come out on top in both matches against Celtic at Rugby Park this season, can they do the same again on Wednesday night?

After Saturday's 1-0 victory over St Mirren, what changes, if any, should Derek McInnes make to his starting line-up?

Put yourself in the manager's shoes and pick your XI here.

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Derek McInnes has built a Kilmarnock team that can challenge for Europe "every season", says former Hibs and St Mirren boss Alan Stubbs.

The Ayrshire side wrapped up fourth place and a Europa League second qualifying spot with victory over St Mirren on Saturday.

Stubbs believes McInnes' clear instructions to his Killie players have set the foundations to build on a successful campaign.

"He's done a brilliant job, I think everybody will be right in saying how good of a job he's done there," the ex-Celtic defender told BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"Derek's a very experienced manager and he's been at some big clubs, he's done a really good job obviously at Aberdeen and was there for a number of years.

"They're steadily becoming a team that looks like they're going to be challenging for a European spot now every season.

"You look at the results and all of the performances, they've shown up against the Old Firm this season and they've given them a real fight at times - obviously they've won.

"He knows exactly what he wants from his players. The players are very clear in how they have to play under Derek.

"It's been a great season for Kilmarnock and they've topped off with the European football next season."

It was an assist rather than a goal for Marley Watkins in Kilmarnock's Europa League-clinching win at St Mirren on Saturday.

But the Welshman was a constant threat for Derek McInnes' side, doing his utmost to pester the Paisley outfit's backline.

Just how important has Watkins been for Kilmarnock this season? And just how important will he will be next term if the striker is to pen a new deal?

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock beat St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

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Kilmarnock captain Kyle Vassell credited manager Derek McInnes for overseeing a shift in mentality at Rugby Park after Saturday's win over St Mirren earned them a spot in the Europa League second qualifying round.

Killie finished 10th last season in their first season back in the top flight, but clever recruitment and a a never-say-die attitude has seen them make remarkable progress.

"Credit to the gaffer," Vassell said. "He’s changed the mentality in the building.

"No disrespect to the boys here before, but the boys here just want to win and leave everything on the pitch every single game.

"That's got us where we are. We're so together. The games, some of them have been really ugly, but we’ve just got a winning mentality now."

"I love winning more than anything. I don't care how we win, I just want to win. So it's been brilliant."

Vassell led the celebrations in Paisley, and he was keen to pay tribute to the club's supporters.

"It's not sunk in just yet, but we've been fighting so long for this and St Mirren have run us the whole way, so to seal that here is even more special," he added.

"[The fans] have been there all season, but this time last year we came here and were fighting to stay in the league.

"They were magnificent that day, we got the win and and I hope that they can enjoy it just as much as we do because we're ecstatic."

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• Kilmarnock have kept a clean sheet in 14 of their 36 games, only Rangers (18) and Hearts (16) have done this more often in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Toyosi Olusanya attempted five shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a St Mirren player in the Scottish Premiership this season.

• Kyle Vassell has scored nine goals this season (one in this game), no Kilmarnock player has more in the Scottish Premiership.

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Kilmarnock teenager David Watson has been named young player of the year by the Scottish Football Writers’ Association.

The 19-year-old midfielder topped the vote ahead of Aberdeen’s Connor Barron, Lyall Cameron of Dundee and Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller.

The award comes just a week after he was named young player of the year at the PFA Scotland awards.

Watson has been a key part of Derek McInnes’ side this season, weighing in with five goals and three assists across all competitions.

His efforts landed him a new contract until 2026 earlier this season, and now have been recognised by Scottish football journalists.

“Winning an award as prestigious as this is an honour, it adds to my PFA award which also means a lot to me," he said.

“The football writers are the ones who watch us every week so it means a lot to me that they’re nominating me to win this, I appreciate it."

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Kilmarnock's Scottish Football Writers Association young player of the year David Watson says the standard of nominations for this year’s award shows the strength of the country’s football academies. (Scotland on Sunday, external)

Read the rest of today's gossip here

Derek McInnes has high praise for Kilmarnock's attacking quartet - wingers Danny Armstrong and Matty Kennedy, and strikers Marley Watkins and Kyle Vassell - as his team seal Europa League football with victory over St Mirren.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes is asked by BBC Radio Scotland how he feels after securing Europa League football.

"It’s magic hearing that," is how the Rugby Park supremo responds. "It’s something we never started out to do, but for the last few weeks, something we’ve been searching for.

"To do it with another clean sheet, it was important we had another big hurrah in us and we were good enough in difficult circumstances."

McInnes also highlights the impact of his front four, wingers Danny Armstrong and Matty Kennedy, and strikers Kyle Vassell and Marley Watkins. Captain Vassell netted the decisive goal today.

"It’s quite fitting my captain scores the goal that gets us to Europe," McInnes adds.

"As a front two, those have been terrific, the combination between the two of them. I play with two wingers and two strikers, not because they’re luxury players, it’s because they’re responsible and work as hard as anybody else, and I know they are capable with big moments."

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Kilmarnock fans, how are you feeling after Europa League football was sealed? How impressed have you been with Derek McInnes this season?

here

Marley Watkins was a constant thorn in St Mirren's side, providing a classy assist for Kyle Vassell and twice bringing Zach Hemming into impressive action.

Can Derek McInnes covince the Welshman to stay in Ayrshire for a European tour?

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

This was the kind of match, and performance, upon which Derek McInnes has constructed his formidable reputation.

Kilmarnock are brilliantly coached and wonderfully organised, evident in their defensive structure once Kyle Vassell had punched them ahead.

They created a greater quantity – and quality – of chances with a far more modest share of possession than St Mirren, with Marley Watkins in particular threatening to widen the gap.

Kilmarnock spent most of the second half compact and combative, and largely absorbed whatever was tossed at them with minimal fuss. Vintage McInnes.

And just rewards for the manager and his team, who have surged from the Championship to the Europa League in two years.

Kilmarnock, who have not lost to St Mirren since early 2021, make a solitary change from the loss at Ibrox six days ago as they look to seal fourth place.

Joe Wright is serving a suspension having been sent off in that match, so Robbie Deas is brought in to start.

Derek McInnes also fields David Watson, with Liam Polworth dropping to the bench.

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St Mirren: Hemming, Bolton, Gogic, Fraser, Strain, O'Hara (c), Boyd-Munce, Tanser, Olusanya, McMenamin, Mandron.

Substitutes: Urminsky, Dunne, Taylor, Brown, Bwomono, Mooney, Baccus, Jamieson, Scott.

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Donnelly, Watson, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell (c).

Substitutes: O'Hara, McKenzie, Murray, Cameron, Davies, Stewart, Polworth, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Elvis Bwomono is available again for St Mirren after recovering from a knee complaint. Ryan Strain was sent home ill earlier in the week and will be assessed as will Greg Kiltie while Scott Tanser is struggling with a calf strain. Jonah Ayunga (knee) and Kwon Hyeok-kyu (hamstring) are out for the season.

Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons is out for the rest of the season with a hamstring injury picked up at Ibrox last weekend. Greg Stewart has returned to training this week after his hernia operation and is in contention while James Balagizi could return from a knee issue. Kyle Magennis (hamstring) remains out long term while Joe Wright is suspended.

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Marley Watkins says he "hopes" to stay at Kilmarnock beyond the expiry of his contract in the summer.

The 33-year-old has been rejuvenated at Rugby Park, leading the way as the club's top scorer this term with 13 goals in all competitions.

Manager Derek McInnes has made no secret of his aim to keep the Welsh striker for next season's European campaign, which Watkins admits is an exciting prospect.

“Talks are ongoing and we’ll see what happens," he said.

“But yes, I’m hoping to stay. I have really enjoyed my time here but see what happens.

“It has been really enjoyable and obviously there is stuff to consider like what is best for your family.

“But the gaffer has been great with me on and off the pitch and I am really grateful to him and we will keep talking. .

“You want to play the best level and Europe is obviously a good level and exciting."

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes says Kevin van Veen will not be returning since the club cannot afford to pay the level of wages required for the on-loan Dutchman. (Football Scotland), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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• St Mirren remain without a win in their last seven league meetings with Kilmarnock (D4 L3) since a 2-0 victory in February 2021.

• Kilmarnock have won their last two league visits to St Mirren and have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three (W2 D1).

• St Mirren have lost five of their last eight home league games (W3), as many as their previous 27 beforehand (W14 D8 L5). All five of those defeats have been against the four sides currently above the Buddies in the table (2 v Rangers, 1 v Kilmarnock, Celtic, Hearts).

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last 15 Scottish Premiership matches against sides other than the Old Firm, winning eight and drawing seven since losing 1-0 to Hearts in December. This is the longest unbeaten run against non-Old Firm sides by a non-Old Firm club in the top flight since Aberdeen went 22 without defeat from October 2014 to April 2015.

• Kilmarnock’s Derek McInnes has only lost one of his 31 top-flight matches as a manager against St Mirren (W14 D16), a 1-0 defeat with Aberdeen in August 2019.

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Derek McInnes has warned against complacency as his Kilmarnock side look to wrap up fourth place this weekend.

A win would in Paisley seals the deal while avoiding defeat effectively is enough too as it would leave the Rugby Park side six points and 10 goals better off than opponents St Mirren with two games left.

After Dundee's defeat to the Buddies secured his team's place in European football, McInnes insists they're still in a battle for fourth and a Europa League spot.

"We don’t need to do it this weekend but we would like to. That’s the intention," he said.

“It was a great feeling last weekend watching as we got into Europe with four games to spare but now we want to finish off what has been a fantastic campaign by securing that fourth spot.

“There is still a job to be done to do that and hopefully we can do that job on Saturday.

“Obviously St Mirren are in a fight with Dundee for fifth and in a fight with us for fourth. We don’t think for a moment that we have secured fourth spot.

"We feel there is still work to be done, we will still try to push the players to the limits and see what we can get out of this season.

"To get fourth spot means a lot and should do for the players and it is important they recognise there is still a job to be done.”

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Philippe Clement, Tony Docherty, Derek McInnes and John McGlynn have been named on the shortlist for the Scottish Footballer Writers' Association manager of the year award.

It was Falkirk's McGlynn who walked away with the PFA prize last week after leading the Bairns to an invincible League 1-winning campaign, beating Kilmarnock's McInnes and Docherty of Dundee.

Rangers boss Clement is a new nominee, having taken over at Ibrox in October following the departure of Michael Beale.

The Belgian has hauled his side back into the title race, despite some stumbling in recent weeks, and also lifted the League Cup with victory over Aberdeen at Hampden in December.

Meanwhile, McInnes has taken Kilmarnock from the brink of relegation last term to guaranteed European football, with the Rugby Park side front runners to finish fourth in the Premiership.

His former assistant Docherty has enjoyed an impressive first season in the Dens Park hot seat, leading Dundee to the top six in their first season back in the top flight.

But their biggest challenge to claim the award may come from McGlynn, who has earned plenty of plaudits for finally ending Falkirk's miserable stay in the third tier and emphatically earning promotion to the Championship.