Kilmarnock

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Stuart Kettlewell doesn't "envisage any hangovers" from Kilmarnock's double painful penalty blow as they prepare for a trip to Tannadice.

The manager's nine-match unbeaten run ended with a controversial stoppage-time penalty against Celtic, followed by a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final shootout exit to St Mirren.

However, the Killie boss is hopeful that his side will bounce back in the league against third-placed Dundee United on Saturday.

"The focus has been great, the quality and application on the pitch has been first class, and the mood and the body language is what I would expect it to be," said Kettlewell.

"I don't envisage any hangovers from two massive blows. It's about working hard to try and come out the other side of that, to make sure that you change your fortunes.

"It's not so much that we feel that we need to change loads, it's just that we probably feel we need to come out the right side of a decision, maybe a break of the ball, a little bit of luck, because we don't feel we're too far away."

The manager stressed he didn't feel the need to intervene with the "close-knit group" amid their recent pain and that the squad support each other sufficiently.

"The lads are very, very comfortable in their environment," he added.

"I don't go into the dressing room – it's always been the way I've worked – until the match day.

"They've got various activities, a bit of table tennis, they throw some darts, just to have that light-hearted mood and be able to bring yourself back down to a level and spend a wee bit of time with your mates.

"We've got guys that stay local and they're a really close-knit group. A lot of them are new faces and new lads that you can see that are gelling really well."

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• Since losing four consecutive home league games against Kilmarnock from November 2000 to August 2002, Dundee United have only lost three of their past 26 at home to Killie in the top flight (W12 D11).

• Kilmarnock have lost just one of their past nine Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee United (W4 D4), and none of their latest five (W3 D2) since going down 4-0 in November 2022.

• Dundee United have lost just one of their past six league games (W3 D2), recording as many wins in that period (three) as in their previous 10 matches (D1 L6).

• Kilmarnock have won just one of their past 15 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L10), a 2-0 victory at eventually relegated St Johnstone in May.

• Dundee United's Ivan Dolcek is the top scorer in the Scottish Premiership this season with five goals in five games so far, with four of his five goals coming from set-pieces (3x throws, 1x direct free-kick).

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

VAR was the big talking point again last week with several glaring errors - not least Killie being done out of a draw against Celtic - highlighted by the Scottish FA's review panel.

In the League Cup quarter-final at Rugby Park both teams chose to not use VAR and, ironically, had it been there we may well have won.

There was a stonewall penalty missed as Dominic Thompson's second-half free-kick was deliberately blocked by a flailing arm but the referee didn't see it.

Personally I don't care. The introduction of VAR has ruined so much of the beautiful game and sucked the enjoyment out it - I'd ditch it tomorrow.

Of course we are now out the cup and winless in the league so it's time to knuckle down and get some points on the board.

Injuries are costing us dearly and the return of Brad Lyons, Jamie Brandon and Scott Tiffoney would help as every game we have played has been very tight.

Benn Brannan looked excellent once again when he was introduced on Friday and must be a starter at Tannadice on Saturday.

Dundee United are playing well and have recruited well but we have beaten them in the cup so must take some belief from that. No doubt it will be tough but I can see it being a 1-1 stalemate.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie thinks his loan switch to Danish second tier side Esbjerg can be the launchpad to properly realising his potential and harbours ambitions of a return to Rangers one day. (Daily Record), external

We asked for your thoughts after Kilmarnock were beaten on penalties in their Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against St Mirren.

Here's what you had to say:

James: Very disappointed to lose. It was a very good game between two evenly matched teams. The subs certainly made a difference and I felt Killie finished the stronger team and you couldn't fault their effort. I think we're missing Brad Lyons in midfield and the sooner we get Matty Kennedy back the better, but that's not going to be anytime soon.

Stephen: Not a hard luck story for me. Thought we were a bit fortunate to get to extra time, but our penalty shootout record is awful. Once again our lack of depth was exposed and we have missed a real opportunity to get to a cup semi-final. We are desperately poor up front and we need another two David Watsons in midfield. Another terrific performance from him, full of heart, grit and determination but he's being let down by what's beside and in front of him. Hopefully Stuart Kettlewell is scouring the free agent list as we need to start picking up wins in the league now or we are going to struggle.

Kenny: A disappointing result for Killie and two outstanding performances from Watson and James Brown but unfortunately the same can't be said for Liam Polworth yet again. Kettlewell continues to pick players who just can't put in the performance that the club needs. Well done St Mirren.

Anna: Dom Thompson had a cracking game and fair play to Stuart kettlewell for making his substitutions when they still had time to get into the game, unlike previous managers I could mention. It was tough to take but I saw enough fighting spirit there to know we'll be OK this season.

David: Cracking cup tie but Killie just didn't have the ability to convert opportunities into goals. Jury is still out on Marcus Dackers and Djenairo Daniels. Watson was immense - what an engine on him. Thompson also a standout.

A flawless penalty shootout performance helped St Mirren secure a Premier Sports Cup semi-final as they edged past a stubborn Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

Malik Dijksteel, who scored the winning spot-kick in the previous round against Hearts, converted from 12 yards after Kyle Magennis missed for the hosts.

Read the full match report here.

Give us your thoughts on the game.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "We've been dealt two of the most bitter blows you're going to get in the space of six days, losing a penalty shootout and losing a goal like we did against Celtic.

"It was a proper cup tie, quality and fighting spirit. Unfortunately, our group have come out on the wrong side of it.

"Really disappointed, but we'll pick ourselves up and go again. You do that when you're a good professional.

"There's moments today where we could have had a bit more quality in our delivery and movement in the box. That's not a criticism, it's something we have to work on.

"We need to retain the ball better at times, and if we do that, it might buy us the luck we've not had in the past couple of weeks."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Stephen Robinson has revealed he's become a Rugby Park regular recently - and so has his wife.

Never mind a leisurely Sunday lunch or romantic walks in the countryside. The Robinsons have been on reconnaissance missions with a future date at Hampden in mind.

Robinson's St Mirren play Kilmarnock in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup on Saturday, and the hosts have been well scouted as the Buddies seek just a second win at Rugby Park since 2013.

"I've watched a lot of Killie. It's my local team, so I get to see them. I've dragged my wife along every Sunday to watch them lately," said Robinson.

"They've got some very, very good players. They have a lot of physicality on the team, but also a mix of really talented boys as well. It would be nice to get one over on them.

"We go there confident after our start to the league season but it's a tough game. It's an opportunity for both sides."

Robinson wants to reward the Saints support by securing a semi-final trip to Hampden.

He added: "I've said to the players, sometimes these opportunities sometimes come around once in a career, so you have to grab these opportunities.

"It can bring the whole town together. It can really lift people's spirits, people rely on this football club. A lot of times it's their life and what they cling on to. So we'll be doing everything in our power to make sure we're in that semi-final.

"You see the display the fans put on last Saturday in the league match away at Falkirk and what they've done during the season, the amount of effort and time and money that's spent on it. You'd love to reward them.

"We feel like we've earned this opportunity because it's been a long time in the making. We started right at the early rounds and had some really good performances."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Long-serving Kilmarnock midfielder Rory McKenzie admits reaching a cup final with a chance to lift silverware is a driving force at this stage of his career.

Kilmarnock host St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals on Friday evening with the victor guaranteed a trip to Hampden in the last four.

McKenzie was out on loan in 2012 and watched from the stands when the Ayrshire side lifted the League Cup, a feat he thinks the club should have come closer to repeating in the intervening years.

"I think there should be [more trophy success since] but you can never guarantee anything," the 31-year-old said.

"I think we need to look at St Johnstone [winning the League Cup and Scottish Cup], just a few years ago. We can take a lot from that. I think in the last few years, especially, luck of the draw as well comes into it a bit.

"It's almost cliche, but every manager that gets the job, they talk about that, that not many players get a chance to win trophies.

"Especially at a club like Kilmarnock, I've experienced it once, winning the Championship, but to have a cup run and get to a final and to win another trophy, a cup, would be the icing on the cake for me."

McKenzie, a Killie academy graduate who is in his testimonial season, has one solitary appearance at the national stadium.

He started in the 2-0 League Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic in January 2023, a scoreline that did little justice to the performance Kilmarnock produced on the day as they pushed the eventual trophy winners all the way.

"I've only been there once," he said. "It's probably the only thing that needs ticked off for me personally. The occasion last time against Celtic was a really enjoyable one and one that we've been close to a few times. It's never happened since, so it'd mean a lot.

"I think there have been a few occasions that we were just about there. My experience last time against Celtic, it was just so different to anything that I'd had before playing at Hampden, in front of so many people and doing really well as well.

"You can never expect to get there. I feel kind of disappointed that we haven't taken advantage of a few of the games."

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The draw for the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals will take place on Sunday after Partick Thistle v Celtic (15:30 BST) concludes.

The semis will be played on the weekend of 1-2 November with the final scheduled for Sunday, 14 December.

St Mirren's trip to Kilmarnock on Friday night (19:45) gets the quarter-finals under way before Aberdeen host Motherwell (15:00) on Saturday followed by Rangers v Hibs (17:45).

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell believes a "standard" has been set in what should be considered a penalty for handball after Celtic were controversially awarded an added-time spot-kick, which led to a 2-1 defeat for the Ayrshire side on Sunday.

The ball ricocheted on to Lewis Mayo's hands from close range, which were up in front of his chest, with referee John Beaton awarding a penalty after being called to review his original decision by the VAR.

Kettlewell now expects to see many more incidents of that nature penalised.

"My conclusion that I draw under it is, we see an awful lot of penalties, and a lot that people are going to be really, really frustrated by," he said.

"Everything I'll question is, if those incidents aren't giving us penalties then that one was wrong. If they are giving them there's a consistency in that.

"I would be amazed if you speak to any clubs that want that to be given as a penalty. Now I believe we've set a standard in what's going to be a penalty, so I would envisage that those types of scenarios, and maybe even not as harsh as that, I would imagine that they will now be given.

"There has to be a consistency in the decision-making within the games. I think we have set a precedent on Sunday here of what's going to be given as a penalty."

The former Motherwell and Ross County boss confirmed he has not sought clarification from Scottish FA head of referee operations Willie Collum, having previously been under the impression that incidents of that nature would not be punished.

Ahead of the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at home to St Mirren on Friday evening, Kettlewell believes his side are playing well, despite being unable to win any of their opening five Premiership fixtures.

"We've been fine," he said. "We want more from ourselves, we want to win games of football.

"What spin do we put on statistics? Unbeaten in nine or do we want to say that we've not won in the league? It depends what way you look at it.

"I can guarantee you at that point just now they're performing at a high level, the confidence is good and I think generally when you're in that place then it gives you a chance in your next game."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell has been talking to the media before the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final at home to St Mirren on Friday night.

Here are the key points:

• Following Celtic's controversial late winner at Rugby Park on Sunday, Kettlewell believes a "standard" has been set in "what's going to be a penalty" this season and if similar incidents "aren't given as penalties, then that one was wrong".

• The Kilmarnock boss was keen to move on and focus on the quarter-final but confirmed he has not sought further clarification from SFA head of referee operations Willie Collum.

• "I think I'd be speaking for the vast majority of people within Scottish football and tell you we don't want to see them given as penalties," he continued, adding that his conclusion is we'll see "an awful lot of penalties, and a lot that people are going to be really, really frustrated by".

• Overall, Kettlewell called for "consistency" in penalties being awarded.

• On the chance to reach a semi-final at Hampden, Kettlewell says "you go into every season with the hope and desire to try and get there," suggesting he may need to divert from Plan A to Plan B, C and D as both teams will have a good go at progressing.

• He believes Killie have been performing to a high level without getting rewarded with victories and says it boils down to "execution".

• He expects a "couple" of players who have been missing through injury to be pushing for a place in the squad or a starting berth on Friday night.

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Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Kieran O'Hara says Dundee is a "good fit" after signing for the Dens Park club until the end of the season.

The 29-year-old, capped twice for Republic of Ireland, was a free agent after two seasons at Rugby Park during which he made 27 appearances.

O'Hara, who began his career with Manchester United, said: "I'm delighted to get the deal over the line. It's a big club with a rich history.

"I didn't want to rush into anything, and I like to think that I did that, and I'm delighted to get the deal here as I think it is a good fit.

"I spoke with the gaffer and Glen [Johnson], the goalie coach, and players who have played here in the past, and they all spoke highly of the club.

"I've played at Dens before with Kilmarnock and it's a good stadium with good fans, so I'm really looking forward to it."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

I was hoping just to write a wee article looking forward to our quarter-final aginst St Mirren this Friday.

However, my chins are still wobbling with rage about that ridiculous penalty decision awarded to Celtic on Sunday.

Willie Collum can save himself some time, whenever Matthew MacDermid is involved in a Killie game just write your apology to us and hand it in before the match.

I hope the club submit an official complaint and request he is never appointed to another Killie game.

We have the chance to quickly bounce back and earn a trip to Hampden if we can overcome in-form St Mirren at the Theatre of Pies on Friday.

We will hopefully see a few players back from the treatment room and if we can show the same desire as we did on Sunday I fancy we may be looking forward to another semi-final.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Kilmarnock defender Robbie Deas admits he was "raging" after a penalty was given in their Premiership defeat by Celtic on Sunday.

Kelechi Iheanacho scored from the spot in the 96th minute at Rugby Park to secure a 2-1 win for the visitors after the ball ricocheted off Deas' boot onto teammate Lewis Mayo's arm.

VAR advised referee John Beaton to go to the pitchside monitor and he gave the penalty as a result.

"It was a big sickener," said Deas. "I don't understand how it's been given. I blocked the shot away from goal and Mayo was not even half a yard away from me.

"I was raging. I thought we looked like the team that was going to go and win the game, and then to go and lose the game in that sort of manner is just an absolute sickener."

Stuart Kettlewell's side are still winless in the league this season, but Deas insists they can take confidence into Friday's Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against St Mirren.

"The boys were gutted, but I think we can take a lot from the game," he said. "We showed we can go out and compete and I don't think we deserved to lose the game.

"It was such a good performance. I think we should take so many positives from the game.

"We'll analyse the game as we always do, we'll forget about the penalty incident, it's not going to change anything now. We'll focus on the positives and learn from the negatives and look forward to the game on Friday.

"We've got a quarter-final to look forward to and we've got an opportunity to get the club to Hampden."

We asked for your views following Kilmarnock's Scottish Premiership defeat by Celtic on Sunday.

A controversial last-minute penalty decision allowed Celtic debutant Kelechi Iheanacho to win it from the spot.

Here's what you had to say:

Ryan: Thought we were worth at least the point and looked to be the only ones capable of winning it until the penalty. Not entirely sure how Mayo is in an 'unnatural position'. He'd have to have reflexes like Superman to get out the way.

Matt: Unfortunate to lose in the way we did. The game plan worked well but still looks like we lack proper quality when attacking. Celtic looked poor and a draw would have been fair. There definitely needs to be some clarity when it comes to the penalty rules. Hopefully we get a good performance on Friday night!

Stephen: The penalty decision was a disgrace. Had the incident been the other way round, we would never have been awarded it. That said, we were far too late in taking the game to Celtic. Once we did, they looked very vulnerable. When we scored, we looked more likely to get a winner. David Watson was magnificent, but he needs stronger players beside him in midfield. At times he was taking on the Celtic midfield on his own.

Alan: Kilmarnock were excellent today and more than matched Celtic. David Watson in particular was outstanding, but once again spoiled by refereeing blunders. The penalty is bad enough but the decision to give Celtic the throw-in for the first goal was ridiculous.

Derek: What an absolute disgrace. A fantastic second half that swung back and forth, ultimately decided by a piece of dreadful refereeing.

Alasdair: Yet another soft penalty award to the Old Firm. I've been watching this for decades. It never changes. Just reverse the scenario. Do Killie get the same decision if the ball strikes a Celtic arm? Never in a million years.

Craig: We played well and were well worth a point at least but that decision is an absolute disgrace, what is Mayo meant to do with his arm in that situation when it's a deflection? Win on Friday now and get to Hampden.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

David Watson's towering performance was matched by his towering header to equalise against Celtic.

The heart of a lion and an inspirational figure for the Rugby Park faithful.

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell talks to BBC Scotland after his side were beaten 2-1 by Celtic after a controversial late penalty.

Watch the highlights as Celtic's controversial late penalty snatched all three points against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

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