Kilmarnock

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Despite David Watson's best efforts, Kilmarnock could not hold onto their lead as they slipped to a 3-3 draw with Dundee United.

In one of the league's most entertaining fixtures this season, Watson was introduced as a half-time sub with Killie 1-0 down.

A minute later, the youngster had scored an overhead kick to level the game. Ten minutes later, he poked in a Matty Kennedy shot to put Kilmarnock ahead.

We're running out of superlatives for the teenager.

David Watson scores a stylish overhead kick for Kilmarnock in their 3-3 Scottish Premiership draw with Dundee United (UK only).

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes revealed Stuart Findlay will undergo tests on Monday after suffering a torn calf muscle during Saturday's 3-3 draw against Dundee United.

The defender was substituted in the first half, having previously played every game for Killie this season.

"We lost Stuart Findlay in the first half, which was far from ideal, as we were already without our main header in Joe Wright and Stuart's obviously our second main header" McInnes said.

"He's torn his calf. So we’ll get that scanned on Monday and see how it plays out and see the extent of it.

"I don't think he’s missed a game for me through injury the whole time he’s been here, so it was a bit of a surprise and we’re already a centre-half down so we’re a wee bit imbalanced there but I thought Robbie Deas came on and did well.

"I thought Corrie Ndaba filled in second half there well and I thought we were good second half so we’ll hang on to the positives.

"It's another three games unbeaten, but we need to start winning games – particularly at 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go, we should be seeing that one out."

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock draw 3-3 against Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK viewers only.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 3-3 draw against Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Lee: Utter shambles. Out of Europe, out of a cup and second bottom with three points and not a single win. Sick to the teeth of these poor performances and poor team selection. Time for Derek McInnes to pack his bags and go!

Stephen M: Wrong starting 11, wrong tactical change when Stuart Findlay went off, and when we threatened to overwhelm United at 3-1 we made further changes that surrendered territory and invited them on top of us. Folly to keep saying that we'll be moving up the table soon if we can't play well for 90 minutes or win games like this. One win in 13 this season is abysmal.

Stephen B: As McInnes said, the story should have been about David Watson, it makes you wonder why he isn't getting more game time then. We have a lot of options in central midfield but Watson is the best of the bunch. Hopefully we'll see Kyle Magennis back fully fit soon too as that could be some pairing in the middle.

Ian: Why Watson didn't start is a mystery. McInnes needs to stop tinkering. Only a point when we should have had three. As for VAR it's time for it to go, absolutely sucking the life out the game.

Thomas: Encouraging performance, Watson was superb but the same old last story in the last five minutes, failing again. At last, we finished with 11 men! Safety first when up late in the game!

Adam: Great game of football, outstanding performance from young Watson, but once again defensively we are all over the place. Why do we always have 11 players in our box defending free kicks or corners? There's no out ball and players getting in each others way, therefore conceding silly goals.

James: Four points in two games the referees and VAR have cost us. If United's second goal isn't a free-kick, then he can't be awarding a penalty for the same offence. If it's a free-kick then he can't be awarding the second goal.

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock have failed to win in their last eight games in the Premiership. Their last longer winless streak was from 16th January 2021 to 6th March 2021, a run of 10 games.

• Ross Graham attempted 62 passes in this game, the highest total for a Dundee United player in the Premiership this season.

• Kilmarnock have won three points from losing positions in the Premiership this season, no team has recovered more.

• Luca Stephenson has assisted two goals in the Premiership this season (two in this game), no Dundee United player has more.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "The story should have been about David Watson, who was outstanding when he came on, he grabbed the game. We were so good for 35 minutes, a real Kilmarnock performance.

"Dundee United tried to force the issue and we need the composure to deal with that. At 3-1, we were in control but we let that authority go.

"We can do a lot better with the second goal and, from them being on the floor United think there might be something there for them, then we don't see out the dying embers."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Trying to unpick this encounter is quite the challenge. Kilmarnock came out after the break and overwhelmed their opponents for a long spell and looked certain to earn that elusive first league win.

As Derek McInnes said post-match, David Watson's impact should have been the story. His contribution was stunning. His opener incredible.

Kilmarnock as a team responded to that and took full control to score three. They were unlucky not to have more as United looked rattled at one point.

However, having got into such a formidable position only to let that slip so dramatically will hurt so much, particularly as that winless league run now extends when it should have been shed.

Small errors opened the door for United and they took advantage. Fine margins proved vital. There will be positives to take but real lessons to learn, too.

A trip to Dundee follows with the winless league run now six. That needs banished fast as they look to get back to the heights of last term.

Ross Graham's injury-time penalty earned Dundee United an unlikely point and denied Kilmarnock a first league win of the season in a breathtaking contest.

What did you make of that game, Killie fans? Was a point the right result, or were you disappointed not to hold on?

Who impressed you? And just how good is David Watson?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

Image source, SNS

David Watson. Just how good is this young man?

Introduced at half-time, he scored a superb scissor kick just moments later to put Kilmarnock level. It wasn't long until he got his second.

His influence on Kilmarnock is enormous and he epitomises the fight that Derek McInnes wants his team to fight with.

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Kilmarnock defender Joe Wright begins a three-match ban but Liam Donnelly and Brad Lyons return. Kyle Magennis is still working his way back from a long-term absence.

Dundee United are only missing Ryan Strain (hamstring).

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David Watson wants his team-mates to make Rugby Park a "fortress again" as Kilmarnock prepare to host Dundee United in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

Killie salvaged a point on the road against St Mirren last time out, despite being down to 10 men, and 19-year-old midfielder Watson praised his team's spirit.

"It's exciting to be back on Rugby Park, we're looking to try and kick on after last week's result," said Watson.

"It was a hard game but we managed to dig in and get a point and it could end up being a good point for us in the long run.

"We've got a good team spirit, a dedication, we're all very good team-mates and we're a close knit group.

"We knew we'd be able to dig in and we we've done it before, being down to 10 men, we've managed to pull a couple results out.

"It wasn't really any surprise against St Mirren, if you look at the game, I think we were probably on the ascendency, we were looking to probably go on and win it but we just didn't manage to."

United are on eight points, six more than Killie after five games.

"Dundee United are on a good run of games, they're doing well but as the last seasons have seen Rugby Park has been like a fortress for us," said Watson.

"We don't lose many games here so that's what we want to try and create again and try and make Rugby Park a Fortress again.

"The fans have been brilliant and it's through our performances that they've backed us."

Killie boss Derek McInnes has been linked with the vacant Hearts manager's job and Watson insists it is because of the “brilliant” job he is doing.

"The gaffer's been brilliant for me, he gave me my SPFL debut so I'm forever grateful for that," he added.

"He's been amazing with me, and he's been amazing with the team. You see what he's done last season, we got into Europe and we had a good go at it. Hopefully, we can do the same again this season.

"We've got a good group, our squad is much the same as last season. There's a few boys that have come in, they’ve really added to the squad."

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Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell is not surprised Rugby Park manager Derek McInnes is being linked to the vacant managerial position at Hearts.

The 53-year-old guided his side to a fourth-placed finish last season, securing European football for the first time in five years.

"He's done a brilliant job since he's come in," Bell told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They've not hit the ground running in the league, but they've got a good squad there.

"I expect him to stay at Kilmarnock, but there's no surprise for me that a manager of the calibre of Derek McInnes is getting linked to Hearts.

"Hopefully, certainly for my sake, he does stay at Kilmarnock and continues the journey he's going on.

"But they need a result as well. They're desperate on getting a league result and getting three points on the board to kickstart the season."

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock have won both of their last two Scottish Premiership games against Dundee United, last winning three in a row against the Tangerines in the top flight in February 2002 under Bobby Williamson.

• Dundee United have only won once in their last nine Scottish Premiership away games against Kilmarnock (D3 L5), a 4-2 win in May 2016 under Gordon Young’s caretaker management.

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in nine home Scottish Premiership games against newly-promoted opponents (W5 D4) since a 0-3 defeat to Hibernian in October 2017.

• Along with Hearts, Kilmarnock are one of two sides who remain winless in this season’s Scottish Premiership (P5 W0 D2 L3) - Killie last failed to win their opening six matches of a top-flight campaign in 2017-18 (eight).

• After their 1-0 win at Hearts earlier this month, Dundee United could win back-to-back Scottish Premiership away games for the first time since August 2020.

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes feels "validated" after discussing his concerns around officiating in the 2-2 draw against St Mirren with Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum.

Killie had Joe Wright sent off in Paisley but McInnes was perturbed after St Mirren's Shaun Rooney escaped punishment for clashing with Kyle Vassell.

"We felt really let down on some of the decisions," said McInnes. "That has now been validated by the referee department. It was validated by a phone call that I had with Willie Collum on the Monday after the game.

"I thought it was a real low for the refereeing department, that performance."

And he added: "I feel I've always had a good line of communication with Willie when he was a referee, as a player or a manager.

"I'm not here to praise the referee department, Willie in particular, because they're being transparent. I think it's the way it should be and I'm glad that he sees it that way.

"I do think he's a guy who will make change and get things right over time and I think he'll implement a standard that's needed.

"I think we've got some really good referees and good officials in the country but we've also got a few who need some work.

"And for me it's quite galling the fact that the St Mirren player involved plays next week and Joe gets a three-game ban."

Image source, SNS

Derek McInnes is determined to make sure Kilmarnock remain "relevant" after missing out on this season's League Cup quarter-finals.

The Ayrshire team were put out of the competition by Motherwell back in August and, as a result, had the weekend off.

When asked if he enjoyed a break from the action, McInnes replied: "I hated it."

The Rugby Park boss has been linked with the vacancy at Hearts, but he insists he is "fully" committed to bring more success to Kilmarnock.

"I just want us to be relevant," he added. "I want us to be in semi-finals and finals of cups, top six, playing in Europe. Saturday was a wee reminder we weren't there.

"I think when there are international breaks there’s a general feeling it's a chance to get some needed downtime.

"But when other teams are playing and we're just skulking about... I hated it."

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes addressed the media before Saturday's Scottish Premiership home match against Dundee United.

Here are his key points:

• The Killie boss "hated" having a free weekend as the Scottish League Cup quarter-finals took place. "I just want us to be relevant," he explained. "I want us to be in the semi-finals and finals of cups and top six and playing in Europe. Saturday was a wee reminder that we weren't there this time around."

• McInnes has challenged his players to be a top-six team before the end of the first round of games.

• The Rugby Park boss contacted Scottish FA head of refereeing Willie Collum over his frustrations about how the 2-2 draw with St Mirren was handled and and feels "validated" after feeling "so let down" on the day.

• After speaking to sacked Hearts head coach Steven Naismith and recently dismissed St Johnstone manager Craig Levein, McInnes believes the latter can feel "hard done by" while Naismith "might have got a wee bit more grace". McInnes described both departures as "particularly harsh".

• And McInnes does not regard being linked with the Hearts vacancy as a compliment and insists his focus remains on Kilmarnock.

• Liam Donnelly will be back in full training this week while Brad Lyons returns from suspension to be available against Dundee United. Banned Joe Wright and injured Kyle Magennis miss out.

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes "would be fantastic" for the vacant managerial position at Hearts, says former Tynecastle striker Lee Miller.

Steven Naismith was relieved of his duties as head coach after a woeful eight-game losing run, which leaves the club bottom of the Premiership.

Since being appointed Rugby Park boss, McInnes has led Killie back to the top flight and secured a fourth-placed finish last term.

His side, however, are also yet to win a league game this season and sit just a place and a point above Hearts.

"I think McInnes would be fantastic," Miller told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"They would obviously need to pay money to get him out there, but he's done a tremendous job everywhere he's been. He's turned into a real force in Scottish football.

"Yeah, Kilmarnock have not had a great start to the season, but he understands how the game works in Scotland and I think he's been very good.

"He's very good at recruiting, but the thing is he would have a really good squad to work with at Hearts if he went there."

Naismith was dismissed by Hearts following the 2-1 defeat at St Mirren on Saturday.

The former Scotland striker vowed to fight on at the club, but ex-Falkirk manager Miller suggests he knew what was coming.

"Having been a manager myself, I know how it feels," Miller added.

"Everything just gets on top of you. Everything kind of builds up. You lose your focus slightly and there's just so much pressure.

"Whether they were right or wrong, I think the pressure was building through the fans and through the lack of the results this season having not won a game."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

It's a long boring weekend when Killie are not in action and I refuse to trek about overpriced furniture stores searching for a flatpack wardrobe with three parts missing.

However, I think it's the first weekend where we haven't seen a red card and we also have a winnable home game to look forward to this Saturday.

One interesting development over the weekend was the sacking of former Killie star Steven Naismith as Hearts boss. Almost as soon as it was announced the pundits were touting Derek McInnes as his replacement.

McInnes has brought much-needed stability to the club and he appears to enjoy having control over all football matters. That would not necessarily be the case at Tynecastle. Having turned down Rangers in the past, it is clear that McInnes doesn't just jump ship for a few extra bucks.

It's flattering when your manager is linked with other jobs but I don't see Delboy moving to any other Scottish club and I hope he stays at Killie to continue his good work.

Dundee United have had a decent start to the season but if Killie can repeat the level of performance shown in Paisley and keep 11 players on the park I fancy it could be our first league win.

Sandy Armour is editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine.

Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes is a potential candidate to replace Philippe Clement, who is one defeat away from being sacked as Rangers manager, but the Ibrox club's priority is to resolve their boardroom battle and a lack of money that limited their summer transfer spending. (Football Insider), external

Former Sunderland and Stoke City manager Alex Neil is the early bookmakers' favourite to become Heart of Midlothian head coach, while Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes and St Mirren's Stephen Robinson are also among the contenders. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Monday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Earlier, we asked you who has made the most league appearances for Kilmarnock.

The correct answer is Alan Robertson - the left-back played 481 league games from 1972-1988 for the Rugby Park side.