Kilmarnock

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock 2-2 draw against Livingston.

Here's what some of you said:

John: It was like going back in time to last season, come on Killie get it sorted out before it becomes normal to throw away points. It stops now, no more lapses.

Kenny: A good first half performance but a disappointing second half. The red card and penalty made a big difference, however, Killie were on the back foot most of the second half. There are some positives but the overarching feeling is that we still have work to do and we need more cover defensively!

Amy: It was a clear penalty and a sign of inexperience from George Stanger. What's more worrying is the manager's in-game changes. Taking off Marcus Dackers who was holding the ball, taking off Tom Lowery who keeps possession, bringing a new signing out the cold into left back - that's more concerning than anything for me.

James: Very disappointed to only draw the game. For all their possession Livi didn't create many chances. The game turns on the penalty. A very frustrating result but we did well in the first half and scored two good goals. I feel we need to beef up the central defence and midfield.

Gary: New season, new manager, some new players in, yet once again it's the same as last season on too many occasions, another red card.

Stephen: We had a good five minute spell in which we scored two goals but overall Livi were the better team, even before we went down to ten. Our lack of depth and quality was cruelly exposed and Livi's recruitment looks better than ours. Lewis Smith's impact from the bench was far better than anything we could produce and, goalkeeper apart, we look much weaker than last season. You can't ask for a better opening game than against the second promoted team at home, and they bossed us.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "It's really frustrating. You point to big moments in games and the game turned on it's head when Livingston were awarded the penalty with the red card to George Stanger.

"We felt we were really comfortable. Livingston changed their shape at half-time, and that tells you what we've done in the first half is good. We felt we would manage the situation.

"One or two things started to conspire against us. I believe [the penalty] is rather soft, the initial tug came from Robbie Muirhead. We feel harshly done by on that one.

"Once we went down to 10, we were resolute. We limited Livingston to few chances. You believe at that point you're going to get through it, but it wasn't to be.

"It felt we were comfortable enough, albeit we were down to 10 men. I didn't feel Livingston were creating many chances at that point. The game just hinges on that one moment."

Livingston marked their return to the Scottish Premiership by coming back from two goals down to earn a draw against 10-man Kilmarnock.

Let us know your thoughts on the game here.

Read the full match report here.

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Kilmarnock have signed Dominic Thompson after the 25-year-old left-back left Scottish Premiership rivals Motherwell.

The Londoner made 15 appearances for Well, 11 of them starts, after signing a short-term deal in January following his exit from Blackpool.

Thompson was a product of Arsenal's academy before spells with Brentford, Swindon Town and Ipswich Town then in 2022 joined Blackpool, from whom he spent a spell on loan to Forest Green Rovers before his move to Fir Park.

He is available to make his Kilmarnock debut as their Scottish Premiership season gets under way on Saturday at home to promoted Livingston.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell revealed he had lost two unnamed players to injury in training this week. Jack Thomson is back training but not ready to feature.

Livingston striker Jeremy Bokila is pushing for his debut but Aidan Denholm faces a scan on a hamstring injury.

Connor McLennan and Cristian Montano are not far off fitness while Cammy Kerr faces a lengthy spell of rehab.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock defender Lewis Mayo admits he has already been impressed by the early-season impact of young wing-back Ben Brannan.

Brannan captained the Under-18s as Kilmarnock lifted the Scottish Youth Cup in May after a spell on loan in League One with Inverness CT.

His progress has continued with three goals and three starts in the League Cup campaign, where Killie topped their group, and he has now been rewarded with a new three-year contract.

"We already knew how good a player he was, but he's really stepped up," Mayo said.

"His composure in front of the goal has been brilliant as well. He had a good loan, you can see in training how much he benefited from that.

"I think he carries a bit of belief in himself and that's credit to him. He looked like he came back from his loan with a lot of confidence but that's the purpose of it.

"He's coming back into this environment feeling he's got something to add, he's got something to bring with him and I think that's really shown with his performances."

Mayo, who revealed one of his ambitions is to earn Scotland recognition this season, drew comparisons with team-mate David Watson who broke through at a young age to become a fixture in the first team.

"They bring an enthusiasm, an energy," he said. "I think David Watson epitomised that.

"He was really young when he got his first chance and he didn't look it at all with his performances.

"At times I felt he was, at that age, still carrying the fight for our team.

"So I think he's probably the best example of someone that, coming into this environment, comes in just full of enthusiasm and belief."

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• Kilmarnock have won three of their past four top-fight matches against Livingston (D1), as many as their previous 11 beforehand (W3 D1 L7).

• Livingston have lost eight of their past 10 top-fight away games at Kilmarnock (W2), including each of their last three in a row.

• Kilmarnock have won on matchday one in just two of their past 14 top-fight seasons (D4 L8), although both were home wins (2-0 v St Johnstone in 2018-19 and 1-0 v Rangers in 2023-24).

• Since 2011-12, only two of 18 newly-promoted sides have lost on the opening of a Scottish top-fight season (W5 D11), although the last of those was Livingston in 2018-19, who lost 3-1 to Celtic (also Hamilton losing 2-0 to Inverness CT in 2014-15).

• Livingston haven't won on matchday one of a top-fight campaign since 2004-05 (3-0 v Inverness CT), failing in seven attempts since (D2 L5).

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Stuart Kettlewell has challenged rising star Ben Brannan to become a first-team regular at Kilmarnock after the 18-year-old signed a new three-year deal.

Midfielder Brannan, who is now tied down to summer 2028, made his senior Killie debut in the League Cup group stage this season and scored three goals in three appearances to help Kettlewell's side progress to a second-round tie with Dundee United.

"Ben is a player who has impressed me since day one," said manager Kettlewell.

"He has all the right attributes that we are looking for to be an important part of the squad.

"We are delighted Ben has decided to sign this deal and we're confident we can help him work towards his high potential.

"I've made no secret about the fact young players will get the chance if they're ready, and now it's up to Ben to stake his claim for a regular spot.

"It has been a great start this season for him but now it's important he builds on that."

Brannan spent time on loan at Inverness Caley Thistle last season and captained Kilmarnock Under-18s to Scottish Youth Cup success.

"It was a really easy decision to sign this deal," he said.

"I've started getting game time this season, I now want to build on that and try and become a regular and make a spot in the team my own, I just need to do the best I can and keep working hard."

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Manager Stuart Kettlewell believes success can be measured in three ways as he prepares for his first Premiership game in charge of Kilmarnock on Saturday.

Having already topped their League Cup group, with a second-round tie against Dundee United to come in August, the former Motherwell and Ross County boss is clear on what a positive season looks like for the Rugby Park side, who host Livingston in the season opener.

"Your league position, a cup run and the potential of selling a football player," he explained.

"We talk about ways to make football clubs grow and earn money and for the wheel to keep turning. There are only three ways that that can happen.

"From a manager's perspective, your league position, being as high as it possibly can be, a cup run and that player development to sell a player are the three goals, that's the main ones."

Kettlewell was reluctant to pinpoint specific aims in terms of reaching the top six or initially focussing on Premiership safety this term, but did suggest the former may be the initial goal.

"It's safe to say that we have lofty aspirations of where we want to be," he said.

"As long as my players and the staff and everybody at the football club understands what that looks like, what success is, what failure looks like, then that's really all I'm concerned about. Sometimes those goals can shift as well.

"Sometimes it's a scenario where you do that a little bit better and you think that you can push boundaries even further than what might be expected.

"I think it's safe to say that the goals that we all set will be difficult to obtain, but we think also achievable."

Meanwhile, 18-year-old forward Reuben Cooper - who scored the winner in the Scottish Youth Cup final triumph over Dundee in April - has left Kilmarnock to join Norwich City.

"It's a big step in my career, it's something I've always hoped would happen and something I've always chased," Cooper said.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell has been talking to the media before the Scottish Premiership opener at home to promoted Livingston on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• After topping their League Cup group, Kettlewell insists the next short-term target is to simply "get three points on the board" as early as possible but to keep a "consistent mindset" and "believe in what we are trying to do".

• He was reluctant to outline specific targets for the season publicly but did say "we have lofty ambitions of where we want to be" and that "goals that we all set will be difficult to obtain, but we also think achievable".

• The former Motherwell and Ross County boss insists success will be determined in three ways - "your league position, a cup run and the potential of selling a player".

• Killie had the poorest away record in the top flight last season and Kettlewell wants a better balance of results at home and on road - a "split of points as close to 50-50 as you possibly can" - adding that achieving this will make his side "competitive every week".

• He expects a different kind of challenge in the Premiership given recruitment at other clubs, with less physicality and different ideas.

• On recruitment, Kettlewell admits the departure of Corrie Ndaba does leave the squad short but an "offer was made that the club couldn't refuse" by Italian side Lecce.

• Jack Thomson is back in training but there are a couple of players with knocks that potentially may be missing this weekend.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

Welcome all Killie fans to another season of ecstatic highs, depressing lows and everything in between. With all the changes since last season both in management and personnel I have lowered my expectations for the new campaign.

There appears to have been a reduction in budget so I see this as a season of stabilisation and safety is always the priority.

However, there are fine margins between many teams so who knows how high we can climb.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

It may take a while for the new signings to settle in but I'm encouraged by what I've seen so far. We didn't concede a goal during the League Cup group stages and a lot of credit has to go to new keeper Max Stryjek.

We have suffered in previous seasons with below-par goalies, however I fancy the big man will prove to be our most important signing.

What do you want from your manager this season?

The early signs have been encouraging and although the arrival of Stuart Kettlewell wasn't universally popular it seems the fanbase are warming to his style of play.

The manager also appears keen to give youth a chance so if he can steady this ship for a season the future may yet be bright.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

One glaring reason for optimism is the emergence of young Ben Brannan, who looks like a proper star of the future. He could be a real asset for Killie and priority has to be to get him tied up on a long-term deal.

What is your one major concern?

It's hard to judge how the season is going to pan out until the league action starts so there is a worry that too many changes all at once could see us take a while to find our best personnel and formation.

Hopefully we find our feet quickly and Killie fans can look forward to lots of entertaining football, unlike previous years.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Stuart Kettlewell aims to develop a "conveyor belt" of talent at Kilmarnock after Corrie Ndaba's departure to Serie A side Lecce for a "significant" fee.

The 25-year-old left-back signed a three-year deal at Rugby Park last summer after impressing on loan but manager Kettlewell says the plan for Ndaba was always to move on.

"We definitely have to look to bring in another one or two just to gain that balance to our squad," he told Sky Sports.

"With regards to Corrie, I only worked with him for a short period of time but he's a lad I really like as a person first and foremost and a really talented player. A big part of why you come here is you know we are a selling club. There's no hiding from that.

"We always want to get the best value for players but it's been a huge part of my remit in my previous two clubs as a manager and it'll be a part of what we want to do here.

"We want to develop players, ideally our own, but you know in somebody like Ndaba there's been a plan there that he comes here, he does well and the potential of that sell on and what people need to realise is that sale was significant.

"The number and the price towards the football club is significant. I've never been a doom and gloom guy with those types of scenarios. Of course you want to work with the best players but we need to try and create that conveyor belt.

"If we lose any players for significant value for the football club then we have to ensure that we try and replace them and we try and go through that process again and again and again and there's been a lot of positives in terms of players showing up well so far for us. We look to continue now."

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Kilmarnock youngster Grant Marchant has joined Albion Rovers on loan as part of a co-operation agreement.

The midfielder heads to Cliftonhill as part of the agreement which aims to give more opportunities to young Scottish players, allowing them to move freely between both clubs throughout the season.

Fellow teenager Samuel Duruh joins Coatbridge on a temporary deal for the upcoming season out with the co-operation agreement.

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Kilmarnock will host Dundee United in an all top-flight match in the second round of the League Cup.

As a European participant, Dunee United enter the competition at this stage, while Killie topped their group under new manager Stuart Kettlewell.

Ties are due to be played on the weekend of 16th/17th August.

We asked for your views on Killie's win over East Fife and topping their League Cup group.

Here is what some of you said:

Andy: Big improvement from Tuesday night in Kelty. Think the team is now coming together. Great seeing our two new strikers scoring and some excellent football on display

Gerry: Even allowing for the opposition today, the standard of football on show from Killie today was refreshing and better than last season's hoof ball. The performance from two of our homegrown players, David Watson and Ben Brannan, was a joy to watch.

James: A comfortable win. For once, we managed to score early, and that seemed to settle the team while taking the heart out of the visitors. Excellent performances from Watson, Jamie Brandon and especially Brannan. He's going to be a player. Liam Polworth was excellent in the first half but not so good in the second when some slack passes allowed East Fife in on our goal. The main thing is that we're through to the second round.

Scott: Good to see us being clinical in front of goal after our struggles against Kelty. Hopefully, Brannan's injury isn't too serious. The boy has serious ability and can be a huge player for us this season. Really impressed by Brandon as well, but we need more squad depth in central defence and on the left side. I was underwhelmed by Stuart Kettlewell's appointment, but I've seen enough to suggest we'll be ok.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell says his side are still a "work in progress" despite topping their League Cup group.

Attacking duo Marcus Dackers and Djenairo Daniels both scored, with teenager Ben Brannan bagging a brace against East Fife as they settled any lingering nerves from midweek.

After a goalless draw midweek with Kelty Hearts, and missing out on the bonus point as they lost the penalty shootout, some of the Rugby Park faithful may have remained sceptical of the side's pre-season preparations.

"By and large, I was [pleased]," he told BBC Scotland.

"I thought we started pretty well, obviously a wee bit more ruthless than we were the other night.

"We hit the back of the net a couple of times early in the game, and it starts to settle you down.

"My one wee frustration was there was a bit of slackness about us in the last 15 or so minutes. It's just to try to sustain the levels we've found throughout the game, but it's a work in progress, and we'll try to make that better."

18-year-old Ben Brannan, who scored on either side of the interval, was impressive throughout the game, and many Killie fans are hopeful he will play a part in the Premiership this season.

"I hope so," Kettlewell added on if Brannan can make an impact this season.

"I will give young players an opportunity if they show the qualities to play at this level. Quite clearly, we see Ben has bags of potential.

"What's been great for him in that position he's been playing is he's been able to come off the left hand side and finish but his more natural side is on the right."

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Kilmarnock have accepted an offer from Lecce for defender Corrie Ndaba, 25. (Football Insider), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Stephen Frail would rather have a dead rubber than qualification on the line in Kilmarnock's final game of the Premier Sports Cup stage stage.

The Rugby Park side top Group H but are just a point clear of Saturday's visitors East Fife and fellow Premiership side Livingston, who host Kelty Hearts.

Killie could only draw 0-0 at Kelty in midweek before missing out on a bonus point with defeat on penalties.

"It's all good having a competitive edge but if I'm being honest we'd rather have a dead rubber," said assistant manager Frail.

"It has got that edge, East Fife are in this mini table because they've got results.

"We know how tough the game will be, me and the manager watched them last week against Kelty and they got the 1-0 win.

"We didn't beat Kelty, so we know they've got qualities, an experienced manager and management team.

"We know the threat they will pose coming in and they will be definitely hoping to win, to progress if other results go their way, so we need to make sure that doesn't happen."

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's penalty shootout defeat to League 1 Kelty Hearts in the Premier Sports Cup.

Here's what some of you said:

Gazza: Killie just couldn't break down a stubborn Kelty defence. However, some bizarre refereeing decisions may have played their part. Penalty shootouts and Killie tend not to go in our favour. We will need to start taking our chances.

Amy: We need a proper striker in pronto. Bruce Anderson keeps missing sitters and Marley Watkins looks uninterested. New boys need to settle in but none look like 10/15 goal strikers. Go and get Theo Bair on loan and give us a focal point. At least Tom Lowery is a baller.

Kenneth: A disappointing game. Kilmarnock struggled to make a real impact. Kelty, as expected, parked the bus but it's surprising that Killie couldn't find something to break their defence!

William: How much longer do they require to "hone their skills" and "blend as a team"? It's still fundamentally the corpse left from last season.

George: Disappointed, obviously, and the team must be concerned about goalscoring. Regardless of who is called a 'striker' in the team, it's everyone's responsibility to be able to score goals and get forward not always be thinking; 'I'm out of position'. A good team works hard for each other and is able to read gameplay.

Brian: Our defence seems to be taking shape nicely, especially the goalkeeper position. Midfield is gelling nicely with plenty of options. Up front is not fully coordinated. Generally promising.