Kilmarnock

BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Neil asked: Killie's time under Derek McInnes has been good - promoted, avoided relegation the following season, got into Europe the next year and had a good European run. It's hard to argue with results... but how would you rate him as a manager? I'm still not at all convinced by his signings, scouting, recruitment, tactics or substitutions.

Tom answered: You're a hard man to please, Neil. As you point out, McInnes has achieved a lot in his time at the club. I rate him very highly. He did an excellent job for many seasons with Aberdeen, but he stayed there probably a season too long.

He's doing another excellent job with Killie. I've been impressed with the squad he's put together and those boys managed to give the Old Firm a bloody nose last season. Killie performed above expectations.

McInnes is a shrewd guy and, in my view, the club is lucky to have him and he's lucky to have such a supportive owner. It's a good relationship.

Frank asked: Was the manager correct in pursuing Europe as a priority opposed to domestic football when there was a chance of winning a trophy at home?

Tom answered: I think he was, yes. I know he didn't start a few first-choice players against Motherwell in the League Cup, but the financial rewards of making it through the qualification rounds of Europe would have been transformational. McInnes had to give it a proper rattle.

In any event, the League Cup exit was more down to the red card for Stuart Findlay than anything else, I felt. A red in the 51st minute of a game that went to extra time - that's a long time to hold on.

Without the red, would they have made it through? Possibly. And prioritising Europe wouldn't have been mentioned, I'd wager.

BBC Sport Scotland chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering your questions.

Dugald asked: What's your league position prediction now that Europe is out of the way and there were minimal squad changes during the summer?

Tom answered: What a weird beginning to the season it's been for Killie, Dugald. Unquestionably, the European stuff has made life harder in domestic football, but there are layers to that as well. Going away to Celtic and (a much improved) Aberdeen is a tough beginning when you're also juggling Europe.

The red cards are a further nuance. The 3-0 against St Johnstone was a shocker, but losing Joe Wright so early wasn't great. Another red against Aberdeen and another against Motherwell in the League Cup. It's one uphill task after another.

One goal scored and 10 conceded in the league is awful, but Killie are in a horribly false position at the bottom. They won't be there for long. Top six has to be the target and I think you'll get there - fifth would be my guess right now, but I change my mind every day on this.

Wolfgang asked: Do you think the likes of Kilmarnock would have a better or worse chance of growing into a team that could compete with Rangers and Celtic if we had 16 clubs in the top flight?

Tom answered: I really don't think it would make any difference. It's a footballing impossibility for Kilmarnock to go the distance with Celtic. And though Rangers have their troubles, Killie just don't have the squad depth and financial muscle to live with them over the course of a season either. That's the very sad reality of Scottish football - and it’s an enormous problem in the landscape here.

A 16-team league would only give Celtic more of an advantage, I feel. They wouldn't slip up against the extra four clubs who would come in, but everybody else bar the Old Firm might do so, on a given day, when injuries and a wee downturn in form start biting.

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Sandy Armour
Fan writer

Kilmarnock ended our memorable European adventure with an honourable draw against Copenhagen, ensuring we were unbeaten in our three home ties.

Marley Watkins' early goal had us all dreaming for a wee while but the Danes proved just too strong after the break.

European qualification is a rare treat for Killie fans and all about making memories. The trip to Bruges with 3000 fellow fans is probably once-in-a-lifetime stuff and my heart bursts with pride whenever I think about it.

Sadly it's all history now and we need to concentrate on grabbing some league wins and climbing up the table.

Our draw against Hibs wasn't one for the footballing purists and Liam Polworth's sublime pass, that led to the equaliser from the spot, was our only moment of quality in the game.

The international break has come at a good time to let us regroup and prepare for a tough trip to Paisley.

Bruce Anderson did enough to put himself in the frame for another start and maybe Kyle Vassell would benefit from a rest.

Paisley would be the perfect place to claim our first three points although I just hope the St Mirren kebab pie matches up to the Bruges chocolate waffle.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Uncapped Dundee goalkeeper Jon McCracken has been called up to the Scotland squad for the Nations League matches with Poland and Portugal.

The 24-year-old has previously been capped by his country at under-17 level and replaces Kilmarnock's Robby McCrorie, who has a hip injury. Zander Clark and Angus Gunn are the other keepers available to Steve Clarke.

McCracken has played seven times for his club this season, helping the Dark Blues remain unbeaten for the campaign so far.

Scotland host Poland on Thursday and visit Portugal on Sunday.

Killie fans, we asked for your views after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Hibs.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Thomas: On this showing Killie will struggle to make seventh place. We showed little creative penetration and our squad is not likely to change. Our limitations were exposed by a poor Hibs team. I hope for better but it is hard to see where points will come from in the coming games.

Robert: Again a lot more effort than quality but they did battle to the end and probably deserved the point. The lack of composure on the ball is still a concern. An excellent performance from Bruce Anderson.

David: Overall a draw was the right result. Poor misses from Kyle Vassell coupled with a lack of depth in midfield where we’ve been crying out for a playmaker/number 10 for several seasons (Liam Polworth isn’t the answer). A lack of ambition by the club to support the manager in attracting a playmaker will come back to haunt us.

Adam: Yet another bad day at the office! I am sorry to keep going on but Rugby Park isn’t going to be a fortress this year unless we change our system and quick. They did show a wee bit of composure today but not enough. Come on Killie a bit of battle or is it bottle?

Stephen: Awful! Scraped a draw at home to a poor Hibs team. I wonder why Derek McInnes bothers to select midfielders because we just bypass the middle of the park. We have Scotland’s young player of the year and he must have a sore neck watching the ball punted long every week. Our summer recruitment has been complacent. Rival teams strengthened, we stood still.

Anon: Most current issues stem from the weakness in midfield, which really hasn’t been addressed this summer. I feel for the defenders who are seeing more of the ball as a consequence, they are more uncomfortable going long with no options in front. Forwards are left looking for fouls or hoping something falls. Good time for a deserved rest and re-group.

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Bruce Anderson says he's "here to score goals" as he opened his Kilmarnock account on Sunday.

After winning a stoppage-time penalty, the striker scored from the spot in the 1-1 draw with Hibernian at Rugby Park.

"As a striker I'm just delighted to get on the scoresheet," Anderson said.

"I was choking to take the penalty and I didn't know why it took so long to check it. But as a striker you've got to confident.

"Liam Polworth's got that in his locker and it was just about getting the right touch. He's one of the best passers I've played with, so I expected that ball to come through.

"I'm here to score goals. I'm a goal scorer. So to get off the mark, I'm delighted. Hopefully that's the first of many goals for Kilmarnock.

"It's been a hectic period for us, so it'll be nice to get some down-time and time on the training pitch to improve."

Watch highlights from Kilmarnock and Hibernian's draw in the Scottish Premiership.

Available to UK users only.

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Kilmarnock's Robby McCrorie is set to withdraw from Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures against Poland and Portugal with a hip injury.

McCrorie, 26, was an unused substitute for Derek McInnes' side's 1-1 draw against Hibs on Sunday, with the Kilmarnock boss reluctant to risk his goalkeeper.

"He's not been able to kick as yet but we needed him on the bench," McInnes said.

"He's not fully fit, so I would imagine that's going to cause us to probably pull him out of the squad.

"If he could kick the ball and be fully competent with that side of it, then we don’t want to be pulling him out of the squad.

"But he's not there yet. He's still probably about five or six days away from being able to do that without any discomfort.

"His training's been limited. He's just been handling and he's not been doing any kicking. Until that settles, then we can't put him at risk."

Hibernian were denied a first Scottish Premiership win of the season after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser at Kilmarnock.

Bruce Anderson converted from the spot after being fouled by Jordan Obita to earn Kilmarnock's first point of the season and cancel out Joe Newell's sublime opener.

Whether Newell's intention was to shoot or to cross is up for debate, but his whipped effort was enough to beat Kieran O'Hara five minutes into the second half.

The Hibs captain was the hero for a while but his Kilmarnock counterpart might have been the villain had his side not levelled late on.

Kyle Vassell added himself to an already-competitive 'miss of the season' nominee list by inexplicably failing to convert an open goal from less than two yards out.

For those interested in statistics, Newell's opener yielded an xG rating of 0.01. Vassell's first half miss was 0.73.

Both sides hit the frame of the goal at 1-0 before Anderson won and scored the penalty in stoppage time.

David Gray is still yet to win a league match as Hibs manager but Kilmarnock, at the fourth time of asking, finally have a point on the board.

Kilmarnock fans, what did you make of your side's performance? Have your say here., external

Adam Binnie
BBC Sport Scotland

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If it wasn't for Kieran O'Hara in the Kilmarnock goal, the game might have been out of sight before Anderson's late equaliser.

When Robby McCrorie arrived in the summer, he was signed to be Kilmarnock's number one. However, a groin injury gave O'Hara an opportunity to stake his claim.

He has since kept the gloves, putting in notable performances across both legs against Copenhagen in the Conference League play-offs.

On Sunday, he pulled off two big saves to keep the scoreline goalless before eventually being beaten by either a moment of genius or luck from Joe Newell.

McCrorie has been included in Steve Clarke's Scotland squad, but he might have a better chance of minutes there than at his club if O'Hara keeps up his form.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "The very least we deserved was a point. I thought we were the better team and had the two best chances of the match.

"There was a lot of effort, blood, guts and thunder that went into the match.

"I was saying to my staff: 'Where's my Joe Newell? Who's going to come up with a moment or something that's going to drag us back into this game?'

"So when you come from 1-0 down with so few minutes left, it feels like a good point.

"What has been synonymous with the team in my time here is that we never know when we are beat.

"We keep going and I think the crowd recognise that as well."

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Kilmarnock: O'Hara, Wright, Mayo, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Polworth, Kennedy, Vassell, Anderson

Substitutes: McCrorie, Burroughs, Deas, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Wales, Bainbridge

Hibernian: Bursik, Miller, Ekpiteta, O'Hora, Obita, Newell, Kwon, Triantis, Molotnikov, Kuharevich, Boyle

Substitutes: Smith, Levitt, C. Cadden, McKirdy, N. Cadden, Bowie, Moriah-Welsh, Campbell, Bushiri

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Kilmarnock's Brad Lyons is suspended and fellow midfielder Liam Donnelly picked up an injury against Copenhagen. Fraser Murray could return from injury while Corrie Ndaba and Kyle Magennis are back in contention.

Hibernian have no injuries but Jake Doyle-Hayes, Elie Youan and Junior Hoilett are unlikely to be involved as they build up their fitness following lay-offs.

Jane Lewis, Brian McLauchlin and Tyrone Smith round up all the deadline defying drama as the Scottish transfer window shuts.

From Celtic's record breaking signing to some high profile departures they discuss all the biggest moves in Scotland and cross to Italy to hear about the excitement as Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay move to Napoli.

Listen to the full episode here.

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St Mirren have completed the signing of former Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen on loan until the end of the season.

The 33-year Dutchman arrives from Groningen, having spent the latter half of last term with Kilmarnock.

During that spell, he failed to score in 13 appearances, but contributed 29 in 44 games with Motherwell in the previous campaign.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock are expecting a quiet night, although it's transfer deadline day and so that could all change.

The good news for Killie fans is that so far, there's been no bids for Danny Armstrong.

That was the fear for some fans, especially after Kilmarnock's European exit.

We asked for your views on where Kilmarnock still need to strengthen and what deals you would like completed before the transfer window closes.

Here's what some of you said:

Stephen: I'm more concerned with keeping players rather than bringing new faces in at this point. Clubs will be sniffing round Danny Armstrong and David Watson, the likes of Lewis Mayo and Matty Kennedy might be attracting attention too. A creative centre midfielder would be nice but Kyle Magennis is back in training and plays that role. Let's give the youth a try, Bobby Wales needs to play more regularly.

John: It is key we sign an attacking and creative midfielder to get create chances for our strikers. We have plenty of midfielders who can defend and break up the play but we miss that creative edge.

Scott: We certainly need firepower, I'd be looking at a midfielder who can contribute 10 to 15 goals a season and someone up front who can control the ball and take a man on, as well as, find the back of the net 20 times a year.

Anon: We definitely need to shore up that defence but it's tricky because of how much of our form is down to tiredness from Europe. No point spending money we don't need to spend.

Peter: We really need a more creative midfielder.

Amy: It didn't work out last time but I'd be getting Kevin van Veen back. We also need a ball playing midfielder - someone like Alex Lowry - to knit things in the midfield. Other than that, we're pretty set.

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Derek McInnes has urged Kilmarnock to kickstart their Premiership campaign after exiting Europe.

The Rugby Park men are bottom of the table after opening with three straight defeats before Saturday's visit of Hibs.

"I'm looking forward to the game when it comes round," said McInnes after Thursday night's Conference League play-off loss to Copenhagen.

"We'll recover and get ourselves ready again. I will freshen the team up.

"It's never easy when you play Hibs so it's up to us to try to have a team together to go and get a positive result.

"I think it's important we go into the international break on something positive.

"We're not too far away from five, six, seven teams in the league. I'm confident we'll make it up. But the sooner we do that, the better."

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes, like his Hearts, Rangers and St Mirren counterparts, has been trying to tackle both domestic and European fixtures early in the season and it has taken a toll.

Killie are yet to register a point in the league and are out of the League Cup. If they are to secure another top-six finish and push for Europe again, they cannot get too detached, even at such an early stage.

Aberdeen, Dundee and Dundee United have already set their stall out in pursuit of a top-half place.

Hibs too would like to be in that position and stand between McInnes' men and three points on Sunday.

Read all the weekend Premiership picks

We asked for your views after Kilmarnock were beaten 3-1 on aggregate by Copenhagen in the Conference League play-off.

Here's what some of you said:

Bill: Over the 90 minutes against Copenhagen on Thursday at Rugby Park, the opposition looked fitter, faster and more skilful. They could pass and move quickly. If the Killie players were coached to that level, we would be a match for anyone in the Scottish Premiership and for many teams in Europe. Creative midfielders and competent finishers needed.

Robert B: Despite the immense gulf in spending power between the two clubs Kilmarnock didn't embarrass themselves and proved if there was an equality in money distribution in Scotland, Scottish clubs can compete in Europe. We were far from perfect but the effort and battling qualities deserved the standing ovation at the end, three home games in Europe undefeated.

Robert M: It has been so good to watch different teams playing different styles of football. Copenhagen had what we lack, namely players able to take a pass under pressure and keep possession of the ball. Proud of our efforts and can't fault the total commitment but the different level of class showed in the end.

Stephen: We saved our best performance until last in Europe but it wasn't enough. Copenhagen had players all over the pitch who were comfortable on the ball. Our defenders were heading clear and hitting long, theirs were controlling the ball, bringing it down and finding passes. Great effort though, but in perspective, teams from Wales and Northern Ireland are through.

Anna: Unlucky to lose that way. It was always a tough ask to beat Copenhagen but I feel the boys couldn't have given any more and they can be proud of themselves. At least they got further than Connah's Quay Nomads in 2020, that was a monumental mess-up.

Andrew: I'm proud of our efforts over the last six weeks. We've made three European teams looks very average, which does leave a lingering doubt of could we have got more from them but the effort and commitment was faultless and we've done ourselves proud. Hopefully Derek can build on this and get us back in this world again soon.

Gemma: We fought well, especially in the first half, we got a bit tired and leggy in the second half but still stuck at it, we were unlucky but the boys should be proud of themselves in what they have achieved, now it's time to focus back on the league and get up that table to try again next year.

Amy: I'm unbelievably proud of the team, we were beaten by a much bigger side and it's created memories that'll last a lifetime. Bruges, Tromso¸ and Copenhagen were trips I'll never forget. Now onto the league!

Jim: If that was attacking football then you can keep it, the long ball is not working. A keeper who kicks the ball out or to an opposition player, every time! Right, back to bread and butter, we must win against Hibs on Sunday or our season is in deep trouble. Our forward line needs a fresh look. We need to play differently up front.

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Kilmarnock bowed out of Europe with their heads held high.

The Rugby Park side's 1-1 draw with Copenhagen at Rugby Park resulted in a 3-1 aggregate defeat, bringing to an end a memorable European adventure that took them to Belgium, Norway and Denmark.

Speaking to the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former Scotland goalkeeper Gemma Fay insisted the Ayrshire club should be proud of their European performance.

"Derek McInnes's interview gave me a little bit of goosebumps because you can hear in his voice how connected he is with that club," Fay said.

"The words he used last night were 'immensely proud of this club', and they should be.

"They should be immensely proud becaus they've drawn at home to a club that beat Man United, that drew with Bayern Munich.

"That's a pretty big feat. The challenge for them now is see that grit, determination, the high press, that's what his team does, take that into your league form."

Derek McInnes was "immensely proud" of his players, despite the fact they fell short of upsetting Copenhagen as the Danes snatched a draw at Rugby Park to end the Ayrshire side's European journey.

A Marley Watkins first-half strike put buoyant Kilmarnock just one goal behind on aggregate, but they were unable to capitalise on any dominance and soon saw their dreams dashed in the second half by a Lewis Mayo own goal.

What did you make of that, Kilmarnock fans? Do you leave Europe with your heads held high?

Or is that an opportunity missed? Are you happy to be able to focus on the leagues?

Let us know your thoughts., external