Kilmarnock

BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Tom English has been answering your questions.

Denham asked: Where do you think Killie will finish in the league this season, based on what you’ve seen so far? Also, do you think we realistically can go far the Scottish Cup which is a particular aim of Derek McInnes?

Tom answered: Based on what I have seen so far I would say they will finish in a lowly position, Denham. But I would not judge Killie on what I have seen so far.

They are in a false position in my view. They would want to get a move on fairly soon - recent signs are positive - but I think they are capable of getting up that table pretty sharpish.

The squad is good, the management is good, the confidence has been low but that can change fairly rapidly. Fourth, fifth or sixth would be my prediction. It would be a poor season if they didn't make the top six with the players they've got.

A Cup run? Everybody needs a bit of luck. Losing to what was then a very poor Aberdeen team last season and to Inverness Caledonian Thistle the season before was pretty wasteful on Killie’s part.

If they get some good fortune with the draw and are more ruthless than they have been in beating teams they should be beating, then they can make it Hampden

Alan asked: Would you agree that Kilmarnock are in good hands and being run well?

Tom answered: I agree, Alan. The board are visible and in the community. Clearly very passionate and very responsible Killie people.

They have backed Derek McInnes and they got rewards last season for it. I don't think it will be very long before Killie are back up there challenging for another fourth-place finish.

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This will be music to Kilmarnock fans' ears.

On the back of last season's "dream season", David Watson is eyeing up adding more goals to his game.

The midfielder, who is preparing to take on Belgium in a crucial Euro qualifier with Scotland Under-21s on Friday night, says his "amazing" breakthrough campaign with Derek McInnes' side was "unexpected" but he's aiming to build on the learnings he experienced.

Watson, who made 45 Killie appearances last term and scored four times, told the Scottish FA: "It was a dream season for me to come through and play as much as I did.

"That was the main thing for me last year, to try and play as much games as I did. I didn't really expect to have the season I did, it was just amazing.

"It was such a big learning curve for me as well, I played well, but I made some mistakes which benefited me. I learned things last season which I can take into this one and hopefully build on."

One of those things is scoring goals. The 19-year-old has already scored three times this season, but it's a tally he is determined to bolster.

"[I'm] not particularly a goalscoring midfielder, it’s something that me and the gaffer have spoken about, trying to add more goals to my game," he added.

"That's something that people are looking for in a midfielder, to score more goals, and to always be arriving in the box and being able to run into the box and getting goals.

"That's what every number eight should be now."

The number eight is what he'll be hoping to have on his back when Scotland take on Belgium at Tynecastle on Friday night. Get through that, and next summer's major tournament is very much a possibility.

"I'd be buzzing to be a part of that," Watson said of the Euros.

"The games I've played, I've done pretty well, so hopefully I can keep pushing at club level as well and hopefully I can be there for that experience."

What would you like to ask Tom English about Kilmarnock?

Our chief sportswriter is in the hotseat ready to answer your questions and offer his insight and opinion on your club.

Who has been the top performer so far? Is the manager living up to expectations?

Put your questions to Tom here, external.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

There have been a few games so far this season where Killie have done enough to win but for various reasons have failed to do so.

At Dens Park on Saturday we were bang average at best for 85 minutes yet somehow snatched three points in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

When Dundee scored their second goal with less than 10 minutes remaining many Killie fans had seen enough and headed for the exits, a decision they would soon regret.

Our substitutes gave the team a fresh momentum and the late three-goal salvo will stay long in the memory of all those who witnessed it.

It is still very early days in the campaign yet there is a general belief that the three points gained could prove to be the catalyst for a climb up the table following a slow start.

Special mention must be given to Gary Mackay-Steven, Bobby Wales, Bruce Anderson and Rory McKenzie who sparked the comeback and staked their claims for a starting place against Rangers a week on Sunday.

It would be fair to say the manager has been more than loyal to a few players and perhaps some of these guys have not been given a fair crack of the whip.

It's a pity we have another international weekend coming up but confidence should be sky high when Rangers come calling to the home of football.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Kilmarnock's remarkable late rescue act at Dens Park on Saturday was the first time they have come from two goals down to win a league game away from home since August 1991.

On that occasion 33 years ago they defeated Meadowbank Thistle 3-2 thanks to a Bobby Williamson double and Ally Mitchell goal.

Saturday’s comeback was just the second time this century a team have won an SPFL game after trailing by two goals after 85 minutes – the other was Raith Rovers’ 4-3 triumph at Airdrie in August 2018.

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Kilmarnock goalkeeper Robby McCrorie has earned a late recall to the Scotland squad for the Nations League games with Croatia and Portugal.

McCrorie missed out on selection for last month's opening defeats by Poland and Portugal because of a hip injury.

Having been omitted from Steve Clarke's initial pool for the upcoming doube-header, the 26-year-old has now received a summons following the injury-enforced withdrawal of Angus Gunn.

McCrorie made his first Kilmarnock appearance for almost two months in last weekend's comeback win at Dundee.

Scotland face Croatia away on Saturday before hosting Portugal next Tuesday.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Comebacks don’t come much better than Kilmarnock's at Dundee on Sunday.

At his best, Matty Kennedy has the ability to come up with mercurial magic, as well as plenty of work-rate and team endeavour. Killie's match winner makes my Team of the Week.

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock win 3-2 against Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

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An ‘honest meeting’ in the wake of Kilmarnock’s disappointing home draw against Dundee United last weekend was a catalyst for their dramatic win away to Dundee on Saturday, revealed Derek McInnes.

Killie were 3-1 and cruising last weekend before conceding two late goals, but kick-started their season with their first league win with two late strikes of their own at Dens Park.

The Killie manager said: “We had an honest meeting on the Monday after the game.

“A draw at home felt like a defeat and it should, particularly in the manner that it happened.

“We said the only way we will start to feel better is by winning at Dens. It just shows you the contrast to how we felt.

“We shipped two points last week when our second-half performance deserved so much more against Dundee United.

“It was such a Kilmarnock performance in the second half, we were brilliant – stats back that up, all the rest of it. But today we went right through the wire.

“We will all feel a bit better about ourselves and hopefully we can move on now.”

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Matty Kennedy says he put a smile on manager Derek McInnes' face by netting a late double in Kilmarnock's incredible three-goal comeback at 10-man Dundee.

With the Rugby Park side two down at Dens Park, McInnes' men scored three times in a remarkable eight-minute finale to snatch their first league win of the season.

After a tough start to the campaign, winger Kennedy says luck is finally starting to turn in the Ayrshire club's favour.

Speaking to BBC Scotland post-match, he added: "The gaffer has been on me to get in the box and score more goals this season, I've probably put a smile on his face this time.

"That's part of football getting the last-minute goal, you saw the fans enjoying themselves and the boys are ecstatic as well. The changing rooms is bouncing.

"We've played well this season, a wee bit of luck hasn't gone our way but it seems to have gone our way now. We've dug deep over the last few weeks, so we deserve that.

"People have heard how close the changing room is, we stick together. We've played well this season but results haven't gone our way. We'll be picking points up and we'll push up the table.

"We're a tight group of boys. To just get over the finish line and get your first your first win going into the international break, it's a really good feeling."

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 3-2 win against Dundee.

Here's what some of you said:

Frank: It's been swings and roundabouts this past couple of weeks. Last week we dropped two points and this week we were a bit fortunate to get the three points, in saying that, the game-changer was the substitutes. Think one or two who were substituted should have a rest and make way for the much-needed changes in the team.

Anna: Have to admit I gave up at 81 minutes and 2-0 down, but what an amazing comeback by the boys. I still say a back three doesn't work but in the end we got the result. Good to see Derek McInnes not leaving changes until the last minute and that helped. Now let's see if we can do a number on Rangers. It's definitely a case of onwards and keep progressing.

Robert: Red card deserved, it was a dreadful challenge. Great result but a performance bereft of ideas. Gary Mackay-Steven needs a run as much as Danny Armstrong needs a rest. Bruce Anderson or Bobby Wales should start ahead of Kyle Vassell, who also needs a rest. We should be at least two points better off than we are.

Anon: I know a lot of people will say McInnes didn't have the first-half tactics right, but we got three points so who cares? Choose to be happy! You saw Killie win three points and score three goals and Derek is a big part of that. Can things be better? Always! But if you don't take happiness in the positives, you're going to be miserable.

Scott: Fantastic win. I love how we never give up. Hopefully this is the start on our way up the table.

Gio: Have to say the plaudits given to the match-winners are well deserved, but just a wee word of praise for Rory McKenzie. I thought he had a great spell when he came on. I will leave the outpouring of obvious changes our gaffer needs to make to other people.

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• Tony Docherty's side have lost five points from winning positions in the league this season, only Dundee United (six) and St Mirren (seven) have lost more.

• Kilmarnock have won after trailing at half-time away from home in the Premiership for the first time since 20 October 2018 against St Mirren (38 games without a win after trailing at half-time).

• Killie have won after conceding the opening goal in the league for the first time since 16 March 2024 against St Mirren (eight games without a win).

• Derek McInnes' side have won six points from losing positions in the top flight this season, more than any other team.

• Kilmarnock have defeated Dundee for the first time in the Premiership since 15 December 2018, a run of five games without a win.

Matty Kennedy's 94th-minute strike completed Kilmarnock's incredible turnaround at Dens Park after they trailed 10-man Dundee by two goals with 10 minutes to go.

The late goal also gave Kilmarnock their first win of the season after a run of seven games without a victory.

What did you make of that, Kilmarnock fans? A deserved victory in the end?

And how does it feel to get that first win of the season at long last?

Let us know your thoughts here, external.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "We expected a tough game coming here, we saw the importance for both teams to get the win. The turning point was the red card to big Mo Sylla. He's not a dirty player, he's physical.

"We spoke at half-time about showing patience but having the urgency to move the ball quick. It was a catch-22.

"When you play against 10 men, it's not always going to be easy, they'll get one or two moments. I thought I had my answers on the bench and my bench were terrifically.

"We did it the hard way. The second [Dundee] goal came out of nothing. We had a lot to do at that point with so few minutes left. But boy, we did it.

"It was a brilliant turnaround. Matty Kennedy carried the fight for us, always producing shots and crosses. Rory McKenzie and Brad Lyons ran the game and kept us going. Gary Mackay-Steven, Bruce Anderson and Bobby Wales were terrific.

"It's something I'm maybe guilty of - not making my forward changes quicker - and I accept that. We got the benefit of it today. When we put the ball in the box, it looked like something would happen."

"On the second-half, it's no more than my players deserve. We're having to do so much to win a game. I'm delighted to win the game but there's things we need to be better at.

"It wasn't perfect, but it was a perfect ending."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Just as he had mixed emotions last weekend, Derek McInnes must feel both delighted and perplexed by his side's performance in Dundee.

Comfortably second-best for much of this game, they did what Dundee United did to them last week and fought back late on - going one better to score three goals in 10 minutes.

The 'never say die'' attitude of this team has been written about before but this match more than any before epitomised the mentality of McInnes' side.

This time, it was the unsung heroes who did the business. Much has been written about Danny Armstrong and David Watson, but they were both subbed off when Kilmarnock's comeback began.

Instead it was Matty Kennedy, Gary Mackay-Steven, Bruce Anderson and Bobby Wales who were able to pick off a tiring Dundee defence and steal all three points when they appeared to everyone else to be beyond the horizon.

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Matty Kennedy. A hard worker who is often overlooked when the praise is dished out, but on his day he can be one of the trickiest wingers in the league.

For large spells today, he was quiet, as were the rest of his teammates. But his goal gave Kilmarnock the initiative to spark a comeback.

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Dundee: McCracken, Portales, Koumetio, C Robertson, Ingram, Sylla, Cameron, Larkeche, Tiffoney, Main, Murray.

Substitutes: Carson, Astley, Mulligan, Adewumi, F Robertson, Braybrooke, Palmer-Houlden, Fraser, Vetro.

Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Deas, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Lyons, Donnelly, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Wales, Bainbridge.

In: Robby McCrorie, goalkeeper (Rangers, undisclosed); Bruce Anderson, forward (Livingston); Corrie Ndaba, defender (Ipswich Town, loan to permanent, undisclosed).

Loan in: Jack Burroughs, midfielder (Coventry City); Oliver Bainbridge, defender (Sunderland); Stuart Findlay, defender (Oxford United, loan return).

Out: Greg Stewart, forward (Mohun Bagan Super Giant); Jack Sanders, defender (St Johnstone); Kerr McInroy, midfielder; Steven Warnock, midfielder; Aaron Quigg, midfielder.

Loan ended: Will Dennis, goalkeeper (Bournemouth); James Balagizi, midfielder (Liverpool); Kevin Van Veen, forward (Groningen); Tom Davies, defender (Cardiff City).

Loan out: Zander Craik, forward (Queen of the South); Ethan Brown, defender (Dumbarton); Kian Leslie, forward (Elgin City); Aidan Glavin, goalkeeper (Elgin City); Corey Armour, goalkeeper (Auchinleck Talbot); Andrew Miller, defender (Auchinleck Talbot).

Read the Scottish Premiership ins & outs in full here.

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Dundee midfielder Mo Sylla has trained this week and could be in the squad despite collapsing after suffering an anaphylactic shock at half-time in last weekend’s defeat by Aberdeen.

Experienced defenders Jordan McGhee (calf) and Joe Shaughnessy (knee) remain sidelined while Charlie Reilly has joined Inverness on loan.

Kilmarnock's Joe Wright serves the second of a three-match suspension and fellow centre-back Stuart Findlay and midfielder Liam Polworth are struggling with calf knocks. Kyle Magennis is still working his way back from a long-term absence.

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Defender Robbie Deas is hoping he can return to the starting line-up and help give Kilmarnock their first league win of the season on Saturday.

Derek McInnes' side have drawn their last three amid a six-game winless opening to the campaign, with Deas only starting twice.

However, with Stuart Findlay injured and Joe Wright still suspended, it is likely the 24-year-old will be drafted back into the first XI for the trip to Dundee.

"It's been a frustrating start to the season, I was hoping to kick on," Deas said. "I've been frustrated, not playing as much as I'd like. I'm just dying to get on the park, do my part for the team, and get back to winning ways.

"We're just looking at the next game. The next game is the biggest game, as the old cliche goes. We've played well in quite a few games this season and just not got that result. It's not in the back of our minds, but we need it to kick on and achieve what we did last year."

Deas came off the bench to replaced the injured Findlay in the first half last weekend before Killie took a 3-1 lead before conceding two late goals to go from three points earned to one.

"It felt like a defeat," Deas added. "We set our standards last year so it's not good enough. The mood was extremely disappointed and annoyed but we've got to look at ourselves.

"It was three goals that could all have been easily dealt with. It's preventable, sloppy. All the goals [we've conceded] this season have been preventable."

Former Hearts, Dundee United and St Johnstone defender Ryan McGowan says non-Old Firm fans will have enjoyed Celtic and Rangers being given a "taste of their own medicine" by "taking a pasting" in Europe against teams with a bigger budget.

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