Kilmarnock

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Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: "We showed character, first of all, to get back into the game. When you get back to 1-1, we were well on top.

"It's so tight, there's small margins between the teams and Hibs are a top side. Top side with a top manager. Losing David Watson [to a red card] doesn't help us.

"The difference between the first half and the second half was sheer intensity and willingness to run and press and get after people.

"A new manager will come in and make their own mind up. Any manager that comes in is taking on good people. Everybody's trying.

"The positivity a fresh manager will bring could be enough just to turn the corner. The players are definitely not far away, they just need that wee nudge along."

Former Dundee manager Neil McCann is being considered for the vacancy at Kilmarnock along with Aberdeen coach Peter Leven and former Dundee United and Heart of Midlothian boss Robbie Neilson. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Kilmarnock will assess Tom Lowery, who went off with a tight thigh at Dundee on Tuesday.

They hope to have Scott Tiffoney back and new defender Michael Schjonning-Larsen could feature.

Max Stryjek (heart), Kyle Magennis (knee), Jamie Brandon (ankle/groin), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) remain out.

Hibernian could welcome back Jordan Obita and Migual Chaiwa from international duty but Rocky Bushiri is still away at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Kieron Bowie is likely to return after illness but Martin Boyle (hamstring) and Nicky Cadden (calf) are set to miss out.

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• Kilmarnock have won just one of their past 15 Scottish Premiership meetings with Hibernian (D6 L8), and are winless in their past eight (D5 L3) since a 1-0 triumph in November 2022.

• Hibernian have drawn each of their past four away league visits to Kilmarnock, despite scoring the opening goal in three of those four trips.

• Having beaten St Mirren 2-0 in their first league game of 2025, Kilmarnock could start two successive years with a league win for the first time since doing so in 2014 and 2015 (both wins over St Mirren).

• Hibernian haven't won their first league game in any of the past five calendar years (D2 L3) since a 2-1 victory over Hamilton Academical in 2020.

• Kilmarnock are winless in their past 13 league games (D3 L10), their longest run in the top flight since a run of 14 between September 1999 and February 2000.

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Kilmarnock forward Tyreece John-Jules has agreed a new contract to remain at Rugby Park for the rest of the season.

The 24-year-old had joined on a short-term deal in October.

He has scored twice in 11 Killie appearances.

The Rugby Park side are second bottom of the Scottish Premiership and host Hibernian on Saturday.

Kilmarnock are "close to completing" their search for Stuart Kettlewell's successor and expect to appoint a new manager next week.

Kettlewell was sacked earlier this month following a 10-match winless run, which has extended to 13 games under interim boss Kris Doolan.

Killie remain second bottom of the Premiership.

A statement from the club's board said: "We know it has been a frustrating and unsettled time with results clearly not what we would have wanted this season.

"We also know that fans are looking for clarity on next steps, which is totally understandable.

"The club has been carefully working through the process of replacing Stuart Kettlewell and we are close to completing that process. We expect to have a new first-team manager in place next week.

"This is an important decision for the future of Kilmarnock FC. We are determined to get it right and appoint someone who understands the club and what it means to supporters and most importantly, someone who can hit the ground running and deliver much-needed results on the park."

We asked for your thoughts after second-bottom Kilmarnock's winless run continued with a 2-1 defeat at Dundee.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

James: Enough is enough. We have no forwards who can score goals, we have two defenders who are the worst in Scottish football, a powder-puff midfield and a goalie who is probably the best player in the team, and he is poor at best. We are doomed and we won't come back up for a while.

Kenny: Kris Doolan isn't even close to being the right man for Killie in any position. No fight, no passion and no heart, this team would struggle in the Championship and that's exactly where Killie are going. We need a leaders on that park and in the dugout to fight for our team!

Graeme: Outplayed from start to finish. We need a managerial appointment ASAP, someone who can take stock of situation and use the players they have in an effective system. Not going to be a good season but with the right appointment it doesn't have to be a disaster.

Robert: Players are simply not good enough, the signings of Stuart Kettlewell were poor with maybe one or two that were okay. However, the mental weakness is something that needs to be addressed as they cross the white line - we need the right manager and a set of signings, most likely loans, in January.

Craig: Maybe besides the first Falkirk game I thought that was our worst performance of the season. Dundee were lucky not to be a few ahead of us as they battered us. Now in a race against Livingston to avoid the drop and we need more quality players and more importantly a strong manager who can actually get a reaction. Strong January required.

Bill: It's becoming more and more obvious to me, Kilmarnock have players more of Championship standard yet we ask them to try to be Premiership standard - it's asking the impossible. I doubt any managerial appointment could change the situation. Future plans must start from this point.

Watch highlights as Dundee make it back-to-back Scottish Premiership wins for the first time this season with a 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock. (Available to UK users only)

Dundee took a significant step towards Scottish Premiership safety as they came from behind against Kilmarnock and doomed their visitors to a 13th game without victory.

Read the full match report.

Have your say here.

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Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: "A sore one for everybody, especially after taking the lead in the first half. I thought we scored a terrific goal, we were asking to be clinical when you get fewer chances. You need to be clinical and take them. We did, and at half time there's a lot of optimism.

"We spoke about driving home that lead, going for the next goal, making sure we're the team in the front foot. But then we didn't start the second half well enough, and obviously we lose that goal, which is a poor goal from our point of view.

"That gets them back in the game. It gets their tails up when really we wanted to hammer home the advantage.

"When you take the lead in these types of games, you should go on and win. It's not as easy as that. It's the Premiership."

"It's only the players that can [keep Kilmarnock up]. When you go on the pitch, it's about responsibility. I believe the players can do it. I want to see them do it because I want to see the best for the club and for them as people.

"I thought when we went 1-0 up, we were maybe going to carry that wee bit of luck tonight as well. It went against us, but that's not an excuse to lose the goals we did.

"I'm just hurting for everybody because so much effort goes in, but when you're always chasing the game, it's not a good position to be in."

[On his future] "Whenever there's a decision, we'll all know. I'm sure the board behind the scenes will be working hard.

"No, I haven't been told anything. I just take it day by day. That's the position I'm in. I don't mind being in that position because I just work day to day, knowing full well when the decision's made by the board, it'll be the right decision."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

As we head into a new year and transfer window, Killie's search for a new manager continues.

Finding the right person is crucial and needs to happen quickly. Our Scottish Premiership survival feels more precarious each week, though the point earned at Paisley was a good one.

We fought hard, especially in the second half, but interim boss Kris Doolan's lack of strong bench options was clear. There's a lot of work to repair the damage from Stuart Kettlewell's recruitment - and that won't be easy in the tricky winter market.

Doolan looks set to lead the team for the huge away game against Dundee, which would be the perfect time to get back to winning ways, though they're tough to beat at home.

The games keep coming, with Hibs visiting the Theatre of Pies on Saturday, and I'm hoping there'll be a new boss in place by then so we can focus on the big challenges ahead.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

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Dundee captain Simon Murray begins a two-match ban while Cameron Congreve is a doubt.

Joe Westley faces a further three months out while Finlay Robertson misses out again. Clark Robertson returned to training after a thigh injury but the game might come too soon.

Kilmarnock have Robbie Deas back from suspension.

Striker Marley Watkins has missed several games while Jamie Brandon, Djenairo Daniels, Matty Kennedy, Kyle Magennis and Max Stryjek remain out.

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• After their 3-2 win most recently in November 2024, Dundee could enjoy back-to-back home wins over Kilmarnock in the top-flight for the first time since April 2005 (three in a row).

• Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last 15 Scottish Premiership games against Dundee (W5 D9), although that was their most recent away from home (3-2 in Nov 2024).

• After beating Falkirk 1-0 last time out, Dundee could win back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches for the first time since March 2024. At home, the Dee have won four of their last six league games (L2), as many as their previous 21 beforehand (W4 D6 L11).

• Kilmarnock lost their final league game of 2024 to Hibernian (0-1), but haven't lost their last league match in back-to-back calendar years since doing so in 2002 (v Rangers) and 2003 (v Dundee United).

• No side has used fewer players in the Scottish Premiership this season than Dundee (22, level with Motherwell), while only St. Mirren have made fewer changes to their starting XI in the competition this term (26) than Steven Pressley's side (35).

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Kilmarnock have "so much to gain" from Tuesday's visit to Dundee as interim manager Kris Doolan aims to break the club's 12-game run without a win.

The hosts sit three points in front of the 11th-placed Ayrshire side, with Doolan saying: "We need to look up, catch the team above us."

Kilmarnock drew 0-0 away to St Mirren on Saturday and have yet to score in two games under the former Partick Thistle boss.

"The team defended well," said Doolan of the hard-earned point. "But we showed real quality going forward too. It's just about teasing that last part out.

"For me, it's about being positive and playing on the front foot. I think that's the only way to be."

Doolan would not be drawn on his prospects of staying in the post long term but insists he is enjoying the role.

"They're a great bunch," he said of the players. "Good people make good teams.

"I'll just keep working as hard as I can and my job is to make sure the club is on a better footing regardless of what happens to me."

Watch highlights of St Mirren's 0-0 draw against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership. (Available to UK users only)

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 0-0 draw against St Mirren.

Here are some of your comments:

Anna: Can't fault the boys' efforts because they did okay. The only thing that got me was Kris Doolan's 4-1-4-1 formation, that sucked big time as did the substitutions when he took off Tyreece John-Jules and replaced him with a midfielder. Why did he leave Marcus Dackers on the bench until the 80th minute when a goal was required and three points? I can see it being a hard fight the rest of the season to undo the mess Stuart Kettlewell left us in but I think we'll pull through.

James: The draw against St Mirren was welcome, but with Dundee beating Falkirk, it was a terrible result which puts us further behind. We need to appoint a manager who can try and sort out Kettlewell's disaster as quick as possible.

Robert: After the run we've had and the stupid goals lost, a point and more importantly a clean sheet are positives, but we're still woeful in front of goal.

David: Overall another pathetic performance - better - but still pathetic. Change is needed and I have to say - change of captaincy as well.

Gary: Clean sheet, (no Robbie Deas) and probably a better performance with a squad that's almost down to the bare bones. Still lacking quality but the players are at last showing some fight.

Gio: Defence looked better without our vice-captain in it, I'm afraid to say.

Kilmarnock's long wait for a Scottish Premiership win has extended to nearly three months after a pulsating goalless draw at St Mirren.

Read the full match report here.

Have your say here.

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Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: "Delighted, in the context of the game, the way things have been going for the club. Any team that comes to St Mirren will find it difficult.

"We knew that. We knew we had to defend well, but I also wanted to see the team play. I spoke to [the players] in the build-up to the game, I want to see us be confident, play forward, create chances.

"That's how you get wins, but I would have taken a point. I think everybody would take a point here. St Mirren, they're a top side and they've showed that all season.

"It's a clean sheet. It's the first clean sheet since October, since we last played St Mirren, so huge positives to take. The fans can go away happy with what they've seen today and the players can be happy with the support they got.

"Lots [to like]. Again, we looked a threat, we looked on the front foot. I asked the team not to just defend on the front foot, but play attacking-wise on the front foot. It doesn't change for me.

"I want to see teams attack and score goals. We're just lacking that wee bit of final cutting edge, but it comes with confidence, it comes with understanding. All the players are with us, they're backing the ideas that we're putting across and slowly but surely we'll start to see those results hopefully start to get churned out."

[On the permanent job] "No, not at all. My position is not important just now.

"It's about getting results, it's about the club. The club will always be first. It's day-to-day and I'll just get my head down and get ready for Dundee now."

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St Mirren remain without Keanu Baccus with a long-term hamstring problem but the midfielder does not require surgery.

Klimarnock defender Robbie Deas is suspended and striker Marley Watkins remains doubtful.

Max Stryjek (heart), Kyle Magennis (knee), Jamie Brandon (ankle/groin), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) remain out.

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Bruce Anderson hopes the "perfect" appointment of Kris Doolan can help him rejuvenate Kilmarnock's season with regular goals.

Former Partick Thistle striker Doolan temporarily replaced the sacked Stuart Kettlewell and has a second chance to end Kilmarnock's long wait for a win when they face St Mirren in Paisley on Saturday.

Frontman Anderson, who has netted four times this season, said: "The change has given us all a lift and brought in a freshness.

"I looked straight away at a former striker coming in and thought it was perfect for me.

"I've been trying to pick his brain over the last few days on how I can get back to scoring regularly. It's been really good.

"As a striker, when you go through spells like this, it's about simplifying your game and getting between the sticks.

"That's what he's been trying to drive home to me and all the other attackers.

"We know as players we have to take responsibility. We've not been good enough or clinical enough in front of goal. Now it's about working our backsides off every day."

A goal from Anderson in Paisley could be a good omen for Killie, who have not lost this season when he has scored. The 27-year-old's four goals have come in games which have earned Killie six of their 12 points.

"I've been in football long enough now that I know one win can spark you back into life," he said. "It would give the fans a lift and the club a lift.

"As players, we're hurting right now. We know it's not been good enough, the amount of time we've gone without a win. It's just one wee result which can kick-start your season."