Kilmarnock

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I'm almost saying exactly what I said last week against Hearts.

"We've conceded six goals in two games and you look at the nature of those goals, it's completely unacceptable. Sometimes players make mistakes, they're human beings, but when we collect the six goals over two games it becomes something we have to rectify.

"We can't just accept that we're going to lose goals in such a fashion. Today it stings us that our concentration levels, our decision making, is wrong as a group. To give yourself a chance in this league, especially coming to places like this, you have to rectify that.

"I'm not making a claim to say we were by the far better team but we got in to half time at 1-1. The third goal is inexcusable on a couple of fronts - if you look back there's several things that could have been done differently. It's a good enough strike but the save should be made. That's a wee bit frustrating because we got an opportunity at 2-1 but it was a fantastic save from the goalkeeper. The margins can be that fine.

"We know that the pack is very tight and you want to try and sustain your winning runs and limit the weeks where we lose games.

"We've got two days to pick the players up to prepare for our next game but I know when I was a player you're desperate for the next game to come. We know we carry a threat going to other way."

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Lewis Mayo wants Kilmarnock to focus on themselves, rather than focus Rangers' woes, ahead of their clash on Sunday at Ibrox.

The Rugby Park side had enjoyed a good start to the season but were humbled 3-0 by Hearts last weekend, while Rangers are also coming into the game on the back of a 3-0 loss.

"Naturally, there's a bit of attention on them with some of the results they've had but from our point of view, we need to get ourselves right," Mayo said.

"The start was probably one of the few positives from the Hearts game. But there was a lot about it that we didn't like and probably the first game this season from our point of view that when things haven't gone our way, we've not responded well throughout the game.

"But the game on Sunday has its own challenges and even the venue can be a hard place to play as well."

Ibrox has been a tough crowd for Rangers of late, with fan protests and banners held aloft taking aim at the former manager and the board.

"Naturally the crowd starts to play a part in the game as well," Mayo added. "It could be an advantage for either team, depending on who's on top and how the game is going.

"It's obvious that there's a bit of frustration from their side and maybe we can tap into that. But the last thing we want to do is give them a lift to give them any encouragement."

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Rangers have Nedim Bajrami available after he was ineligible to face Brann while fellow midfielder Mohamed Diomande was again missing in Norway.

Long-term absentees Rabbi Matondo (knee), Dujon Sterling (Achilles) and Kieran Dowell remain out.

Kilmarnock include new striker Tyreece John-Jules, who was brought in after Djenairo Daniels underwent knee surgery.

Marley Watkins is working his way back from a heel injury while Jamie Brandon and Matty Kennedy remain out. Tom Lowery is back training.

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• Rangers have won each of their past eight home league games against Kilmarnock by an aggregate score of 22-3 since a 1-1 draw in March 2019.

• Kilmarnock have only won two of their past 13 league meetings with Rangers, losing the other 11, with both wins coming at home via 1-0 scoreline (Aug 2023, Oct 2024).

• Along with Falkirk, Rangers are one of just two sides yet to win a home game in the Scottish Premiership this season (P4 D3 L1). The Ibrox team haven't gone five home league matches without a win since August 1988 under Graeme Souness and last did so within a single season in May 1960 under Scot Symon (8 games).

• Kilmarnock have lost just one of their past five away league games, winning two of them (D2) – as many as their previous 18 on the road in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W2 D4 L12). Killie haven't enjoyed back-to-back away wins in the competition since October 2020.

• This will be Danny Rohl's first league game in charge of Rangers; including caretakers, none of the past 10 managers to take charge of the club in the top flight lost their first game (W7 D3) since Graeme Murty went down 2-1 to Dundee as caretaker in February 2017. The last permanent Rangers boss to lose his first top-flight game with the club was Dick Advocaat in August 1998 (2-1 v Hearts).

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Stuart Kettlewell expects "the best version of" Rangers when Kilmarnock travel to Ibrox on Sunday.

The struggling hosts have just one Scottish Premiership win all season and are one point and one place below Kettlewell's Killie, who are fifth in the table.

Rangers began new head coach Danny Rohl's reign by losing 3-0 away to Brann in Thursday's Europa League tie.

"I'll analyse the performance and how they played but I'll not pass comment about what I thought about it or starting to give clear description of what other people may or may not think," said manager Kettlewell.

"I get this narrative at the minute that everybody's jumping on the bandwagon, people will be talking about that result not being good enough last night.

"But again, when you start to look at it closely, there are a lot of good players in that Rangers squad.

"There's been heavy investment to make sure they bring in what they feel are top players and guys that can really flourish at the football club.

"I get and acknowledge it's not been the start in performances at Rangers that supporters, staff or players would be expecting.

"But I'm also the guy that really expects the best version of them on Sunday. And I think if you go there imagining something different, you're very, very naive and sometimes I think that's where you can get a smack in the face."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock have signed former England Under-21 striker Tyreece John-Jules on a short-term deal until January.

The move follows a season-ending injury to striker Djenairo Daniels while on international duty with Suriname.

Arsenal academy product John-Jules, 24, spent last season at English League Two side Crawley Town and previously had loans spells at clubs including Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday.

He is available for a debut when Kilmarnock visit Rangers in the Premiership on Sunday.

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• Rangers have won each of their past eight home league games against Kilmarnock by an aggregate score of 22-3 since a 1-1 draw in March 2019.

• Kilmarnock have only won two of their past 13 league meetings with Rangers, losing the other 11, with both wins coming at home via 1-0 scoreline (Aug 2023, Oct 2024).

• Along with Falkirk, Rangers are one of just two sides yet to win a home game in the Scottish Premiership this season (P4 D3 L1). The Ibrox team haven't gone five home league matches without a win since August 1988 under Graeme Souness and last did so within a single season in May 1960 under Scot Symon (8 games).

• Kilmarnock have lost just one of their past five away league games, winning two of them (D2) – as many as their previous 18 on the road in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W2 D4 L12). Killie haven't enjoyed back-to-back away wins in the competition since October 2020.

• This will be Danny Rohl's first league game in charge of Rangers; including caretakers, none of the past 10 managers to take charge of the club in the top flight lost their first game (W7 D3) since Graeme Murty went down 2-1 to Dundee as caretaker in February 2017. The last permanent Rangers boss to lose his first top-flight game with the club was Dick Advocaat in August 1998 (2-1 v Hearts).

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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With Max Stryjek set for a spell out of the Kilmarnock side, how big an impact could his absence have?

The length of Stryjek's unavailability due to an unspecified health issue is still unclear, but Killie have added cover with the emergency loan signing of Tobi Oluwayemi this week.

Robby McCrorie, currently on loan at Danish second-tier side Esbjerg, struggled to establish himself as the number one, but Stryjek did just that, bringing confidence to the defence of a side that sits fifth in the Premiership.

Stryjek arrived in the summer as one of new manager Kettlewell's signings and has made himself a firm fan favourite in East Ayrshire.

Stryjek's reliability and consistency are clear when his stats are compared to top-flight counterparts who have played at least five top-flight games this season.

The 29-year-old has the second highest save percentage (73.3) and ranks third for save percentage (68) for shots from inside the area. He has saved all five shots he's faced from outside the area.

Eight of Killie's 11 goals this season were conceded by the former Livingston keeper, a total bettered by only Kasper Schmeichel and Shamal George.

Killie's depth between the sticks is a concern, too. Oluwayemi spent last season on loan at Dunfermline, while Eddie Beach, who deputised in last weekend's 3-0 loss to Hearts, has played most of his football in the National League South.

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Kilmarnock have signed Celtic goalkeeper Tobi Oluwayemi on an emergency seven-day loan.

Oluwayemi, 22, spent last season on loan at Dunfermline, having previously had spells with Cork City and Admira Wacker in Austria.

He now joins Kilmarnock for an initial seven-day period.

Max Stryjek missed Sunday's defeat by Hearts with an unspecified issue.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell said before that match: "I can tell you to a degree - due to routine annual screening of the players, which we do, it's flagged up something that requires further investigation."

Midfielder David Watson, whose Kilmarnock contract ends next summer, is keen on a move to Rangers, while the 20-year-old scores highly in Hearts' recruitment system and English Championship clubs are also watching his progress. (TeamTalk), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Sandy Armour
Fan writer

The much-anticipated battle with league leaders Hearts turned out to be a damp squib for Killie as we picked the wrong time to put in our worst performance of the season.

We gifted three goals that wouldn't have looked out of place in a Sunday pub league.

But our preparation wasn't helped by the loss of goalkeeper Max Stryjek. The three centre-backs certainly seemed to be spooked by his absence.

Eddie Beach did nothing wrong but if Stryjek is out for a while then we urgently need to get an experienced keeper signed.

The league table is tight so we still find ourselves in fifth, although there are only six points between Hibs in third and Livingston at the bottom.

We are off to Ibrox this Sunday, and it will be interesting to see if the manager freshens up the starting XI.

Ben Brannan, Jamie Brandon and Scott Tiffoney are all back from injury and may feature, but I suspect we might fight out a 1-1 draw.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Watch the Sportscene team discuss Kilmarnock's defensive problems following a 3-0 defeat to Hearts.

Former Rangers and Scotland winger Chris Burke has ended his eight-year association with Kilmarnock to pursue a new opportunity. (Scottish Sun)

Read the rest of Monday's gossip.

Watch highlights as Hearts made it five wins in a row as they eased past Stuart Kettlewell's Kilmarnock.

We asked for your thoughts after Kilmarnock's 3-0 defeat to Hearts.

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

Johnny: The players settled well early on then let Hearts in with a undefended corner. We became nervous and the teamwork evaporated from then on in. Hard watch but credit to Hearts, they were well organised and kept things simple. One to forget and move on from. We're still building as a team but were well off it.

John: 20 minutes of Killie dominance tranquillised by a Hearts set piece goal leaving Killie stunned, outplayed and outclassed. A glimmer of the Stuart Kettlewell way, smart crisp passing, energetic pressing resulting in midfield dominance was superb to watch, unfortunately undone after the first goal 19 minutes in. The remainder of the match was a tough watch, poor passing consistently giving Hearts chance after chance. Our Achilles heel remains in the final third where chances are few and far between, our strikers need remedial shooting training. Losing to the team at the top is fine, they weren't great but took their chances, something we must get better at.

Robert: First half performance showed that we are not far from being a really decent team. We still lack that wee bit of quality in the midfield that would make all the difference. We've generally defended well so far this season so hard to understand the basic errors made for all three goals. Definitely no need to panic.

Brian: I agree 100% with Stuart Kettlewell that we shot ourselves in the foot. We presented Hearts with opportunities and fair play to them for taking them. Not much between the sides but Hearts deserved their win. Kettlewell is doing a great job for us at Killie.

Alan: Dreadful defending all night, basic errors gave the game away. With the exception of the magnificent David Watson, we had no midfield whatsoever, so all the analysis that is done on a Monday should clearly show that up, or will it? We actually looked like a part time team as the game went on, men against boys sadly.

Robert: Hearts weren't as far ahead of Killie as the score would make appear. Three poor defensive decisions, two of which were individual mistakes directly leading to goals. Liam Polworth and Marcus Dackers were totally tactically unaware slow and poor passing summed them up, Kettlewell must be furious. However, have to point out another abysmal inconsistent refereeing performance

Kilmarnock miss a chance to consolidate third place in the Scottish Premiership as they slip to fifth after a 3-0 home defeat by a Hearts side now led by former Rugby Park boss Derek McInnes.

Manager Stuart Kettlewell thinks his side shot themselves in the foot with some uncharacteristic defensive mistakes.

Read Clive Lindsay's match report.

And give us your thoughts.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell bemoaned his side's defensive errors in their 3-0 defeat at home to Hearts.

"I thought we were on the front foot," he said. "And then we drop a marker and it's a really good header [for Hearts' first goal] and I thought Hearts grew into it at that point.

"We got to a point tonight where we were trying to make passes and put pressure on ourselves.

"Hearts are going to punish you if that's the case, and the frustrating thing is we haven't seen those individual errors so far this season.

"We didn't show a great reaction to the first goal, definitely didn't to the second, and by the time the third goes in, Hearts are playing with real confidence."

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Kilmarnock striker Djenairo Daniels is likely to be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury picked up on international duty. Marley Watkins is working his way back from a heel injury while Jamie Brandon, Matty Kennedy and Tom Lowery remain out.

Hearts have Christian Borchgrevink and Calem Nieuwenhof (hamstring) pushing for a return, but Ageu (hamstring) and Frankie Kent (knee) will remain out for another week. Ryan Fulton (groin) and Finlay Pollock (hamstring) are still missing.

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Kilmarnock defender Dominic Thompson says the side "don't fear anyone" as they welcome league leaders Hearts to Rugby Park on Saturday evening.

Stuart Kettlewell's side currently sit third in the Scottish Premiership, but full-back Thompson says the side won't be getting ahead of themselves despite only losing once in 90 minutes this season.

"We sit third at the moment, so we don't want to get carried away in terms of where we are at the moment," he said.

"If we were first, it would be the same thing, there's a long way to go.

"But we still want to keep the momentum and keep taking points where we can

"We don't fear anyone.

"I don't think we go into games with an underdog mentality, we always know our own ability and capabilities as a group and how we can hurt teams. There's always a chance for us."

Many Killie fans have been impressed with the defender's start to this season since he signed a one-year deal earlier this season, but the 25-year-old says the best is yet to come from him in a blue and white top.

"I still feel quite far from it [my best] to be honest," he said.

"I still know within myself I've got a long, long way to go, but I'm fairly content with my performances at the moment.

"But there's still more to come from me for sure in terms of physicality, athleticism, and fitness."

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• Kilmarnock have lost both of their last two Scottish Premiership games against Heart of Midlothian, as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W7 D4 L2).

• This will be Heart of Midlothian boss Derek McInnes' first league match against Kilmarnock since leaving the club. McInnes has only lost one of his last 30 top-flight matches against Killie (W23 D6), and is unbeaten in his last 16 away games against them at this level (W13 D3) since a 3-2 defeat with St Johnstone in February 2010.

• Kilmarnock have won both of their last two league games without conceding, but haven't won three in a row with a clean sheet each time in the Scottish Premiership since April 2018 under Steve Clarke.

• Heart of Midlothian have won 10 of their last 11 league games (D1), including each of their last five away from home. Not since January 2011 have Hearts had a longer away winning run in the top-flight (seven).

• David Watson has scored in both of Kilmarnock's last two home league games; the last player to score in three successive home appearances for Killie in the top-flight while aged 20 or younger was Steven Naismith in March 2007.