Kilmarnock

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Max Stryjek - Kilmarnock

A clean sheet for the keeper who underwent heart surgery earlier in the season - a remarkable story.

Findlay Curtis - Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann put him at right-back and it proved a masterstroke as Curtis scored when Killie blew Dundee United away.

Craig Halkett - Hearts

A giant performance from the Hearts centre-back in a seismic victory against title rivals Rangers.

Ryan Astley - Dundee

Solid showing as Dundee earned a clean sheet and a vital three points.

Stephen Kingsley - Hearts

Great reactions to grab that vital Hearts equaliser.

Yang Hyun-Jun - Celtic

Celtic were not scintillating again, but Yang was a bright spark against 10-man Hibs.

Brad Spencer - Falkirk

The captain set the tone as his side once again got the better of Motherwell.

Aaron Tshibola - Kilmarnock

Great overall performance at the heart of the Killie midfield.

Joe Westley - Dundee

A big goal that takes the heat off any Dundee survival anxiety.

Kelechi Iheanacho - Celtic

He brought that scalpel-like sharpness in the Celtic penalty box that the defending champions sorely needed.

Lawrence Shankland - Hearts

The Hearts captain underlined his credentials as an inspirational leader once again with a goal of seismic proportions. His ability as a striker is clearly never in question, but even by his standards the left-foot finish to sink Rangers was outstanding.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

I predict that if we played our 38 games at the Theatre of Pies we would be league champions.

Once again we were excellent on our own plastic as we saw off Dundee United once again, why can't we play them every week?

It really is no coincidence that our defence looks far more confident with Max Stryjek between the posts and with Aaron Tshibola bossing the midfield we look a different beast.

The big DR Congo midfielder has been outstanding since he returned in January and I reckon the manager's priority should be getting him signed on a long-term deal immediately.

His fellow January arrivals Joe Hugill and Findlay Curtis are also making a huge contribution so here's hoping they carry on their good form in Paisley this weekend.

A large Killie support will travel there knowing a Killie win will go a very long way to securing our Premiership safety.

It will be a tense, nervous affair but I fancy a single Killie goal will seal the points.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Sportscene pundit Michael Stewart says Rangers "must create space" for Findlay Curtis to get minutes at Ibrox next season.

The young winger has impressed on loan at Kilmarnock this term, scoring in Saturday's vital win over Dundee United.

Available in UK only

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss the magnitude of next weekend's encounter between St Mirren and Kilmarnock.

Read more: Play-off pressure piles up for St Mirren v Kilmarnock

Available in UK only

Watch the best of the action as Kilmarnock continue their fine home form by beating Dundee United 3-0 to move out of the relegation play-off spot. Available to UK users only.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock captain Robbie Deas paid tribute to the impact of teenager Findlay Curtis after the youngster's stunning goal helped the Ayrshire side to a crucial victory over Dundee United.

The Rangers loanee scored the second goal in a 3-0 win at Rugby Park which lifted Killie above St Mirren and out of the relegation playoff spot, and consigned Livingston to the drop.

With Scotland head coach Steve Clarke watching from the stands, the 19-year-old winger played the first half out of position at right-back before grabbing his goal when moved further up the pitch after the break.

"Fin's a fantastic lad," Deas told BBC Scotland.

"He comes in, he works so hard and he fits in so well. He deserves everything he's got. I'm delighted for him.

"He's got his [Scotland] call-up and his debut, but he knows himself that he still needs to work hard. You can see that today."

Curtis made his international bow in the last international window, coming on as a second-half substitute against Japan to play on the left wing.

During the first half of the season, while still at Rangers, he played at both wing-back and as an attacking midfielder.

"He's playing different positions, I don't know how many positions he's played today, but he's more than capable of it. He's a very level-headed guy.

"I'm absolutely delighted for him and I hope he keeps it up."

Killie fans, we asked for your opinions on the 3-0 victory over Dundee United at Rugby Park. Here's a taste of what you had to say...

James: A very good all round performance. We never looked like we were in danger and scored three excellent goals. If anything we should be been more than one up at half-time, their keeper had three great saves. Findlay Curtis and Joe Hugill took their goals well. I feel a lot more confident about our chances of staying out the the play-off spot.

Frank: Very comfortable victory today. Aaron Tshibola was outstanding and ran the show. It's in our hands now to stay clear of play-off. Next week will certainly define our season. A good result in Paisley is required.

TireeTam: It was great to get a win. Killie played well and Tshibola was inspirational. However, the Terrors had lots of possession and many chances. Our goalie, Max Stryjek, saved the day. We need to tighten up at the back!

David: Great team performance - a similar performance next week would be great! However, we really do need to look at the left-back position. Dom Thompson does not have the quality we need - he has to go!

Gary: Very good performance, though the chance was there to improve more on the goal difference. We can't just rely on home form, will need four points from the two remaining away games .

Anna: A brilliant result and well deserved three points, too. We were solid and resolute in defence and having big Max Stryjek back in goal made all the difference. If we play in the same style at St Mirren next week, we'll batter them. Right now, I'm very confident we'll avoid that dreaded relegation play-off spot.

David: A near perfect performance from Killie. Should have scored another couple of goals, but no real complaints. Max Stryjek had very little to do, but the United keeper Dave Richards made some good saves. The best part for me was how we managed the game out and didn't concede a goal. Win next two games and we are safe. Easier said than done!

Kilmarnock beat Dundee United to confirm Livingston's relegation from the Scottish Premiership and lift themselves out of the relegation play-off spot.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "It's such a brilliant result. It's such a big day for the club that we've managed to get another win at home.

"The away form's really important as well. We need to do a job away from home as well. We've got three games left and we'll look to try and win all three of those.

"Findlay Curtis has shown his versatility. He did more than fine. He did great against a really, really top player in Will Ferry, who's been scoring goals and creating goals for Dundee United so we knew we had to nullify him. A great finish and a top all-round performance."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock have signed goalkeeper Kieran Wright on a seven-day emergency loan from Rangers.

Killie did not disclose whether either of their two main goalkeepers, Max Stryjek or Kelle Roos, have become unavailable but manager Neil McCann admitted to picking up a number of knocks and bumps.

Tyreece John-Jules (quad), Djenairo Daniels (knee) and Matty Kennedy (hip) are sidelined.

Dundee United are without Amar Fata, Luca Stephenson (both hamstring), Kristijan Trapanovski, Isaac Pappoe (both knee) and goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer (shoulder), while manager Jim Goodwin revealed they had some other unnamed players struggling to be fit.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Tom Lowery has already swallowed the bitter pill of relegation once in his career and doesn't want to taste it again.

The 28-year-old was at Crewe when the Lancashire club dropped into League Two in England in 2022.

The midfielder once nicknamed 'Miniesta' came through the Crewe youth academy and felt the pain of relegation keenly.

"It's a horrible feeling," he said. "It's something that I definitely don't want to go through again.

"Those sorts of feelings and what it does for football clubs, it sticks with you and you don't want to experience that ever again."

Although Crewe were relegated, Lowery stayed in League One, signing for Portsmouth on a three-year contract, but his time there was blighted with injuries and he was loaned back to his boyhood club before being released at the end of the 2024-2025 season.

He signed for Kilmarnock last July and has found himself in another relegation battle as the 11th-placed Ayrshire side try to avoid the play-off spot.

Neil McCann's men will attempt to end a three-game winless run on Saturday at home to Dundee United.

"We've been playing well recently, maybe not got the results that we deserve, but everyone's feeling confident going into the last four games," added Lowery.

"The manager's message is to carry on with the performances that we've been producing but take our chances and not concede avoidable goals."

One of those avoidable goals was the difference between the teams at Pittodrie last weekend when Aberdeen scored in their first attack.

It was the third consecutive away game in which Killie had conceded in the opening minute, and Lowery says the players are working to cut out such lapses.

He said: "We're all feeling that and we're all really eager to put that right on Saturday, because that's the only thing we can do now is try and put it right in the next game."

Image source, SNS

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in eight Scottish Premiership meetings with Dundee United (W4 D4) since a 4-0 defeat in November 2022.

• United are without a win in eight Premiership visits to Kilmarnock (W4 D4) since a 4-2 victory in May 2016.

• Under Neil McCann, Kilmarnock have lost just one of their six home league games (W4 D1); they had lost six of their past seven before he joined (D1).

• United have lost four of their past six away league outings (W1 D1), as many as their previous 15 prior to this (W4 D7 L4).

• Joe Hugill has scored in Kilmarnock's past two home league games; should he also net against United, he would be the youngest player to score in three successive top-flight home appearances for Killie (22y 195d on date of this game) since Chris Maguire in February 2010 (21y 35d).

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock have signed back-up Rangers goalkeeper Kieran Wright on an emergency seven-day loan.

The 27-year-old's last first-team appearance came more than a year ago during a loan spell at Airdrieonians.

Kilmarnock goalkeeper Max Stryjek made his comeback from heart surgery in last weekend's defeat at Aberdeen where Kelle Roos was on the visitors' bench.

At his media conference on Thursday, manager Neil McCann spoke of injury concerns but would not name players.

Second-bottom Kilmarnock host Dundee United on Saturday.

"The club thanks Rangers for their co-operation in allowing the deal to happen smoothly and swiftly," Killie said.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock boss Neil McCann has been speaking to the media as his side prepare for Saturday's visit of Dundee United.

Here are the main points:

• McCann admits "it was a strange dressing room" after the 1-0 defeat to Aberdeen last weekend because his side had "performed really, really well" despite conceding in the opening minute for the third successive away game.

• Although pleased with the performance, McCann stresses "if you don't take the chances and you don't get a bit of luck then you'll get nothing from the game".

• The Killie boss says it is "infuriating" to have lost to an early goal again, adding: "It was from a throw-in, a wicked deflection thrown into the mix as well. Other than that, Max Stryek had one proper save [to make] from a header. We've just got to turn that performance into points."

• The Rugby Park side have been working on their finishing after "not being clinical enough" at Pittodrie, where they hit the woodwork three times.

• There was "frustration and anger" among the squad after the defeat but McCann says: "I've never had to work hard in picking them up, I think they're believing in how they're playing. We're at the stage of the season where it's really important we don't let our confidence go."

• With Killie in the relegation play-off spot, McCann stresses survival is "completely down to us".

• He praised goalkeeper Max Stryjek, who made his comeback at Pittodire and has "had to be patient" in his return from heart surgery.

• Moldva winger Nicky Clescenco was "brilliant" on his first start for the club after taking time to adapt to Scottish football since signing in January. "I think he's really been caught unaware at the pace of our game here and that's no slight on him," says McCann. "But finally I just felt that he was due a chance to go and play and he was exceptional, he showed exactly what to bring on here in terms of the forward play."

• McCann insists Saturday's visitors won't "turn the engine off" despite being safe from relegation: "They're on the back of a really big derby win, I don't see any dip in Dundee United."

• He believes his side have been "so hard done by in terms of the punishment at this level" and adds: "Football management is not easy, being a football player is not easy, but we've got to try and make that as easy as possible for the boys in terms of the information we've given them. And I think they know that they're going into games feeling like they can win every game, it's just executing."

• Killie may have to "rely on the squad" this weekend because of injuries, but McCann wouldn't reveal which players were a concern.

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

When you have an abysmal away record the last thing you should do is give away a soft goal inside a minute.

Amazingly Killie have now done this in three consecutive away games - surely that is some kind of world record?

It is shocking and I don't know if it's a job for Neil McCann or a sports psychologist following our latest calamity at Pittodrie.

Following that initial collapse we settled into the game fairly well and should have taken something given we hit the woodwork on three occasions.

The return of Max Stryjek has been long overdue and it was fantastic to see him back on the park following heart surgery.

The only positive from the weekend was St Mirren surprisingly losing at home to Livingston.

Thankfully we are back at home this Saturday to face Dundee United, who we have an excellent record against this season.

It's an absolutely massive game and I predict we will sneak a 1-0 win.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

ARE HEARTS DESTINED TO WIN THE TITLE? 🏆

It was a seismic weekend in the hunt for the Scottish Premiership crown. Are you rejoicing, are you quietly optimistic, or are you chucking it?

Join the debate with Ray Bradshaw at 18:00 BST TONIGHT on the BBC Sport Scottish Football YouTube channel, external to give us your views in the chat. The show is fully interactive, so have your say.

Remember to like and subscribe to not miss it!

Watch the Sportscene panel discuss Kilmarnock's lack of concentration after conceding a goal in the opening minute for the third game in a row.

"It's concentration," former Scotland midfielder Michael Stewart said.

"Somebody has to be in front of Jack Milne to start with, then three midfielders get attracted to Stuart Armstrong and that leaves the edge of the box free.

"It's bad luck in terms of it's not the best strike, but again, they are 1-0 down after a minute. It saps away the belief and the confidence, as much as performances have been pretty good."

Watch all the highlights as Afeez Aremu's early goal helped Aberdeen to all three points against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership. Available to UK users only

Killie fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Aberdeen.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Robert: One minute of mental weakness and three points lost, the story of a season exacerbated by the previous regime. These mental lapses have cost us dearly. Glorious responses don't matter if we don't score.

James: We never learn. Same mistakes, same result, same outcome. We'll be in the Championship next year.

Frank: Losing goals so early in matches is our downfall. No use crying over spilled milk but the last two away games we should have had at least a draw. Hitting the crossbar twice where it could quite easily have gone in. It's definitely between us and St Mirren for the play-off spot now.

David: If I could ask Neil McCann one thing it would be please drop Dom Thompson from the team - and even the bench - his ability is so poor. His play is so poor and let's not even mention his distribution from dead ball situations.

Image source, SNS

Bologna are stepping up their interest in Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, according to reports in Italy. (The Herald - subscription required), external

Aberdeen took a significant step towards Scottish Premiership safety by digging out a vital victory at home to Kilmarnock, who stay in the relegation play-off place.

What did you make of Kilmarnock's performance? Did you see enough to be positive about the final four games?

Have your say.