Kilmarnock

Watch highlights from Celtic's 4-0 win against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.

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Celtic narrowed the gap to Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership to seven points with a deserved home win over struggling Kilmarnock.

Read the match report

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell told BBC Scotland: "That's the real frustration for us - all the goals are avoidable. We'll always say that as managers standing here, but there's a clear realisation what needs to be done in those given moments.

"You know you're playing against real quality but I really enjoyed the mentality to the first goal. We showed a bit of spirit, got into decent opportunities, excellent save from [Kasper] Schmeichel, we hit the crossbar.

"Other periods of the game frustrate me and frustrate the players, goals three and four in particular - we started to switch off. We had pressure, were asking questions and were pushing for 2-1.

"That spiralled into 4-0 and that's the bit that frustrates me, and piggybacks on the back of a poor spell for us since the last international break.

"We came into this chunk of games in real confidence, off the back of some good performances, and for one reason or another we now find ourselves lacking confidence and chasing a result. We have to take ownership of that.

"We're not shying away from it [five losses in a row] and pretending that's not the case. Our priority is Kilmarnock.

"We'll have players away playing for their national teams, but for the rest of us it's about knuckling down. Going away on holiday, getting their feet up and getting a bit of sunshine is definitely not going to be a thing. That's not going to turn the corner for us."

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell is encouraging his players to demand standards from each other even if it means they fall out.

Killie have lost four consecutive matches ahead of facing Scottish Premiership champions Celtic on Sunday.

Kettlewell feels harsh words are sometimes necessary – as long as the outcome is ultimately constructive.

"So often it's just making sure that you demand a standard," he said.

"For example, if something's happening to us in a particular area of the pitch, we should be in a position where we rectify it. The easiest place to start is from the players when we see it.

"But for that we have to communicate and drive those standards.

"Sometimes we fall out. I'm very much from a generation in a couple of dressing rooms where falling out, arguing, fighting, was normal.

"The other part of that is that it can't be taken as an offence either. That's something that we've not had to speak about too much until the last two weeks.

"If you fall out with somebody for the right reason and there's a bit of detail and a bit of information there, I always believe we go and sit beside each other in the lunchroom after it and we get an understanding of it."

The former Ross County and Motherwell manager recalled an incident at a previous club where a training-ground argument between players was perceived as an "enormous drama".

"I find that really difficult to comprehend from somebody that doesn't watch soap operas and reality programmes and all that type of stuff," he said.

"Sometimes you call somebody out. Sometimes they're disgruntled by a decision you've made on the pitch. That's okay. It's about how you move on and understanding what the correct outcome is on it.

"My job is to make sure that we encourage that environment but always in the right way.

"And I think that will help you if you lose a goal or you're up against it in a game."

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Celtic have lost Callum Osmand to a hamstring injury and Arne Engels is a doubt with a less serious issue.

The champions remain without Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho with similar injuries, while Cameron Carter-Vickers (Achilles) and Jota (knee) are long-term absentees.

Forward Marley Watkins is closing on a return for Kilmarnock after his foot injury, but is unlikely to feature while Matty Kennedy and Djenairo Daniels remain out.

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Stuart Kettlewell says his Kilmarnock side will "relish" the opportunity to stun champions Celtic on Sunday.

When the sides last met it took a 96th-minute penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho for Celtic to sneak a 2-1 victory at Rugby Park in September.

With Celtic now under the interim management of Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney, Kettlewell believes the pair have made their own "tweaks", but knows Killie's task remains formidable as they seek to end a run of four straight defeats.

"I've been fortunate enough to see their games. I saw Martin's first game in temporary charge against Falkirk," said the Killie boss.

"I think there's so many similarities, I think what you find is there's a group of players who understand what they've been doing for a number of years.

"You can see little tweaks that the likes of Martin, Shaun, Stephen McManus and Mark Fotheringham have put on. They'll all have a little stamp and a thought process of elements they want to tweak.

"Things have changed a lot for them with one or two injuries as well but you're going to Celtic Park to play against the team that have done nothing but win trophies over the last number of years.

"Still to my mind I think you've got the toughest task this weekend of playing against a team that very rarely lose and very rarely concede goals at home. It's a big task but it's one that we relish.

"The fact that you now go away from home changes the dynamic of the game, you're playing on a different surface, Celtic have played on Thursday so does that change their team selection.

"We've had eight days to prepare so we need to centre on what we want to do and how we want to go about the game.

"We did that against them when we ran them very close, I thought in the last 10 minutes of the game we looked the stronger team, I thought we looked like the team that was going to win.

"We'll take positives from that but we also have to be about the here and now and be aware of where we've been recently."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Stuart Kettlewell has been speaking to the media before Kilmarnock's Premiership trip to Celtic on Sunday.

Here are the main points from his press conference:

• Kettlewell's side - who are on a four-game losing run - will "relish" the opportunity to play Martin O'Neill's Celtic but he concedes it will be a "big task".

• He feels they can take "positives" from the sides' last meeting where Killie were deprived of a point when Celtic scored a controversial 96th-minute penalty winner at Rugby Park.

• Kettlewell admits Killie's goalkeeping problem is a "moving situation". On-loan Tobi Oluwayemi is not available to play against his parent club this weekend and Corey Armour is likely to be recalled from his loan at Kelty Hearts to provide more options.

• Kettlewell confirmed there are still nine senior players out injured.

• He emphasised his team need to show a strong reaction at the beginning of games rather than only when they find themselves behind.

• Their main focus for upcoming games is what they are doing out of possession: "For me the foundation always has to be what are you doing when you don't have the ball. That will give you a base for building into a game of football."

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• Celtic have won their past six meetings with Kilmarnock in all competitions, last winning more in a row in April 2015 (8).

• Kilmarnock have only won one of their past 86 away games against Celtic in all competitions (D18 L67), going winless in their last 21 (D4 L17) since a 2-0 league triumph in October 2012 under Kenny Shiels.

• Since the start of last season, Celtic have kept 17 clean sheets in 24 home league games, conceding just 11 goals. The Parkhead club have kept four shutouts in their five home league matches this campaign.

• Kilmarnock have lost their past four league games, their longest losing run in the Scottish Premiership since February 2021, when they suffered eight successive defeats.

• Benjamin Nygren has scored (5) or assisted (2) 44% of Celtic's league goals this season (7/16); only Cameron Congreve of Dundee has been directly involved in a higher proportion of a side's Scottish Premiership goals (56% - 5/9).

Celtic are considering a January move for 20-year-old Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, who is out of contract next summer. (The Herald), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Kilmarnock are 10th in the league, three points off bottom and four adrift of the top six. Their 13 goals is a mid-table tally, while only three teams have conceded more than their 18.

After just 11 games in a congested top flight, it probably is not time for panic stations - but what does the underlying data tell us?

The Rugby Park side's average possession of 39% is the second lowest in the division, as is the amount of touches they have had in the opposition box.

Just two teams are worse off for expected goals and expected goals against, yet Killie rank in mid-table for their shots on target, big chance creation, shooting accuracy and shot conversion.

Defensively, only Dundee United have made more errors leading to goals and Killie's goalkeeping save percentage is the second lowest in the league.

Stuart Kettlewell's next assignment is a visit to face Martin O'Neill's Celtic. There is also a trip to Hearts and a home game against Rangers among their next five fixtures.

Read more: Kilmarnock in freefall - but can Kettlewell turn it around?

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

The old saying tells us a week is a long time in football. Killie have just proved it beyond reasonable doubt.

It seems like yesterday we had a couple of wins and were climbing climb the table, but three horrendous defeats in a week have rekindled the worrying fears we had when the manager was appointed.

The trigger for us going into freefall appears to have been the loss of Max Stryjek, although it goes a lot deeper than that.

We now look a team who are weak defensively with a constantly changing midfield and an attack who lack creativity and goals.

Marcus Dackers is not a number nine as he drops off to link play, so perhaps new man Tyreece John-Jules should be given an extended run in the team.

The signs are more than worrying and the manager needs to rebuild confidence with both the players and fans.

The good news is it is still early days and we have a relatively straightforward trip to Parkhead this week. I fear we may be watching the game through our fingers.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

Before Saturday's trip to Falkirk, Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell called on his players to "stop the bleeding" after losses against Hearts, Rangers and Aberdeen.

However, they were 3-0 down inside 38 minutes against John McGlynn's side as their losing run continued.

Only Dundee, Falkirk and Livingston have conceded more goals in the Premiership than Killie's 18 this season, with three of those coming directly from errors.

"I've watched a lot of their goals [conceded] and I don't think there's good communication," Neil McCann said on Sportscene.

"You've not got people taking responsibility and when that's happening, it's a tough one to get out of.

"Stuart is a good coach, he will try to get a result at Celtic, but he has got a lot to fix."

Watch highlights as Falkirk stun Kilmarnock 3-1 in the Scottish Premiership.

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 3-1 defeat against Falkirk.

Here's what some of you said:

Scott: Stuart Kettlewell has to go. You don't need to say any more - it really is that simple.

Gary: Forget all about being better second half, Falkirk were three up and taking it easy. Championship beckons, even at this early stage, as I don't think the manager knows how to fix it.

George: Always said it from day one, I do not rate the manager at all. Yes, we have been unlucky with injuries but some of his decisions are shocking at times. It was a good start to the campaign but it looks like a long hard season now - I hope I am wrong.

Craig: Lacklustre performance, no style of play, playing long balls to a guy that can't jump. It's not looking good at all. I would say Kettlewell out.

Kenny: Kettlewell should be worried, because as a Kilmarnock fan I certainly am. Despite the positive start to the season Killie are in free fall.

Kettlewell talks a good game and clearly understands what needs to be improved, but continues to pick the same defenders who make the same mistakes. Kilmarnock are two bad results away from looking for a new manager.

Eddie: The last four matches have been a hard watch. I assume we have a defensive coach, If we do get rid of him. If we don't, get one.

David: Time's up Kettlewell - you've done little to improve the squad and the results are now coming home to roost. Your time is up.

A shambolic performance - fans deserve not just an apology but your resignation! This simply comes back to the board making the wrong (too quick) decision to employ him.

Jim: Our goalkeeper is not the standard we require, but the best we have at the moment. Our defence has gaps in it, you could fly a jumbo jet through it. Our midfield is posted as missing. Our forwards are shot shy and cannot score goals.

This is what we have, this is our managers team. Last year's team have all but gone, and they were not great either, but they were 150 times better than what we have got now.

The season is gone for us, even this early. Unless things change, such as the removal of personnel that got us into this position, relegation is the only thing Killie fans can look forward to.

Falkirk's emphatic first-half display earned a third win in four league games as the promoted side rose to fifth place in the Scottish Premiership.

Read the match report here.

Have your say on the game here.

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell: "I don't focus on that side yet, I really don't [second-half fight back].

"I know sometimes people say this for effect, but we owe the travelling supporters an apology for the first 45 minutes.

"I'm huge on this aspect where people pay their hard-earned cash to come and follow their football club, and the absolute minimum, minimum that they should see is a real desire to come out in your individual battles, your individual duels as we now call it in football.

"And I basically think that in that first 45 minutes, I'm struggling to think of one occasion where a Kilmarnock player came out on top against a Falkirk player, and that was in and out of possession both ways.

"We're unable to pass the ball properly, we're unable to secure the ball, which gives up opportunities for a good team to keep coming back at you.

"And again, I have to take full responsibility for that.

"You talk about the fight back and the comeback in the second half, I sort of allude to the fact that it can be easy to do that when you're 3-0 down. How much worse can it get?

"My big question mark to us all, myself included, is - why are we finding ourselves in a stage over the last two weeks in four games, why are we not starting games of football the way that we seem to be reacting to adversity?

"So I think if that's the first time, that's all right, but once you get to game four now and you're looking at the same thing, then it quite clearly becomes my job to try and change that narrative in the first whatever 15, 20 minutes of a game of football so that you don't concede the first goal."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell is looking for his side to show "urgency" from the start against Falkirk on Saturday as they bid to "stop the bleeding".

Defeat to Aberdeen in midweek extended Killie's losing run to three matches following losses to Rangers and league leaders Hearts.

With Kilmarnock conceding the opening goal in each of those games, Kettlewell is keen for his team to start strongly at the Falkirk Stadium.

"We always talk about trying to stop the bleeding as quickly as you possibly can and I do think it's important," he said.

"That's the last three games where we concede the first goal and it becomes a difficult task when you do that.

"Not to say there's been a lack of fight but I think in this league getting off to a good start and getting the first goal can be pivotal.

"Statistically if you get the first goal the percentages of winning the game become quite high.

"Sometimes the psyche of a player is that you have plenty of time in the game, sometimes you need to train your mind that you don't.

"There needs to be more of a relentless nature to score the next goal and to do it quickly.

"Every team wants to go and start the game well. The message from me again to the players is that we have had a lot of positive starts this season, we've found ourselves ahead in games, we need to make sure we treat that first 15-20 minutes as if it's the last and then the game can settle again.

"It's just to show a bit more urgency when you can in the early stages."

Caleb Akpo-Young
BBC Sport Scotland

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Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell has been talking to the media before his side's trip to face Falkirk on Saturday.

Here are the main points from his press conference:

• Kettlewell is expecting a different type of match against Falkirk, who "pose a threat" with their counter-attacking style.

• The Killie boss is looking for his side to score first after conceding the opener in the past three games, all of which were defeats.

• The opening goal can be "pivotal" in winning matches he stressed.

• Reflecting on the 1-0 midweek loss to Aberdeen, Kettlewell admitted "frustration" with the result but believes there are plenty of "positives" to take from the overall performance.

• Asked if this has been one of tightest leagues he's been involved in, he replied "without a doubt".

• He adds: "Over the years, as a player and manager, there was always the odd game where maybe you're not at your best but you get a victory. I think you have to play well to win, I don't think there's such a thing of scrambling and scraping through something now because any errors will be highlighted".

• Kettlewell expects to have the same squad as midweek bar potentially "one or two" with no injury returns imminent.

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• This will be Falkirk's first top-flight meeting with Kilmarnock since a goalless draw in May 2010; the Bairns have won just one of their past seven games against Killie at this level (D4 L2), a 2-1 victory in December 2009.

• During Falkirk's last spell in the top flight (2005-06 to 2009-10), Kilmarnock lost none of their eight away league games against them (W4 D4), most recently winning 1-0 in February 2010.

• Falkirk picked up their first home win of the top-flight season last time out when beating Dundee 1-0 – they last won back-to-back home games in the Scottish Premiership in September 2008, beating Hearts and Hamilton under John Hughes.

• Kilmarnock have lost their last their past three league games, last going on a longer losing streak when suffering eight straight Scottish Premiership defeats between January and February 2021. Killie last did so under the same manager in December 2020 under Alex Dyer (run of five).

• Kilmarnock have won just two of their 10 Scottish Premiership games under Stuart Kettlewell (D4 L4), the same number his two predecessors Tommy Wright and Derek McInnes managed at the same mark – both of those managers won their 11th game however, with the last Killie boss to win as few as two of his first 11 matches being Lee Clark in 2016 (2).

Swansea City striker Bobby Wales is attracting increasing loan interest from both sides of the border after Aberdeen failed to secure a deal for the former Kilmarnock player in the summer. (Aberdeen Live), external

We asked for your views after Kilmarnock lost 1-0 at home to Aberdeen for a third defeat in a row.

Here's what some of you said:

Andrew: Stuart Kettlewell got his line-up wrong. Despite the injury list he should have played an offensive team from kick-off. Killie were slow and passive in their build-up and passing which suited Aberdeen's formation. Only from the 59th minute with Bruce Anderson's introduction and subsequent substitutions did we add pace passing and chances. Kettlewell's tactics at home need to be much better or we are in for a long season as the early good play is slowly evaporating.

John: Passive, sideways football bereft of an effective strikeforce. Another hard watch where we continue to make mediocre teams look good, Hearts, Rangers and now Aberdeen all benefit from our lacklustre performances. Again our fleeting chances are wasted when they come, we desperately need to find goals from somewhere as we could still be playing now and not score.

James: What do we expect when we lose a first-class manager in Derek McInnes, first-class players like Stuart Findlay, Danny Armstrong, Bobby Wales, Fraser Murray and replace them all with second-class replacements? We play with two attackers up front and no wide men to get the ball to them.

Robert: Once again a lack of awareness gifted a goal to Aberdeen, we were poor playing backwards and I am afraid we have a 6ft 7in striker who has no awareness where he or his team-mates are and failed to win headers off guys feet smaller. Also why did it take Kettlewell 70 minutes to use his bench when we were abject?

William: Somebody has to take leadership in defence if we are to stabilise our fall. The aim of scoring at least once in every game seems to have evaporated, leaving the goal difference a possible factor in relegation.

Stephen: So much wrong with Killie just now. Little or no impact from the summer signings (Max Stryjek excepted) and a worrying loss of form from those who were previously reliable, particularly in defence. Not one player has improved since Kettlewell's arrival, and in the last three games we've been completely disjointed. We are so poor up front, even with all that possession against Aberdeen we never really looked like scoring. Trip to Falkirk on Saturday now looks like a huge game.