Kilmarnock FC

[kenny hoggan]

pritty good performance, just unlucky, shows the way scottish footballs going, with celtic and rangers now not dominating as much as they used to

[DavidMc]

Dundee United v Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 10th November 07
Kick-Off 15:00

Mark Kerr and Stuart Duff are vying to replace suspended Dundee United captain Barry Robson for Kilmarnock's visit.

United are also without defender Lee Wilkie, who was also sent off against Aberdeen, and Garry Kenneth will be his replacement on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Lukasz Zaluska, Craig Conway, David Robertson and Keith Watson remain sidelined.

Grant Murray, Allan Johnston and David Fernandez are still missing despite Kilmarnock's injury list easing.


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Dundee United (from): Szamotulski, Dillon, Dods, Kenneth, Kalvenes, Flood, Kerr, Duff, Gomis, Buaben, Hunt, J Robertson, Daly, Russell, Robb, McCord, Pope, McLean.

Kilmarnock (from): Combe, Fowler, Hay, Wright, Lilley, Ford, Gibson, Bryson, Hamill, Koudou, Nish, Wales, Invincibile, O'Leary, Dodds, Skora, Locke, Jarvis, Taouil, Harpur, Clancy.

[DavidMc]

Dundee United 2-0 Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 10th November 07

Dundee United picked up all three points against a poor Kilmarnock at Tannadice to remain undefeated at home.
Noel Hunt opened the scoring after just eight minutes, latching on to a Darren Dods flick-on before driving home.

In a pulsating last 10 minutes, Hunt missed a penalty after Prince Buaben was tripped by Ryan O'Leary, then Buaben sealed it in the last minute.

Jordan Robertson was sent off trying to retrieve the ball from Alan Combe as United were awarded their penalty.

Dundee United had to make do without the suspended Lee Wilkie and skipper Barry Robson after their Pittodrie red cards last time out, Willo Flood was also dropped to the bench.

In came Gary Kenneth, Mark Kerr and Jon Daly who was making his first start in six months after rupturing his cruciate ligament.

For Killie, Craig Bryson and Ian Flannigan came in for the benched Willie Gibson and Jamie Hamill from the side beaten by Celtic last weekend.

The home side were keen to get back on the winning trail following their defeat to Aberdeen and they went in front after just eight minutes.

Kenneth's throw was flicked into the path of Noel Hunt by Darren Dods and Hunt took a touch before driving the ball passed former United keeper Alan Combe.

Hunt - called into the Republic of Ireland B squad for the friendly with Scotland's B team - scoring his eighth goal of the season.

Prince Buaben then saw a shot was well saved by Combe before Jordan Robertson somehow contrived to clip the rebound over the bar when it looked easier to score.


Killie's Iain Flannigan tries to close down United's Mark Kerr

A Sean Dillon corner then found Darren Dods in the six yard box but his downward header bounced over.

Combe and Colin Nish took knocks but recovered as the Ayrshire men somehow made it to half-time just one behind.

Jim Jefferies refrained from changing things at the break and his side began brighter as the match got back underway but a cutting edge was still lacking.

Combe was forced back into action as he parried a Hunt free-kick before Robertson saw a shot blocked by Simon Ford.

Killie then changed things with Gary Locke, Rhian Dodds and Gibson entering the fray.

The longer the game went on the deeper United defended and the more encouraged Killie became.

Rhian Dodds' 20 yard strike flew just wide seconds after Szamotulski - still having not conceded at home this season - denied Gary Wales with another magnificent stop.

With just four minutes to go, United had the chance to seal the points as Buaben was taken down by O'Leary in the box.

Jordan Robertson - in trying to retrieve the ball from Combe - appeared to go head to head with the goalkeeper and received a straight red card.

It was United's third ordering off in two matches, their seventh of the season.

Hunt stepped up but somehow, Combe produced a sublime save to keep the spot-kick out, at the expense of a corner.

The game was over as a contest as the match went into injury time when Buaben slammed home from Hunt's cross.



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Dundee Utd: Szamotulski, Dillon, Dods, Kenneth, Kalvenes, Kerr, Gomis, Buaben, Daly (Flood 88), Hunt, Jordan Robertson. Subs not used: McLean, David Robertson, Robb, Duff, Johnny Russell, Milligan.

Booked: Daly.

Sent off: Robertson 86.

Goals: Hunt 8, Buaben 90.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Wright, Ford, O'Leary, Hay, Invincibile, Fowler, Bryson (Dodds 62), Flannigan (Locke 56), Wales, Nish (Gibson 67). Subs not used: Harpur, Lilley, Hamill, Taouil.

Booked: Combe, Wright, Ford, Invincibile.

Att: 6065

[kenny hoggan]

quite disapointing, we really need a fit team, if we get our full team back after crimbo then i think we can do much better in the league, we need to take advantage of things like sendings off and things like that, you cant let a team go unpunished if they make errors

[kenny hoggan]

Kilmarnock 0-1 Motherwell

O'Donnell's second-half goal was enough to win the game
Phil O'Donnell scored the only goal of the game as Motherwell edged out Kilmarnock at a rain-soaked Rugby Park.
Ross McCormack tormented the home side throughout with several great runs but the end product was lacking.

Well took the lead directly after the break when O'Donnell's left-foot shot from 25-yards took a wicked deflection and flew past a helpless Alan Combe.

The visitors dominated as Killie struggled to make an impression and held on for a deserved three points.

Motherwell had an early chance after two minutes when a wind-assisted free-kick from Stephen Craigan reached McCormack but he sent a dipping volley over the bar.

That was before both sides adapted to the difficult conditions which saw rain and a swirling wind engulf Rugby Park around kick-off.

Kilmarnock's best early move arrived after 12 minutes when Danny Invincibile dispossessed David Clarkson inside his own half.

The midfielder played it inside to Mehdi Taouil who drove forward but his pass wide was not quite right for Grant Murray who failed to get the cut-back into the danger area.

McCormack then gave a demonstration of his blistering pace when he clipped the ball down the line and showed a clean pair of heels to Clancy.

He cut around the assistant referee before seeing his cross intercepted by a defender.

The former Rangers man was at the heart of everything and after 34 minutes took a return pass from a short corner before testing Combe with a fizzing drive from the angle of the box.

Motherwell had a grip of the half by this point, mainly through the endeavours of McCormack, but couldn't make the breakthrough.

After 42 minutes they were almost caught cold in the wintry conditions when Taouil whistled a shot pass Graeme Smith's post before Simon Ford headed just wide from a Murray cross.

Motherwell took the lead just a minute after the restart and there was a huge element of fortune attached to the opener.

A free-kick was cleared to the edge of the box and it broke to O'Donnell who managed to keep his shot low before it took a wicked deflection off defender Ford and wrong-footed Combe.

Just seconds later O'Donnell's close-range header from McCormack went straight to Combe.

On the hour mark the unfortunate Ford clipped a shot over from Gibson's corner kick and the home side increased the tempo.

McCormack still looked busy but was not quite as fluent as in the first half when he had ran amok down the right.

Visiting goalkeeper Smith was sharp off his line to fist away a dangerous cross as a Killie onslaught gained momentum.

Substitute Aime Koudou had the best chance to nick a point for Killie at the death but his angled effort was poor and hit the side-netting.

Dodds then blazed over from 30 yards to the jeers of the home support and the delight of the Motherwell fans.



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Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Ford, Lilley, Murray, Invincibile (Gibson 54), Dodds, Taouil, Clancy (Fernandez 55), Wales, Nish (Koudou 79). Subs Not Used: Harpur, O'Leary, Hamill, Bryson.

Booked: Wales, Dodds.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn, Reynolds, Craigan, Paterson, Lasley (Fitzpatrick 74), O'Donnell, McGarry (Hughes 67), Porter, McCormack (Murphy 89), Clarkson. Subs Not Used: Meldrum, Brian McLean, Grabban, Darren Smith.

Booked: O'Donnell.

Goals: O'Donnell 46.

Att: 5,016

Ref: S Conroy (Scotland).




BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Kilmarnock 0-1 Motherwell

[kenny hoggan]

disapointing game, never got going, Taouil is someone to look out for, he played brilliant, and got a deserved MOTH, played good passes but had to do it all alone.

[DavidMc]

Rangers v Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 1st December 07
Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Kick-Off 15:00

Rangers winger DaMarcus Beasley has been ruled out for three months with knee ligament damage.

Lee McCulloch is fit despite sustaining a knock in the VfB Stuttgart game. Loan-signing Amdy Faye is missing with a thigh strain.

Kilmarnock have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the trip to Ibrox.

Garry Hay is out with a hamstring injury. Winger Allan Johnston is sidelined with a knee injury, while Frazer Wright is suspended.



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Rangers: (from) McGregor, Hutton, Papac, Weir, Cuellar, Ferguson, Thomson, McCulloch, Darcheville, Boyd, Cousin, Naismith, Carroll, Adam, Whittaker, Lennon, Fleck, Hemdani.

Kilmarnock: (from) Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Ford, Gibson, Bryson, Hamill, Koudou, Nish, Wales, Invincibile, O'Leary, Dodds, Skora, Locke, Taouil, Harpur, Clancy, Fernandez, Murray.

[kenny hoggan]

Rangers closed to within one point of Premier League leaders Celtic after a comfortable win over Kilmarnock.

Jean Claude Darcheville got the hosts off to a perfect start, slotting home an early shot.

Steven Whittaker hammered an angled strike into the top corner of the net 10 minutes after the break.

Rangers poured forward in search of more goals but Killie survived a series of strong penalty claims to somehow limit the damage.

The Ibrox side showed no signs of tiredness after their midweek Champions League exploits, while Kilmarnock have now lost their last four SPL matches.

Rangers started strongly and Lee McCulloch threatened with a header before Darcheville opened the scoring after just four minutes.

A long ball from goalkeeper Allan McGregor was flicked on by Kris Boyd and the burly French striker raced through to drill the ball beyond goalkeeper Alan Combe from the edge of the penalty area.

Steven Naismith, who followed Boyd from Rugby Park to Ibrox in the summer, then squandered a great chance to increase the misery for his old club when he sent an angled shot wide from 10 yards.

Darcheville had to limp off after 33 minutes and Rangers lost their way in attack for the rest of the half.

The game grew increasingly scrappy and Boyd, inside the six yard box, was guilty of a fresh-air swipe at a ball dropping from on high.

Killie were working hard to close down their opponents but rarely managed to trouble the home defence.

Colin Nish, on as a first-half substitute, was sent clear by Mehdi Taouil's smart pass but the striker's first touch was poor and his lack of pace was exposed as he lumbered forward and made a mess of his shot from 18 yards.

The visitors were a little more adventurous at the start of the second half but Rangers doubled their advantage on 55 minutes.

Whittaker, playing in an unaccustomed left-back role, strode forward with purpose and lashed home a terrific strike from 20 yards.

Naismith tried to emulate his team-mate's impressive effort soon after but dragged his shot wide from similar range.

Combe spilled a low shot from Charlie Adam and Boyd snaffled up the loose ball to round the keeper, only to be denied a goal by the linesman's flag.

Kilmarnock were wilting in the face of increased pressure and the home fans were howling for a penalty when Tim Clancy barged into Whittaker.

Grant Murray then upended Naismith and Adam appeared to be manhandled when shaping to shoot, but again referee Alan Freeland was unmoved.

Kilmarnock had the ball in the net thanks to David Fernandez's looping head flick but the clumsy Nish had clattered into Allan McGregor when it looked as if the goalkeeper may have been struggling to stop it.



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Rangers: McGregor, Hutton, Cuellar, Weir, Whittaker, McCulloch, Ferguson, Thomson, Naismith, Boyd, Darcheville (Adam 33). Subs Not Used: Carroll, Hemdani, Broadfoot, Cousin, Furman, Efrem.

Booked: Cuellar, Thomson.

Goals: Darcheville 4, Whittaker 55.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Murray, Ford, O'Leary, Clancy, Fowler, Invincibile, Hamill (Fernandez 67), Dodds (Nish 39), Taouil, Wales. Subs Not Used: Harpur, Gibson, Koudou, Bryson, Jarvis.

Booked: Murray, Nish.

Att: 48,055

Ref: A Freeland


BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Rangers 2-0 Kilmarnock

[kenny hoggan]

just glad naismith didnt score against us

thaught he would run rings around us when i heard he was starting

[kenny hoggan]

Aberdeen trio Jamie Smith, Darren Mackie and Jackie McNamara remain sidelined with injuries.
Zander Diamond and Jeffrey de Visscher are also missing as the Dons look to build on last weekend's win over Hibs.

Kilmarnock defender Grant Murray twisted his knee in training and will miss the trip to Pittodrie.

Garry Hay and David Lilley are still out and Simon Ford is a serious doubt with a hamstring problem but Frazer Wright is free from suspension.

[DavidMc]

Aberdeen v Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 8th December 07
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen

Aberdeen trio Jamie Smith, Darren Mackie and Jackie McNamara remain sidelined with injuries.
Zander Diamond and Jeffrey de Visscher are also missing as the Dons look to build on last weekend's win over Hibs.

Kilmarnock defender Grant Murray twisted his knee in training and will miss the trip to Pittodrie.

Garry Hay and David Lilley are still out and Simon Ford is a serious doubt with a hamstring problem but Frazer Wright is free from suspension.



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Aberdeen (from): Langfield, Hart, Byrne, Considine, Mair, Foster, Severin, Nicholson, Clark, Touzani, Young, Aluko, Miller, Maguire, Lovell, Jonathan Smith, McVitie, Soutar.

Kilmarnock (from):Combe, Wright, Ford, O'Leary, Clancy, Fowler, Invincibile, Hamill, Fernandez, Dodds, Nish, Taouil, Wales, Harpur, Gibson, Koudou, Bryson, Jarvis.

[kenny hoggan]

Aberdeen 2-1 Kilmarnock

Nicholson drew the game level with a penalty kick
Aberdeen battled back from a goal down to snatch maximum points at Pittodrie as Kilmarnock slipped down to tenth spot in the SPL table.
Killie's David Fernandez netted on 27 minutes when he steered a header home from Frazer Wright's excellent cross.

Barry Nicholson levelled from the penalty spot after Lee Miller tumbled following a Ryan O'Leary challenge.

And striker Miller won the game with a header on 75 minutes after a good run and cross from Derek Young.

It was the second victory in a row for the Dons and once again they rallied after losing the first goal.

Nicholson fired the ball just past Alan Combe's near post as the home side started strongly.

But Aberdeen defender Lee Mair was fortunate in the 16th minute when he appeared to bring down Colin Nish just inside the 18-yard-box.

Referee Collum waived play on, much to the frustration of the Kilmarnock management team.

The visitors' mood improved dramatically, though, when Fernandez met Fowler's cross to score with a neat header.

Combe was called into action eight minutes before the interval as Aberdeen threatened again, with a Chris Maguire shot flicked up into the air by the Kilmarnock keeper and cleared by Jamie Hamill.

Miller then tried to turn in a cross from Richard Foster but was denied by Combe, who could only watch on as Wright's later clearance carried just over his own crossbar.

Kilmarnock continued to look resolute at the back after the break but, out of nothing, the Dons were gifted an equaliser as O'Leary tangled with Miller and Nicholson tucked away the spot-kick.

Buoyed by that goal, Aberdeen pushed forward and when Michael Hart advanced unchallenged, he passed to Young and from the midfielder's delivery, Miller powered in a close-range header.



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Aberdeen: Langfield, Hart, Mair, Byrne, Foster, Young, Nicholson, Clark, Aluko (Lovell 46), Miller, Maguire (Severin 46).Subs Not Used: Soutar, Considine, Jonathan Smith, Paton, Stuart Smith.

Booked: Miller.

Goals: Nicholson 63 pen, Miller 75. Kilmarnock: Combe, Hamill, Wright (Gibson 65), O'Leary, Clancy, Invincibile (Jarvis 64), Fowler, Taouil, Wales, Nish, Fernandez. Subs Not Used: Harpur, Locke, Koudou, Bryson, Flannigan.

Booked: Clancy, Fowler, Taouil.

Goal: Fernandez 27.

Att: 10,207

Ref: W Collum



BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Aberdeen 2-1 Kilmarnock

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock v Gretna
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 15th December 07
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock have a defensive injury crisis ahead of Gretna's visit to Rugby Park on Saturday.

David Lilley, Simon Ford, Frazer Wright and Grant Murray all miss out for a Killie side who have slipped to 10th in the SPL table.

Gretna striker Kenny Deuchar will make his much anticipated return to action after his loan spell at St Johnstone.

Martin Canning and Abdul Osman, however, will be absent for the Black and Whites.

[kenny hoggan]

Kilmarnock 3-3 Gretna

Gibson's equaliser for Kilmarnock against Gretna looked fortunate
Willie Gibson's cross-cum-shot denied Gretna their first-ever Scottish Premier League away victory as injury-hit Kilmarnock forced a draw.
Gavin Skelton fired bottom side Gretna ahead after five minutes against opponents two places ahead of them.

Danny Invincibile equalised from close range, but Danny Grainger restored the lead from the spot after the break.

David Fernandez fired Killie level immediately, Evan Horwood curled in Gretna's third then Gibson replied.

Kilmarnock had just three fit defenders available as they looked to halt a five-game losing streak.

The injury-ravaged hosts suffered a pre-match blow when defender Tim Clancy was sent home suffering from flu.


And manager Jim Jefferies was forced to field midfielder James Fowler in central defence alongside 20-year-old Ryan O'Leary.

Kenny Deuchar returned from his successful loan spell with St Johnstone to start up front for Gretna.

But it was Skelton who gave Gretna a surprise lead when his low shot beat goalkeeper Alan Combe.

Killie came close to equalising when both Gary Wales and Fernandez were inches away from Jamie Hamill's drive across the front of Gretna's goal.

Colin Nish also missed an opportunity in front of goal from a pass delivered by Wales.

Fleming did well to block a Fernandez shot at the post, but Gretna came close to doubling their lead after 20 minutes, when Deuchar's lob came back off the face of the crossbar.

Kilmarnock had another escape minutes later, when Grainger's 30-yard free-kick clattered the upright.

But Killie at long last gave their fans something to cheer by equalising in the 27th minute.


Skelton (right) put Gretna into an early lead at Rugby Park

Gary Locke's cross found Invincibile, who swept the ball over the line from a couple of yards.

Gretna responded with a run and cross on the right from David Cowan, with O'Leary almost heading an own goal.

Kilmarnock hit back and almost snatched a late first-half goal when Wales connected poorly with a Hamill cross and failed to find the net from four yards.

Henry Makinwa sent a free-kick just wide but won the penalty from which Gretna went ahead five minutes after the break.

The referee pointed to the spot when the forward clashed heads with O'Leary and Grainger fired home from the penalty spot.

But the lead lasted just two minutes, Fernandez firing home from 12 yards.

Gretna restored their lead almost as quickly, Deuchar being allowed too much time to deliver a cross into the box and Horwood curled the ball home.

Nish squandered a chance when he was through on goal, but Fleming did well to block.

The Killie striker looked fortunate to escape calls for a penalty when he appeared to tug Chris Innes' shirt in the Killie penalty box.

And Fleming saved well from an Invincibile drive as the play flowed from end to end.

But Killie equalised when Gibson's cross was missed by Nish but found its way into the net.



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Kilmarnock: Combe, Taouil, Fowler, O'Leary, Hay, Invincibile, Locke (Gibson 65), Hamill, Wales, Fernandez (Jarvis 78), Nish.
Subs Not Used: Harpur, Koudou, Bryson, Flannigan, Noble.

Booked: Wales, Combe, O'Leary, Taouil, Hay.

Goals: Invincibile 27, Fernandez 53, Gibson 73.

Gretna: Fleming, Cowan, Innes, Horwood (Deverdics 90), Grainger, Murray, Collin, Jenkins (McGuffie 75), Skelton, Makinwa (McLaren 81), Deuchar.
Subs Not Used: Caig, McGill, Barr, Buscher.

Booked: Horwood, Cowan, Skelton.

Goals: Skelton 5, Grainger 51 pen, Horwood 57.

Att: 5,122

Ref: C Boyle

BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Kilmarnock 3-3 Gretna