Kilmarnock FC

[kenny hoggan]

tbh hes not getting enough time on the pitch for my liking, hes supposed to be a really good player, and jeffries keeps playin colin nish up front, hes really pritty poor.

think he should play more often, but the ref in yesterdays game made it impossible for either team to play.

hope he features more after christmas, u got any idea when the loan finishes?

[kenny hoggan]

Mehdi Tauil


Invincible celebrates his equalising goal with Fernandez


Tauil


Gary Hay challenges witha gretna player


Fernandez makes it 2-2


Gibsons cross is missed by Nish, but ends up in the net and makes it 3-3

[Huckerbys right foot]

He is a good player ..was amazing in our youth but never took his form to our 1st team..he did score Vs. Liverpool though

The loan deal ends in Jan

[kenny hoggan]

january, thats a disapointment, unless we canextend it, its really been a waste of time, for jarvis and for JJ

[kenny hoggan]

Frazer Wright has agreed a new contract that ties the 27-year-old defender to Kilmarnock until summer 2010.
Wright, signed from Stranraer in 2005, rejected the club's initial offer after talks began during the close season.

But he told The Sun: "I was just after the best deal I could get for myself and my family.

"I had no real plans to move away as I enjoy it here. The gaffer is one of the main reasons why I signed the deal. He gave me a chance in the SPL."

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Kilmarnock | Wright extending Kilmarnock stay

__________________________________________________ ____________


Big boost for us, dont know how many people know about him, but for killie he has been a consistant and good player for us, when he has been injured or suspended the team as a whole have suffered.

[kenny hoggan]

Winger Alan Morgan has agreed terms with Kilmarnock and will make the switch from Inverness Caledonian Thistle in January.
The 24-year-old is out of contract at the end of the month and had also been tracked by St Johnstone after being told he could leave Caledonian Stadium.

"I'm delighted," he said. "I thought I would be dropping down a division.

"But, when this opportunity came up to join Kilmarnock, there wasn't really any decision to be made."

The left-sided midfielder had been training with the First Division Saints.

"I was happy to sign for them," said Morgan.

I watched Alan when he was at Blackburn and I thought he did reasonably well when he got the opportunity at Inverness

"But every player wants to play in the SPL and, if they have the opportunity, I think they will take it rather than drop down a division.

"I certainly think I can play in the SPL. I've played a few games for Inverness, but circumstances dictated that I was frozen out.

"But there are no hard feelings. Inverness have been a great club for me, but hopefully I can kick-start my career with Kilmarnock."

Morgan joined Inverness in 2005 after being released by Blackburn Rovers.

More than half his 40 appearances have come as a substitute and he was loaned out to Ross County last season.

"After the couple of seasons that I've had, in and out the team, playing regularly has got to be my short-term ambition," he said.

"Jim Jefferies is a well-known figure in football and he is very professional in what he does.

"He gets the best out of players and that is one of the reasons that I am so delighted to sign."

Jefferies welcomed the forthcoming addition to his injury-ravaged squad and had a thank you for Caley Thistle player-manager Craig Brewster.

"I'd like to thank Craig Brewster for giving me a courtesy call to inform me that Alan was out of contract and looking for a move back down," he said.

"I watched Alan when he was at Blackburn and I thought he did reasonably well when he got the opportunity at Inverness.

"We are short of left-sided players and we feel that he can be a good addition to our squad."

[DavidMc]

St Mirren v Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 22nd December 07
Love Street, Paisley

Final Score 0-0

With both sides struggling for form in the league, St Mirren and Kilmarnock's goalless draw was perhaps predictable.
It took almost 40 minutes for either side to get a shot on target when St Mirren's Chris Smith comfortably held David Fernandez's low effort.

Colin Nish had a couple of headed efforts for Kilmarnock, but never looked like adding to his goal tally.

St Mirren's best chance fell to Billy Mehmet. He volleyed a Franco Miranda cross but Alan Combe saved comfortably.


St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Maxwell, Millen, Barron, Burke, Mason, Brady, Corcoran, Mehmet, Dargo. Subs: Howard, Reid, Potter, Kean, Miranda, Molloy, McGinn.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Taouil, Ford, Hay, Invincibile, O'Leary, Hamill, Gibson, Nish, Fernandez. Subs: Harpur, Wales, Johnston, Koudou, Bryson, Clancy, Jarvis.

Referee: M Tumilty (Scotland)

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock v Hibernian
Scottish Premier League
Wednesday 26th December 07
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock will give a fitness test to Danny Invincibile after the Australian midfielder tweaked a hamstring in the goalless draw against St Mirren.
Frazer Wright has an outside chance of returning from a hamstring injury.

Hibernian left-back David Murphy is a major doubt after suffering a hamstring injury in Saturday's draw with Celtic.

Abdessalam Benjelloun is struggling to be fit after being stretchered off at Parkhead but defender Thierry Gathuessi is available following suspension.

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

Hibernian (from): Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Hogg, Jones, Murphy, Zemmama, Morais, Kerr, Beuzelin, Chisholm, Stevenson, O'Brien, Benjelloun, Donaldson, Antoine-Curier, McCormack, Shiels, Noubissie, Gathuessi, McNeil.

[kenny hoggan]

Kilmarnock 2-1 Hibernian

Kilmarnock celebrate Colin Nish's first half header
Kilmarnock won their first game since late October thanks to goals from Colin Nish and Mehdi Taouil.
Nish headed the home side in front on 36 minutes, glancing in an excellent delivery from Jamie Hamill.

With 15 minutes remaining, Taouil knocked in his first Kilmarnock goal, shooting home from a clever chipped cross from Nish.

Hibs were hugely disappointing and did not threaten until Dean Shiels converted a late penalty kick.

The final few minutes saw the Edinburgh side stage a rally in a bid to find and equaliser but Kilmarnock were more than worthy winners.

The home team made a positive start and just 40 seconds had passed when a powerful shot from Taouil was parried by Hibs keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay.

Garry Hay then blazed a 20-yard free-kick narrowly over the top of the crossbar.

Hibs striker Clayton Donaldson was claiming a penalty after a challenge from Simon Ford but all he got for his protests was a yellow card from referee Mike McCurry.

Donaldson scored from two of three penalties awarded when Hibs beat Killie back in September but he was adjudged to have dived this time.

Hibs forward Merouane Zemmama twice showed nice touches to create shooting opportunities on the edge of the penalty area but dithered too long the first time and fired well wide with his second opportunity.

With game growing increasingly scrappy, Kilmarnock took the lead with a goal out of the blue.

Hamill raced away from the sluggish Patrick Noubissie and delivered a cross for the unmarked Nish to glance the ball across goal at the near post and in off the far upright.

Hibs introduced Shiels at half time in a bid to pep up what had been a dismal first 45 minutes for the visitors.

However, Killie were first to threaten after the interval, with Nish seeing his strike from 20 yards well saved by by Ma-Kalambay.

Taouil tried his luck with an acrobatic effort that was easily gathered by the tall Hibs keeper.

A shot from Craig Bryson whizzed inches wide of the target before the impressive Taouil doubled the Ayrshire side's advantage lashing in a volley from Nish's lofted pass.

Ross Chisholm immediately squandered a great chance to reduce the deficit, dragging a shot wide from 10 yards after good work from substitute Alan O'Brien.

Hibs won a penalty in the 89th minute when Hamill bundled into Shiels and the sub tucked it away for a late consolation.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Ford, O'Leary, Hay, Taouil (Johnston 88), Bryson (Locke 83), Hamill, Wales, Nish, Fernandez (Koudou 86). Subs Not Used: Harpur, Gibson, Clancy, Flannigan.

Goals: Nish 36, Taouil 75.

Hibernian: Ma-Kalambay, McCann (Gathuessi 90), Jones, Hogg, Noubissie (Shiels 46), Zemmama (O'Brien 72), Kerr, Beuzelin, Stevenson, Donaldson, Chisholm. Subs Not Used: McNeil, Morais, McCormack, Antoine-Curier.

Booked: Donaldson, Jones, Hogg.

Goal: Shiels 90 pen.

Att: 6,372

Ref: M McCurry

[kenny hoggan]

Jefferies wants Killie form run

Jefferies picked up a valuable three points with a win over Hibs
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies has set his sights on moving up the table after a good victory over Hibs.
"We are grinding our way back and we have enough quality to put a wee run together," he said after the 2-1 win.

Colin Nish scored one and set up the second and Jefferies is anxious to hold on to the striker.

"If he gets an offer that I can't match then I will lose him," he added. "Time will tell but it certainly won't happen unless we get a massive offer."

Nish will be out of contract at the end of the season but Jefferies is not considering a January sale.

"I will be keeping him until the end of the season and then he will be free to go," continued Jefferies.

"It shows you how hard a job it is here because then you have to find people for the budgets you have.

"Sometimes when you improve them and they do well, they are targets for others and it's very frustrating.

"He will have an agent collecting offers for him and the funny thing is it will be clubs that are a similar level to ourselves who can offer him a few hundred quid more than I can.

"But sometimes for a few hundred quid, you are better staying where you enjoy playing."

[DavidMc]

Inverness 3-1 Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 29th December 07
Caledonian Stadium

Inverness bounced straight back to winning ways thanks to a brace from Marius Niculae and a Don Cowie volley.

The deadlock was broken on 42 minutes when John Rankin's drive was blocked by goalkeeper Alan Combe, only for Niculae to pounce from close range.

Soon after the restart, Cowie cracked in a sweet finish from defender Richard Hastings' neat cross.

And, with 15 minutes remaining, Niculae drilled in his second before Colin Nish grabbed a late penalty for Killie.

Caley Thistle stay in eighth spot but are now just one point behind fourth-placed Dundee United in a congested mid-table.

The Highlanders were the stronger team throughout and could have won by a more handsome margin but for the form of Combe.

The visiting keeper had to look smart to turn away Phil McGuire's well-improvised over-head kick.

Home striker Graham Bayne then directed a firm header wide from Cowie's cross.

Kilmarnock finally threatened in the 25th minute, but when Gary Wales found David Fernandez with a perfectly-weighted through-ball, Michael Fraser was in the right place to make a stop with his foot.

Nish then made his presence felt for the first time in latching on to a cross from Garry Hay, but Fraser dived low to save.

Niculae came close seven minutes before the interval when his 25-yard shot was beaten away by Combe.

But the Romanian was not to be denied and turned the ball into the net after Rankin's expertly controlled shot was too hot to handle for the Kilmarnock keeper.

Inverness took control of the game following the restart and it did not take them long to double their advantage.

Hastings turned the ball into the path of Cowie, who showed a touch of class in dispatching his shot past Combe.

Hastings then had a shot saved by Combe and when the ball came back to the Canadian he carelessly stabbed over.

The impressive Niculae clipped a 25-yard drive just wide and then slalomed through a ragged Kilmarnock defence to crack a shot off Combe.

Niculae had another shot which was marginally off target but the forward's persistence paid off when he finally got a second goal.

The visiting keeper did well to stop Bayne's well-struck effort, only for the ball to land at the feet of Cowie.

An eager Niculae nicked the ball from the midfielder's toes and blasted a shot into the net that Combe could not keep out despite managing to get a hand to the ball.

With four minutes remaining Nish scored a consolation from the penalty spot following a handball by Grant Munro.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, McGuire (Proctor 88), Munro, Hastings, Cowie, Black, Duncan, Rankin, Bayne (Wyness 83), Niculae. Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Duff, Wilson, Vigurs, McAllister.

Goals: Niculae 42, Cowie 52, Niculae 76.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Hamill, Ford, O'Leary, Hay, Fernandez (Johnston 79), Fowler, Bryson (Koudou 72), Taouil, Nish, Wales. Subs Not Used: Harpur, Clancy, Noble, Locke, Flannigan.

Goal: Nish 87 pen.

Att: 4,169

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock 0-1 Falkirk

Final score

Falkirk continued their good form with a narrow victory at Rugby Park.
Carl Finnigan scored his second goal in as many games when he headed home a Dean Holden cross on 11 minutes.

Kilmarnock pressurised the Bairns as full-time approached, but veteran Russell Latapy ensured the visitors held firm to register another SPL win.

Frazer Wright was sent off in the dying minutes for a heavy challenge on Falkirk keeper Tim Krul, who himself was red-carded for violent conduct.

Both sides wore black armbands as a mark of respect for Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell, who died last Saturday, and the crowd at Rugby Park gave a minute's applause in his honour.

Jim Jefferies welcomed back Danny Invincibile and Frazer Wright to the side. They replaced Craig Bryson and the injured Ryan O'Leary, both of whom played in the comprehensive defeat dealt by Inverness Caledonian Thistle last Saturday.

Scotland B defender Darren Barr came in for Gerard Aafjes in the Falkirk defence, and Carl Finnigan replaced striker Graham Barrett.

Kilmarnock began the match looking fairly lively but after Falkirk took the lead the home side struggled to make much of an impact in front of goal.

The Bairns' opener in the 11th minute was inspired by some confident build-up play and a fine cross by Dean Holden. Carl Finnigan nipped in front of Simon Ford and glanced a header beyond Alan Combe from eight yards.

For Finnigan, a product of Newcastle's youth academy, it was his fourth goal of the season and his second in as many matches, following his strike against Hearts last Saturday.

Killie's best spell came midway through the first half when Colin Nish headed into the arms of Tim Krul from six yards.

Then David Fernandez had a right-foot shot on the turn, but a deflection was enough to ensure it didn't have the venom to trouble Falkirk's Dutch goalkeeper.

For the second half Jim Jefferies introduced new signing Alan Morgan, arriving from Inverness on a free transfer, in place of David Fernandez in an attempt to enliven the play up front.

In 52 minutes, Krul saved well from a powerful Danny Invincible shot after the midfielder surged towards the edge of the box and sent a shot towards the bottom corner of the net.

Four minutes later the home fans were left in a state of anguish when Jamie Hamill volleyed Alan Morgan's corner over the bar from just three yards out.

Referee Iain Brines is probably used to cautioning offenders in his "normal" job as a police officer. But at Rugby Park he made three bookings in only two minutes just after the hour mark.

First, Tim Krul was booked for dissent, then Garry Hay was cautioned for a challenge on Carl Finnigan for a clumsy challenge. Moments later Finnigan found his way into Iain Brines' book when he fouled Frazer Wright.

Russell Latapy, who replaced an off-form Pedro Moutinho in the second half, was in inspirational form for Falkirk. The veteran midfielder evidently enjoys playing on surfaces as good as that on offer at Rugby Park and time after time he was the architect of the Bairns' clever play.

Frazer Wright headed just wide from six yards out in 86 minutes, having met a Gary Wales deep cross.

Kilmarnock tried desperately to grab an equaliser. Jamie Hamill had a shot saved by Tim Krul, Simon Ford had goal disallowed for offside, and then the home side had a penalty claim waved aside.

The match ended in acrimony when Frazer Wright was sent off for a foul on Tim Krul in the Falkirk goal as he followed in on a Jamie Hamill shot. The big Dutch goalkeeper, who was stretched off the pitch, was red-carded for his reaction to the challenge.

The home defeat means Kilmarnock have won only one of their last ten league matches.

For Falkirk, comfortable in possession and resolute in defence, their only defeats in 12 matches have been against Rangers and Celtic.

[kenny hoggan]

we need to sort this form out, this was a good chance to get our first win in twelve games, and again we failed, we need to get a full squad, and if thats not possible then the replacements need to perform better, we have players that can come on as subs and can have an impact, but when they start they are not playn good enough

[DavidMc]

Heart of Midlothian v Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 5th January 08
Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh

Hearts are minus suspended trio Michael Stewart, Marius Zaliukas and Lee Wallace for the visit of Kilmarnock.
Ibrahim Tall is still struggling with a leg injury but caretaker manager Stevie Frail is considering handing defender Ryan McGowan his full debut.

Kilmarnock's have an injury crisis with Mehdi Taouil doubtful and striker Gary Wales could also miss out.

Rhian Dodds, Eric Skora, Ryan O'Leary , Grant Murray and David Lilley are all doubts with Frazer Wright suspended.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hearts squad: Banks, Neilson, Tall, McGowan, Berra, Goncalves, Driver, Jonsson, Ksnavicius, Palazuelos, Velicka, Mikoliunas, Nade, Ivaskevicius, Elliot, Basso, Cesnauskis, Karipidis

Kilmarnock squad: Combe, Hamill, Ford, Hay, Fernandez, Johnston, Fowler, Bryson, Gibson, Koudou, Taouil, Nish, Wales, Invincibile, Harpur, Clancy, Noble, Locke, Flannigan, K Wright, Morgan.