Kilmarnock FC

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock 0-2 Rangers (Full-time)

Rangers re-established their four-point lead over Celtic in the SPL with a win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
Defender Carlos Cuellar headed the first after 24 minutes as Kilmarnock failed to clear a Chris Burke cross.

Sasa Papac preserved the away side's lead by heading Allan Johnston's goal-bound drive over the bar as Kilmarnock pressed for an equaliser.

But the points were sealed on 63 minutes when Kris Boyd smashed in a penalty after Jamie Hamill's handball.

The Ibrox side were looking to restore their four-point lead in the league, while Kilmarnock were in desperate need of points to take them away from the foot of the table.

Shorty after kick-off it was Walter Smith's men that looked the more likely to succeed in their task, and they should have taken the lead within two minutes.

Kris Boyd headed on a high ball for Jean-Claude Darcheville, who collected and raced between Killie's central defenders.

But the Frenchman lifted the ball over both the on-rushing Alan Combe and the Kilmarnock crossbar.

Kilmarnock showed they were not content to contain the table-toppers, and came close through Craig Bryson on 11 minutes.

The midfielder skipped past Brahim Hemdani and curled a low shot from 22 yards that sneaked just past Allan McGregor's left-hand post.

Rangers winger Chris Burke was seeing lots of the ball on the right side of midfield.

And Darcheville was inches away from taking the lead midway through the half, but was unable to get his boot to a Burke corner that dropped at the far post.

But the Ibrox side broke the deadlock moments later.

Kirk Broadfoot delivered into the box, and the ball eventually fell to Carlos Cuellar, who coolly headed back across goal and inside Combe's post.

Kilmarnock nearly pulled back a quick equaliser from a Simon Ford looping header that McGregor was glad to see land on the roof of the net.

The home side continued to press, although a number of their attacks were thwarted by offside calls.

But Darcheville passed up an excellent chance to double Rangers' lead minutes before the break.

The striker again used his blistering pace to beat the Killie defence to a long ball.

But with only the keeper to beat, he lacked composure and screwed his shot wildly past the post as Rangers took a slender lead into the half-time break.


However, the Ibrox side were eager to secure the points, and Combe was called on within minutes of the re-start to tip a powerful Boyd free-kick round the post.

The home side were continuing to battle and Allan Johnston's thunderous strike from 18 yards was diverted over off the head of Sasa Papac on the hour mark.

But just as Kilmarnock were gaining a foothold in the match Jamie Hamill handled in the box.

Boyd made no mistake from the spot as he became Rangers' all-time record SPL scorer.

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies' decision to bring on David Fernandez almost paid dividends six minutes from time.

The Spaniard intercepted a poor pass-back from Broadfoot, but after rounding McGregor he could only steer his shot wide from a tight angle.

And at the other end Combe was alert to prevent a third as he saved Lee McCulloch's flick from close range.

[LAF]

Craig Bryson scored his first two goals for Kilmarnock to secure their first league win in 15 matches as they dominated Aberdeen at Rugby Park.
Former Clyde star Bryson scored with a close-range volley after 14 minutes.

Bryson turned provider minutes before half-time, crossing for Frazer Wright to head in from six yards.

And Bryson sealed the points with a close-range third 15 minutes from time, before Darren Mackie slipped in a late consolation for the Dons.


Interview: Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies
Interview: Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood

Aberdeen were first to threaten when, within minutes of kick-off Lee Miller flicked on for strike partner Mackie to force a fine save from Combe.

However, it was one of few first-half opportunities for Aberdeen as the home side took control of proceedings.

The Dons defence was struggling to adjust to their 3-5-2 shape, and confusion among the back line gifted Danny Invincibile an opening.

The Australian's control was poor and he shot wide, but after 14 minutes the home side were rewarded for their industry.

Jamie Hamill did well to rescue a stray Mehdi Taouil pass, and release Allan Johnston on the right.

His cross into the box was met at the far post by Bryson, who volleyed the ball past Dons keeper Derek Soutar.

With Aberdeen unable to find any fluency, manager Jimmy Calderwood shuffled his pack as early as the 27th minute.

Striker Sone Aluko replaced defender Josh Walker as Calderwood reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

Aluko added more urgency to the Dons' play, and his cross after 30 minutes was met by Miller only for the striker's header to be blocked by teammate Mackie.

However, Jim Jefferies' men were dominating the play and they doubled their lead four minutes from half-time.

Bryson swung in a corner and Souter parried Hamill's fierce shot but he ball arrived again at the feet of Bryson, who picked out Wright, and the defender nodded into the net.

Calderwood made more changes at the break with his team emerging in a 4-2-4 shape.

But Kilmarnock were first to go close when Hamill intercepted a stray Dons pass and carried the ball 30 yards before unleashing a powerful drive that went just wide.

Lee Mair should have put Aberdeen back into the match, but he contrived to head Barry Nicholson's cross over from close range.

Soutar saved at the feet Johnston but with 15 minutes remaining a number of the travelling support decided to begin the long journey home.

Invincibile's cross from the right was converted by Bryson from an almost identical position to the midfielder's opener.

With the game already beyond them, Aberdeen forced in an untidy consolation.

As the clock ran down Kilmarnock keeper Combe fumbled the ball under pressure from Mackie, who slipped the ball into the net.



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Kilmarnock: Combe, Corrigan, Lilley, Frazer Wright, Hay, Bryson, Fowler, Hamill, Invincibile, Taouil (Dalglish 84), Johnston (Fernandez 84).
Subs Not Used: Harpur, Gibson, Di Giacomo, O'Leary, Clancy.

Booked: Johnston, Invincibile.

Goals: Bryson 14, Frazer Wright 41, Bryson 75.

Aberdeen: Soutar, Maybury (Maguire 46), Duff, Mair, Diamond, Foster, Nicholson, Severin, Walker (Aluko 28), Mackie, Miller (De Visscher 71).
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Lovell, Considine, Bus.

Goals: Combe 86 og.

Att: 6,113

Ref: D Somers.

BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Premier | Kilmarnock 3-1 Aberdeen

[DavidMc]

Hibernian 2-0 Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 15th March 08
Easter Road, Edinburgh

Hibernian moved into third place in the SPL thanks to goals from Filipe Morais and Steven Fletcher.
A 29th minute punt from Rob Jones was knocked down to Morais by Colin Nish and the winger slotted the ball past Alan Combe from 18 yards.

Fletcher then raced on to a great pass from Merouane Zemmama and drilled in the second goal after 73 minutes.

Dean Shiels came close to adding a third goal but the substitute's late strike whistled narrowly wide.

Hibs have had better days but ran out comfortable winners, with Zemmama at the heart of most of their good work.

Kilmarnock matched the home side in most areas but offered very little threat in attack.

Hibernian's first sight of goal came in the eighth minute when Morais was picked out by Zemmama on the counter-attack but his header across goal fell behind Fletcher.

Kilmarnock were seeing a lot of the ball but could not trouble a well-organised home rearguard.

Hibs had more zip in their play but the goal came from a very straightforward long ball up the park from skipper Jones.

Former Killie man Nish managed to knock it on for Morais who recovered from a poor first touch to race clear and curl the ball beyond Combe from 18 yards.

Kilmarnock started the second half strongly and had the home team pinned back for long spells.

Hibs keeper Yves Makalambay stopped a close-range effort from Danny Invincibile and the striker flashed another header over the crossbar from the resulting corner.

Hibs lost their earlier fluency but were still a threat on the counter-attack, with Combe having to make an excellent save to push away a fierce strike from Zemmama.

Fletcher was then denied by another fine stop from Combe after more good set-up work from Zemmama.

Teenage left-back Paul Hanlon wasted a great chance to score his first Hibs goal when he made a mess of a header from Zemmama's corner.

Fletcher was then sent clear by a clever lofted pass from Zemmama and had the pace to race away from Grant Murray and find the net, despite Combe getting fingertips to the striker's shot.

Kilmarnock were deflated by the second goal and Shiels came close to extending Hibs' lead with a shot which shaved the outside of the post.

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock v Inverness CT
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 22nd March 08
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock midfielder Allan Johnston has recovered from a calf injury but Willie Gibson faces a late fitness test on a groin problem.

Paul Dalglish remains sidelined and defender Martyn Corrigan is still receiving treatment on an ankle injury.

Inverness pair Richard Hart and Steven Watt are both out having picked-up knocks in a midweek reserve match.

Striker Dennis Wyness may find his place under threat after criticism from manager Craig Brewster last weekend.

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock 4-1 Inverness CT

Craig Bryson scored a fine double as Kilmarnock came from a goal behind to record a convincing win over Inverness.
Ian Black gave Caley Thistle an early lead from the penalty spot after Frazer Wright clashed with Ross Tokely.

But Wright redeemed himself by tapping home following an Iain Flannigan free-kick just before the break.

Bryson fired in a quickfire long-range double before Flannigan volleyed home during a clinical first 18 minutes of the second half for Killie.

With Willie Gibson and Martyn Corrigan out injured, Flannigan and Tim Clancy had been given starts by Killie manager Jim Jefferies.

Inverness boss Craig Brewster left Dennis Wyness out of his squad altogether after falling out with the club's record goalscorer over contract issues.

Don Cowie and Richard Hastings were also dropped, with David Proctor, Iain Vigurs and Graham Bayne coming into the side.

Flannigan shot narrowly wide and, after the striker and collided with Inverness goalkeeper Michael Fraser, Mehdi Taouil lobbed the ball over the bar with the goal gaping.

But Inverness took the lead from the penalty spot after 14 minutes after Wright was adjudged to have bundled over Ross Tokely during a penalty-box scramble following a corner.

Black stepped up to sidefoot the ball into the right-hand corner of the net.

A Danny Invincibile header flashed just over the bar as Kilmarnock pressed for an equaliser.

And there were cries for a penalty when Invincibile's weaving run was ended cynically by Black.

But referee Stephen Finnie decided the foul was outside the box.

However, when Flannigan's fine free-kick came back off the post, Wright was on hand to tap home the equaliser to leave the teams level at the interval.

Killie looked to have a decent claim for a penalty three minutes after the break when Roy McBain appeared to handle the ball on his own goal-line after David Fernandez had slalomed his way into the box.

But Bryson rifled the ball past Fraser with a terrific right-footed effort from 25 yards out.

Grant Munro's wonderful interception denied Fernandez a tap-in.

But Bryson fired home again, his shot deflecting in off Phil McGuire.

Jefferies' side made the points safe when the majestic Taouil set up Fernandez and his cross was thumped into the roof of net by Flannigan.



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Kilmarnock: Combe, Lilley, Hay, Frazer Wright, Clancy, Fowler, Bryson (Morgan 88), Flannigan (Hamill 82), Taouil (Johnston 82), Invincibile, Fernandez.
Subs Not Used: Harpur, Wales, Di Giacomo, O'Leary.

Booked: Fernandez.

Goals: Frazer Wright 38, Bryson 50, 56, Flannigan 64.

Inverness CT: Fraser, Tokely, Vigurs (Hart 62), McGuire, Munro, Black, Proctor, Duncan, McBain (Imrie 73), Bayne, Niculae (McAllister 77).
Subs Not Used: Malkowski, Cowie, Hastings, Kerr.

Goal: Black 14 pen.

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock v Heart of Midlothian
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 5th April 08
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock midfielder Rhian Dodds, who has not featured since December, remains out due to a hernia problem.

Martyn Corrigan could return after an ankle problem, while there may be room on the bench for Paul Dalglish who has been out with a groin injury.

Hearts goalkeeper Steve Banks is "touch and go" because of illness, with Anthony Basso again on stand-by.

Defender Marius Zaliukas is also a doubt because of an infection while Andrew Driver is definitely out.



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Kilmarnock: (from) Combe, Gibson, Lilley, F Wright, Hay, Fowler, Hamill, Bryson, Flannigan, Taouil, Invincibile, Di Giacomo, Fernandez, Johnston, Locke, Wales, Rascle, O'Leary, Clancy, Corrigan, Dalglish.

Hearts: (from) Banks, Neilson, Goncalves, Berra, Stewart, Jonsson, Kingston, Palazuelos, Nade, Mikoliunas, Tall, Ksanavicius, Ivaskevicius, Elliot, Wallace, Basso, McGowan, Glen.

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock v Gretna
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 26th April 08
Rugby Park, Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock will be in similar lines to last week with the Rugby Park injury list remaining as it was.

Allan Johnston, Martyn Corrigan and Mehdi Taouil are out along with longer term absentees Alan Morgan, Frazer Wright, Craig Bryson and Willie Gibson.

Artur Krysiak will be given a chance to impress in Gretna's goal, with Greg Fleming being rested.

Ryan Baldacchino, Danny Hall and Steven Hogg also replace Brendan McGill, Rhys Meynell and Abdul Osman.



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Kilmarnock (from): Combe, Clancy, O'Leary, Lilley, Hay, Fernandez, Di Giacomo, Fowler, Locke, Hamill, Flannigan, Wales, Dalglish, Invincibile, Rascle, Ford, Murray, McInnes.

Gretna (from): Fleming, Griffiths, Skelton, Barr, Meynell, Osman, McGill, Wilkinson, Naughton, Kissock, Baldacchino, Krysiak, Deverdics, Hall, Hogg, Sharples, Shultz-Eklund, Taylor.

[DavidMc]

St Mirren v Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Satrurday 3rd May 08
Love Street Stadium

St Mirren will be without injured defenders Ian Maxwell and David van Zanten, while Hugh Murray is banned.

Mark Corcoran is out in the cold after agreeing a pre-contract with Hamilton.

Kilmarnock midfielder Allan Johnston has returned to training after recovering from a knock, but Mehdi Taouil is still doubtful.

Martyn Corrigan, Frazer Wright, Alan Morgan, Craig Bryson, Willie Gibson, Rhian Dodds and Tim Clancy are all out through injury.



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St Mirren (from): Howard, Barron, Haining, Potter, McCay, Hamilton, Dorman, Mason, Miranda, Molloy, Brady, McGinn, Dargo, Smith, Kean, Mehmet, Brittain, O'Donnell.

Kilmarnock (from): Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Ford, Hay, Invincibile, Hamill, Flannigan, Fernandez, Dalglish, Rascle, Locke, Wales, Murray, Di Giacomo, O'Leary, McInnes, Johnston.

[DavidMc]

Heart of Midlothian 0-2 Kilmarnock
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 10th May 08
Tynecastle Stadium

Kilmarnock sealed their first win since March thanks to two second-half goals at Tynecastle.

Hearts' Fernando Screpis missed the best opportunity of the first half when his shot was saved by Alan Combe.

Kilmarnock opened the scoring in the 74th minute when Grant Murray rose to head a David Fernandez corner into the net for his first goal for the club.

Substitute Paul Di Giacomo made sure of the win seven minutes from time when he fired home from a Paul Dalglish cross.

Hearts were looking to bounce back from Monday's 2-1 defeat at Falkirk while Kilmarnock approached the game having taken only three points from their previous five games.

Kilmarnock were first to threaten when David Lilley's left-foot shot drifted wide of Steve Banks' goal.


At the other end, Laryea Kingston tried to break the deadlock with a dipping shot that just missed the far post.

The visitors were looking to the pace of Dalglish on the wing to unlock the Hearts defence.

But, despite several crosses from the former Hibernian player, Kilmarnock failed to produce a meaningful effort on goal.

As half-time approached, Fernando Screpis missed an excellent chance to score his first goal for Hearts.

The Argentine, making his full debut for the Tynecastle side, was played in on goal by Eggert Jonsson, but his tame effort was comfortably saved by Kilmarnock keeper Combe.

David Fernandez was set up by Dalglish early in the second half, but his miss-hit shot landed at the feet of Mehdi Taouil, who fired off target.

Screpis then dispossessed Jamie Hamill and found Kingston, whose fierce effort from 25 yards drifted just over the bar.


Screpis continued to be heavily involved in the action and missed another chance when he sent his snap shot over.

Combe was then called on to prevent an own goal when Murray's misdirected header crept towards goal.

The breakthrough came 16 minutes from the end when Fernandez sent an inswinging corner onto the head of former Hearts defender Murray, who nodded home.

Fernandez was booked for his celebration following the goal, but it mattered little as Di Giacomo clinched victory late on.

The midfielder, who had replaced Allan Johnston, got on the end of Dalglish's cross and finished well past Hearts keeper Banks.

The victory was Kilmarnock's first away from home in the SPL since September.



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Hearts: Banks, Thomson, Karipidis, Zaliukas, Wallace, Screpis, Stewart (Mole 64), Jonsson (Ivaskevicius 57), Cesnauskis, Kingston, Glen.
Subs Not Used: Ridgers, Palazuelos, Goncalves, Rapnik, McGowan.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Murray, Lilley, Ford, Hay, Johnston (Di Giacomo 71), Fowler, Hamill, Taouil (Locke 87), Dalglish, Fernandez (Cox 87).
Subs Not Used: Rascle, Flannigan, McInnes, Anson.

Booked: Fernandez.

Goals: Murray 74, Di Giacomo 83.

[DavidMc]

Kilmarnock 2-1 St Mirren
Scottish Premier League
Saturday 17th My 08
Rugby Park Stadium

Paul Di Giacomo came off the bench to give Kilmarnock a last-day victory but could not prevent the Ayrshire side finishing second bottom in the SPL.

Pedro Moutinho put visiting Falkirk ahead with a fine drive from 25 yards.

By that time, Paul Dalglish had already squandered one of several chances that were to fall the veteran striker's way.

Mehdi Taouil's deflected shot pulled Killie level and, after a number of opportunities were passed up, Di Giacomo headed home after the break.

Falkirk had already secured seventh place, while Killie went into the game needing a win to have a chance of avoiding finishing eleventh.

Referee Alan Freeland marked his last game before retiring with a pre-match minute's applause in memory of former Kilmarnock and Celtic manager Tommy Burns.

But the reception was more muted from the home fans for the son of another Celtic legend as the game got underway.

Dalglish was picked out David Fernandez, but the former Norwich striker blasted over from 12 yards with only goalkeeper Robert Olejnik to beat.


And, a minute later, the Bairns made the home side pay for that miss when Moutinho picked up the ball 25 yards from goal, turned and drilled a low shot past flailing goalkeeper Alan Combe.

Fernandez set up Danny Invincibile, but the powerful drive from the forward making his return from illness went just wide of the post.

A Dalglish corner from the left caused panic in the Bairns box, the ball bouncing around before Chris Mitchell cleared off the line.


And the home side eventually drew level after 24 minutes, Jamie Fowler crossing for Taouil, whose deflected shot from the edge of the box fooled Olejnik.

The goalkeeper tried in vain to block the ball with his legs only to see it squirm over the line.

Dalglish again squandered a fine chance, heading weakly off target from eight yards following a wonderful cross from the impressive Fernandez.


Pedro Moutinho put Falkirk ahead at Rugby Park

Olejnik was forced into a decent save from Grant Murray's 16-yard drive.

Falkirk had a chance to steal the lead just before the break when defender Simon Ford had to retrieve his own mistake by blocking a goalbound shot from Bairns wide-man Carl Finnigan.

Kilmarnock were again the more dangerous after the break, Fowler firing wide after a powerful, 40-yard run.

Taouil set up Dalglish, but the striker again fired high and wide.

Invincibile was next to be wasteful, heading over from three yards from a Murray cross.

The Australian was denied by a fine block from Olejnik after being one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

It looked like Falkirk would escape with a point, but Di Giacomo headed in off the post following a Garry Hay cross with 10 minutes remaining.



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Kilmarnock: Combe, Murray, Hay, Lilley, Ford, Invincibile, Dalglish (Di Giacomo 61), Taouil (Johnston 89), Fowler, Fernandez (Cox 88), Hamill.
Subs Not Used: Rascle, Frazer Wright, Gibson, Flannigan.

Goals: Taouil 24, Di Giacomo 81.

Falkirk: Olejnik, Mitchell, Allison, Scobbie, Aafjes, Cregg (Latapy 58), McBride, Riera, Moutinho (Stewert 84), Higdon, Finnigan (Barrett 76).
Subs Not Used: Supple, Bradley, Arfield, Moffat.

Booked: McBride.

Goal: Moutinho 11.

[kenny hoggan]

Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies has signed Gretna midfielder Abdul Osman, who has agreed a two-year deal.

The 21-year-old had looked set to join League One outfit Northampton.

But Jefferies stepped in to persuade the midfielder to move from relegated Gretna, admitting: "We've kept an eye on him for a while.

"He's a big, powerful lad that can play in the middle of the park. He's got good feet, is a good passer of the ball and has a presence about him."

Englishman Osman joined Gretna after leaving Maidenhead last summer.

Gretna could go out of business this weekend if no buyer is found to rescue the club presently in administration.

And Osman is one of a number of players leaving the club even if they survive.

Club captain Paul Murray, midfielder Gavin Skelton and goalkeeper Greg Fleming are attracting interest from other clubs.

And loan signings Kyle Naughton, Ben Wilkinson, Artur Krysiak, Rhys Meynell and Rostyn Griffiths will to return to their respective clubs.

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Kilmarnock | Jefferies swoops to land Osman

[kenny hoggan]

Kilmarnock seal Russell transfer

Russell has sealed his switch to Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock have completed the signing of striker Allan Russell.

The Ayrshire club failed with a bid sign the 27-year-old in January but sealed the transfer after Airdrie United's last game of the season.

The former St Mirren player, who struck 26 goals this season, has moved to Rugby Park after his contract expired.

Killie manager Jim Jefferies said: "It's a two-year deal with the option of a third year if he meets certain criteria in the second season."

Russell's arrival will go some way to making up for the sale in January of Colin Nish to Hibernian.

But Jefferies stressed: "We still need another striker or maybe even two more as we need competition for places and some players may move on."

It is still uncertain whether the likes of Paul Di Giacomo and David Fernandez will remain at Rugby Park.

"There are one or two strikers where we had options on their contracts if they played a certain amount of games," Jefferies said.

"Injuries have stopped that happening. But, because of the season we have had, we are hoping to tie them up and renegotiate new contracts.

"If we can't agree terms, they will go where they accept better terms."

BBC SPORT | Football | My Club | Kilmarnock | Kilmarnock seal Russell transfer