Kilmarnock

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Manager Neil McCann admits Kilmarnock have "let fans down" with the start to their league campaign but is confident they can turn their fortunes around.

McCann helped Kilmarnock comfortably avoid relegation last season and his side navigated the group stage of the League Cup to set up a quarter-final tie against Aberdeen next weekend.

But the Ayrshire club have lost all four of their Premiership matches so far, and conceded 14 goals in the process, as they prepare for Saturday's trip to Pittodrie for their first of back-to-back meetings with Stephen Robinson's side.

"The only thing that removes the disappointment from the fans is winning games," McCann said.

"And it's not as if I'm moaning about it. I completely understand.

"The optimism was massive after last year. You know, we did something special last year when it looked like it was going to be a difficult season. We faced relegation, we did something special. We played some great football.

"And then the optimism comes when we make lots of signings, a turnaround, and they're thinking it's going to be a great start to the season. We're in a quarter-final of a cup.

"We've lost our first four league games, so that optimism has dampened a wee bit. But I'm completely still in a belief. And I have to be because I see them working hard.

"And I see that they're a group of guys that want to make the fans proud of their team. They want to see them coming back into Rugby Park. And we've let them down a wee bit with the results, certainly.

"But we'll go again against Aberdeen on Saturday.

"This has been a difficult start after four league games. We've not got any points yet.

"But I know there's enough in our dressing room that, once it clicks, and I'll say it again, it will click, we'll start motoring."

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• Aberdeen's Stephen Robinson has only lost more Scottish Premiership games as a manager against Celtic (21) and Rangers (20) than he has against Kilmarnock (12), although he has won two of his last three at home against Killie (D1).

• Kilmarnock are the only side without a point in the Scottish Premiership this season, losing all four of their games. The last club to lose each of their first five matches of a campaign in the division were Dundee in 2018-19.

• Aberdeen have lost 15 Scottish Premiership games in 2026, at least two more than any other side, including each of their last three in a row without scoring.

• Kilmarnock have lost nine of their last 10 league trips to Aberdeen, including their last four in a row since a 1-0 victory in December 2023 under Derek McInnes.

• Aberdeen have won four of their last five league meetings with Kilmarnock (L1), this after losing four of their previous five beforehand (W1).

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Kilmarnock have signed centre-back MJ Kamson-Kamara on loan from Hearts until January 2027.

The 20-year-old joined Hearts this summer from English outfit Lincoln City following an impressive loan spell with Northern Irish side Glentoran last term where he scored five goals in 31 appearances from defence.

Kamson-Kamara made his Hearts debut during their Europa League qualifier against Benfica last month.

He will now link up with Neil McCann's side and could make his debut on Saturday at Aberdeen.

Kilmarnock fans, we asked for your views on Wednesday's defeat to St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Gary: Once again giving teams a 1-0 start so early, it's as if the defence don't wake up until after the first five minutes. Slightly better performance but I never felt confident that we would equalise never mind get out first victory. Can't believe the manager is happy with this squad because it's looks like we'll be relegated by Christmas and if the defence keeps going the way it is we will concede over 100 goals.

Nick: I was apprehensive before the season started and it is unfortunately playing out the way I was concerned about. The team narrowly avoid relegation last season and, given the player ins/outs since then the team does not have the same quality

Ruairidh: Looking more and more like there is just a complete blind spot defensively within the coaching staff. Cannot understand how they are looking at the guys that are in the building and think they can set up the way that they do. Defensive recruitment has been a disaster as well.

Ross: I can't listen to Neil McCann talk about these wonderful training sessions they're having and the mentality of the squad when none of this translates to anything even remotely positive on the pitch. Worst start to a season ever, the fans deserve better than this bluster week in week out. Points at Pittodrie or he'll have fully lost the fans.

Ernie: There are no off the ball tactics at all. The change to a back three looked an impulse decision, absolutely no difference. Gaps between players are massive in and out of possession. St Mirren miles ahead of us in every way, if they had Joe Hugill up front they'd have been six up at half time. That was worse than anything Stuart Kettlewell ever served up. Players aren't the problem, there is no structure to support them and every mistake leads to a clear chance.

Martin: No plan, doesn't know his best 11, can't set up his team to defend and keeps repeating the same mistake. The only wee break Killie fans need is a new manager. Thanks for last season but do the honourable thing and walk as you have lost the fanbase.

Watch all the highlights as St Mirren continued their strong start to the season with a narrow victory against a struggling Kilmarnock side still searing for their first Premiership point. Available to UK users only.

Neil McCann was again left to rue Kilmarnock's defensive frailties as a home defeat by St Mirren left them without a point from their opening four Scottish Premiership matches of the campaign.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "You can see the boys are lacking a wee bit of confidence just now. Losing an early goal has been an Achilles heel.

"It's just trying to get them to understand there's a lot of time left in the game and I felt they got themselves back into the match. Dominated the second half without looking like we were going to get back to our best.

"We just need that bit of a break. It's hard sometimes. I felt it last year when I came in, to dig deep. The confidence is low.

"But they really stood up in the second half, really went at it. We've got to keep going, keep believing, preparing right. It'll turn for them, without question.

"I didn't have a go [at the players at half-time], I understand where they are. I need to be calm and not be emotional about the situation.

"I'm angry about conceding the goal, but it's about getting them to do the right things. I changed the shape tonight because I felt it would work, and at half-time it required them going back to a more familiar way of us playing and we did.

"We were brave in the second half, and I couldn't have any complaints for their efforts tonight. I know it's difficult [to keep the faith], but we want [the fans] to stay behind us."

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Kilmarnock defender Robbie Deas will have some scans after coming off injured in the first half against Dundee United on Saturday.

But attacker Ieuan Owen and midfielders Aaron Tshibola and Erik Ring are back in contention for St Mirren's Scottish Premiership visit on Wednesday.

St Mirren are without midfielder Liam Donnelly and winger Malik Dijksteel.

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• When the two sides last met in Premiership action, Kilmarnock came out on top 3-0 in Paisley last season. Findlay Curtis scored in the 46th and 68th minute with an own goal by the Buddies' Miguel Freckleton.

• Kilmarnock are unbeaten in the past four Premiership matches between the two sides. A win for St Mirren would be their first against Kilmarnock in the league since March 2025. Killie during that period have outscored the Buddies with nine goals for and three against.

• Hosts Kilmarnock have lost each of their two previous Premiership contests at Rugby Park this season. St Mirren were victorious in their only prior league contest away from home this season.

• In three league matches this season, Kilmarnock have three losses. St Mirren, meanwhile, have two wins and one draw.

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Djenairo Daniels counted every one of the days he was sidelined with a serious knee injury - all 244 of them.

The Dutch-born striker returned to action from the substitutes' bench in Kilmarnock's 4-0 home defeat by Dundee United on Saturday, his first minutes for more than 10 months.

Daniels required surgery after being injured making his international debut for Suriname in October.

"It's been tough," said the 24-year-old. "But all the people at the club, the fans, the team-mates, the staff - they've been amazing. I'm very grateful for them. They made it easy for me, to be honest.

"Some players, they put their heads down. I came here with a laugh and a smile every day. I worked hard every day."

Daniels joined Killie from Cork City last summer and scored four goals under former boss Stuart Kettlewell.

His form earned him an international call-up but his Suriname debut lasted just 20 minutes, sustaining his knee injury after coming on as a half-time substitute against Guatemala.

"The people that are cheering you on and telling you that everything is going to be all right and that you've become better and stronger, it gives you a good feeling," he explained.

And Daniels said of manager Neil McCann, who arrived at Kilmarnock in January: "Since he came here, while I was injured, he just gave me the confidence.

"I told him when I'll be back, I'll show him everything I have. I've been doing pretty well. I'm ready but everything is just in the coach's hands."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

I was going to write this column on Saturday night after the Dundee United game but I simply couldn't find enough swear words to describe our performance.

Neil McCann was nippy to BBC Scotland's Jonathan Sutherland after the cup win over Ayr United when asked about our propensity for losing goals.

It's time for him to take the blinkers off and accept what all Killie fans can see - his system simply isn't working.

Our defence is hugely exposed when we lose the ball in the opposition half and they can break on us at will.

I feel sorry for the players who are being told to play a system they don't look comfortable with.

It's time to ditch the two up top and get an extra body in the middle of the park to offer some protection. Joe Hugill is fine playing the lone striker role and we can introduce some width that will also offer some cover to the full-backs.

We have three games in the next ten days starting with St Mirren on Wednesday night, a game we simply must win.

One or two more heavy defeats and McCann could find himself back in a studio shouting at Tom English.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Neil McCann insists "there's no panic" at Kilmarnock after three defeats out of three Scottish Premiership matches.

Killie have conceded 13 goals over losses to St Johnstone, Celtic and Dundee United, the latter of which won 4-0 at Rugby Park on Saturday.

McCann took over at Kilmarnock in January and helped the Ayrshire side stave off any relegation fears.

"Look, there's no panic in here, I understand the frustration of our fans, they want to see a positive start to the season in the league, we haven't given them that but make no mistake about it, this season is geared for a real strong season," McCann said.

"It's important that [the players] get the belief and sometimes that will only come from results, they believe what they're doing but they must take the responsibility to make that happen. Of course they believe they are a good side.

"My belief has not changed, my driver has not changed and the players know that I'm always confident. We're going to play in a way that I want to excite the fans."

The concession of goals is not so much a "concern" but "a very big annoyance", says McCann.

And he is "calm" about Kilmarnock's current situation, citing Wednesday's opponents St Mirren's Sunday 3-3 draw with Motherwell.

"Let's take St Mirren at the weekend, at 2-0 [to Motherwell] it could have quite easily been five," McCann explained.

"Within 10 minutes the shift in that whole mindset of two teams was enormous, you could see it, the sway of change in terms of St Mirren got a goal and then they got another and then they got a third and then they went to half-time and they're a completely different side.

"There are moments in football games, that's why I'm quite calm about it. There's moments in a game that can change but more often than not you have to make those moments and I believe we've got enough guys in the team that can make those moments without a question and it's having the belief; it's exercising that belief and making something happen for the right reasons."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Scottish Premiership meeting with St Mirren at Rugby Park. Here are the key points.

• McCann says it was a "busy night for me, Saturday, busy day yesterday" following Saturday's 4-0 Scottish Premiership defeat at home to Dundee United, but feels United's Bert Esselink should have been sent off.

• The manager says the goals Killie are losing are not necessarily a "concern" but are "a very big annoyance" but he is not "getting carried away" after three league games. He "completely" trusts the work he is doing and insists the directions given to his players remains unchanged.

• McCann accepts supporters are "justified in their criticism of our performance and our results".

• The Killie boss believes his players must "get the belief" and "must take responsibility" to improve results but adds, "the panic comes from the outside, panic's not coming inside".

• On St Mirren, McCann highlights the "shift" in mindset of the Buddies and Motherwell in Sunday's 3-3 draw and says such moments make him "calm" about Killie's current situation.

• McCann believes St Mirren counterpart Craig McLeish has "been really brave" in his approach and is delighted he has been given his opportunity in Paisley.

• The Kilmarnock manager has not "even thought" about transfers because of Wednesday's game but adds: "The club are always looking for potential but whether our budgets stretch to that, I'm not sure."

• Team news: defender Robbie Deas is still being assessed after coming off injured against United; forward Ieuan Owen and midfielders Erik Ring and Aaron Tshibola are back.

Former Scotland captain Scott Brown assesses Kilmarnock's struggles in the Scottish Premiership so far this season.

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann is full of belief in his squad, despite three defeats in their opening three Premiership games.

Saturday's 4-0 defeat at home to Dundee United made it 13 goals conceded in those three matches with Killie sitting bottom of the Premiership table.

But the Ayrshire club have been relatively busy this summer, they've added seven permanent signings this summer and signed a further two players on loan.

When asked if he was hopeful of adding reinforcements before the transfer deadline on Thursday evening, McCann said: "I'm not even thinking about that right now, to be honest.

"I still completely believe in this squad and that what we're doing will bear fruit. I'm positive of that.

"I know it looks a bit vulnerable. When we concede a goal, you can see that maybe knocks us. But we need to just find that little bit of steel.

"I said to the players, you'll be asked questions because of the goals we've conceded. The goal difference doesn't look that pretty right now.

"The squad we've assembled is more than good enough to start picking up wins and, once we do, then we'll catch fire.

"We've had three defeats in the league but I'm convinced by what we've got. They just need to make sure that they're performing.

"The manner in which we want to play, I think, will get us great results. But that's not enough. If you want to play like that, you just need to show so much more."

Watch the best of the action from Rugby Park as Dundee United thrash Kilmarnock 4-0 for their first league win of the season. (Available to UK users only)

Killie fans, we asked for your views after Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Dundee United.

Here's what some of you said:

Frank: Only one word to describe the performance. Pathetic. Completely devoid of any ideas all through the team. Neil McCann is trying out the midfield triangle which obviously does not work. Advice to McCann and his team, get back to basics 3-5-2, 4-4-2 formations or empty your desks and leave before you drag us down any further.

Johnny: Kilmarnock's defence and midfield tampered with again. No consistency and lack of any real defensive prowess, awareness, fight and aggression needed to contain an average Dundee United. Killie have no team spirit and are devoid of any passion across the pitch. Poor display all round, get your act together lads.

Anna: Totally inept performance matched with atrocious defending on our part. I know it's early in the season but to concede 13 goals in three games is a disgrace. Let's hope we manage to get a good solid central defender in before the transfer window closes because we sure as hell need to plug our porous defence and fast.

Iain: Clearly the diamond formation does not work as the goal count shows. The defence is MIA and the strikers have gone on strike. What you are left with is the hustle and bustle of midfield with little end result.

Eddie: Taxing for McCann. 13 goals in three games says it all, is our manager stubborn or just clueless? Persevering with a system his players cannot play or aren't good enough for. That Will Ferry ran 50 yards with nobody getting near tells its own story.

Gary: Looking back to 12 month ago this current squad is actually worse, which is shocking. We have been crying out for better defenders and unless we get any in over the next few days then it's curtains for Killie. After a great end of season it's looking like the manager has not got a clue.

A sensational first-half performance helped Dundee United to a resounding Scottish Premiership victory in manager Jim Goodwin's absence against pointless Kilmarnock.

MATCH REPORT

HAVE YOUR SAY

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Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "I'm angry. I'm apologetic to the fans.

"We started the game fine then we concede a really poor goal from a set piece. Then the second one, just a bit maybe inexperience. The third one's a cracker. We started the second period well and lost a fourth goal.

"Too many goals conceded. We have lost poor goals again. It does stunt us a wee bit in terms of how we want to play and need to adjust.

"It's not a brilliant day at Rugby Park, to say the least. That's a sore one to take. The time for me to stop talking is probably now and then we look forward to try to put things right for Wednesday night [at home to St Mirren].

"It's very easy right now to be emotional about it. The guys know my feelings on their performance. I expect a reaction from us come Wednesday night.

"Words are cheap right now for me, to the fans and we'll get back to work tomorrow."