Kilmarnock

St Johnstone's Scottish Premiership survival has been left hanging by a thread after Kilmarnock brushed them aside at McDiarmid Park to move closer to safety.

A fine strike from young midfielder David Watson had the visitors ahead, before Danny Armstrong's second-half penalty extended the gap between the sides.

Killie are six points above the relegation play-off spot and, having won back-to-back games, will feel a lot more comfortable about their chances of staying up.

What did you make of Kilmarnock's performance? Who stood out for you in the win?

What did you make of Danny Armstrong's passionate celebration, as well?

Let us know your thoughts here.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "The pitch is really difficult. People slag our pitch but that is really difficult for the players to try and connect.

"We tried to play the conditions, take the anxiety out of it. We could have been more effective with our work but we got a brilliant first goal. We saw the importance of another midfielder arriving late in the box.

"Davie [Watson] has the quality to get on the road, a brilliant finish from the wee fella. We were good in the game, in terms of being quite calm. But we gave them too much encouragement. Too many balls were coming into our box, so we made a change at half time.

"We knew the second goal didn't need to come but ultimately you still want it. We were able to breathe easy, it put pressure on them and it we stayed strong within our structure. It was a very mature, professional performance and the exact one that was needed.

"It doesn't need to be dramatic, we don't need to be brilliant, we just need to be steady with our work.

"We've got Stuart Findlay back, Kyle Vassell back in, Matty Kennedy on the bench today - all of a sudden we have a bit more strength about us, a bit more knowhow, and that showed in the performance.

"I don't know if we're safe, we can't say that with mathematic certainty, but we took a huge step towards that. I wasn't thinking about relegation, it's always been about trying to catch the teams above us."

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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Winless in their last 12 away games, and 10 defeats in that time, it was about time Kilmarnock turned up on the road.

The 2-0 win over Motherwell at the start of April gave Derek McInnes' side some confidence, as did the victory over Ross County last weekend.

They turned up with that confidence, starting on the front foot and rarely letting up. The restoration of Watson to the midfield was long overdue and he repaid the confidence finally shown in him.

It's a bit of a mystery why he was jettisoned in January, having only started six league games since. One of Kilmarnock's brightest prospects, his exclusion baffled fans and pundits alike.

Back to the league and Killie fans are wise enough to know that it's not done until it's done, but they will sleep a little easier tonight.

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David Watson. Why hasn't the young midfielder been a regular in the team since January? He added energy and impetus in the Killie midfield that has been lacking at times this season.

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St Johnstone remain without Zach Mitchell (hamstring), Drey Wright (ankle) and long-term absentees Bozo Mikulic (knee) and Sam McClelland (Achilles).

Kilmarnock midfielder Brad Lyons will probably miss the game with a groin problem and Joe Wright will miss out with a hip injury. Kyle Magennis is back running and looking to join in training next week following his recovery from a knee injury.

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Lewis Mayo emphasised the importance of handling the pressure as Kilmarnock hope to keep their place in the Premiership.

Derek McInnes' side are ninth, just one point ahead of Dundee and nine above bottom-placed St Johnstone, who they face on Saturday.

But they're going into the weekend's game off the back of a 2-0 victory over Ross County last week.

"You can't get swallowed by pressure," Mayo said.

"There's no doubt that the pressure is there, but it's not a bad thing. It means there's something worth playing for.

"We've had a few big results during my time here but I'd say last week was probably the most important week in terms of results and handling that pressure. Everyone has a real sense of belief after a result like that.

"So for the boys that have experienced that, that will help us as well. One of the most important things with these games is staying positive and calm as well.

"I thought last week that by no means were we at our best but we were calm. It was a professional performance and we did what we needed to do to win the game."

Derek McInnes' men face a St Johnstone side fighting for their lives at the bottom of the Premiership table.

Simo Valakari's team are six points off Ross County in 10th with just four games to go.

"Time is running out for them and going to their ground, we've got to understand that they're going to give it everything," Mayo added.

"So we need to be ready for that as well.

"They're going to throw everything they've got at us. They might try and change a wee bit from what they do, but the last time we played them they didn't change much about the set-up and their approach.

"You don't want to rely on other results all the time. In our heads, it's just a case of doing it as fast as we can and keeping that belief that we can do it. It's in our hands."

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Opening the scoring in last weekend's 2-0 win over Ross County, Bruce Anderson became the first Kilmarnock player to reach 10 goals in a Premiership campaign since Eamonn Brophy's 11 in 2018-19.

Not bad for a forward who has only made 11 league starts.

Back-to-back home wins have come at the right time for Killie, who have two more matches to come at Rugby Park, but the Ayrshire side have eked out a mere nine points on the road all season - the lowest points tally in the division.

They have lost six in a row on the road, last losing seven in 2021, when they went down.

Six points adrift, St Johnstone are deep into 'must win' territory and can take heart from beating Kilmarnock in five of the past six league games played in Perth.

Anderson tends to get overlooked against teams in the top half of the table, so he should be licking his lips at the prospect of more time on the pitch in these post-split games.

He could also do with improving his record against Saints, since he has managed to hit the net just twice in 16 appearances, only scoring fewer against Celtic (0) and Hearts (1) among sides he has faced six+ times.

Read all the Premiership picks here

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• St Johnstone have won five of their past six Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock, with the exception a 2-0 defeat in April 2024.

• Kilmarnock have won three of their past five league meetings with St Johnstone (L2), as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W3 D3 L7).

• St Johnstone have won three of their past five home league games (D1 L1), one more than across their previous 20 beforehand (W2 D5 L13). The Perth side could win back-to-back home matches in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since December 2023.

• Kilmarnock have lost their past six away league games, last losing seven in a row on the road in the Scottish Premiership in May 2021 under Tommy Wright en route to relegation.

• Bruce Anderson is the first player to score 10+ goals in a Scottish Premiership season for Kilmarnock since Eamonn Brophy in 2018-19 (11). However, Anderson has scored just two goals in 16 appearances against St Johnstone in the competition, only scoring fewer against Celtic (0) and Hearts (one) among sides he had faced 6+ times.

Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales has agreed a pre-contract deal with Swansea City and the Scottish Premiership club will receive around £300,000 in compensation for the 19-year-old. (Scottish Sun), external

Bobby Wales has agreed a four-year contract with Swansea City and the Kilmarnock striker is scheduled to travel to Wales for his medical next week. (Daily Record), external

Read the rest of Friday's Scottish gossip.

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Derek McInnes has warned Kilmarnock must be ready to "fight fire with fire" against a St Johnstone side who are in "last chance saloon".

Saints are six points adrift of second-bottom Ross County with just four games left.

But Killie, who sit ninth, are taking nothing for granted at McDiarmid Park on Saturday as they look to move further clear of trouble with just a third away win of the season.

"If I was the St Johnstone manager, I'd still feel we had a real chance," said McInnes.

"I feel that when you hear Simo [Valakari] speak, he's full of belief and full of encouragement for his players to believe that they can get a result.

"And they'll be thinking that if they can go and win the next couple of games, then they're right back in it.

"I think Motherwell are now the only team in the bottom six who can breathe a bit easier after their win last weekend and there's still work for us all to do and we are well aware of that.

"St Johnstone are possibly in the last chance saloon in terms of winning games, but we're well aware of their threats.

"St Johnstone can beat us on any given day, they've shown that this season and they can beat other teams.

"They are a team that puts bodies forward. They've got good players and I think a lot of their best players are probably attacking players.

"So with that in mind I think, you normally see an attacking approach from St Johnstone and I firmly believe that will be the case.

"They will come right after us, they will see this as a big chance for them, they are at home and we have got to be ready to fight fire with fire, as we will do."

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Derek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Kilmarnock's trip to face St Johnstone on Saturday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• McInnes wants to build on a "good win" over Ross County but is wary of bottom club Saints who are in "last chance saloon".

• He adds: "They'll be thinking that if they can go and win the next couple of games, then they're right back in it."

• McInnes is "well aware" his side can't "breathe easy" and still have work to do to secure survival: "When you play teams in and around you it's like trying to cut each other's throat. Three points is great for your own but also damaging your opponent. Every game is vitally important."

• St Johnstone's recent win over Celtic showed how dangerous they can be and Killie "have to be mindful" of the Perth side's attacking threat.

• Finishing top of the bottom six is Killie's target: "We'll have to show some really good form to do that and pick up some points on the road."

• An away win in Perth in would mean McInnes' side can't automatically be relegated: "I just think a Killie win relieves a bit of anxiety around everybody at the club and we can just look forward to the last few games. For any team that doesn't win their next fixture the pressure builds."

• Brad Lyons is set to miss out with a groin problem. Kyle Magennis is back running and could return to training next week ahead of schedule which would be a "huge bonus for us".

• On Killie's Youth Cup final win: "Really pleased. It illustrates the good work being down by everybody in the academy but particularly Chris Burke and Gary Irvine with the 18s team. They've done brilliant.

• McInnes adds: "It's great, a shot in the arm for any academy when you win silverware. It's normally bigger clubs than us that win the Youth Cup. We've got some good talented players within that. Captain Ben Brannan, who has been on loan at Inverness, has signed a new deal and will be a big part of the first-team squad."

Jack Herrall
BBC Sport Scotland

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Danny Armstrong made his 150th appearance for Kilmarnock at the weekend as they took another step towards Scottish Premiership survival.

Derek McInnes' side are three points clear of second-bottom Ross County, and nine above St Johnstone. Killie are buoyed by a commanding 2-0 win at home to the Staggies and travel to face the beleaguered Perth Saints this weekend.

Despite a lacklustre campaign following his sensational form last season, Armstrong may still be the player to keep the Rugby Park side in the Premiership before his expected departure as a free agent this summer.

With two assists and a goal - albeit a consolation against Celtic - in his past three appearances, he is proving to be a key part of a Killie side fighting for every point at the foot of the table.

The 27-year-old has the fourth-most assists in the top flight with six this season and has been deployed across a variety of positions, primarily wide right midfield with licence to roam further forward.

Armstrong's attacking numbers show he is a player still performing well above average when compared to midfielders and attackers in the Premiership.

Pinning down the best position to compare Armstrong with - midfielders or attackers - isn't easy, but he exceeds both in various categories.

His tally of 38 shots is nearly double the league average for attackers and his expected assists total is 5.22 compared to the average of 1.36 for midfielders.

He has created 16 chances from set-pieces, while the league average for a midfielder is 2.95. He's won possession 10 times in the final third, double the average for a forward, which is testament to his determined pressing under McInnes.

Players have outperformed him, yes, but for a hybrid winger, wing-back and inside attacker who has had a stop-start season, Armstrong's numbers show he is more than capable of dragging Killie to safety.

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes is the obvious choice for Hearts as they seek a new manager, says former Tynecastle midfielder Michael Stewart. (Scottish Football Social Club via Daily Record, external)

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

Watch the goals as Kilmarnock defeat Dundee 2-0 in the Scottish Youth Cup final at Hampden.

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Kilmarnock won the Scottish Youth Cup for the first time since 2004 after defeating Dundee with a goal in each half.

Killie took the lead from a Grant Marchant corner with Duncan Barlow stooping to apply the headed finish from close range.

Reuben Cooper's strike deflected off the head of Charley Oosenburgh and into the net for the clinching goal.

Archie Traynor headed home in added time but there would be no third Kilmarnock goal with the offside flag raised.

Cole Burke, son of Killie B's head coach and former Scotland winger Chris Burke, featured as the Ayrshire club celebrated their second success in the tournament.

Kilmarnock first team manager Derek McInnes and Dundee counterpart Tony Docherty were in attendance at Hampden.

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It will come as little surprise to anyone that the latest attempt at reconstruction of the Scottish Premiership has failed to get off the ground.

A change from the current 12-team set-up to one of 10, 14 or 16 were the options being discussed but the SPFL said "there was no reasonable prospect of achieving consensus".

Maintaining the status quo is a consequence of there being "no perfect option" for change, according to The Herald football writer Stephen McGowan.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish football podcast, McGowan said: "If you look at the options for expanding the Premiership, for 14 you would have to have probably a top six and a bottom eight and a different number of fixtures. So that's less than ideal.

"Look at the 16, which is the one that supporters really want. But Neil Doncaster has been saying consistently that you would then have to find a way to still preserve your four Celtic v Rangers games because Sky sports are not a charity. They're a subscription network who want to get the biggest numbers for games. So they want more Celtic and Rangers games.

"So it's how you square that circle with the 16 that's the problem. So it's not so much I don't think there's no great desire for expansions. There's no such thing as a perfect option and one that they can all vote for. That's the problem basically."

Former Scotland defender Maurice Ross, meanwhile, has accused Premiership clubs of "self-preservation".

"If they're going to remain the same, okay, let's put two clubs [automatically] down then and have a third-place play-off," said Ross.

"And we'll see what the reaction is of the clubs in four or five years' time. Then they'll want reconstruction."

Sandy Armour
Fan writer

There really is a stark difference between top and bottom six and reality hit home as I took my seat for the Ross County game last Saturday.

A year ago we were praying we would be visiting some of Europe's beautiful cities and that dream incredibly came true. On Saturday thoughts turned to Arbroath on a Friday night with howling gales and hungry seagulls.

Hopefully our solid win against the Dingwall strugglers set the tone for our remaining four games and sets us up for a strong finish from what has been a disappointing season.

Young David Watson was man of the match although he wasn't in the original starting XI. Brad Lyons was injured in the warm-up and that allowed the Prestwick Pirlo to step in and display the type of commitment and passion that rubbed off on his team-mates.

I'm not sure why the manager has used him so sparingly this season but if my sizeable butt was in the manager's chair he'd be starting every week.

Unfortunately we are away from home this weekend as we travel to Perth but maybe the confidence gained from Saturday can spark a rare win on the road.

Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine.

Watch the Sportscene panel analyse Kilmarnock's chances of survival after their win over Ross County on Saturday.

Jonathan Sutherland
Sportscene presenter

Kilmarnock put three points between themselves and Ross County with a 2-0 win over the Staggies on Saturday and they've got two players in my team of the week as a result.

Influential defender Stuart Findlay played a key role in the clean sheet, while there was a steadfast display from midfielder Liam Donnelly, who delivered a goal.

Watch highlights as Kilmarnock pick up a vital win against Ross County.

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Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly has called for the squad to retain their focus after earning an important three points in their 2-0 win over Ross County.

The Northern Irishman scored his first goal of the season to seal a win that moves the Ayrshire side three points clear of County, who drop to the play-off position.

Victory also delivered a considerable nine-point cushion over bottom-placed St Johnstone, who they visit next weekend.

"We know obviously the job's not done," Donnelly told BBC Scotland.

"We know we still need to keep our focus for the St Johnstone game, get a good week this week leading up to that and we'll go there looking to get another [result].

"It's a great result for us. All the results, if we can get them, are going to be massive at this point of the season."

After a slow start from both sides, with limited chances, Derek McInnes' side got a crucial advantage when Danny Armstrong delivered for Bruce Anderson to nod home at the back post.

Kilmarnock became increasingly convincing with Donnelly's second delivering a deserved win.

"Obviously getting the first goal gives us a bit of relief almost, sort of relaxed everybody," Donnelly added.

"You can go and start getting about your work a bit more relaxed and we knew coming in at half time it would be ideal to go out and get a second.

With just one goal this term, Donnelly is hardly renowned for the art of goalscoring but showed great skill and determination to cleverly beat a number of defenders before finishing in style.

"It's something the coaching staff have have been speaking about, trying to get a few midfielders on the edge of the box more often, chipping in with a few goals," he explained.

"It's been a while since I got one myself so I'm delighted to get on the scoresheet again."

We asked for your views on Kilmarnock's 2-0 win against Ross County.

Here's what some of you said:

John: Good display and a great result, same again next week would be great, we need a win.

James: A good disciplined performance. County were never able to put us under any sustained pressure. They didn't have a shot on target until the 83rd minute. David Watson did very well having to step in when Brad Lyons got injured. Hopefully another two wins will see us safe.

Gary: Very scrappy first 20 minutes but Killie started to settle, great cross from Danny Armstrong and goal from Bruce Anderson - we can't let him leave. In the second half Killie should have been out of sight before Liam Donnelly scored a great goal.

Robert M: This was more like the Killie of last season. Solid at the back with no crazy mistakes costing us goals. Hard working all over the pitch and two good goals. Great to see Danny back playing like we know he can and the difference having Stuart Findlay back is enormous. Very happy man.

Robert J: Good steady performance and a clean sheet.