Kilmarnock

Killie fans, were you at Rugby Park or following the match from home?

Either way, we want your views on the game – have your say here.

Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "We were much improved in the second half. First half, I thought Hearts were the better side. Their change of shape threw us a wee bit.

"That said, we had good moments in the first half but we needed an extra midfielder in there. We still fell short of our levels. I’ve got to compliment Hearts, they are a good side.

"I thought the subs helped us. At this point of the season, you have to have that extra edge but we looked a bit leggy at times. We’ve not played since a few weeks ago, but we stay unbeaten. Another clean sheet.

"We take our point but there is a recognition we need and want to be better than that.

"Great credit to the players. To be on 52 points at this point is huge. Even if we were not at our best today but you can see the competitiveness and spirit of the team.

"The fans' connection with the team has been brilliant. Towards the end of the game in particular, they were getting behind the team. Once the top six fixtures come, it’s difficult to win games because you’re playing the best teams."

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When both sets of supporters applaud their side off after a goalless draw, they've either witnessed a cracking game of football despite the dearth of goals or, as is the case here, they've seen enough progress throughout the term that they're happy to tick the 'good season' box. That certainly applies to both these sides, who've confirmed their status as third and fourth best in the league as things stand right now, and it may well be the case come the end of the season. Hearts certainly won't be caught for third, and will feel hard done to that they didn't claim all three points after a first half showing in which they twice hit the Kilmarnock bar.

After the break, Kilmarnock were better, ditching the first half 4-4-2 by sacrificing defender Robbie Deas and bringing on Brad Lyons to beef up the midfield. But for a fine late save from Zander Clark to deny Marley Watkins, Killie could have been leaving with all three points. They'll have to settle for one and can look forward to big games against Celtic and Rangers as they look to get their passports out for some European football next season.

Goalkeeper Will Dennis kept a third straight clean sheet in the Killie net, pulling out a number of saves to keep the Hearts goal count at zero.

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Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes makes one change after defeating St Johnstone a fortnight ago at McDiarmid Park.

Young midfielder David Watson had been brought in for the win in Perth in place of full-back Robbie Deas as McInnes shook up his shape to counter act the Saints' tactical system.

With McInnes now reverting back to his tried and tested 4-4-2, Deas comes back into the starting XI in place of Watson.

Follow our live coverage here.

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Image source, BBC Sport

Kilmarnock: Dennis, Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Deas, Armstrong, Donnelly, Polworth, Kennedy, Watkins, Vassell.

Substitutes: O'Hara, Ndaba, McKenzie, Lyons, Watson, Murray, Cameron, Mackay-Steven, Van Veen.

Heart of Midlothian: Clark, Kingsley, Kent, Rowles, Lembikisa, Baningime, Devlin, Grant, Cochrane, Vargas, Shankland.

Substitutes: Gordon, Oda, Forrest, McKay, Sibbick, Denholm, Tait, Fraser, Tagawa.

Image source, BBC Sport

Former Scotland striker Kris Boyd includes Lewis Mayo in his Premiership team of the season and reckons Steve Clarke will be thinking about the Kilmarnock defender for a possible place in the Euro 2024 squad. (Scottish Sun), external

Read the rest of Saturday's Scottish gossip.

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Kilmarnock expect to be without Tom Davies, Kyle Magennis and Greg Stewart.

Hearts continue to be without Liam Boyce, Craig Halkett, Peter Haring and Calem Nieuwenhof.

Hearts must put the disappointment of their defeat by Rangers at Hampden behind them if they are to end in-form Kilmarnock's lingering hopes of denying them a third-place finish that has for so long seemed inevitable.

Kilmarnock won the corresponding fixture 2-1 a year ago, but since then, they have failed to win any of their four meetings, drawing both visits to Tynecastle.

Steven Naismith's side have come out top twice already at Rugby Park - once in the League Cup and once in the Premiership.

Another win in Ayrshire would secure third spot and also match their best points total since 2016.

Kilmarnock, though, are unbeaten in four games, are seeking to win three consecutive Premiership matches for the first time since October 2020 and have only lost once - to Rangers - in their latest 11 home games.

They could also qualify for European competition for the first time in four years depending on their own result and St Mirren's on Sunday.

Who comes out on top could have much to do with who wins the head-to-head battle between Lawrence Shankland and a Killie defence seeking a third successive blank.

The Scotland striker has found the net 21 times and assisted in four others in the Premiership this season, which means he has been involved in 54.3% of Hearts' league goals.

The 28-year-old is the only player to be directly involved in at least half of his side's goals in the division during this campaign.

Read all the weekend's Premiership picks

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Robbie Deas says Derek McInnes' insistence on shifting his position has forced him to grow as a player since joining Kilmarnock.

The 24-year-old arrived in Ayrshire from Inverness last summer and has featured across a back five at various points in the season.

Having impressed in the Championship, Deas had multiple suitors, but was won over by McInnes' vision for the Rugby Park club.

"First game of the season, at home to Rangers, I started and played really well, I got man of the match," the defender said.

"I signed here for games like that, to get the club into the positions we're in right now, battling for a European spot.

"I knew after speaking to the manager in the summer that there was a rebuild on and the club was on the up.

"I've played in a few positions and he's given me the belief to do what I can in each position. I've played left wing-back, left-back, middle of a three. It's just helped me get better as the season's gone on."

Kilmarnock could secure European football this weekend if they beat Hearts and Dundee lose at Celtic.

After creating a comfortable cushion on fourth, Deas insists his side won't let up as they look to cross the line and secure a trip to the continent.

"There's no point in taking our foot off the gas," he said. "We didn't work this hard to get to this positive and then stop in the last few games.

"We'll go into every game to win, we've done that all season and you can see the results we've picked up. We're in our position on our own merit."

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• Kilmarnock have won just one of their last six league meetings with Hearts (D3 L2), a 2-1 victory in April 2023.

• Hearts have won three of their last six Scottish Premiership away trips to Kilmarnock (D1 L2), more than their previous 12 top-flight visits beforehand (W2 D5 L5).

• Kilmarnock have won both of their last two league games, last winning three in a row within a single season in the Scottish Premiership in October 2020.

• Hearts have won 62 points in the Scottish Premiership this season, their most in a campaign in the division since 2015-16 (65).

• Lawrence Shankland has scored (21) or assisted (four) 54.3% of Hearts’ Scottish Premiership goals this season (25/46), the only player to be directly involved in at least half of his side’s goals.

Kilmarnock striker Bobby Wales has emerged as a potential summer transfer target for both Torino and Venezia after the 18-year-old impressed with 13 goals in 24 appearances on loan to Alloa Athletic. (Football Scotland), external

Read the rest of Thursday's Scottish gossip.

The push for European football is on and Killie get their post-split campaign under way with a visit from third-placed Hearts.

Who should be given the nod to start at Rugby Park on Sunday?

Put yourself in Derek McInnes' shoes and pick your XI here.

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Kilmarnock assistant manager Paul Sheerin has hailed the impact of boss Derek McInnes after leading Kilmarnock from the Championship to the brink of European football.

When the former Aberdeen manager arrived at Rugby Park in January 2022, there were fears the Ayrshire side wouldn't make a rapid return to the top flight.

Having secured promotion and steered the club to save safety last term, Sheerin believes his long-term colleague deserves recognition for his work.

“The has gaffer continually built squads season after season to compete at the top level of the Scottish Premiership,” he said.

“He’s proven that again this season. I’d be surprised if he’s not recognised at some stage.

“There’s a feel-good factor (amongst the fans), we can’t get away from that, but we’re not daft enough to not know that it can turn quickly.”

Fourth-placed Kilmarnock host Hearts, who can wrap up third, on Saturday.

If Killie win and sixth-placed Dundee lose to Celtic on Sunday, McInnes’ men can finish no lower than fifth, which secures football in European competition come the summer.

“We’ll continue to set targets and Europe’s the biggest one for us now,” said Sheerin.

“To achieve that off the back of where we were at this stage last season would be excellent for the club.

“Habits being bred in football is huge. If you manage habits and get into a way of winning games and getting about your work properly, that certainly helps.

Sheerin admits he was “slightly” surprised that no Kilmarnock players were selected in the PFA Scotland Premiership team of the year.

“Obviously you sit here from a biased point of view and there’s certain players who have shown good numbers and players you think probably could’ve been recognised,” he added.

“But you’re understanding there’s a lot of good quality in Scotland and these are all opinions.”

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Kilmarnock assistant manager Paul Sheerin has been speaking to the media ahead of his side's meeting with third-placed Hearts on Saturday.

Here are the key points:

• Highlights Derek McInnes' contribution to the club, saying the manager deserves recognition for how far he's taken the Ayrshire side since arriving at Rugby Park.

• The club is enjoying the "feelgood factor" at the moment but are fully aware it can turn quickly so they can't be complacent.

• Says they want to secure European football as soon as possible, which could come this weekend if Killie win and Dundee lose.

• Admits he was "slightly surprised" no Kilmarnock players were included in the PFA Scotland Premiership team of the year.

• There is no update on a contract extension for striker Marley Watkins, who has scored 13 goals this season.

• Greg Stewart is unavailable at the weekend, as is long-term absentee Kyle Magennis.

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With the involvement of injured duo Nathan Patterson and Aaron Hickey at Euro 2024 very much in doubt, Steve Clarke could have a problem to solve at right-wing back.

Perhaps the Scotland boss only has to look at his previous employer to find a potential solution.

Kilmarnock's Danny Armstrong has been a standout at Rugby Park this term, playing either as a right-wing back or winger in Derek McInnes' Europe-chasing side.

The 26-year-old has provided 10 assists and scored six goals in the Premiership this term, all while creating 78 chances across 33 games.

Speaking on the Scottish Football Podcast, coach and analyst John Walker "could see Armstrong as a wildcard".

"I could see it just because he's got flexibility in different positions," Walker adds.

"He allows you to play him as a wing-back and he allows you to have an actual winger in the squad, which we're desperately lacking and don't have to maybe change the system.

"But I think Hickey will still be there. I know he won't have played [for Brentford], but he'll be there and he'll play."

There was a story circulating a few months ago that clubs would be asked to vote to outlaw plastic pitches in the Premiership.

Reports this week suggest that vote is going to be put on hold.

I would choose grass pitches all day long, but all the squealing from defeated managers about the 'plastic fantastic' is laughable.

Prior to Stevie Clarke coming to the Theatre of Pies, our home record was abysmal and there was very little said about the surface.

Since then our record has greatly improved and coincidentally so have the excuses from managers who won't take responsibility for their own shortcomings.

It looks like Livingston are away this season so we are the only plastic loves left before moving back to grass for the 2025-26 season.

Hearts visit this weekend after a meek display in their Scottish Cup semi final so Killie should be confident of continuing their great form of 2024.

I predict a narrow Killie win and the Euro dreams would be all but confirmed.

Sandy Armour is the editor of the Killie Hippo fanzine.

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Long-standing Killie Trust director Martin Boyle is set to join the football club's board.

A lifelong fan, Boyle will replace Cathy Jamieson as the trust's director on the Rugby Park board, permitting it is ratified by trust members.

"The trust has come remarkably far in 20 years through the passion and dedication of our members," Boyle said.

"We are fast approaching 1,600 members and I hope we can continue to grow that number while making the very most of our diverse, passionate fans and members - they are the beating heart of the club.

"It is also an honour to be stepping up to fill the role which has been performed by Cathy for the last six years as our first ever trust director."

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Coventry City captain Liam Kelly insists he is "proud" of his teammates, despite VAR ruining their "magical moment".

The former Kilmarnock midfielder was an unused substitute as Coventry were beaten on penalties in their FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United having seen an injury-time winner in extra-time chopped off by VAR.

Kelly spent three-and-a-half years with Killie between 2009 and 2013 and was part of the 2012 League Cup winning side.

He moved down south in 2013 and joined Coventry in 2017 (and has since become their longest serving player), but still has family in Scotland who made the trip to Wembley on Sunday.

"I had a lot of family come down for the game," he said.

"Some of them came straight from the Celtic semi-final at Hampden. They've been treated to two good semi-finals in the space of two days!

"It's been a fantastic run and full credit to the players out on the pitch because it was a moment to be proud of.

"Since I've been at Coventry, we've made a habit of scoring late but I've not seen a comeback like that. At 2-0 down you think maybe we can nick a goal and have a chance but then the third goes in and in all honesty the game looks like it's gone.

"But they managed to pull themselves back with a never-say-die attitude, not lying down, and giving it everything they had.

"We thought that was it, just for it to be taken away by what was an incredibly tight VAR call. That's what VAR is there for but it's ruined a magical FA Cup moment."

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Kyle Vassell admits he had doubts about taking up the captaincy at Kilmarnock, but says the role has helped him "relax" at Rugby Park.

The 31-year-old is loving life in his second year at the Ayrshire club, having scored 10 goals in all competitions and leading his side to the cusp of European football.

Wearing armband has been "tough" at times, he says, but Derek McInnes has ensured it doesn't weight too heavy on the striker.

"I love playing football here," Vassell told club media. "I like being captain. When he first asked me, I was a bit unsure.

“I’ve had my moments this season where I have thought: 'Oh God, this is a really tough job'. But I am growing into it.

“I still take things on board that maybe I don’t need to, but I feel I do need to because I am captain of the team.

“However it has made me just relax. I can be relaxed on the pitch a bit more and, having done that, I am playing good football again, so I always sing his praises.

“I say how brilliant he is with me and, genuinely, he has been. He has made me such a better player. Coached me how I need to be coached."