Kilmarnock FC Prepare for Crucial Clash Against St Johnstone
Kilmarnock FC travel to McDiarmid Park this Saturday for a huge post-split clash against St Johnstone, with a victory potentially taking them a huge step closer to securing top-flight survival. The Kilmarnock squad, managed by Derek McInnes, head to Perth knowing that a win could significantly boost their chances of finishing in a strong position in the league.
According to Kilmarnock FC’s official website, McInnes praised his side’s response to recent matches, saying: "For the last two home games, we’ve played against teams who are in the bottom 6. I thought we were the better team in both games, and picked up clean sheets. We ran into Celtic in between both, which was a tough one for us, but the response was what I would hope for and what I expect for the team." (Source: Kilmarnock FC)
The Kilmarnock manager emphasised the importance of taking their form and momentum on the road, stating: "We’ve got two more home games and we’re strong at home, but for us to finish 7th or 8th in the league, we’re going to have to pick up points on the road. Hopefully, Saturday is a case of that." (Source: Kilmarnock FC)
St Johnstone, currently bottom of the table, are in desperate need of points and will be throwing everything at this match. McInnes acknowledged the threat posed by the Saints, saying: "If I was the St Johnstone manager, I’d still feel we had a real chance. I think they’ll come right after us. They’ll see this as a real chance for them, being at home in particular. We’ve got to be ready to fight fire with fire." (Source: Kilmarnock FC)
The Kilmarnock gaffer also highlighted the psychological edge of a victory, stating: "A win would put us in a really strong position in terms of meeting objectives now. It would relieve a bit of anxiety about everybody at the club. We can just look forward to the last few games." (Source: Kilmarnock FC)
McInnes is well aware of the threat posed by St Johnstone, who have already beaten Celtic at home this season. He said: "This is a St Johnstone team that, a couple of games ago at home, they beat Celtic. They’re capable of big moments in games… and they’ve got real attacking threats. It’s something that we’ve got to be mindful of." (Source: Kilmarnock FC)
In other news, Kilmarnock’s Under-18s lifted the Scottish Youth Cup midweek, boosting the feel-good factor around the club. McInnes commented: "It was good to see so many Killie fans at the game, and my first team squad turned up showing their support as well. All in all, it was a good evening for everybody at Kilmarnock." (Source: Kilmarnock FC)
In terms of squad news, Kilmarnock will be without Joe Wright (hip) and Brad Lyons (groin) this weekend due to injury. Tom Wilson-Brown remains sidelined, while Kyle Magennis is aiming to be back in full training next week. Rory McKenzie should be fine after a full week’s training, according to Kilmarnock FC. (Source: Kilmarnock FC)
