Prior to McCann’s arrival in January, Kilmarnock looked destined for the drop, but McCann has since turned Killie’s fortunes around as the gap has closed on their fellow relegation battlers.
Stuart Kettlewell was relieved of his duties at Rugby Park last December after going 10 games without a win, including six defeats in a row during that period. Leaving Kilmarnock second bottom with just a three-point gap above bottom side Livingston.
Since Neil McCann’s arrival to the Kilmarnock dugout, the former Scotland international has steadied Killie’s ship, picking up vital points including back-to-back victories against league leaders Hearts and fellow strugglers Livingston.
Killie find themselves in eleventh place, but more importantly, the gap to the bottom spot has increased massively in their favour to twelve points, all but securing them from automatic relegation.
Neil McCann’s side are just two points off St. Mirren in 10th place, leapfrogging the buddies come the end of the season will mean they are safe from a relegation play-off with a Championship team.
“These next five games are huge for not only ourselves, but the club as a whole and the fans, and we understand the importance of them.”
“I’m not frightened by the challenge ahead. I’ve been here before, and my positivity is the exact same, and that’s reinforced because I do believe that teams are actually realising that Kilmarnock have got a right good side.”
“All in all, my reflection on where we’ve been since I’ve come in to where we are now, I feel were in a great place to really finish the season strongly.”
As we enter the split, it is do or die for Killie, but Neil McCann has all the confidence in himself and his players in avoiding the drop.
Kilmarnock kick off split fixtures with a trip away to Aberdeen this coming Saturday. The last time these two faced each other, Neil McCann comfortably guided Kilmarnock to a 3-0 victory, and he will be aiming for more of the same this weekend.
Despite a brief season in the championship in 2021/22, Kilmarnock have established themselves as a solid Premiership side this century, lifting the Scottish League Cup in 2012 and having several impressive league finishes, such as a finishing in third place in 2018/19 under current national team manager Steve Clarke, and a fourth-place finish in the 2023/24 campaign.
Kilmarnock post-split fixtures:
Aberdeen v Kilmarnock (25 April 3:00 pm)
Kilmarnock v Dundee United (2 May 3:00 pm)
St. Mirren v Kilmarnock (9 May 3:00 pm)
Kilmarnock v Dundee FC (12 May 7:45 pm)
Livingston v Kilmarnock (17 May 2:00 pm)
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