clean up his act at Rugby Park this time around after topping the top-flight's list of shame with 13 yellow cards. The 27-year-old served two suspensions in his debut campaign with Killie as a result but says there will be no repeat.

He said: "I got the most bookings in the SPL last season and I don't want to do that again. When we had the friendly against Partick Thistle recently I spoke with the referee beforehand and told him I hope I don't speak with them as much this season. I will try to be quiet. My way to play is always the same but I hope I am not having to speak with the referees as much. I hope to talk less and run more. Sometimes I deserved the yellow cards but hopefully I won't get as many this season. I was suspended twice last season and that doesn't help the team, especially as the second suspension meant I missed crucial games late in the season. But I will try to do a lot better this season and not be booked as often. As I said, hopefully I won't be talking to the referees as much."

"We finished last really well with some big results and it is important we start the new one well also. We want to carry on with that good form and win our first game against Hamilton. I had a fantastic time with Kilmarnock in my first year in Scotland although I was disappointed we didn't make the top six. But I think we can get there this season as I believe we have a good team." 

April 10th on the Hearts Post Match..."Every time our opponents score one goal against us we're fecked. Seriously. I was relegated once before in Italy and was left without a team at the end of the season, which I found a disgrace for me and my family. This scenario must give you extra determination. It's our careers on the line if we go down. Players who are out of contract might think they will find another club anyway, but it doesn't work like that. Sure, another team might offer deals but it will be on less money as they can dictate terms. I have a year left on my contract but I don't want to think along those lines. It's difficult after a defeat like this, but if you believe you'll win, you'll win.

"I think positively. If you have negative thoughts you will be fecked. Seriously. We've been just so terrible away from home this season. Only four goals? I've never seen this in my life. We?re finding it so hard to score, it's unbelievable - and I'm talking about the whole team, not just the strikers.  As a defender you become upset when you concede a goal and think, 'Here we go again'. Two of the goals we've scored have been 1- 0 wins, against St Johnstone and Falkirk and the others were in 3-1 defeats to Motherwell and Celtic. Three of our last five games of the season are away from home and this is now the time to do a proper job. It's not about the quality of football from now, only the results. We need players who will show character on the pitch. Look at Hamilton. They are not the greatest team to watch but they are strong and that's why they are safe. I watched Suso Santana take out one of our players today as we tried to hit on the counter attack and he conceded a foul, but it prevented us breaking up the park. We've also got to be like that. I don't mean dirty, just clever. However, I'm encouragedby the fact we've managed to find a result when we've been in trouble this season, for example last weekend against Aberdeen. We also went through our last four or five games last season undefeated, so we can do it"