killiefc.com .... 2010 Year in Review

Jan 2010

Seven Match Unbeaten Run Starts At Hamilton

Jan 2nd saw the beginning of what would be a very traumatic month for Ayrshire's finest! Killie lose 0-1 to the Buddies, with old boy Innes on target for them, in what would be JJ's last game in charge of Killie. The fans were now clearly starting to turn against JJ & BB, with chants of ..."You don't know what your doing!" being heard with the 70th min sub of Fernandez at Love St. .... NOT GOOD!

On Jan 8th Club Captain Kevin Kyle tells the press that....."The chairman said he wanted to talk to me about sorting out a new contract. But then he asked me about the boss and his tactics"

On Jan 10th Club Chairman Michael Johnston refutes Kevin Kyle's claim and denies attempting to discuss tactics with Kyle. ... NOT GOOD! More

The KFCSA and the Killie Trust then release a joint statement expressing dismay at the way club was being run.

On Jan 11th (Sunday) Johnston & Jefferies meet and hammer out JJ's release from his Killie boss contract (as he his reported to be furious about Johnston going behind his back to talk with his players, not to mention the abuse we was now getting off of the Killie faithful).

On Jan 12th Kilmarnock FC release a press statement confirming the termination of both Jim Jefferies & Billy Brown's contracts by mutual consent.
Club Chairman Michael Johnston was very diplomatic and thanked the departing managers for their service over the last 8 years.

JJ left Killie at 14 points from 18 matches, in 11th place in the SPL. (One point ahead of Falkirk who still had a game in hand). After their opening day win, Killie's 11 points from 17 matches was the poorest form in the league, and Killie were really looking like relegation "fodder'. Snuff out Killie's long-ball game to Kyle, and after that Killie were easy takings.

On Jan 14th, Jimmy Calderwood accepts the Killie Boss job, and he was unveiled as the new manager of Kilmarnock. Killie were also reported to have talked with George Burley, Gordon Chisholm and former 60-70's Killie legend Tommy McLean.
Calderwood's contract would only run through May 2010, as both he, and Killie would wait to see how things would progress.

With less than 2 days to prepare with his new charges Caldy's Killie get humped 0-3 at home to Craig Brown's Motherwell. JC tell the press... "We are going to need players with character to win games here".
Forty-eight hours later Killie then had to play the Bairns at Rugby Park in the Cup and went onto win 1-0 with a late Pasca deflection being the difference. Cameron Bell (post the departure of the on-loan Brown) started in goal, keeping Killie's cup hopes alive. Joining Calderwood was his long time "No 2" Jimmy Nicoll.

Prior to the next SPL match, Sandy Clark officially joins the club as a coach as Jimmy C goes about getting Killie's house in order.

Ironically Killie's next match would be a trip North to Calderwood's former side Aberdeen where Killie lost 0-1 JC candidly tells the press that Killie didn't show enough until near the end when it was too late for them.

The last away match of Jan was a midweek clash at Hamilton that saw Killie begin a 7 match unbeaten run that would see them move from 11th (1 point off the bottom) to 8th. The Accies match finished at 0-0 in a dour affair with few goal scoring chances. JC did "blood" teenager Liam Kelly in the 29th min for an injured Burchill who had just missed the game's best chance.

The final match of Jan was in hindsight the start of Killie's mini-revival. Trailing 1-3, after 33 mins against the Arabs, Killie stormed all the way back to take a short lived lead in a 4-4 home draw. On target for Killie were Ford, Kyle, Pascali & Bryson. Killie's 4 goal output was even more surprising as they had not scored in close to 500 SPL min's (Danny Vs the Bairns on 19/12/09). In JC's post match Arabs comments he said .."I'm a little bit disappointed we didn't win."

Killie finish Jan with 15 points from 22 matches, and are in 11th place in the SPL.

Feb 2010

Killie End Nine Year Drought Against Celtic

On Feb 1st Kilmarnock made 3 new loan signings Scott Severin, Rob Kiernan (both Watford) and Chris Maguire (Aberdeen) and all 3 went straight into the player pool for Tuesday Feb 2nd's Scottish Premier League match against Celtic.

It was on-loan Aberdeen striker Chris McGuire that scored the games only goal with seven minutes of the second half played after Mehdi Taouil played a neat cutback to him. Celtic's new signing Robbie Keane was denied by a series of Cammy Bell saves, that gave Killie a spirited 1-0 victory, over Celtic for the first time since Alan Mahood's winner on May 20th 2001. Severin also started, and Kiernan made a 2nd half sub appearance, for Clancy who made his first start since Sept.

Killie next play Inverness Caley in the Cup, and go on to avenge their defeat from the previous season 3-0 at home with young Kelly netting a double after Conor "Fish" Sammon, had opened the scoring, in a match that Caley out-played Killie for long periods of the tie.

A real "six pointer" at Westfield saw Killie snatch a 1-0 win at the hands of basement club Falkirk, and move up to 9th, 4 points clear of the bottom. Again Chris McGuire proved invaluable setting up Craig Bryson with the games only goal, in front of well over 2,000 travelling fans (as the Bairns had reduced their prices).

Killie picked up their 4th straight win with another fine come from behind performance at home to St Johnstone 3-2 . After twice falling behind Killie battle to the 3 points with goals form Maguire, Hooky (from a lovely set-piece right off of the training ground) & Kyle.

Killie fail to make it 5 wins on the trot after a terrific late Mehlmet shot pulls the Buddies even at 1-1 after Maguire had given Killie a first half lead. JC's in his post match Buddies comments said .." It was a point gained when you play as poorly as that." Alan Combe is named on the team sheet for the first time since Sept as a sub.

Killie's 7 match unbeaten run does come to an end in the mud at the much criticised Fir Park. A Murphy free-kick being the difference as Killie fell 0-1 to Murderwell.

Killie finish Feb with 26 points from 27 matches, and are in 9th place in the SPL.

Mar 2010

Robinson Makes Penalty Save In Killie Debut

Mixed team news ahead of the Hibs away match to open March. On-loan Aberdeen striker Chris McGuire is named the SPL's young player of the month for Feb, and Kevin Kyle picks up an injury playing in a trial match for Russian club Spartak Nalchik, in Turkey. Kyle also finds himself in Caldy's "bad books" for taking the trial without fully communicating with him.

As for the Hibs match itself, the Kick Off was brought forward to a 2pm to accommodate Easter Rd being refurbished. Man of the match would become 11th min sub Lee Robinson, replacing Cammy Bell in Killie's goal as Robinson went onto save a penalty in his Killie debut. Again for 2nd week running, it was a dubious freekick being awarded against Killie that led to home team's late winner as Hibs went on to win 0-1

Killie's schedule now meant they would face the Old Firm 3 out of their next 4 fixtures! JC joked in the press "Its not often you get the chance to beat both ends of the Old Firm in the same week". Bell did return in the Killie goal, but Kyle-Less Killie failed to score in either Old Firm match, and lost 0-2 to Rangers (SPL) & 0-3 to Celtic in the Scottish Cup Quarters, both at Rugby Park. Both matches were quite similar in the fact that Killie went in level in both matches goal-less, and had much the better of the play!

One of the biggest disappointments of JC's short Killie reign came at Home to the Accies in a 1-2 midweek loss. McGuire scored a late consolation for Killie. JC summed up Killie dismal outing with... "There weren't a lot of positives tonight"

To finish up a horrid winless March, Killie travel to Parkhead to play a newly appointed Neil Lennon managed Celtic who were coming off a humiliating 0-4 thumping at Love St a few days earlier. Killie start Burchill and Maguire in wide areas and Kyle & Russell upfront, only to be over-run at the back, as the experiment ends in a 1-3 defeat. In-form Craig Bryson does net a fluke consolation goal, but the Ayrshire men depart Parkhead still not having won at Celtic since 1955, and with a 6th consecutive loss!

Killie finish Mar with 26 points from 31 matches, and are in 11th place in the SPL.

Apr 2010

Russell Loops In A Beauty In Dons Win!

Killie open April on Easter Sunday for a 3:30pm televised home match to the Dons. Killie were now on a 6 match losing run, and were only a point off the bottom (with the Bairns winning at Well the previous day). On-loan Aberdeen striker Chris McGuire was ineligible, Craig Bryson was out injured, & Pascali suspended. Killie made four changes, with Garry Hay, Danny Invincibile, Mehdi Taouil and Jamie Fowler coming into the starting line-up. Killie opened the scoring in the 25th minute when Severin blasted in from close range and Grassi deflected the ball into the back of his own net to hand Killie the opener. Allan Russell sealed the win for the hosts with 16 minutes remaining after he latched on to a searching Fowler ball and delivered a superb looping header back across the face of the Aberdeen goal & into the top of the net. Many named Tim Clancy as the "Man of the Match" in Killie's 2-0 win, operating at the centre of Killie's defense, after Fraser Wright picked up an injury in the 3rd min.

Killie then travelled to Tynecastle for the last match prior to the SPL "split" and lost 0-1 to former manager Jim Jefferies men.

The fixture maker's were not kind to Killie giving them 3 away games, in the final 5 matches, with the bright spot being a final home match with bottom of the league Falkirk.

Calderwood's Killie churn out 2 ugly away performances in losing 0-3 at New Douglas Park, and 0-1 at St Mirren. No goals, and no points, Killie were now fast becoming the pundits favorites for the drop.

Calderwood then foreshadows his future by telling the press ..."It's entirely new for me. I hope it's my first relegation fight and my last."

May 2010

Killie Faithfull Play Their Part In Final Day Survival

Killie host St Johnstone a team they had taken 9 points out of 9 from and despite opening the scoring through Wright (where Bryson broke his nose in assisting) Killie fall 1-2.
Prior to the penultimate fixture away to Calderwood's former charges Jimmy candidly shares to the press..."Considering the run we've been on we're LUCKY we're still second bottom".

So after 6 straight away defeats, and having only scored only 4 goals away from Rugby Park all season, Killie limped into Aberdeen for the midweek fixture. Out of know where Killie pull out a wonder performance, and a shock but deserved win 2-1.
Trailing 0-1 at the half, and sitting bottom of the table (as the Bairns were winning) Killie fought bravely back with Liam Kelly pulling Killie even after 69 mins, and Kevin Kyle heading home the winner just 5 mins later. One other point of note was Alan Combe's re-instatement for the final 2 matches, not necessarily a poor reflection on the play of Cammy Bell, but just Calderwood trying to give his defense a lift with an experienced auld heid being put in.

Killie therefore stayed 2 points ahead of Falkirk prior to their final match.

Chairman Michael Johnston on the eve of the Relegation Decider against Falkirk issued a rallying cry to fans ahead of ..." Everyone must want to have Kilmarnock Football Club competing in the Scottish Premier League next season."

It was to be Falkirk that were to be relegated to Division One for the first time since 2005 as nervy Kilmarnock held on desperately for the point they needed for survival in a tense 0-0 draw.

Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested as both sides were thwarted by a series of superb last-ditch challenges.

Falkirk had the better of the first half, while the second was more even.

Ryan Flynn missed a great late chance for the Bairns and the draw was enough for Kilmarnock to extend their 17-year run in Scotland's top flight.

Terrific scenes were witnessed after the final whistle, as Killie fans invaded the pitch, and enjoyed every minute of the post-match frivolities. Killie fans were criticised in the press for winding-up the Bairns fans at the final whistle, but they seem to have forgotten the pre-match wind-up they'd gotten all week off of Elvis!

The Ayrshire side have never been absent from the Scottish Premier League and finished the season two points clear of their final-day opponents at Rugby Park.

With the final curtain down on the 09-10 season Killie's 3 loan signings Scott Severin, Rob Kiernan (both Watford) and Chris Maguire (Aberdeen) all expired, as did Killie boss Jimmy Calderwood's contract.

Killie also would go on to lose.... Jamie Adams (St Johnstone), Mark Burchill, David Fernandez, Gavin Skelton (Hamilton), Kevin Kyle (Hearts), Simon Ford (Chesterfield), Lee Robinson, & Allan Russell (Carolina Railhawks).

On May 31st, Jimmy Calderwood confirms we won't be returning to manage the club for the forthcoming season..... "I couldn't fulfill my ambitions under those financial limitations, To be honest, it was more to do with the budget and Sandy (Clark) leaving, To have a fighting chance of making the top half of the table, the budget wasn't enough. It would have made it very difficult to do that and take it on to another level."

Killie then head into the close season down 11 players, a management team, and are already being installed as the bookies choice to go down in season 2010-11.

June 2010

Killie Welcome Mixu!

Chairman Michael Johnston begins the task of replacing Jimmy Calderwood, with first team coach Steve Kean of Blackburn, being his first choice, but this turns out to be a non-starter. Johnston then turns attentions towards Germany's World Cup-winning midfielder Thomas Hassler, who did interview, but knocks Killie back.

On Weds June 23rd... Mixu Paatelainen joins Kilmarnock as their new manager, agreeing a two-year deal with an option for a third. - More

Killie announce Verve the towns largest auto group will become the 2010-11 team sponsor. Cammy Bell agrees to a new 1 year deal.

July 2010

On July 1st Killie boss Mixu Paatelainen installs Kenny Shiels as his assistant at Rugby Park.

During July Killie take part in the Devon based Joma tourney with the following results...Bideford 1 Killie 7 - Here, Blackpool 2 Killie 2 - Here. Then play a friendly with local side Torrington & go on to win 16-0 - Here

Mixu uses his contacts from far & a wide and adds the following players to Killie's squad.....David Da Silva, midfielder (CSKA Sofia); Ben Gordon, defender (Chelsea, loan); Kyle Letheren, goalkeeper (Plymouth); James Dayton, midfielder (unattached), Mohamadou Sissoko, defender (Udinese, loan); Harry Forrester, striker (Aston Villa, loan).

To close out July Killie lose in a Fri PM match at Luton Town 0-1 - Here

Aug 2010

Hammy Nets Killie Winner At The Dons

Killie play their final pre-season Friendly drawing 0-0 with Spanish side Valladolid - Here. Killie fans are starting to worry on where the goals are going to come from as no real striking threat has been added by Mixu.

Opening day see's Killie fall 1-2 at Ibrox, with Hamill converting a penalty. Naismith's goal proves to be the winner, with Naisy not overly celebrating his goal out of respect to the Killie fans, a little bit of class at least. Gordon, Dayton & De Silva all make their Killie debuts, as Killie unveiled a slick fast paced passing game. Cammy Bell is now firmly installed as Killie's No 1, with Alan Combe under going a double hernia operation.

Killie's home SPL opener was to be 0-1 loss to Motherwell. A lot of huff & puff with little end product from Dayton & Invincibile who were Killie's starting forwards. Mohamadou Sissoko was handed a debut, replacing the benched Liam Kelly as the only adjustment to the Rugby Park side for Mixu Paatelainen's first home game.

With no goals from open play in Killie's first 2 SPL matches, Mixu gave Conor Sammon his first start of the season against Airdrie Utd in Killie's 2nd round Co-Op Cup tie. "Feed the Fish & He Will Score" is born, as Sammon nets a hat-trick in Killie's 6-2 win. Also on target were Wright, Kelly, & Sissoko.

Killie's SPL fortunes take a turn for the better to end Aug with a fine team display in a 1-0 win at Aberdeen. Hamill was the Killie hero with 92nd min winner, taking full advantage of a lapse in the Dons back line.

Before the Aug transfer window closes Mixu signs 27-year-old Finnish international Alexei Eremenko (right) on a season-long loan from Ukraine club Metalist Kharkiv.

Killie finish the month in 7th place with 3 points from 3 matches.

Sept 2010

Fish Celebrates Late Accies Leveler!

To open SPL play for September Killie host the Buddies, and take the lead with a James Dayton goal that would be contender for goal of the season. Unfortunately for Dayton he is lost for at least 6 months with a knee injury. However it was Killie debut boy Alexei Eremenko that seal the points with a dipping free-kick to give Killie a merited 2-1 win. Next were Celtic to come calling to Rugby Park, and despite taking an early lead through Conor Sammon, Killie eventually fell 1-2 with Killie also conceding their obligatory penalty kick to the Old Filth. Better was to follow as Killie trounced under fire Hughes Hibees 3-1 in the League Cup at home. A Hamill double along with De Silva doing the damage.

Next up was a visit to New Douglas Park, and Killie put in a horror first half show to fall two goals down. But 2 late goals from Hamill (pen) & the Fish inside the last 7 mins saved Killie's bacon, as the match ended 2-2. A draw that certainly felt like a win!

Killie closed out Sept hosting Ayr Utd in a 4-0 win, to commemorate Garry Hay's testimonial match, with just over 4,000 showing up!

Killie finish the month in 7th place with 7 points from 6 matches.

Oct 2010

Mixu's Boys Thump JJ's Boys

Killie start October with 3 successive 1-2 defeats, and fall to bottom of the SPL going into a Sunday SPL clash at in-form Hearts. For the record Killie lost to Dundee Utd (H), Hibs (A), & Inverness (H). Scoring for Killie in each of the these losses were; Sammon, Silva & recently signed new boy Portuguese forward Rui Miguel.

Prior to the Hearts match Killie were bounced out of the League Cup by Rangers at home, 0-2, in a game that Killie out-shot Rangers 21 to 4!

No one could foresee the change in Killie's fortunes that started for them at Tynecastle on Oct 31st.

Killie defender Frazer Wright flashed home a header for the opener early in the second half. Jim Jefferies' Hearts pinned his former team back in the second period. But an 80th-minute strike by Conor Sammon and a sublime lob by Alexei Eremenko gave the visitors the points in a 3-0 shocker!. Kilmarnock, propping up the Scottish Premier League at kick-off, knew the challenge central defenders Wright and Mahamadou Sissoko faced in preventing their former striker Kevin Kyle from adding to his goal tally, or from providing his Hearts team-mates with chances, but they stuck to their tasks superbly. Even more interestingly were the honest, candid remarks from Mixu, after the match, where he apologised to Miguel, for picking him for this type of match, and saw fit to replace him with a confidence growing and quickly maturing Conor "the Fish" Sammon after only 38 mins of play.

Killie finish the month in 9th place with 10 points from 10 matches, with many plaudits but few points!

Nov 2010

Fish Celebrates His 7th Nov SPL Goal Vs The Dons

Killie buoyed by their great Tynecastle win, go on to take 10 points out of their 5 Nov SPL fixtures. 3-0 wins are recorded against St Johnstone at Perth (OG, Sammon & Kelly) & Accies at home with the impressive Ben Gordon opening the scoring before the Fish netted a double.

Three consecutive 3-0 wins.... obviously a Killie SPL "best"!

Dundee Utd do end Killie's fine run where the spoils were shared in a 1-1 draw, with Killie's lead (through the Fish again) lasting only about a minute. Still a decent away point.

Some exciting recognition for Killie as both Craig Bryson & Cammy Bell make their International debuts for Scotland, as second half substitutes against the Faeroe Islands. Adding to this honour was Alexei Eremenko being capped for Finland in the same week!

The first time ever Killie had 3 International caps in their side!!

Killie then hosted Rangers in a Sat ESPN televised match, that saw Killie take the lead, conceded two stupid penalties, have Sissoko sent off, fight back with 10 men, to pull even, only to fall a little short in an eventual 2-3 home loss. The on-fire Conor Sammon scoring both of Killie's goals. Rangers only shot on (or off) target in the first half, was needlessly awarded penalty. Killie dominated for long spells but ultimately they knew they had self-destructed.

To finish up Nov Killie hosted the Dons in what would be Mark McGee's final match in charge of the Dons. In a game notable for the use of replacement referees (from Israel) Killie won 2-0 with Sammon & Hamill (Penalty) doing the damage for Killie.

Killie finish the month in 6th place with 20 points from 15 matches, and have Finish playmaker Alexei Eremenko named SPL Player of the Month.

"It's a big thing for me to win this award, Winning any award is a good thing, but especially this one.

I have only been here for three months, so to get this award is a big thing.

I have to say thanks to the manager and my team-mates because, without them, I wouldn't have it."

Alexei Eremenko SPL Player of the Month

Dec 2010

Craig Bryson Nets The Caley Opener

Killie's first 2 fixtures in Dec Motherwell (A) & Celtic (A) fall victim to the UK's brutal winter conditions. However Killie's good run was not to be thwarted when they played their 1st match of the month on Dec 18th at home to Hibernian. A 2-1 win was recorded with Liam Kelly celebrating his new 2 year contract with a fine first half double, both supplied from Ben Gordon.
Killie then on Dec 21st took a shock lead through Conor Sammon's 12th SPL goal of the season at Celtic Park, and came within 4 minutes of breaking their 55 year Parkhead "jinx". Mixu despite being satisfied with a point, criticised Killie's passing and overall performance, in his post match comments. Certainly a mark of far the team had come where 1-1 was not good enough.
Killie's final match of the year was to be away to 4th place Inverness, after the Boxing Day postponement of the Hearts match. Killie knew a win over the Highlanders would see them leap-frog over them into the lofty 4th SPL position.

Craig Bryson, Liam Kelly and Jamie Hamill inflicted the damage with Richie Foran's reply at 2-0 failing to muster a revival for tired Caley, as Ayrshire's Finest ran out worthy 3-1 winners.

Killie finished the year with only one defeat 2-3 against Rangers - in their last nine matches. Rangers (A) will be Killie's upcoming Scottish Cup opponents on Jan 10th, so a good chance for revenge.

Chelsea inform Killie that they will not be extending Ben Gordon's loan deal beyond Jan 3rd. Gordon will be a great loss having supplied 3 assists (all to Kelly) in the last 3 matches.

Killie finish the month in 4th place with 27 points from 18 matches. What a difference a year makes!.... As many of the Killie Faithful say...... "In Mixu We Trust"

Jan 2011

Killie open the New Year taking a sold-out allocation of fans up to Paisley for the St Mirren match on Jan 3rd. Season Diary for 2010-11 is HERE