Killie defender Stuart Findlay believes that Aberdeen’s loss was Kilmarnock’s gain as Derek McInnes has taken the Rugby Park side into a top-four position in the Scottish Premiership.
Unbeaten in their last four games, Kilmarnock head to Paisley this evening knowing that a win would consolidate their current position. The points going in the other direction, however, would enable Stephen Robinson’s side to leapfrog them in the table.
Just where Kilmarnock find themselves now is testimony to the job that McInnes has done, according to Findlay.
“He’s very well respected throughout the league and I think what he’s done here underlines the good job he did at Pittodrie,” said the defender. “Aberdeen didn’t realise what they had with him until he was gone. He took over here last year when the club was in the Championship and now we’re fourth in the top tier.
“We’re sitting in a really good position and our results and performances speak for themselves. He now has us playing like a Derek McInnes side should.”
That Joe Wright is fit and available but cannot find a way into the starting XI would suggest that Kilmarnock have the luxury now of players challenging and fighting for positions. Whether they have the depth to cope with injuries and suspensions as the season goes into the second part of the campaign remains to be seen but the points they have already banked have already ensured they will avoid the precarity of last term’s position.
“It’s testament to the work the gaffer’s done,” said Findlay. “He’s been notorious for years for his ability to build a squad and we now have players in every position who aren’t starting but who are desperate for game time.
“At the moment they aren’t in the side because of how well the guys on the park are doing but we all know that if someone gets injured or their form drops then there’s someone waiting to come in.
“We have strength in depth all over the pitch and that’s the reason we are where we are because you’re going to have knocks and suspensions so you need to make sure your squad can cope with them and the manager’s done a very good job there.”
He has, however, poured cold water on any premature excitement about fighting for European places.
“It’s too early to look at what you want to do with this season,” he said. “The manager has said we should be a top-six team and, if you are there, you’re in touch with the European places.
“This isn’t me saying that we’re not looking towards qualifying for it but the big thing for us has been to establish ourselves in the top half of the division which we’ve done so far.
“That’s the only way we can look at it but if things keep going our way and it starts to point in that direction we can review that towards the end of the season.”
Kilmarnock have beaten both Celtic and Rangers this term but there is an argument to suggest the fortunes of this season will be determined by how they cope against the likes of St Mirren. There is currently just a point between the two.
“We’ve won big games in big moments this season and that stands us in good stead,” said Findlay.
“However, it’s not about winning important matches – it’s about winning consistently. Obviously, we haven’t won every away game but we’ve won at Aberdeen and we haven’t been beaten in three of the others but that’s where the consistency comes in.
“We know that, on our day, we can take anyone in the league. We’ve shown that by beating Celtic twice and beating Rangers. We also gave Hearts a really tough game at Tynecastle and they’re the top three teams in the Premiership.
“So we don’t need to fear any opponent when we’re on our game. Our displays have mostly been good this season, although in certain games we’ve had to show different characteristics.
“However, if you trust yourself to keep putting in those good performances then the results will come – it’s like a chain reaction.
“Luckily for us, we’re on that train right now, playing well and racking up wins so long may it continue.”
