Three games, zero points and 13 goals conceded - the new-season optimism at Kilmarnock has quickly evaporated. The Rugby Park side were booed off at half-time and full-time of Saturday's 4-0 mauling from Dundee United which didn't overly flatter the visitors. Manager Neil McCann kept a lid on his anger post match, refusing to let rip despite a first-half horror show that had his side three goals down and once again chasing a Scottish Premiership match from the bottom of an unscalable cliff.
McCann was quick to acknowledge that the fury of the home support was entirely justified. "I'm angry and I'm apologetic to the fans," he said. "It's very easy right now to be emotional about it.
The guys know my feelings about the performance and I expect a reaction on Wednesday night [against St Mirren]. "I'm not overly emotional right now. I had a wee chat to them in the dressing room.
They know that they've let everybody down today and I've been a part of that. "We've let everybody down connected with Kilmarnock but there's no better thing in sport than a quick game and we've all got an opportunity to put things right on Wednesday night." Dundee Utd boost hospitalised Goodwin with Kilmarnock rout As Kilmarnock seek their first point of the season, the stats paint a bleak picture for supporters. Since 1998-99, McCann's side have made the joint-worst start by a Scottish top-flight team after three games.
Aberdeen in 2000, Dundee United in 2004, Hamilton in 2010 and Kilmarnock themselves in 2025 all had no points and a goal difference of minus nine after the opening three fixtures. As if that's not bad enough, Kilmarnock's 13 goals conceded is also the worst by any team in the same period, as well as being the most by a distance of any Premiership team this term. McCann's men also have the highest expected goals against of 10.14 this season, as well as the most errors leading to goals (six, four more than any side in the division).
You'll not be surprised to discover they've faced the most shots (69) while also allowed the most shots on target (29). The only be marginal consolation for McCann is his side is not last when it comes to tackles and tackles won - they're ninth for that, with 36 and 22 respectively. McCann was something of a surprise choice to take the reins at Rugby Park in January of last season as the club floundered at the wrong end of the table.
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