Killie Cup Action

 

 

It's Scottish Cup quarter final action this weekend when Scotland's second oldest club Kilmarnock come North on Friday night @ 7:45 looking for a place in the semi-finals of the second oldest Cup competition in the world. However, it's the oldest trophy as it's still the original trophy that is up for grabs. At 2ft high the silver trophy was not cheap back in the day, costing £56/13 shillings and was commissioned to Glasgow silversmith George Edwards & Sons. The first ever event started in 1873 and the final in 1874 saw Queens Park beat Clydesdale 2-0 in front of 2,500 fans at the original Hampden Park. Incidentally Kilmarnock played in the first ever Scottish Cup tie, losing 2-0 to Renton in 1873. Standing in their way this season are our very own Caley Jags, Scottish Cup winners in 2015. Kilmarnock have won the Cup three times (1920/29/97). The last time they lifted the Cup in 1997, like us, they also defeated Falkirk in the final. The result was 1-0 at Ibrox in front of 45,000 fans with Paul Wright scoring the only goal. See more at The Scottish Cup.

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Match/Ticket Info

Live on BBC Scotland

The Covers Are On

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Venue H2H v Killie

Pld

Won

Drn

Lst

For

Agst

+ / -

Home	25	12	9	4	46	33	+13
Away	26	8	6	12	36	45	-9
Neutral	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	51	20	15	16	82	78	+4

Overall, we still hold the edge over Kilmarnock and have met them five times in the Scottish Cup which includes a replay in 2001. This is the first 6th round tie between the cubs with Killie having won two of the previous three 5th round ties. I don't think Killie ever got over being dumped out of the Scottish Cup on the 9th of February 1985 by Highland League Inverness Thistle. Dave Milroy, Gordon Hay and Brian Black were the scorers that ensured the playing surface would be covered with big Kilmarnock bunnets and scarves. What a sight that was. That win earned Thistle an away tie at Parkhead in the last sixteen.

2001

Mar 6th	Scottish Cup (Round 4 Replay)	1 - 2	A	6,528
Feb 17th	Scottish Cup (Round 4)	1 - 1	H	5,294

2009

Feb 7th	Scottish Cup (Rd 5)	2 - 0	H	2,578

2010

Feb 6th	Scottish Cup (Rd 5)	0 - 3	A	4,473

2013

Feb 2nd	Scottish Cup (Rd 5)	0 - 2	A	3,172

Here's Killie with a late equaliser in 2001

We have the upper hand most recently, although these were all very tight fixtures.

Last 4 Competitive Meetings from season 21/22 in the Championship.

2 - 1 (H)

0 - 1 (A)

1 - 0 (H)

1 - 0 (A)

On December 3rd last season, Sean Welsh did this in a 1 - 0 win over Killie..... BOOM!

 

Last Time Out

Inverness got a welcome three points at Somerset Park despite going behind early on after top Scorer Dipo Akinyemi scored his sixteenth of the season. Sean Welsh levelled soon after then Ayr were reduced to ten men when Daire O'Connor was sent off fifteen minutes before the break. Inverness took their time but eventually got the reward their chances deserved when Jay Henderson popped up at the back post to bury a Nathan Shaw cross. Deserved three points for the Caley Jags after a lean spell and sets us up nicely for a crack at Killie in the Cup. Our own recent form over last five is also disappointing but hopefully on the up:  D L L D W

Killie went down at Ibrox last weekend as Rangers scored three first half goals. It was a poor defensive performance by the Rugby Park club in the first forty-five and they had the disappointment of a VAR penalty award on the break. In their favour, after a much improved performance, they did win the second half 1-0 when Jeriel Dorsett scored with a header and they also had a penalty claim turned down. Killie find themselves second bottom of the Premiership after a poor run of form and unless much changes they will be vying with Ross County for a relegation play-off spot with Dundee United occupying the automatic relegation slot. Last five results heading downwards: W L L D L  The only win in that run was over bottom club Dundee United on 1st February.

Latest Team News

Our fortunes are slowly turning on the injury front with Deas, Harper, Devine, Delaney and Samuels all returning, but there are still five players missing: Sutherland, Walsh, MacGregor, Ram and Woods. Billy Mckay returned after suspension last week and is chasing the goal scoring record of Dennis Wyness. On the playing surface the covers are on as another big freeze hits the North, -10 around the area already this week.

 

Kilmarnock have found the going tough in the Premiership this season but they are not without some very good players. One of our own Liam Polworth is still at Killie and featured in their last game at Ibrox. Daniel Armstrong is a danger with his attacking flair and he is top scorer with nine goals this season plus five assists. Jordan Jones has returned to Rugby Park and is another tricky customer. Rory Mackenzie is a pocket dynamo with his all action style. In defence Ash Taylor is still there and has contributed at the other end with four goals, a danger at set pieces. By all accounts, Killie will be bringing a decent away support to this one.

2 hours ago, IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER said:

Leave the predictions to the seers 😀

I went 2-1 for us and Billy Mckay to get our first on NPL….

That was a great night. I feared the worst when we conceded early on but it seemed to motivate our players even more and we were on top for most of the game.

We deservedly won, and that should give us confidence if, approached with the right attitude and tactics, we can pull back the deficit on a play off place.

Every player played their part and on a different night we’d have won more comfortably. Two off the woodwork, one excellent save and a couple of one on ones we couldn’t finish.

Hard to pick a MoM, but it’s Welsh for me. His calmness in midfield and winning goal sneaked it.

A shout out for some of the players who have had mixed reviews. Shaw’s confidence seems high and he is taking players on and creating now. Harper had a strong performance at left back. Duffy was really up for it at right back.

We seemed to know Killie’s weaknesses and exploited them, whilst we did not let them exploit our weaknesses.

Just one complaint. Section 94 need to stop having flares. We don’t need that, and to see Duffy and Henderson having to clear the pitch to allow the delayed kick off could have resulted in us losing that early goal as the players were all having to hang around in the cold. Keep giving the great support guys but cut out that nonsense please  

Well done to all the players and backroom staff.

Roll on Hampden, and I’d love it if we draw Ayr or Falkirk. 

Edited March 11, 20233 yr by Robert

Great posts tonight for a change!

Our best game all season the team were great the support were great!

Eric would have loved it tonight 

Likewise - George Elder would be well pleased.  RIP Big George.  

and Big Stew. A wee peedy tonight to celebrate the result.

6 hours ago, Robert said:

I went 2-1 for us and Billy Mckay to get our first on NPL….

Me too. 😇

Watched the game on council TV and like everyone else felt the worse after conceding that early goal. I think we got lucky with the pen but we took the gift gladly. We were on top at that point and deserved to be level. 

Brilliant result and a great confidence booster for the team and the fans. Great noise from the support too who hardly stopped throughout the game. Well done lads.

It now looks like I'll be dragging my dusty ICT scarf out of the cupboard and take it on a trip to Glasgow. I'll look forward to the draw on Monday night and would like to avoid one of them. 

1 hour ago, Gringo said:

 

It now looks like I'll be dragging my dusty ICT scarf out of the cupboard and take it on a trip to Glasgow. I'll look forward to the draw on Monday night and would like to avoid one of them. 

 

As predicted 🤣

 

7 hours ago, Robert said:

 

Just one complaint. Section 94 need to stop having flares.

 

No Caley, No Pyro - Come on I bet we all had flares in the 70's.

As the other 6 sides battle it out over the next 2 days for a place in the semis, it’s great having that smug feeling that our name is already in the hat!

Next day now and I still can't quite get my head round it, but it's true - ICT shall go to the Hampden Ball!

Yaaaaaaaaaaay!  🏆 

So happy for Aaron that his testimonial will be an altogether jollier occasion tonight, because of the result - wish I was going. Congrats Aaron and have fun - you deserve it.

9 hours ago, Yngwie said:

Kilmarnock haven’t reached the Scottish cup semi finals since 1997.. This is our 5th in 20 years! 4 of them when we were in the 2nd flight!

Can we not count the one in Aberdeen to bulk it up a bit more ? 

Let’s come down to earth and consider the rubbish talked in the post match TV interviews. Dodds talking garbage again - He actually thinks that injuries to important players has ruined our season. The need to playing reserves has affected tactics and led to vital mistakes being made. He then suggests that the spirit is still there- well listening to and simply looking at the non verbal presentations of McKay and Welsh it is clear that the dressing room is lost and there is no togetherness. Last night was simply a fluke and a total one off. I am sure that many others will concur with my views. I also feel that the players were hoodwinked into playing better purely because it was the CEO’s birthday and there was a threat to cancel Doran’s testimonial dinner. REAL fans will not be taken in 🙄

 

🎥 @ICTFC v @KilmarnockFC

Watch the highlights from a tight game opener to this Men's Scottish Cup Quarter-Final weekend.#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/cN84e3l1oG

— Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) March 10, 2023

11 hours ago, CELTIC1CALEY3 said:

 However Mark looked pretty confident when it looked like he had dropped it maybe 6 inches over the line. 

I recorded that off iPlayer and played it back frame by frame.  Difficult to tell because the camera is in the back corner of the goal, and not on the line.  But it looks to me as though it could have been OK.

But is it me, or is Ridgers having more "wobbly moments" than he used to?

I also had a look at the Killie goal. Both Ridgers and Carson appealed immediately for handball, and I think they may have had a case.  Can't get a clear frame, but from the camera behind the goal it looks as though the ball deflects upwards off Carson, and then suddenly downwards off the Killie player and into the net.  That could only have been off his hand or arm.

But, in the end, it doesn't matter.

At least the ref knew the rules better than the BBC commentary muppets - "That can't have been a penalty because it came off his leg".  They corrected that at half-time, but the muppets still went on about it into the second half 

Did you check Carson's booking. Telly view looks like minimum contact, if any.

23 minutes ago, tm4tj said:

Did you check Carson's booking. Telly view looks like minimum contact, if any.

No I didn't check it.  Basically because this time I agreed with the commentary muppets, who didn't think it was a booking either.

 

I get uneasy when the dissenters go all quiet. It's a bit like an olde western when you can't hear the Red Indians at night just before they attack. Quick, form a circle.....

Too late as a burning arrow sets one of the wagons on fire and the horse bites the dust. Women and children first.... Where's the Duke when you need him?

4 hours ago, ICTPAISLEY said:

Can we not count the one in Aberdeen to bulk it up a bit more ? 

Yes of course - so we’ve played 5 Sc Cup semi- final matches. Only won one of them, but we were underdogs in every one of them, famously beating Celtic (again) and being unsuccessful in the ones that were against teams a league above us.

We do of course have a 100% win rate in Scottish Cup Finals.

13 hours ago, Robert said:

Agree with all of that (as usual) other than Carson’s booking. He deserved it and his annoyance at it was as he knew he’d messed up rather than being upset with a harsh award. 

Having now seen it on TV, tm4tj got it spot on. From my seat, I thought there was contact and Carson’s reaction was as he knew he’d got it wrong. Seeing it again from a better angle, there was no contact and it should not have been a yellow.

 

Edited March 11, 20233 yr by Robert

Wouldnt have won in 2015 with VAR

3 hours ago, tm4tj said:

Did you check Carson's booking. Telly view looks like minimum contact, if any.

Carson's booking was exceptionally harsh. Armstrong (I think) threw himself to the ground as he did on multiple occasions last night.

I thought Sean Welsh turned in one of his best ever performances for us. He was everywhere and when he went forward he was a real creative spark with a nice flicked pass to Mckay (which he should have scored from) as well as hitting the bar and almost bagging another goal when he just missed a low cross from Shaw. obviously he scored a goal but he could easily have had a hat trick and an assist or two. He was magnificent.

An outstanding performance from all but Welsh and Allardice particularly shone for me. We absolutely dominated the middle of the pitch thanks to them. Welsh is so reliable in possession and as RiG pointed out was really effective going forward. Allardice was also good on the ball but defensively he was like having a brick wall in front of the centre-backs. I find it hard to believe he won't be playing in the top flight next season.

4 hours ago, tm4tj said:

I get uneasy when the dissenters go all quiet. It's a bit like an olde western when you can't hear the Red Indians at night just before they attack. Quick, form a circle.....

Too late as a burning arrow sets one of the wagons on fire and the horse bites the dust. Women and children first.... Where's the Duke when you need him?

I don’t understand the premise of your point here. Most comments, I believe, of the people that contribute to the forum are ICT fans, turn up and pay their money. From the comments I have read, the bulk appear sincere in the support for the team, but want to be able to comment (for good or bad) on what they see, hear or read regarding the club/match performance and experience. That’s a healthy position I would suggest!! Maybe you don’t and you’re entitled to your view!
 

Just to cemented my point, I have attended all the home matches this season and with few exceptions the team performance has been a hard watch to say the least!
I wrote previously in this forum prior to the Killie match, that to date, I saw no evidence on past performances to see how we could prevail, however we knew on football there was always a chance. (Which we took on the night).

So unlike a few on this topic, I attending on what was a bitterly cold night to support my team. I was delighted and cheering with the rest of the die-hard fans as we matched Killie in energy, effort and no small bit of guile. We should have secured a 3-1 victory but I don’t loose sight of a fantastic result! - Just wish we had applied some of the same attitude in the past games. Spare me trotting out the tired old injuries excuse!! 

Just to pare back a little of the good feel of last nights result, this was at best an average Killie team. The good thing for me was our boys didn’t shrink back to believe they were inferior to a top league team and went on the attack. Dare I suggest the reduction in our usual habit of playing the ball backward from an attacking position helped!! 
 

Anyway - out with the team and manager on the night, credit from me goes to :-

# the young team - awakened and stirred the corpses in the north stand. More flares, tapes upsetting the gentry and general mischief (great),  - crucial on the night I suspect.

# Killie fans - announcer says 2950ish attendance for the match. They brought up over 600 fans in my opinion. (Where were our faithful)? 
On one of Scotland’s coldest days they travelled in numbers at a rotten time, watched and noisily supported their team in defeat to then travel another 3 hours to arrive in Ayrshire around 01:00 Here’s to you Killie fans.

So in conclusion - I turned up and supported and cheered my team onto a fine result! Well done.

I will continue however to express my views on where and when I consider the team, manager, CEO, board or facilities fall short! Unless of course that type of criticism is not allowed here?? 

 

 

Edited March 11, 20233 yr by Big cherly

17 hours ago, Robert said:

Agree with all of that (as usual) other than Carson’s booking. He deserved it and his annoyance at it was as he knew he’d messed up rather than being upset with a harsh award. 

Nonsense Robert, Carson won the ball and Armstrong then rolled in agony. Within seconds, he was up and running again though. Minimal contact from Carson and a totally undeserved booking. Ref looked out of his depth at times.