Kilmarnock V Partick at Rugby Park : Match Preview

27 November 2015 15:31
Kilmarnock V Partick - view commentary, squad, and statistics of the game live.


Jamie MacDonald: Kilmarnock now a tougher proposition

Jamie MacDonald admits he did not know which of his team-mates would be lining up in front of him from week to week as Kilmarnock got their Ladbrokes Premiership campaign off to a nightmare start.

But now the Rugby Park goalkeeper reckons Killie's opponents will find his side a much tougher nut to crack after Gary Locke was finally able to stabilise his line-up.

The former Hearts and Falkirk stopper was among 12 new faces to check in during the summer and MacDonald admits it has taken Locke's recruits time to gel.

But they have hardly been helped by a raft of injuries which left the boss having to rethink his side on an almost weekly basis.

In fact, Locke has already used 28 players in the first four months of the season.

And the combination of a lack of familiarity and a lengthy casualty list resulted in some horror hidings in the opening weeks of the season, with Dundee and Ross County both inflicting 4-0 drubbings on the Ayrshiremen.

But with skipper Mark Connolly fit again after 12 weeks out with knee trouble and former Partick Thistle defender Conrad Balatoni settling into the heart of Killie's back four, MacDonald believes his side are no longer seen as the top-flight's whipping boys.

He said: "Big Mark has been out injured for the last few months but he was back in at the weekend against Celtic and was great.

"He was partnering Conrad and it's been great that he has now extended his deal until the end of the season. He originally only signed till January but has been fantastic. Hopefully those two can form a real solid partnership.

"Overall as a team we have improved massively since the start of the season. Just having a more settled line-up has helped that.

"At the start of the season we had so many injuries and suspensions that we were chopping and changing every week. We had a lot of new players and it can take time to get to know one another.

"Now it's good to finally get a settled back four. We're making teams work harder to score against us."



Midfielder Rory McKenzie will sit out the game after suffering a hamstring injury.

The Scotland Under-21 cap lasted just 41 minutes of last weekend's 0-0 draw at Celtic and is looking at a month out of action.

Defender Darryl Westlake (ankle) and winger Chris Johnston (knee) remain unavailable.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Tomas Cerny could return to the Partick side for the trip, according to manager Alan Archibald.

The 30-year-old Czech has been out since sustaining an ankle injury in the 1-1 home draw against Hamilton on October 24 but has trained twice this week since recovering.

Asked if there was a chance of Cerny making it for the clash at the weekend, Archibald said: "Possibly. I will speak to the medical department and see where he is at and see if he is ready for it and he comes into my thoughts if he is.

"When he got injured we first thought that it was really bad but it settled down really quickly and we were targeting after the international break or this game so he is about on course.

"It is great. It shows the strength we have got in that area.

"Paul Gallacher came in when Ryan Scully was suspended and did a great job. Ryan came back last week and was fantastic, so it is good to have that strength and depth in that area."

Archibald is hoping for the Jags' to register their first back-to-back wins of the season which would take them above Kilmarnock, who are two points ahead.

The former Thistle defender said: "It gives us that wee carrot but it will be a tough game. Kilmarnock have changed no end since the last time we played them although we have changed as well."

Midfielder Stuart Bannigan is available again after suspension but Christie Elliott (back) remains out.


Source: PAR