A week ago I reckoned four points was an absolute minimum from the games against Hearts and Kilmarnock. My approach softened slightly when we beat Dundee United - a completely unexpected and welcome three points - but a win is vital after we only drew at the weekend. Kilmarnock have had a mixed week too - losing to Hibs after gubbing the Jambos - so they'll be after a good result to lift their spirits. We're both pretty close in the league so the win comes with the double bonus of three points and hurting a rival.
Our games against Killie have become the equivalent of a derby for us in the top flight, one of them usually slotted in around New Year. Worryingly, we haven't won any of these ones since Danny Lennon took charge with only a draw and two defeats to show for our efforts. Our record against Kilmarnock was OK last season, although it took us until the final day to beat them. That came at Rugby Park and was Lennon's first win there, so we could really do with him continuing the winning theme in Ayrshire tomorrow. Worryingly, when we played Killie at the start of the season they looked the better side until Kris Boyd was sent off, at which point we took control. This time we have to be switched on from the off.
Boyd was sent off for punching Jim Goodwin but there won't be a repeat of that because our captain is suspended. Say what you want about how it was brought to the SFA's attention, the fact is he shouldn't have done what he did and deserves to be punished. David van Zanten will probably take his place, although Kenny McLean could be back. Even if he does return it's likely someone else will be dropped for Vanzy as McLean and Goodwin are totally different players.
It would be rather harsh on Danny Grainger if he is the player forced to make way. He hasn't had the best of times for us, but his first half display against Hearts when he was played on the left of midfield was terrific. He was then moved about after the break and understandably struggled, but has arguably done his best to keep his place. Perhaps he will, with Sean Kelly rested ahead of the game against Celtic. Aside from that I can't see too many changes - as long as Marc McAusland is fit. Gary Teale and David Barron definitely aren't.
Things aren't looking good on or off the park at the moment for Kilmarnock. They're currently ninth in the league - a place below us - and are sure to be caught up in a relegation battle, many fans far from impressed with Allan Johnston's efforts so far. It doesn't help that he replaced the popular Kenny Shiels in the summer, who was binned by chairman Michael Johnstone. He wasn't exactly popular with the fans before that and that only increased the tension a few notches. Since then there have been protests, boycotts and rumours of takeovers - all of which isn't doing anyone any favours and surely is playing a part in the team's performances.
One thing Shiels made a point of doing during his final six months in charge at Rugby Park was bringing through youngsters. He didn't shut up about it in fact, but he probably deserves some praise for bringing kids into the team. It's only lately that Johnston has decided to do the same and a couple of them have been terrific. Chris Johnston looks like a winger who can go far in the game and is in top form at the moment, while one time Saints midfielder Craig Slater has been excellent in midfield. Other youngsters to watch out for are midfielder Jude Winchester and defenders Mark O'Hara, Ross Barbour and Rory McKeown.
When he was veering away from the youngsters in the summer, Johnstone decided to sign Barry Nicholson. I think Nicholson is a good player and is handy for a few goals, but at 35 he's more of a short term impact signing rather than being signed with a view to the future. Admittedly, the experience of him, Manuel Pascali (now fit again) and James Fowler could be of great use to the kids. Johnston also broke another Shiels mantra by turning to the loan market to bring in Dundee United's Michael Gardyne, while David Silva has returned to the club but barely played. The same goes for Reuben Gabriel, who had an amusing Twitter rant about things lately, but Rabiu Ibrahim has featured regularly. The same can't be said for Sammy Clingan and Kyle Jacobs, who are good players but haven't seen much action under Johnston.
The Killie boss inherited two keepers who Shiels had been allowed to bring in before he was dispensed with. One of those should be rather familiar to us as he spent the last three years at Greenhill Road before being tempted away by a better contract. Craig Samson established himself as a solid keeper while with us and was a key part of the League Cup triumph, but has been shaky at times for Killie. At least he's seen off Antonio Reguero so far, Shiels bizarrely spending what little money he had on two good goalies! Our former leftback Jeroen Tesselaar has been playing regularly, as has former Hearts man Darren Barr, although fellow Tynecastle escape Ismael Bouzid hasn't done a great amount. Jackson Irvine - another loan signing - has been used in midfield as well as in defence but is the subject of somewhat mixed reviews, although Sean Clohessy looks like a pretty handy rightback so far.
But the handiest of all the Killie squad is surely Kris Boyd. Most people assumed he only returned to the club last season to get himself fit for a move to Ibrox but he has stuck around and rattled in 11 goals so far. That saw him back in the Scotland squad, although he didn't play. Killie will need to hope he keeps banging in the goals this year as until recently no one else had shown signs of doing it, although Chris Johnston has now bagged a few and Rory McKenzie finally scored against Hearts. William Gros pops up in the team every now and then and annoyingly one of his few Killie goals came against us!
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