It started with Rangers - and it could end there for Killie

While not mathematically confirmed, I like many other Killie fans have considered the club’s fourth position in the league as final for a couple of weeks now.

The beauty of the post-split games is that every team needs to play each other before the curtain comes down on the campaign. It has its flaws, but it’s exciting in my view. Thankfully, the timing of Dundee vs St Mirren this weekend could not be better for Ayrshire’s finest for the simple reason being: they can’t both win. The Buddies trail us by nine with four games left of the campaign, while Dundee are 11 off the pace. There was no way either team would overcome Killie in fourth given the respective form of the teams anyway, but this weekend does present the chance to absolutely confirm that, and allow the celebrations to commence.

A victory at Ibrox, coupled with either a draw at Dens Park or a win for Dundee, would see Killie over the line. Unfortunately for the Ayrshire side, Rangers have been the one thorn in their side over this sustained period of consistency since the end of November. Just two Premiership defeats have been inflicted on Killie during their march to Europa League qualifiers this summer – both of those coming at the hands of Philippe Clement’s team. They were close encounters, but that’s the fact of the matter.

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Killie does have evidence to harness the belief that they can go to Ibrox and pick up a positive result. On the opening weekend, Brad Lyons grabbed all three points for Derek McInnes’ men. This was a huge shot in the arm for the club and in the words of the gaffer, we’ve never looked back since. Even in the defeats, Rangers looked shaky in certain moments, and Killie’s attack caused problems for their vulnerable backline. If it wasn’t for two top-class Jack Butland saves at Rugby Park and Ibrox respectively, then Matty Kennedy and Kyle Vassell could’ve made it a different story.

It was more so the well-documented timing of the goals that were fatal in both the 3-1 and 2-1 losses. If the players had managed to hold on to half-time at Ibrox, or weathered the storm right after the break at Rugby Park in February, then who knows, there could’ve been more scenes of jubilation much like there were in August last year. Admittedly, it’s all if buts and maybes, though, and I suppose that's why some of Rangers' players are on their books.

Sunday will be the latest tough test for Killie as they enter the final four matches of what’s been a memorable season. The journey to finishing fourth started against Rangers. Given this team’s specialty in getting results against the Old Firm, you wouldn’t rule out them finishing it at Ibrox either.

AND ANOTHER THING

As I called a few weeks ago, McInnes is rightly in the running for the SPFL Manager of the Year. He’s deservedly been nominated alongside his old pal Tony Docherty and Falkirk manager John McGlynn.

I reckon it could be awarded to any of the three, who have all enjoyed brilliant seasons at their clubs. The job carried out by McInnes at Rugby Park has been a major focus of this project, and most of you reading this will be incredibly familiar with his achievements by guiding the club to fourth spot and therefore European football just one year after the club survived the threat of relegation.

Tony Doc has enjoyed his first year as a No.1 at Dens and the question has to be asked of him why he didn’t go it alone sooner. He’s shown himself to be a shrewd, tactically astute manager, in a very similar style to that of McInnes. This, of course, is of little surprise given their close working relationship over the past 14 years. Should Dundee finish fifth ahead of St Mirren in the remaining top six games, then he deserves all the plaudits heading his way.

McGlynn was the one I mentioned in the same breath as McInnes when I initially put forward his case to be awarded the gong. Falkirk are just one match away from enjoying an invincible season in League One. Yes, they’re the only totally full-time team in the division and boast the largest budget at that level, but to go an entire season without defeat is a mammoth task for anyone.

It seems too tight to call. I may or may not (definitely may) have been biased in my vote for the Scottish Football Writers’ Association vote for Manager of the Year. For this award though, I think a good old-fashioned game of rock, paper scissors should settle the score!