Analysis: Kilmarnock abandon the midfield in abject loss to Ross County

It was a bad game and an even worse result - here's what went wrong

Two steps forward and one back appears to be the theme of this Kilmarnock season, as three home wins in a row - with three clean sheets - was followed by a dismal, dispiriting loss to Ross County.

Derek McInnes admitted his team looked flat and any friends who were brought along for free as part of a club scheme for season ticket holders probably weren’t thanking their mates after shivering through a turgid loss.

Here’s what went wrong at Rugby Park.

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McInnes started with a 4-4-2, with Kyle Vassell and Liam Polworth both missing out due to injury.

The inclusion of Innes Cameron was presumably to imitate the physical presence that Vassell brings up-front, but the striker lasted just three minutes before going down with what looked like a nasty hamstring injury.

How well the approach would have worked with the big striker in the team is something we’ll never know, but it became apparent early on that the midfield of Liam Donnelly and David Watson wasn’t suited to the task at hand.

With Donnelly looking to come deep and his young midfield partner wanting to join the attack, when Killie attempted to build from the back there was a gaping chasm in the centre of the park - an issue we’ve highlighted before.

With Country striker Jordan White happy to drop in and help in midfield and Nohan Kenneh taking up a deeper role, there was frequently a solid line of four Staggies players between the pair.

While Killie are attempting to build the play in the above image, there’s simply no way for them to play through the midfield.

One particularly galling example came early in the first half when Robby McCrorie rolled the ball out for Brad Lyons at right-back.

Donnelly, his nearest passing option, has a man on him so he plays a long ball - all the way to Watson who, to his credit, did win the header and create what could have been an opening.

However, he must be 50 yards away from his midfield partner.