Three key Kilmarnock things to watch with relegation (almost) off the table

The win in Perth should secure safety, but the remaining fixtures are far from meaningless

With one 2-0 victory at St Johnstone, Killie’s season has gone from looking like a potential disaster to one which will, in all likelihood, be simply a mildly underwhelming mid-table finish.

The win in Perth officially confirmed that Kilmarnock will not be automatically relegated, the result pulling Derek McInnes’ men 12 points clear of the bottom spot with nine left to play for.

It also, realistically if not mathematically, ruled out a play-off spot.

Ross County are six points behind their goal difference is worse by 11, effectively meaning they need seven points from the next three games - St Johnstone away, Dundee away, Motherwell at home - to finish above Killie.

Even in that scenario, Dundee would also have to make up four points - and a more realistic five goals - on Kilmarnock, something they could make a start on by winning at Rugby Park next weekend.

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However, given they play Ross County in the fixture after that, which necessarily means one or both teams will drop points, it would take a pretty remarkable set of results for 11th place to be in play.

For the pessimistic, here’s the scenario: Ross County beat St Johnstone next weekend while Dundee beat Killie. The two sides then draw at Dens Park while Kilmarnock lose at Motherwell. Dundee then don’t lose at St Johnstone on the final day while County beat Motherwell at home and Hearts win at Rugby Park.

Possible? Sure. Plausible? Well, just about, but with Killie having a good home record and two of the remaining three games being at home it’s not particularly likely.

As such, it’s probably same to start thinking about what we can learn from the remaining three fixtures.