LEE HAS LIFTED KILLIE CAMP, INSISTS McKENZIE

AFTER the thick end of 20 years in football, there probably isn’t too much could be considered new to the ears of Lee McCulloch. However, when Kilmarnock winger Rory McKenzie was asked what the team’s interim manager had done differently this week from predecessor Gary Locke, he extolled his virtues in an unlikely role as club psychologist. ‘We had a meeting on Monday morning at which he said how he wanted to work,’ McKenzie explained. ‘Every manager has a different way of putting their ideas across and it was no different with Jig. He also met with all the boys one on one and just got their thoughts. ‘So far he’s been able to turn a negative into a positive. It’s not easy when a manager goes but he’s done a good job bringing all the boys together. It’s actually been a really good week.’ Lightening the current mood is no mean feat. A dreadful display in a 1-0 loss to Hamilton Accies last week saw 11th-placed Killie lose further ground on those above them. If it was enough for Locke to quit, it was also a day when the seriousness of their situation hit the Killie players square between the eyes. ‘It was terrible,’ McKenzie admitted. ‘I don’t think we ever got going. It wasn’t as bad as rock bottom but there was a real realisation we’re in a lot of trouble if we don’t get our fingers out.’ The fervent hope is a win in the Scottish Cup at Ibrox today will have a positive knock-on effect in the remaining 13 league games. Mark Warburton’s side may still be classed as a lowerleague side but Killie face a tall order to progress. ‘Rangers are obviously flying at the top of their league, which is completely different to the position we’re in,’ added McKenzie. ‘But I’ve said this a few times — a win could kickstart our season. ‘Personally, I’m glad it’s at Ibrox. You want to play at the big stadiums and, hopefully, it can work in our favour. ‘I played there last season — but you know how that went. With a bit of luck it’ll be different this time.’ That was another black day for the 1997 winners, Killie barely laying a glove on Rangers in a 3-0 defeat. ‘It was a poor performance,’ McKenzie recalled. ‘But we’ve worked on a game plan this week and need to apply it.’