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Attendance: 8,307
Kilmarnock logo
Scottish Premiership | Gameweek 22
Jan 22, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
 
Celtic logo

1-3

Kabamba (66')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Edouard (25'), Griffiths (51'), Jullien (73')

Killie winger Burke: 'We're not bothered about title race'

Kilmarnock thrashed Queen's Park 6-0 to reach the Scottish Cup's last 16 on Saturday.

Kilmarnock derailed Rangers' title bid this time last year but Chris Burke insists his side have no interest in who emerges victorious from the current scrap at the top.

Steven Gerrard's team were caught cold 12 months ago as they returned to action from their winter break with defeat at Rugby Park.

It proved a pivotal moment in the title race as Celtic romped clear to win their eighth successive title.

This year, however, it is the Hoops' turn to visit Rugby Park first up as the Ladbrokes Premiership resumes following the January shutdown.

But former Ibrox winger Burke insists the chance to be kingmakers once more is not a motivating factor for Killie as they prepare to host Neil Lennon's team on Wednesday night.

The 36-year-old – who recorded an incredible six assists as Alex Dyer claimed his first win as boss with Saturday's 6-0 William Hill Scottish Cup rout of Queen's Park – said: "If I'm honest I don't think about the title race. That's up to Celtic and Rangers – they have to come here and get points.

"We concentrate on ourselves and have other targets for ourselves. We don't think about helping anyone out. We want to be somewhere and stay somewhere and the aim is to get back in the top six and be competitive.

"Celtic will be looking for three points and there will be a lot of pressure on them but we have to make sure we do our own thing."

Saturday's meeting of Scotland's two oldest clubs was the League One Spiders' first game since they ended 152 years of Corinthian tradition by joining the professional ranks.

But the defending from Ray McKinnon's team was straight from the amateur era and Burke took full advantage as he set up a double for Stuart Findlay and there were also goals for Alex Bruce, Greg Kiltie, Nicke Kabamba and Connor Johnson.

"I think the last time I did that was under-10s football," smiled Burke. "I'm delighted overall for the team because we have had a sticky patch in not scoring goals but hopefully we have shut a few people up.

"Scoring six goals is excellent – OK five of them were set-plays but you still have to create chances to score goals and we did that.

"Unfortunately I don't have an assist bonus but if anyone wants to be my agent then feel welcome!

"It's about belief and it can only be good for the team to score six and not leak any. We have a tough test on Wednesday when we entertain Celtic but we go into the game with belief and we have a good record against the Old Firm here."

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Scotland assistant manager Alex Dyer pictured in September 2019
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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