Stuart Kettlewell calls for resilience as Kilmarnock look to extend unbeaten run

Kilmarnock manager Stuart Kettlewell highlighted the importance of resilience after challenging his players to stretch their unbeaten run against Dundee on Saturday.

Killie are unbeaten in seven matches since Kettlewell took charge in the summer and have a Premier Sports Cup quarter-final against St Mirren to look forward to next month following last weekend’s win against Dundee United.

“We spoke after Sunday and talked about still being unbeaten, but the simple mindset is we want that to remain in place after the game on Saturday,” Kettlewell said.

“It doesn’t mean to say that that’s a given, but for us as a group, it’s absolutely something that you mention and you want to challenge yourself to see how far you can stretch it out.

“There’s going to be bumps in the road, there’s going to be tough times – there always is in this league.

“But I think we can see throughout this week about positivity within football clubs, and one result or one performance and how that can instantly change the mindset of people outwith the club.

“The important message is that we keep consistent within the building. We have to make sure we understand what we’re trying to do, how we’re trying to perform, the results we’re trying to get. As long as you can keep that unbeaten run going, then there is a real positivity.”

Kettlewell’s side have shown the ability to stay on track despite challenges, having come from two goals down to claim a point against Hibernian at Easter Road.

The former Ross County and Motherwell manager said: “Everybody needs to be careful as well that we just don’t get carried away and there’s no knee-jerk reactions if you don’t get that quite right in the first 45 minutes of football.

“I think we showed that against Hibs a couple of weeks ago. We didn’t quite get it right in the first half, but what pleased me most was the reaction to that, and that doesn’t need to come week to week. Sometimes that comes in 10-minute spells, sometimes that comes from half to half.

“Keep your powder dry, continue to keep working hard and continue to try and improve, use the confidence to your advantage if you can, but equal to that, if you take a shot in the stomach, if you take a blow, make sure you’re able to pick yourself back up, make sure you’re able to react in the correct fashion.”