Kilmarnock's defensive struggles have reached a concerning level early in the Scottish Premiership season. The Rugby Park side have let in 14 goals across their opening five league fixtures, a tally that puts them among the leakiest defences in the competition's recent history.

Only Dundee United in 2022-23, Gretna in 2007-08 and Motherwell in 2005-06 have conceded more in their first five matches of a top-flight campaign. This porous start has contributed to the club's current position of 12th in the Premiership, with just four points from six games. The team's goal difference stands at minus nine, having scored only five times.

Compounding the issue is a lack of goals at the other end. Killie have failed to score in their last three league outings. They last endured a longer barren run in the top division back in February 2021, when they went five consecutive matches without finding the net.

Their next challenge is a trip to face Hibernian, a fixture that has historically been difficult. Kilmarnock have won just one of their last 17 Premiership meetings with the Edinburgh club, drawing six and losing ten. Their sole victory in that run was a 1-0 success under Derek McInnes in November 2022. Hibs, however, are on a poor run of their own at home, having lost their last five top-flight matches at Easter Road. The last side to lose six in a row at home in the Premiership were Dundee in 2019.

Despite the historical headwinds, Kilmarnock can draw confidence from their most recent encounter. They secured a 1-0 victory at Easter Road on 15 September, with George Stanger scoring the only goal. That result is part of a recent form line that reads one win, two draws and two losses from the last five games. The team's next fixture is a Premiership match away to Hibernian on Saturday, 5 October. They have accumulated 4 points from their first 6 games, and their goal minutes this season are 15, 45, 48, 90, and 90. This season's squad list and injury news, which includes Robbie Deas as sidelined, is available on our squad page.

More detail at bbc.com