'Angry & apologetic' - can McCann halt Kilmarnock's losing start?

Three games, zero points and 13 goals conceded - the new-season optimism at Kilmarnock has quickly evaporated. The Rugby Park side were booed off at half-time and full-time of Saturday's 4-0 mauling from Dundee United which didn't overly flatter the visitors. Manager Neil McCann kept a lid on his anger post match, refusing to let rip despite a first-half horror show that had his side three goals down and once again chasing a Scottish Premiership match from the bottom of an unscalable cliff. McCann was quick to acknowledge that the fury of the home support was entirely justified. "I'm angry and I'm apologetic to the fans," he said. "It's very easy right now to be emotional about it. The guys know my feelings about the performance and I expect a reaction on Wednesday night [against St Mirren]. "I'm not overly emotional right now. I had a wee chat to them in the dressing room. They know that they've let everybody down today and I've been a part of that. "We've let everybody down connected with Kilmarnock but there's no better thing in sport than a quick game and we've all got an opportunity to put things right on Wednesday night." Dundee Utd boost hospitalised Goodwin with Kilmarnock rout Stats tell a damning story As Kilmarnock seek their first point of the season, the stats paint a bleak picture for supporters. Since 1998-99, McCann's side have made the joint-worst start by a Scottish top-flight team after three games. Aberdeen in 2000, Dundee United in 2004, Hamilton in 2010 and Kilmarnock themselves in 2025 all had no points and a goal difference of minus nine after the opening three fixtures. As if that's not bad enough, Kilmarnock's 13 goals conceded is also the worst by any team in the same period, as well as being the most by a distance of any Premiership team this term. McCann's men also have the highest expected goals against of 10.14 this season, as well as the most errors leading to goals (six, four more than any side in the division). You'll not be surprised to discover they've faced the most shots (69) while also allowed the most shots on target (29). The only be marginal consolation for McCann is his side is not last when it comes to tackles and tackles won - they're ninth for that, with 36 and 22 respectively. Promise turns to concerns McCann was something of a surprise choice to take the reins at Rugby Park in January of last season as the club floundered at the wrong end of the table. However, alongside assistant Billy Dodds and helped by the sparkling loan impact of Rangers winger Findlay Curtis, he steered Killie to survival with a flourish. They ended last term with four straight league wins, rattling in 13 goals. The downturn has been swift. To concede four goals to St Johnstone, five to Celtic and then another four to Dundee United means the pressure from his own supporters is mounting by the minute. The team's expansive style is leaving them wide open. Andy Halliday, the former Rangers, Hearts and Motherwell midfielder, says their shape is suspect. He told BBC Sportsound: "I felt there was a lot of promise for Kilmarnock coming into this season, given that from when McCann in to the end of the season, they rose to fourth in the form table. "I don't think they look comfortable in their shape. I hated playing in [a diamond]. When you're the wide man in that, you're asked to do a power of work, in and out of possession. Quite often, you have to be the width when on the ball and then narrow when you're out of possession. "The worry for me when I watch Kilmarnock is the way the full-backs operate. They're asked to do a really attacking job in possession, but out of possession they're one-v-one. "They don't have Findlay Curtis or the like in front of them, with high energy, who can come back and double up. As much as they're struggling defensively, I don't think the shape is helping because they're exposed." It's not that Kilmarnock didn't have chances against United, it's just that they couldn't take them. That said, at the other end, Max Stryjek was beaten four times yet could still say he had a pretty decent game. Debuts handed to centre-half Cathal McCarthy and Jonathan Meier meant half the defence were getting their first taste of the Premiership. Too much too soon? McCarthy gave away the penalty and Meier was hooked at half-time. An early injury to centre-half stalwart Robbie Deas added to Kilmarnock's woe. Everything that could go wrong, did. Does St Mirren's visit on Wednesday already fall into the 'must win' category? It certainly feels like a 'must not lose' if Killie are to kickstart their season. Visit our Kilmarnock page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Kilmarnock news notifications in the BBC Sport app