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

What the report says

Kilmarnock’s poor start to the Scottish Premiership season has intensified after a 4-0 defeat by Dundee United left Neil McCann’s side bottom of the table with three losses from three and 13 goals conceded. BBC Sport reports that the Rugby Park crowd booed the team off at both half-time and full-time, while McCann said he was “angry” and “apologetic” and urged his players to respond quickly.

The match was effectively over by the interval, with Kilmarnock already three goals behind. The club are now trying to find their first point of the campaign and, according to the BBC’s analysis, have equalled the worst start by a Scottish top-flight side after three matches since the late 1990s. Their defensive record is especially concerning, with the 13 goals against standing out as the worst in the division this season and the highest total any team has conceded over the same early-season period since 1998-99.

McCann, who helped Kilmarnock recover strongly at the end of last season, said the team had let supporters down and needed a reaction in Wednesday’s home game against St Mirren. The BBC also noted concerns about Kilmarnock’s setup, with former midfielder Andy Halliday suggesting their shape is leaving them exposed at the back.

The article places the crisis in context: Kilmarnock finished last season well under McCann, but a series of heavy defeats this term has quickly raised pressure on the manager and his new-look squad.