Neil McCann in brutal message ahead of Hibs as Kilmarnock players told they've caused massive let down
Kilmarnock are next up for Hibs on Tuesday night at Easter Road.
Neil McCann has urged his Kilmarnock players to get their eyes fixed on Hibs after letting themselves down against Aberdeen.
The Rugby Park have had a difficult start to the Premiership season and have just a point from five games. They are now out the Premier Sports Cup after a quarter-final loss on penalties at home to Aberdeen, who played a large chunk of the game that went to extra-time with 10 men, after Dan Happe’s red card in the second half.
Killie come to Easter Road on Tuesday night for a league fixture with Hibs and boss McCann insists his crew must be ready. He hopes they are left sore after the cup defeat but has charged them with a task in its aftermath.
Kilmarnock vs Aberdeen review
McCann said: "It's a huge disappointment. It's a cruel way to lose a game, but with the extra man the disappointment is we didn't do enough with that. It was a golden opportunity to go to a semi-final and we didn't take it. We were a man up trying to force the game and the message was to move the ball quickly.
"But the biggest thing was to take responsibility, go and do something, as an individual. An extra man gives you possession of the football easier, but you still have to do it and come up with something. That's the separation, the difference between getting to a semi and not, and we didn't do enough of it. It’s so disappointing.
"Psychologically the boys will be really down and I hope they are because I'm hurting, and all our fans are hurting. They need to show they are capable of recovering from this very quickly because we go to Hibs. Professional sport doesn't allow you a lot of time to sit and wallow in your misery from a result like this.
Neil McCann on preparing Kilmarnock for Hibs
“It’ll ask questions of you, are you built strong enough to come back? I have charged them with that down there. I know I am, I know my staff are, and I expect them to recover and get ready for Hibs. They shouldn't need lifting. They have let themselves down massively. Semi-finals don't come around often, and they need to use this feeling to go again, but it's sore.
“We tried to freshen it up because I felt they were flat, and it was almost as if they were waiting for someone else to take responsibility and there was no spark. They have probably got a long night ahead of them. What's the message to the fans? I'm as disappointed as they are. It's a big miss."