
Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell hails debut keeper after fine display in win over Livingston
Kilmarnock boss Stuart Kettlewell heaped praise on debut keeper Max Stryjek after he pulled off a string of fine saves in their 1-0 win over Livingston last night.
The victory, against the stopper's former team, puts the Rugby Park side in control of Group H with two wins from two.
Mo Sylla's first half own goal decided the game but the Polish keeper impressed in denying Stevie May twice and repelling Robbie Muirhead on a number of occasions.
Kettlewell said: 'You just see his experience, don't you? He's some character, but he just wants to play football. He wants to get back out on the pitch. He's been a guy for a number of years now that's been active in the game, playing, being involved, under pressure, doing well.
'So I think you can kind of see that in his performance. He's been really vibrant about the place and delighted that he performed as well as he did.'
It was far from a vintage display from Kilmarnock, but Kettlewell insisted he's not going to be overly negative at this stage of the season.
He added: 'I need to rein myself in for being negative, because I absolutely think we can play much better than what we did. I think we'll have to over the course of the season.
'What the players showed us was a bit of grit, a bit of determination, to make sure they dragged themselves across the line to get the three points.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
Kilmarnock ace 'excited' by season ahead but admits they must improve on Kelty showing
The 31-year-old admitted it was a frustrating evening in Fife but sees plenty of positives as the league season approaches Kilmarnock midfielder Rory McKenzie knows his side's display against Kelty Hearts wasn't good enough - but he refuses to be too downcast following their Premier Sports Cup penalty shoot-out defeat in Fife. Killie would have taken a huge step towards confirming their place in the knockout stages if they'd picked up the points at New Central Park, but a string of fine saves from Ryan Adamson thwarted their hopes. And the stopper, only in the team because Corey Armour was ineligible to face his parent club, saved two penalties in the shoot-out to give the hosts the bonus point. Despite the disappointment, it's still a case of win and in for Killie as they know three points at home to East Fife on Saturday will see them finish as Group H winners and progress. McKenzie said: 'We didn't really create much to be honest, a draw was probably a fair result. I thought Kelty were really impressive on the night and we just didn't do enough to score. "If we win on Saturday we still go through so it's still in our hands. Everyone looking at it from the outside just expects the bigger teams to roll the smaller teams over but it's not the case. Yes, we should be better but these games are always tough. "We're not happy after that, it wasn't good enough but the positive is that it's in our own hands. It is a clean sheet and George (Stanger) has come in and done really well this season so we'll take the small positives.' It's been a summer of change for Killie as McKenzie enters his 15th season at the club. A new manager along with a whole host of exits and new faces - and the 31-year-old admits he's seeing plenty to get excited about. He said: 'It's a big change, the way we want to play. It's going to take time but we're all positive even after this result that we're going in the right direction. The majority have been with us since the start of pre-season and came to Holland with us. It's a good bunch and I'm excited. "I'm not a huge talker but if boys want to chat to me, I'm more than happy to talk about the club. I guess that comes with that respect of being here for so long that they know they can come and talk to me. Having boys who are familiar with the club can help.'


Daily Record
10 hours ago
- Daily Record
Livingston striker hopes his pace is perfect for slick new pitch
Zak Rudden hopes to hit the ground running at the West Lothian club Zak Rudden hopes blistering pace will help him on a fiery pitch at Livingston, and intends to blast in goals that will keep him in the team. The former Dundee and Partick Thistle hero has got off the mark already this term, with the clincher in a 2-0 win at home to Highland League Brora Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup, adding to Danny Wilson's opener. The Lions sit second in group H on six points after three games, as they host Kelty Hearts in their group finale on Saturday. Rudden, 25, bagged 15 goals in 47 games during a difficult season at Queen's Park, and after gunning down Brora, he said: 'It's good to get off the mark, and I've been biding my time, but I got the chance and I took it. 'There's good competition for places here. The gaffer spoke to me about that when I was coming in, and it's something I'm relishing. 'There's good competition, I've got to get my spot, and once I get it, try and keep it, but I'm not thinking it's going to be easy.' Livingston have recently installed a new pitch, with boss David Martindale holding several training sessions on it to get players used to the surface. Rudden said: 'I think the new pitch will suit my style sometimes, other times not so much because it's going so quick at the same time and I'm running so fast at the same time. It's a very fiery pitch and it's something we need to get used to, and quickly.' Edinburgh-born Rudden, who came through the youth set-up at Rangers, says talking to Martindale had him convinced the West Lothian club was right for him, but was able to back that up by talking to several of his new team-mates. And he reckons Livingston are in a good place as they prepare for their Premiership opener at Kilmarnock on August 2. Rudden said: 'I spoke to the gaffer and it seemed like it suited me. I wanted to settle down at a club, and the way the gaffer was speaking to me, and the security of a two-year deal as well, it just seemed like everything fell into place. 'I like the way the gaffer's taking the club forward. I spoke to Ryan McGowan, I was with him at St Johnstone [during a loan spell in 2023] and I know Danny Wilson as well through Rangers when I was a young boy, and I was with him briefly at Queen's Park. 'I knew boys I could speak to and it was a good option for me. 'The boys here look in good shape as well.'


STV News
a day ago
- STV News
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas signs for new football club following jail term
Former Greenock Morton player Jay Emmanuel Thomas has signed for a new football club after being released from jail. The 34-year-old, who has also had spells at Livingston and Aberdeen, was arrested in Gourock, Inverclyde, last September for his involvement in the importation of £600,000 worth of cannabis. He was sacked by Morton after being detained and questioned by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers and was handed a four-year prison sentence last month. However, he was released with strict license conditions after serving ten months of the term and has now made a return to the pitch with Hampshire side AFC Totton, who play in the English National League South. NEW SIGNING 🦌💙We are absolutely delighted to welcome Jay Emmanuel-Thomas to the club. Jay joins us with a wealth of experience in the Championship and we're sure his goals will lead to a successful season here on the South Coast! #GoStags🦌 — AFC Totton ⚽️🦌 (@AFCTotton) July 22, 2025 The club confirmed his signing on Tuesday, and he made his debut that night against Weymouth FC that night. Emmanuel-Thomas, who started his career with Arsenal before playing for a string of clubs on both sides of the border as well as short stints in Thailand and India, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex to fraudulent evasion of the prohibition on the importation of cannabis between July 1, 2024 and September 2, 2024. Before his arrest he had played six games for Morton without scoring a goal after moving to Cappielow from Kidderminster Harriers. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country