The 1987–88 season was Kilmarnock's 86th in Scottish League Competitions. After a troublesome season exacerbated by their lack of scoring, the club staved off relegation, finishing in 10th place, one point ahead East Fife and Dumbarton who were relegated.

By early March 1988, the team had only ten wins and 41 goals in 34 games and were rated as being in "dire straits" in terms of potential relegation to the Second Division. The team's poor performance was blamed on a "lack of punch up front."

With one game remaining in the season, the club faced relegation if they did not win the final game. Kilmarnock keeper Alan McCulloch returned from a suspected broken hand for the final game. Kilmarnock defeated Partick Thistle 1–0 in the final game to avoid relegation.

Manager Eddie Morrison, interviewed by The Kilmarnock Standard, described the season as "probably one of the most disappointing the club has ever experienced" and added, "The team's performances were, to say the least, erratic, frustrating and at times very disappointing."

Players The 1987–88 squad for Kilmarnock was as follows: Archie Bell Ian Bryson Robert Clark Jim Cockburn Derek Cook Scott Cuthbertson Frazer Davidson Colin Harkness Barry Holland Hugh Houston Lex Lindsay Lenny Lowe Stephen Marshall Paul Martin Graham Millar Bobby McConville Alan McCulloch Jim McGuire Ian McInnes Stuart McLean John McVeigh Joe Reid Alan Robertson

Competitions Scottish First Division

Tables

Results Match Day Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock scorer(s) Attendance18 AugustHamilton AcademicalH0–22,178212 AugustEast FifeA1–2Reid 24'657315 AugustDumbartonA3–1Harkness 46', McInnes 63', Cuthbertson 81'824422 AugustForfar AthleticH2–2Harkness 6', Reid 87' 1,235529 AugustQueen of the SouthH0–21,83665 SeptemberMeadowbank ThistleA1–2Cook 45'698712 SeptemberRaith RoversH3–4Cuthbertson 7', Harkness 12', McInnes 52' 1,436815 SeptemberClydebankA0–2857919 SeptemberAirdrieoniansA2–3Bryson 9', Lawrie 70' o.g.1,5131026 SeptemberClydeH2–0Harkness 16', Bryson 43'1,7321129 SeptemberPartick ThistleH1–1Harkness 39'2,030123 OctoberHamilton AcademicalA1–1Harkness 35'1,218136 OctoberEast FifeH2–0Harkness 37', 89'1,4411410 OctoberForfar AthleticA0–28961517 OctoberRaith RoversA2–0Gilmour 31' pen., Harkness 47'2,1871620 OctoberClydebankH1–3McGuire 79'1,7331724 OctoberDumbartonH1–0Gilmour 89'1,5711831 OctoberMeadowbank ThistleH2–4Harkness 22', 88'1,442193 NovemberPartick ThistleA0–11,407207 NovemberQueen of the SouthA4–1Bryson 71', McInnes 74', Reid 89', 90' 1,4792114 NovemberAirdrieoniansH1–0Reid 14'1,9782221 NovemberClydeA0–21,1452328 NovemberHamilton AcademicalH1–0Harkness 55'1,922245 DecemberEast FifeA1–2Bryson 38'5712512 DecemberRaith RoversH1–1Reid 73'1,6542619 DecemberClydebankA0–11,0152726 DecemberMeadowbank ThistleA3–1McFarlane 44', Harkness 78', 87'751282 JanuaryQueen of the SouthH0–03,230299 JanuaryAirdrieoniansA3–3Gilmour 29' pen., McFarlane 67', 70' 1,5883016 JanuaryClydeH3–1Harkness 21', Bryson 44', Cuthbertson 64' 1,7523123 JanuaryDumbartonA0–11,048326 FebruaryForfar AthleticH0–21,2813313 FebruaryPartick ThistleH0–12,4323427 FebruaryHamilton AcademicalA0–12,048355 MarchRaith RoversA2–2Davidson 80', Cuthbertson 87'1,4623612 MarchClydebankH2–2Martin 23', Bourke 46'1,5493719 MarchMeadowbank ThistleH0–01,6623826 MarchQueen of the SouthA0–11,650392 AprilForfar AthleticA1–1Gilmour 85' pen.713409 AprilDumbartonH3–1Gilmour 49', McGuire 55', Bryson 63'2,2054116 AprilClydeA0–01,1204223 AprilAirdrieoniansH4–1Bourke 10', McGuire 51', 80', Gilmour 56' pen.1,9534330 AprilEast FifeH1–3Gilmoue2,488447 MayPartick ThistleA1–0Gilmour 66'3,103

Scottish League Cup

Round Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock scorer(s) AttendanceR219 AugustHeart of MidlothianA1–6Bryson 62' pen.9,500

Scottish Cup

Round Date Opponent H/A Score Kilmarnock scorer(s) AttendanceR330 JanuaryMotherwellA0–06,488R3R3 FebruaryMotherwellH1–3Harkness 49'7,591

See also List of Kilmarnock F.C. seasons

References

Offline sources

External links Kilmarnock at fitbastats.com