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.
