Kilmarnock start with clean slate against Rangers, says Steve Clarke

Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke is taking nothing from last season's successes against Rangers ahead of Sunday's League Cup clash at Rugby Park.

Killie were bottom of the Premiership last October when he took over, but Clarke managed to guide the Ayrshire side to two wins, one draw and a defeat in their four league matches against Rangers.

The Ibrox men are unbeaten this season under new boss Steven Gerrard and they qualified for the Europa League play-off on Thursday night as a goalless draw with Maribor in Slovenia was enough to see them through 3-1 on aggregate.

"There is a different mentality to last season because this is a completely new season,'' said Clarke.

"Rangers are a different team, we are a different team.

"We have lost one or two from last year, we have one or two players in to help us so it is completely different to last year, there is no point in looking back to last year and we will see what happens on Sunday.

"If you want to do well in the cup competitions you have to beat whoever is put in front of you so we look forward to the game.

"If we can reach the level of performance that we know we are capable of it should be a good game.

"We are slowly getting back to the level we were at last season.

"It is not going to happen immediately. The performances in the main have been OK, we have been competitive in all the games, which is what we ask, and if we are competitive we are good enough to win matches against anybody, we have proved that.''

Clarke will also take little encouragement from Rangers' exertions in Slovenia.

He said: "I don't think that will have any bearing on the game.

"Modern travel, easy. Players are used to it.

"You jump on a plane, you get home, you get a good sleep today. They will be ready.

"Hopefully our fans will come out in numbers. I know the Rangers fans will be out in numbers so if your fans come out in the same numbers it should be a good atmosphere and a good game.'

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