Kilmarnock midfielder Craig Slater claims his side have simply not been getting the breaks during their recent run of poor results.

After an encouraging start to the season the Ayrshire side have lost seven out of their last eight matches - drawing the other - while dropping to eighth in the Scottish Premiership table.

Ahead of the visit of Hamilton this weekend, the 20-year-old Slater lamented Killie's recent luck.

"We are in a rut and everyone is just desperate to try to turn it around and that starts against Hamilton on Saturday," he said.

"We are desperate to get back to the way we started the season.

"I don't know if I can put my finger on what has gone wrong but daft wee things that aren't going our way in games.

"We are not getting the breaks and you don't seem to get them when you are in that rut.

"It is frustrating for us and the fans but we are working hard to change it.

"We are passing the ball but maybe just lacking that finishing touch when we get into the last third.

"We need to finish with a goal or something positive, like more shots on goals.

"But we need goals from all different areas, not just the strikers, and if we get a cutting edge we will start to do better.

"Accies are a tough team, though, and work ever so hard so we will have to match that.

"But we have played some good stuff recently and I don't see why we can't get the three points."

The Scotland Under-21 player has just returned to the Ayrshire side in recent weeks and the fear of stagnating makes him extra keen to keep his place .

"I was playing well at the start of the season but got injured which was frustrating," he said.

"I had to work hard and get back into the plans.

"I came back in at Ibrox against Rangers but it didn't quite happen.

"But I got the chance on Saturday (against Aberdeen) and I thought I did well so I will be looking to stay in the team.

"I need to try and play as many games as I can. There is nothing better than playing. I don't like sitting on the bench. It is not doing me any good.

"I am only 20 so I am not developing if I am sitting on the bench.

"There is no problem with the club. I just need to stay in the team and that is up to me."