James Dayton says Kilmarnock must find a way to unlock the type of defensive rearguards which have frustrated them in recent games.

Killie needed extra-time to overcome Ayrshire rivals Ayr United in their Scottish Communities League Cup semi-final at Hampden at the end of January, but failed against a similarly resolute Hibernian defence at Easter Road on Saturday, where their 1-0 defeat in the William Hill Scottish Cup fifth round ended hopes of a cup double.

The 23-year-old midfielder accepts Kilmarnock have to come up with answers, starting in Tuesday night's Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash with Dunfermline at East End Park.

"The boys are devastated to be out of the Scottish Cup," he said.

"It was one of those days where they scored early then parked the bus and we found it hard to break them down.

"Obviously Rangers and Celtic get it all the time and we have had it in the last few weeks.

"Ayr did the same the week before and luckily enough we did break them down, even though it took extra-time.

"We probably need to score before the opposition do, then they start to attack us and that is when we are even more dangerous.

"But if it carries on happening we will have to address that situation."

Bottom side Dunfermline won 3-0 at Rugby Park last month but Dayton is hoping to make amends for what he believes was a bad day at the office.

"It was a very bad day," said the Englishman.

"We can make excuses about our pitch not being the greatest at the moment and how it doesn't really suit how we like to play but we have to win games regardless of how the pitch is.

"But we will go to Dunfermline in a positive frame of mind.

"We want to finish in the top six, that's our aim.

"A win tonight takes us into the top six so hopefully we will get the three points."