KILMARNOCK enjoyed a fantastic season last term and qualified for European football. But they have gone off the rails so far this season and will be desperate to put it right when Dundee United visit.
The Ayrshire club's manager Derek McInnes has been linked with the Hearts job, but he won't want it publicised that his Killie side have so far managed to win just one game out of 12 so far this season.
That solitary win was achieved in Norway at Tromso and the Europa Conference League win was probably just about the sole highlight of the season.
They've drawn their last two league games and sit in second bottom place and face a newly-promoted United side who have faltered recently.
They remain in fourth place in the table, but went down to defeat from Rangers ay home and then followed that up with a disappointing quarter final loss in the Premier Sports Cup against Motherwell last week thanks to conceding a last gasp penalty.
How the bookies view it: Killie good things
Killie are favourites across the board despite their lowly league position and can be backed at 27/20 with UniBet. United are 12/5 with 10Bet and the draw is 21/10 with bet365.
Recent head to heads: Killie on top
The sides met a remarkable six times when United were last in the top flight and Kilmarnock won four of them! United did trounce them 4-0 in one of the games though.
United haven't won at Rugby Park in the league for eight years.
Players to watch: Moult could get nod
Killie skipper Kyle Vassell is overdue a goal with the striker only finding the back of the net once this season against Tromso in Europe. He is 2/1 to score anytime with bet365.
Louis Moult has mostly had to contend with a sub's role so far this season but scored a fantastic effort at his old club Motherwell when he came on last week. That might get him the nod here and he is 3/1 to score anytime with bet365.
Predicted line-ups:
Killie will be without the suspended Joe Wright but Brad Lyons returns. Liam Donnelly remains out along with Kyle Magennis.
United are only missing long-term injury victim Ryan Strain
Kilmarnock: O'Hara, Burroughs, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Watson, Polworth, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.
Dundee United: Walton, Adegboyega, Gallagher, Graham, Stephenson, Docherty, Sibbald, Ferry, Babunski, Trapanovski, Moult.
Anything else catch the eye?
Killie have yet to get going so far this season, but there were signs in their last game at St Mirren that they are improving – they were arguably the better side despite having to play with ten men.
They have too many good players like Matty Kennedy and Danny Armstrong not to come good and they can get the better of a United side who have just showed signs of a wobble.
This might be a struggle for goals – six of United'a last seven games have seen under 2.5 goals and the same applies to six of Killie's last seven games.
One goal could even settle this and it's worth a go at a big price of 43/20 on under 1.5 goals with UniBet.
This Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Dundee United will be played on Sep 28, 2024 and kick off at 15:00. Check below for our tipsters best Kilmarnock vs Dundee United prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
