RANGERS will look to take advantage of at least one of the top two in the Scottish Premiership table dropping points this weekend as they face a tricky trip to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock at Sunday lunchtime.
Phillipe Clement’s men bounced from their 1-4 drubbing at home to Lyon in the Europa League by recording a far from spectacular but routine 2-0 win over second-from-bottom St Johnstone.
The Gers have now won each of their three Premiership matches since their Old Firm defeat at the start of September – all without conceding – but have been far from convincing in the past two in particular.
Kilmarnock found it tough to juggle domestic and European football at the start of the season, as they lost each of their opening three Premiership fixtures by an aggregate score of 9-0.
However, Derek McInnes’s men have since improved, drawing each of their next three before coming from two goals down to defeat 10-man Dundee 2-3 just before the international break – with all three goals coming from the 86th minute onwards.
How the bookies view it: Gers unconvincing favourites
As is usually the case when excluding Old Firm matches in the Premiership, Rangers are odds-on favourites to claim all three points and are priced up at 8/15 at William Hill.
Kilmarnock defeated Rangers 1-0 in Ayrshire on the opening day of last season and are priced up at 21/4 at Bet365 to repeat the feat – whilst a draw is 7/2 at Unibet.
Head to head: Rangers aim to make it four wins in a row against Killie
Since Killie’s above-mentioned victory on the opening day of the last campaign, Rangers have won each of their next three contests against Derek McInnes’s men, including a 1-2 victory on their previous visit to Rugby Park back in February.
Players to watch: Tom to find the target again?
Tom Lawrence has scored the only goal in recent league victories away at Dundee United and at home to Hibs, as well as in their defeat in the Europa League at home to Lyon. The Welshman also netted in their last two meetings with Kilmarnock, including the winner when they last faced off at Rugby Park.
Matty Kennedy was the hero at Dens Park last time out, as he scored the first and the third in their comeback victory at Dundee and is priced at a whopping 7/1 at Skybet to strike again.
Probable line-ups
Derek McInnes will be without both Kyle Magennis and Liam Polworth, whilst David Watson is touch and go after withdrawing from the Scotland U21 squad with a shoulder issue – Stuart Findlay does return though.
Ianis Hagi made a brief cameo on his return to the Rangers first team against St Johnstone, but after setting up their second, got sent off and will be suspended – Cortes, Yilmaz, Matondo all remain out.
Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Findlay, Mayo, Ndaba, Armstrong, Lyons, Donnely, Kennedy, Watson, Watkins, Vassell
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Jefte, Barron, Lawrence, Diomande, Bajrami, Cerny, Dessers
Anything else catch the eye?”
Rangers have kept clean sheets in six of their last eight matches in all competitions – with the exceptions being their thrashing’s at Celtic Park and at home to Lyon in the Europa League – but may find it difficult to shut out a Killie side that has struck nine times across their previous four Premiership matches.
Whilst Rangers’ matches haven’t been great for goal-backers this season, Kilmarnock’s have, with their opening seven Premiership contests averaging 3.71 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals banking in five (71%) of them, including their last three, which have finished 2-2, 3-3 and 2-3.
Rangers to Win and Both Teams to Score has paid out in each of the last three meetings between the pair, and a repeat here pays 2/1 at Bet365.
This Scottish Premiership match between Kilmarnock and Rangers will be played on Oct 20, 2024 and kick off at 12:00. Check below for our tipsters best Kilmarnock vs Rangers prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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