Rangers will look to bounce back from a disappointing sequence of draws on Saturday night as they travel to Rugby Park to take on Kilmarnock.
Rangers drew for the third consecutive match in all competitions on Wednesday night, as they played out a four-goal thriller away at Dundee United.
The Gers had trailed twice in the match, but a Nedim Bajrami penalty with virtually the last kick of the game did at least preserve Danny Rohl’s unbeaten record in the Premiership.
However, that draw means Rangers remain in fourth position in the table, and are now nine points behind rivals Celtic.
Kilmarnock don’t come into this clash in good form either, as they are currently in the midst of an eight-game winless run in the Scottish Premiership (W0-D2-L6).
However, Stuart Kettlewell will take confidence from back-to-back 1-1 draws, with the latest of those coming at Tynecastle on Wednesday night, with Bruce Anderson’s late strike earning a point away at faltering leaders Hearts.
That point moves Killie up to ninth in the table, four clear of bottom side Livingston, but only one above the relegation playoff spot.
How the bookies view it: Gers unconvincing favourites
Despite drawing each of their last three matches, Rangers have been installed as odds-on favourites, with bet365 pricing an away success at 8/13.
Bet365 have priced Kilmarnock at 17/4 to end their eight-game winless run on Saturday night, whilst the draw is 29/10.
Head to head: Rangers dominance
Rangers have won 12 of their last 14 meetings with Kilmarnock (W12-D0-L2), including a 3-1 victory in what was Danny Rohl’s first Premiership match in charge of the club.
However, Kilmarnock will take confidence from the fact that they have won two of their last four meetings with Rangers at Rugby Park.
Players to watch: Bajrami to bag again?
After seeing his minutes limited at the start of the season, Nedim Bajrami has started each of Rangers’ last two matches in the league, with his late well-taken penalty rescuing a point for the Teddy Bears at Tannadice on Wednesday night.
The Albanian also scored when these two clubs last met at Rugby Park in February, and the 13/8 on offer for him to Score or Assist appeals to me.
Predicted line-ups:
Kilmarnock will be missing Max Stryjek, Jamie Brandon, Matty Kennedy and Djenairo Daniels through injury, whilst Marley Watkins is a doubt.
Rangers will be missing a few players here, with John Souttar, Derek Cornelius, Mikey Moore, Oliver Antman and Bailey Rice all injured.
Kilmarnock: Oluwayemi, Brown, Mayo, Deas, Brown, Watson, Lyons, Thompson, Kiltie, John-Jules, Anderson
Rangers: Butland, Tavernier, Djiga, Fernandez, Meghoma, Barron, Raskin, Bajrami, Gassama, Danilo, Miovski
Anything else catch the eye?
Rangers created plenty of chances at Tannadice on Wednesday night, but somehow only scored twice, with all three of their strikers missing guilt-edged chances.
However, whilst they created plenty of chances, Danny Rohl’s men were a shambles defensively, and they too were perhaps lucky only to concede twice themselves.
Both sides are unbackable at the moment, so it’s safer to back goals at Rugby Park on Saturday night, with Both Teams to Score priced at 17/20 at William Hill, whilst bet365 have Over 2.5 Goals at 4/5.
The last seven meetings between the two clubs have averaged a whopping 4.14 goals per game, with Over 2.5 Goals landing in six (86%) of them, whilst five (71%) have produced goals at both ends.
Interested in why both teams scoring is such a strong angle? Check out our Masterclass on BTTS and sharpen your match-reading game.
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