Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone Match Analysis and Prediction

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Kilmarnock will be looking for their first win since August when they welcome St Johnstone to Rugby Park for their Scottish Premiership encounter on Wednesday.

The hosts will be very glad to be back on home turf for this contest, as they lost yet again on the road on Saturday, conceding four goals at Pittodrie. They remain the only side in the division yet to pick up a point away from home despite playing more away matches than any other team.

Derek McInnes’s side did at least get their first away goal of the season in that defeat, but they are already in danger of being cut adrift of the most of the sides above them.

However, Kilmarnock’s performance in the League Cup has been positive, and there remains reason for optimism on that front with a quarter-final to come in just over two weeks’ time, but improvement on the league front is required quickly.

Meanwhile, St Johnstone have seen an upturn in their fortunes since last season, when they narrowly avoided the drop by winning the relegation playoffs.

Sitting six points clear of the bottom two spots shows improvement and even has them looking up and targeting a place in the Championship group at the end of the regular campaign.

A remarkable change from last season has been their ability to score more often, given the fact they scored a dismal 24 in 38 matches last season.

St Johnstone are almost up to half of that tally in just eight matches this season, despite still not having a regular goalscorer in their ranks, but sharing the goals around has not been as much of a problem this season.

A very strong September has helped move Callum Davidson’s side up the table as they picked up seven points from their three matches last month.

Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone head to head

These two teams have previously met on 58 occasions across all competitions, where Kilmarnock have claimed 21 victories while St Johnstone have won 24, and they have drawn in 13. Kilmarnock have scored 60 goals and conceded 58. In their last five meetings, St Johnstone have won four while drawing one.

Kilmarnock 0-0 St Johnstone 04/12/19

St Johnstone 2-1 Kilmarnock 25/01/20

Kilmarnock 1-2 St Johnstone 15/08/20

St Johnstone 1-0 Kilmarnock 06/11/20

Kilmarnock 2-3 St Johnstone 30/01/21

Kilmarnock latest home form

Kilmarnock have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their four most recent matches. They managed to defeat Motherwell 2-1 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored eight goals and conceded nine.

Kilmarnock 1-1(P) Partick Thistle 13/07/22

Kilmarnock 4-1 Stenhousemuir 23/07/22

Kilmarnock 1-1 Dundee United 30/07/22

Kilmarnock 0-5 Celtic 14/08/22

Kilmarnock 2-1 Motherwell 27/08/22

Kilmarnock latest away form

Kilmarnock have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their six most recent matches. They were beaten 4-1 by Aberdeen in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored two goals and conceded seven.

Ross County 1-0 Kilmarnock 20/08/22

Hearts 0-1 Kilmarnock 31/08/22

Hibernian 1-0 Kilmarnock 03/09/22

Livingston 1-0 Kilmarnock 17/09/22

Aberdeen 4-1 Kilmarnock 01/10/22

St Johnstone latest home form

St Johnstone have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just two of their six most recent matches. They drew 0-0 with Ross County in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded two.

St Johnstone 1-0 Ayr United 23/07/22

St Johnstone 0-1 Hibernian 30/07/22

St Johnstone 0-1 Aberdeen 20/08/22

St Johnstone 3-0 St Mirren 03/09/22

St Johnstone 0-0 Ross County 17/09/22

St Johnstone latest away form

St Johnstone have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having lost just two of their five most recent matches. They defeated Dundee United 2-1 in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored 10 goals and conceded 11.

Elgin City 2-4 St Johnstone 19/07/22

Motherwell 1-2 St Johnstone 06/08/22

Rangers 4-0 St Johnstone 13/08/22

Hearts 3-2 St Johnstone 28/08/22

Dundee United 1-2 St Johnstone 01/10/22

Kilmarnock news

McInnes has a decision to make about his goalkeeper, as replacing Samuel Walker with the recently returning Zach Hemming has not had the desired effect.

Liam Donnelly could return to the side here following his absence for three matches, but Scott Robinson will remain sidelined with a heel injury.

St Johnstone news

David Wotherspoon is nearing his return from an ACL injury which has kept him out for several months, while Chris Kane is suffering from a serious knee injury.

Cameron MacPherson is close to recovering from a thigh injury which has kept him out since August, as is Callum Booth in defence.

Prediction and Odds

The only points Kilmarnock have picked up this season have all been at home, and they certainly cannot afford to lose a fourth consecutive game.

Meanwhile, St Johnstone have put together an impressive little unbeaten run and will be confident to keep that going against a Killie side short on goals and points.

Odds: 1 2.30 X 2.05 2 2.21