Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone Match Analysis & Prediction
11/08/2024 5:00 pm
Both looking to bounce back from defeat on the opening day, Kilmarnock play host to St Johnstone at the BBSP Stadium Rugby Park on Sunday in matchday two of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership.
Derek McInnes, who took over in January 2022 with the club in the Scottish Championship, will be aiming to keep Kilmarnock in the top six for the second successive season, something they have not achieved since 2017-2019.
Kilmarnock did endure a mixed pre-season in preparation for the new season, winning three and losing two of their five friendlies, and that has appeared to carry into the beginning of the competitive campaign.
They suffered a 2-1 aggregate defeat to Cercle Brugge in the second qualifying round for the Europa League, followed by a 4-0 defeat to Celtic in their opening league game, and most recently, drawing 2-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League third qualifying round tie with Tromso IL.
That run leaves McInnes’ side without a victory in any of their opening four matches in the 2024-25 campaign, something the manager will be desperate to change here.
Despite their unfavourable form, Killie will fancy their chances of securing a victory against a St Johnstone side that narrowly survived in the top flight last season.
St Johnstone finished 10th in the regular season, one point above Ross County in the relegation playoff spot, and a win over Motherwell in the final post-split match spared them from having to face Raith Rovers in the playoff game.
That victory over Motherwell seemed to kickstart a run of positive form for Craig Levein’s side, winning six of their subsequent eight matches across pre-season, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Premiership.
One of their two defeat during that run did come in their opening league match against Aberdeen last week, where they lost 2-1 despite a fairly even game.
Kilmarnock vs. St Johnstone Head to head
In the previous 65 meetings between these two teams, Kilmarnock have claimed 24 victories while St Johnstone have won 27, and they have drawn in 14. St Johnstone have scored 65 goals and conceded 68 in the process.
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18/03/2023Kilmarnock1St Johnstone1Premiership
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20/05/2023Kilmarnock0St Johnstone1Premiership
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01/11/2023St Johnstone2Kilmarnock1Premiership
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23/12/2023Kilmarnock2St Johnstone1Premiership
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13/04/2024St Johnstone0Kilmarnock2Premiership
Kilmarnock Team News
Oliver Bainbridge, Fraser Murray and David Watson made way for Joe Wright, Danny Armstrong and Bruce Anderson against Tromso in midweek, and all three could continue in the side here.
On the back of 11 goals last season, Kyle Vassell opened his account for this campaign with the opening goal against Tromso, and the striker will be searching for his first in the league in this one.
Kilmarnock's Last 5 Matches
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19/07/2024Kilmarnock5Barrow0Club Friendlies
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25/07/2024Kilmarnock1Cercel Brugge1Europa League
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01/08/2024Cercle Brugge1Kilmarnock0Europa League
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04/08/2024Celtic4Kilmarnock0Premiership
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08/08/2024Kilmarnock2Tromso2UEFA Conference League
St Johnstone Team News
St Johnstone will be without Uche Ikpeazu, who is out with an injury until September, while Sam McClelland is also a doubt after being taken off in the 52nd minute of their defeat to Aberdeen.
Despite suffering defeat in their opening game, they produced a performance with planty of positives, and Levein could opt to name the same starting XI here, with Jack Sanders replacing McClelland.
St Johnstone's Last 5 Matches
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13/07/2024Brechin City1St Johnstone2League Cup
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20/07/2024St Johnstone2Greenock Morton0League Cup
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23/07/2024Alloa Athletic3St Johnstone2League Cup
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27/07/2024St Johnstone5East Fife1League Cup
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05/08/2024St Johnstone1Aberdeen2Premiership
Kilmarnock vs. St Johnstone: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
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