Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone Prediction: Saints set to struggle

Kilmarnock were beaten 4-0 at Celtic in their opening game of the season, but Sunday’s Scottish Premiership clash with St Johnstone (15:00) offers a chance to turn around a tricky start.

Read below for my Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone prediction and all the latest team news and match odds ahead of this contest at Rugby Park.

Football Odds

Killie began the campaign in the Europa League, losing out 2-1 to Cercle Brugge in the second qualifying round.

They dropped into the Conference League in midweek, drawing 2-2 at home to Tromso in the first leg of their third-round qualifier. That winless start is something they’ll be out to fix this weekend before a difficult visit to Norway.

Team News

Kilmarnock are in the middle of a busy month so it’s a boost that they can call upon a fully fit squad. Boss Derek McInnes switched his side to a back three for their clash in Europe after their Celtic humbling and that system is likely to remain in place.

Former Scotland boss Craig Levein is overseeing a summer overhaul at St Johnstone, with six players making their debut in their 2-1 home defeat to Aberdeen. However, new signing Uche Ikpeazu is a doubt for this weekend’s clash.

Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone Odds

*Please click on the link above to be taken to the main Kilmarnock vs St Johnstone page on betfred.com (or app) for all the live betting prices on this match.

Kilmarnock are 4/5 to win, while St Johnstone are 100/30 to claim the three points. A draw on the day at Rugby Park is available at 11/4.

Kilmarnock to win @ 4/5

While Killie have yet to pick up a win this term, there’s faith that McInnes can lead them to another strong campaign. Last season’s fourth-placed finish was a surprise, but it’s further proof of the former Aberdeen boss’s talents at this level.

Rugby Park was vital to that success, with Kilmarnock winning 10 of their 19 home matches last season. They play their opening home league game of the campaign against a Saints side that lost 11 of 19 trips last season. The visitors have already shown some troubling signs this term, too.

While the Saints dealt with the likes of non-league Brechin City and League Two strugglers East Fife in preseason, they lost away to Championship side Alloa. Levein’s side have been beaten in two of their last three and after their away woes last term, Killie are good value here.

Take the hosts to secure the points, while a 2-1 home win appeals at 7/1. Four of the Saints’ last five league trips have seen both teams score, while Killie won by a single goal on six occasions at home last term.

Kyle Vassell first scorer @ 5/1

Kilmarnock striker Vassell scored his first goal of the campaign on Thursday, netting after six minutes against Tromso.

The Northern Irishman was key for Killie at home last term, with seven of his nine Premiership goals coming at Rugby Park. The forward was also vital early on, with six of those nine goals opening the scoring.

With Vassell fresh from an early home strike in midweek, back him at 5/1 in the first goalscorer market against a vulnerable St Johnstone defence.

Offers

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