Relegation-threatened Kilmarnock will play host to top-six chasing Motherwell on Saturday afternoon for a matchday 32 clash in the Scottish Premiership.
The hosts are 10th in the league table and just a point above the relegation-playoff spot, while the visitors are eighth and trail the top six by only one point.
Match preview
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After earning promotion from the Scottish Championship in 2021-22, by lifting the league title, Kilmarnock narrowly avoided relegation in their first Scottish Premiership campaign before climbing to a brilliant fourth-placed finish last season.
Derek McInnes would have been aiming for a similar campaign this time around, but Killie have experienced an extreme drop down the standings this term, currently battling against relegation from the top flight.
Kilmarnock are currently 10th in the league table with 32 points from 31 games, after eight wins, eight draws and 15 defeats, leaving them only a point above 11th-placed Dundee in the relegation-playoff place.
Given Killie are set to face Celtic in their final fixture before the Scottish Premiership splits in two, the hosts will be desperate to pick up three points on Saturday to strengthen their place ahead of the last five matches after the split.
However, they are set to face a Motherwell side that they have failed to defeat in their last four meetings – with three draws and one defeat – although they are undefeated at home against the Steelmen in the past five clashes.
Motherwell have had a turbulent time in the weeks leading up to this match, including a run of six successive losses through January and February, the departure of manager Stuart Kettlewell and losing 4-1 to Aberdeen last time out.
Michael Wimmer was hired to replace Kettlewell as the permanent boss, and the German had made an impressive start with two wins, one draw and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Dundee United, but he will be disappointed with their heavy loss to the Dons last weekend.
Following that defaet, Wimmer will have to motivate his players for their final two matchdays of the regular season, with the Steelmen just one point behind sixth-placed Hearts.
While Motherwell will be favourites given their higher league ranking compared to Kilmarnock, the visitors have struggled on the road this term – recording five wins, one draw and 10 defeats from 16 away league fixtures.
Team News
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Kilmarnock will be unable to call upon the services of Kyle Magennis (knee) and Kyle Vassell (shin) due to ongoing injury issues, with both not expected to return until later this month.
Killie’s league top scorer, Bruce Anderson with nine goals, ended his nine-game goal drought with a penalty in the 5-1 loss to St Mirren last time out, and the forward should start again here.
As for Motherwell, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Archie Mair, Jack Vale, Paul McGinn, Ross Callachan, Sam Nicholson, Shane Blaney, Steve Seddon and Zach Robinson are all out injured.
Aston Oxborough has returned to the bench in their last two outings, but January loan signing Ellery Balcombe is likely to retain his place between the sticks.
Following the 4-1 loss to Aberdeen last weekend, Wimmer could decide to make changes to the starting team on Saturday, with the likes of Kofi Balmer and Tawanda Maswanhise potentially starting.
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Watson, Mayo, Wright, Ndaba; Murray, Donnelly, Polworth, Kennedy; Anderson, Watkins
Motherwell possible starting lineup:
Balcombe; O’Donnell, Balmer, Casey; Sparrow, Halliday, Miller, Thompson; Slattery, Maswanhise; Watt
We say: Kilmarnock 1-1 Motherwell
These two sides have drawn all of the last three league meetings, and with both in desperate need of points to achieve their respective league objectives, we expect another hard-fought affair that ends all square.
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