Kilmarnock play host to Scottish Premiership trail-blazers Celtic on Friday night. Read the match predictions to find out why an away win is the betting tip at Rugby Park. Kilmarnock come into this on the back of a 0-0 draw at home to Hamilton Academical while Celtic ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle.
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Preview
Kilmarnock have a clean bill of health which is one less thing for boss Lee Clark to worry about. Attacker Coulibaly has 6 goals and is in good form, so is likely to be their chief threat. Kris Boyd is out of form but will nevertheless lead the line for the hosts.
Celtic have no fresh injury concerns, so Brendan Rodgers is free to name his strongest XI. Scott Sinclair has been in the goal scoring groove and can take his tally for the season to 9 here. Moussa Dembele has 7 for Hoops and was on the score sheet for France U21’s during the international break.
Team Predictions Kilmarnock vs Celtic
Kilmarnock 4-2-3-1 formation: MacDonald; Smith, Addison, Boyle, Hendrie; Dicker, Taylor; Mckenzie, Coulibaly, Jones; Boyd
Celtic 3-5-2 formation: Gordon; Lustig, Sviatchenko, Simunovic; Brown, Armstrong, McGregor, Roberts, Sinclair; Griffiths, Dembele
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Betting Tips
- Kilmarnock have won 2 drawn 5 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Celtic have won 7 drawn 2 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Kilmarnock have scored an average of 0.9 goals and conceded an average of 0.5 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Celtic have scored an average of 2.2 goals and conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Kilmarnock’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Celtic’s previous 10 matches
Kilmarnock vs Celtic Prediction
Kilmarnock are among the sides jostling for position in mid table and can’t seem to get any consistency in their results. After a commendable effort to beat Hearts 2-0 they then put in a sorry display when losing 3-0 away to Rangers. Their misfiring continued in the bore-draw with Hamilton and they can’t afford to spurn any chances they may get in this match.
Celtic have been sensational in domestic football this season, with the Champions League so far proving to be their only difficulty. They’re unbeaten in 5 matches in all competitions, during which the only goal they conceded was away to Borussia Monchengladbach. They’ve kept 5 successive clean sheets in the league and will be confident of extending that run here.
The visitors should take this without much fuss and I expect them to keep the hosts at bay. Given that neither side has been involved in many high-scoring games of late, I’m predicting there won’t be a flurry of goals. William Hill’s odds of 6/1 about a 2-0 win, therefore, look fair enough.
Free Betting Tips
Match Prediction
CELTIC to win to nil at 20/23 with BetVictor
Over/Under Prediction
UNDER 2.5 goals at Evs with BetVictor
Correct Score Prediction
CELTIC 2-0 at 6/1 with William Hill
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Scottish Premiership – Kilmarnock v Celtic Prediction
Kilmarnock go in to this match knowing they are without the likes of Dale Carrick, Craig Slater, Tope Obadeyi and Lee McCulloch. What is more worrying perhaps are the doubts lingering over the health of star striker, Kris Boyd. Midfielder Curtis Johnston may feature but is not a certainty. There is good news for Kilmarnock fans, although it may not be as exciting as one would hope, the goalkeeper shortage has been dealt with. Young Oliver Davies has arrived on loan from Swansea and will likely take a place on the bench.
No such worries for the champions, with both Charlie Mulgrew and Scott Brown possibly returning in this match. Nadir Ciftci will serve the third of his six game suspension but no other worries exist for Celtic. Partick Thistle lost 2-0 at home to the Hoops over the past weekend, expect the men from Glasgow to line up pretty much the same again, with the skipper taking his place in the eleven should he be fit.
Possible Line-ups
Kilmarnock: 5-3-2 Formation: MacDonald; Smith, Connolly, Westlake, O’Hara, Ashcroft; Hamill, Robinson, Higginbotham; McKenzie, Boyd
Celtic: 4-2-3-1 Formation: Gordon; Lustig, Boyata, Van Dijk, Izaguirre; Brown, Armstrong, Commons, Rogic, Johansen; Griffiths
- Kilmarnock have won 4, drawn 1 and lost 5 of their last 10 matches.
- Celtic have won 8, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches.
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Kilmarnock have scored an average of 1.6 goals and conceded an average of 1.6 goals per game.
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Celtic have scored an average of 2.1 goals and conceded an average of 0.7 goals per game.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Kilmarnock’s previous 10 matches.
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Celtic’s previous 10 matches.
- Celtic have won the previous 8 matches between these two sides.
Kilmarnock head into this game knowing it will take something special to take any points away from the title favourites. An injury ravaged side that could potentially be missing the talents of their main man Kris Boyd, are unlikely to secure a first win over Celtic since 2012.
These are the kind of games that Celtic often make look like a formality; although it is true what they say, anything can happen in football and at this level it is crucial to never underestimate your opponent. That being said, Celtic have won their opening two fixtures and while they did nothing remarkable in the transfer window they did sign Belgian international, Dedryck Boyata. A talented centre half who probably stayed at Manchester City a little too long. Expect him to flourish in Scotland.
Do not be brave if you plan on betting on this fixture, everyone loves a punt occasionally but to put money on Kilmarnock is akin to flushing it away. Expect Ronny Deila and the Bhoys to get the job done just as they seemingly always do against Kilmarnock.
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