Kilmarnock vs St Mirren Prediction – Bottom half clash as Kilmarnock look to steady ship.

Were it not for Hearts (rock bottom) and Hibs (no wins in ten, seven losses), Kilmarnock would be looking a great deal worse. Instead, the failings of those around them could well be enough to see out the season quietly and begin focusing on preparation for the next season. St Mirren will be happy to pile on the woes for their opponents, as they look to build enough results to return to the top half of the table come this time next year. As the season draws to a close, the positions are all seemingly set and for many teams, this could well be the time to offer game time to those who they either wish to promote from the youth teams or place in the shop window before a summer sale. With both instances requiring something approaching a decent performance, there could be goals galore as St Mirren travel to Kilmarnock who will need the points if they are to hold out any hope of catching Ross County.

Form

Despite four losses in a row, Kilmarnock remain eleven points ahead of Hearts. This speaks of the stark reversal in the team’s fortunes earlier in the season. With Hearts winning five nil in their last meeting, Kilmarnock’s previously tight score lines were blown out of the water. With the bottom team being able to put such a high number of goals through their defence, the prospect of the seventh placed St Mirren visiting could well be troubling. Kilmarnock will want to end the season well, and returning to the previously more secure defence will be the start of this ambition come the weekend.

Having to balance a cup run (as well as European competition earlier in the season) has seen Wigan’s With so many teams battling hard in the bottom half of the table, St Mirren have risen above a short spell of poor performances in order to remain unbeaten in five. Three wins and two draws represent a decent enough return and offer a good foundation on which they can build next season’s assault on the top half.

Team News

Kilmarnock are likely to be without Darren Barr and Greg Kiltie as they continue to miss out through injury. In spite of this, the manager is likely to stick with the same squad, with the manager calling for the team to improve their play in the final third.

St Mirren have no new injury concerns which will open up their full squad to selection for the manager. The return of Jim Goodwin (the captain) to the side after a recent suspension should provide a lift and the manager will be happy that the previous suspension was reduced.

Kilmarnock

P36 W09 D06 L21

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Predicted Line-Up (4-4-2): Samson; Barbour, Pascali, Maksimenko, Tesselaar; McKenzie, Slater, Clingan, Johnston; Muirhead, Boyd.

St Mirren

P36 W10 D08 L18

DWWDW

Predicted Line-Up (4-2-3-1): Dilo; Naismith, McGregor, McAusland, Kelly; Goodwin, Newton; McLean, McGowan, McGinn; Thompson

Prediction: Kilmarnock 2 - 0 St Mirren

Kilmarnock’s good form looks set to be enough, especially at home, to dispatch the out of form St Mirren.