Preview: Kilmarnock vs. Cove Rangers - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are the obvious underdogs due to the fact they play in the Scottish League One, but they will be out to provide an upset.

Match preview

Kilmarnock have been enjoying a strong season so far, currently sitting fourth in the Scottish Premiership, and they head into this weekend on the back of four games without a loss.

That is a run that kickstarted when Killie first entered the Scottish FA Cup for this season, defeating Dundee 2-0 to earn a place in the fifth round this Saturday.

After consecutive draws, Kilmarnock got back to winning ways in midweek when an 88th-minute Marley Watkins goal was enough to earn them a 1-0 win over Livingston.

Derek McInnes will expect to see his team continue their momentum from that match into Saturday, especially since the club did reach the quarter-final stage last season.

While they were ultimately knocked out by Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Killie will fancy their chances of being able to go one step further this time in a bid to try and add some silverware to this campaign.

On the other hand, the visitors will be well aware that they come into this game as the underdogs due to the fact they sit two divisions below the Scottish Premiership.

However, upsets in cup football are something that people expect to see, and that should provide the team and traveling support with enough belief that a shock result could take place.

Cove Rangers currently sit third in the Scottish League One, and while the focus for the team will be on attempting to earn promotion, the chance to progress further in the Scottish FA Cup is one that they will not want to pass up.

Paul Hartley has been open about the fact nobody expects his team to defeat Kilmarnock, but with the team playing without pressure and freedom they could make the game tighter than people first think.

The visitors have defeated Stirling Albion and Brora Rangers to reach this point, and after scoring five goals across those two matches they should have no problem asking questions of the Scottish Premiership side.

Kilmarnock Scottish Cup form:

W

Kilmarnock form (all competitions):

D

L

W

D

D

W

Cove Rangers Scottish Cup form:

W

Cove Rangers form (all competitions):

D

L

L

L

W

D

Team News

After bagging his eighth goal of the season in midweek it is expected that Watkins will retain his place leading the line for Kilmarnock on Saturday, likely with Kyle Vassell by his side.

Ethan Brown penned his first-ever professional contract this week, and the Scottish FA Cup could be an opportunity for McInnes to reward him with some minutes.

Nick Suman has only missed a single game for the visitors since joining the club, and he will be tasked with attempting to keep the ball out of the net throughout this game.

However, Cove Rangers will have to cope without Matty Shiels and Ola Lawal as the two new signings are ineligible to play in the cup competition which will force a couple of changes from the weekend.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

Dennis; Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Davies; Armstrong, Watson, Polworth, Kennedy; Vassell, Watkins

Cove Rangers possible starting lineup:

Suman; Doyle, Kerr, Reynolds, Darge; Niang, Yule, McGowan, Scully; Burrell, Megginson

We say: Kilmarnock X-Y Cove Rangers

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