Preview: Kilmarnock vs. Motherwell - prediction, team news, lineups

Killie sit third-bottom after losing 2-0 to Hibernian last weekend while Motherwell pulled three points clear of their upcoming hosts with a victory against Hearts on Sunday.

Match preview

Will Fish thundered Hibernian into a first-half lead against Kilmarnock before Matthew Hoppe gleefully accepted a slapstick gift from the visitors, clinically converting after Ash Taylor's clearance cannoned off the face of Lewis Mayo and into his stride.

Derek McInnes's side have been utterly abysmal away from home this season, taking just two points from a possible 42, and are only perched narrowly above the drop thanks to their heroics at home.

Aside from the imperious Old Firm, Livingston are the only team to defeat Kilmarnock at Rugby Park this term.

McInnes steered Killie back to the top flight after taking over midway through last season, but his side have already conceded 46 goals this term, one shy of their final tally from when they were relegated in 2021.

Stuart Kettlewell, the youngest coach in the Scottish top flight at 38 years old, is poised to take charge of his first match as Motherwell's permanent manager after overseeing consecutive home wins in his two games as a caretaker boss.

It is the first time the club has achieved back-to-back victories at Fir Park since 2021, but the Steelmen have struggled on their travels this season and are winless away from home in the top flight since Halloween.

Stevie Hammell lost his final four games as manager before parting ways with Motherwell in February, almost four months since his last Premiership victory.

The upheaval at Motherwell has not been limited to the manager's dugout with Saturday's match marking the final game of Alan Burrows's tenure as the club's CEO before he takes up a similar post at Aberdeen.

Almost a fifth of the league goals Kilmarnock have scored across the entire season have come in their two previous meetings with Motherwell this term, racking up four strikes and as many points.

Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

L

W

L

L

Kilmarnock form (all competitions):

W

L

W

L

W

L

Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:

D

L

L

L

W

W

Motherwell form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

W

W

Team News

McInnes admitted that he was "raging" when he thought Kyle Vassell's high foot on Hibernian's Marijan Cabraja had been punished with a booking last weekend - one can only imagine his fury after VAR upgraded the card to a red and the club's appeal to overturn the decision was waved away.

Jeriel Dorsett and Ben Chrisene are set to join Vassell on the sidelines as the injured duo are not expected to return until March.

Innes Cameron's wait for a first appearance since the World Cup may drag on for another few weeks while the goalless striker recovers from a hamstring problem.

Motherwell have endured a shortage of left-backs since Jake Carroll ruled himself out for the foreseeable future with a knee injury in August, joining fellow defender Nathan McGinley in the treatment room at Fir Park.

January arrivals Shane Blaney and Mikael Mandron played barely two hours of football between them before complaining of fitness struggles, which are expected to persist until next month.

Joseph Efford has not appeared since October and remains a doubt with a thigh problem.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

Walker; Mayo, Wright, Taylor, Chambers; Armstrong, Lyons, Alston, Polworth, McKenzie; Robinson

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Kelly; Casey, Furlong, Johnston, McGinn; Butcher, Cornelius, Goss; Spittal, Obika, Van Veen

We say: Kilmarnock 1-1 Motherwell

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