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

Both sides are looking to bounce back after very disappointing results during the midweek set of league fixtures.

Match preview

Kilmarnock's midweek misery was courtesy of a defeat at St Johnstone, becoming the first side to lose to the league's bottom-placed side this season.

Derek McInnes's side had the chance to consolidate their place in the top six and move five points clear of the Relegation Group, but squandered it in a poor showing at McDiarmid Park.

A dreadful start was to blame, as Killie found themselves 2-0 down inside just seven minutes, and found the comeback insurmountable, despite Kyle Vassell's consolation and a red card for St Johnstone.

It was a disappointing follow up to two fine performances which saw Kilmarnock beat both Aberdeen and Livingston convincingly on home soil.

McInnes will be glad to be back at Rugby Park, as his side have shown great form here so far this season, with only Celtic and Rangers having picked up more points at home.

Killie are winless in their last four meetings with Motherwell, but three of those head-to-heads were away from home, so they will hope familiar surroundings can put an end to that run.

Even that positive recent record might not give Motherwell much confidence heading into this clash though, with the club on a concerning downward spiral.

A brilliant start saw Motherwell continue the fine form which they ended last season with, finishing a long way clear of the drop despite ending up in the Relegation Group.

However, after winning 10 points from their opening four games, Motherwell remarkably have taken just one in the six matches since.

That solitary point came in slightly fortuitous circumstances too, as they miraculously salvaged a point against Ross County despite 3-1 down with two minutes of the 90 left to play.

The first three games in that run of six were against the league's current top three, but defeats to Celtic, Rangers and St Mirren appear to have completely knocked them off course.

Another woeful showing in midweek saw Motherwell go 4-0 down at home to an Aberdeen side which started the round second-from-bottom.

They managed to pull two goals back to make the scoreline a tad more respectable, but there are glaring problems facing manager Stuart Kettlewell.

Motherwell's slide has seen them fall to eighth, and they are now just one point above the relegation playoff spot.

Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership form:

D

D

L

W

W

L

Kilmarnock form (all competitions):

L

D

L

W

W

L

Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:

L

L

L

L

D

L

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Team News

Despite defeat in midweek, Vassell continued his excellent run of form for Kilmarnock by scoring his fourth goal in three games after also contributing greatly in Kilmarnock's two home wins at the end of October.

Liam Donnelly has been building match fitness after missing much of the season so far with injury, and he got another 45 minutes in midweek.

Kyle Magennis (hamstring) and Corrie Ndaba (Achilles) are both absent though and are not expected to return until December at the earliest.

An ankle injury will keep Motherwell left-back Pape Souare out until the end of the month, while Jonathan Obika is also absent with a muscle issue.

Mika Biereth should come into the starting XI having scored on both of his substitute appearances since returning from a knee injury.

After five months on the sidelines, Calum Butcher returned in midweek as a half-time substitute, but a start may still be too soon for the central defender.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

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

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Kelly; McGinn, Mugabi, Casey; O'Donnell, Miller, Slattery, Spencer; Paton, Wilkinson, Spittal

We say: Kilmarnock 2-1 Motherwell

Having only suffered one league defeat at home so far, as well as recording famous wins over both Celtic and Rangers, Kilmarnock will be confident they can get back on track here.

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