Preview: Kilmarnock vs. St Mirren - prediction, team news, lineups

The visitors are currently undefeated in the league and sit just two points behind the league leaders, which is a gap they will aim to close.

Match preview

Kilmarnock made the perfect start to the 2023-24 Scottish Premiership campaign by defeating Rangers in a surprise result, but since that point, the team have struggled for consistent results.

Killie have secured three draws and two defeats following that game, which has led to them sitting in eighth place in the table with just a point between them and the relegation zone.

Derek McInnes will want to see more from his team this weekend in order to start pulling them away from that situation immediately, but they will need a stronger performance than their midweek encounter in the Scottish League Cup.

Kilmarnock were knocked out of the competition against Hearts, despite a goal from Brad Lyons, as they were caught out in the 92nd minute when they conceded the match-winner.

The late heartbreak is something that Killie fans will be hoping inspires the team for this weekend, especially since they have only lost once at home this season in the league.

The visitors will head into this fixture with plenty of confidence due to their unbeaten start to the season in the SPL which has left the club in second place, putting pressure on Celtic in the process.

The Buddies have been the surprise package of the division early on, and with only two points between them and the Hoops, they could finish this weekend top of the league if the Hoops slip up.

However, St Mirren will need to recover from their midweek defeat at the hands of Hibernian which saw them crash out of the Scottish League Cup.

Despite Scott Tanser initially putting them ahead and then Keanu Baccus scoring an equaliser the Buddies ended up losing 4-2 after a brace from Martin Boyle in the final 10 minutes of the game.

It is a result that they will be aiming to quickly put behind them, particularly since the gap between them and Celtic is so close at the top of the table.

Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership form:

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Kilmarnock form (all competitions):

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St Mirren Scottish Premiership form:

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St Mirren form (all competitions):

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Team News

Kyle Vassell has been leading the line for Killie throughout this season, and it is expected that he will be in that position once again.

However, they will be without Corrie Ndaba after he suffered an ankle injury, as he is expected to be out of action for at least a month.

Caolan Boyd-Munce and Mikael Mandron were given opportunities to start in midweek for St Mirren, with Baccus and Conor McMenamin dropped from the starting XI, but they could find themselves slotting back into the team this time.

Alex Grieve is another player who could be in contention for returning to the starting lineup after making an appearance from the bench in the midweek defeat.

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

Dennis; Mayo, Wright, Findlay, Davies; Armstrong, Lyons, Magennis, Kennedy; Dallas, Vassell

St Mirren possible starting lineup:

Hemming; Fraser, Gogic, Taylor; Strain, Boyd-Munce, O'Hara, Tanser; McMenamin, Kiltie, Olusanya

We say: Kilmarnock 0-3 St Mirren

St Mirren might have suffered a defeat in midweek, but they are likely going to bounce back with an immediate impact in this fixture.

Kilmarnock have struggled for victories this season and facing one of the strongest teams in the division could prove to be a difficult task.

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