Sports Mole previews Saturday’s Scottish Premiership clash between Hearts and Kilmarnock, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Aiming to respond following a defeat prior to the international break, Hearts will welcome Europe-chasing Kilmarnock to Tynecastle Park on Saturday afternoon in the Scottish Premiership.
The Jambos lost narrowly at relegation-threatened Ross County last time out, whilst Killie were convincing winners over St Mirren on home soil.
Match preview
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Following impressive back-to-back wins over title chasers Celtic and Greenock Morton, Hearts ended their run before March’s international break with a narrow 2-1 defeat at the home of 11th-placed Ross County, who are enjoying a slight resurgence of late.
Two lapses of concentration either side of the half-time whistle allowed Simon Murray to fire the Staggies into a two-goal lead in Dingwall last time out, meaning that Yutaro Oda‘s fourth league strike of the term was a mere consolation for the visitors.
Steven Naismith‘s men have already secured their place in the top six ahead of the post-season split, with Hearts’ current aim being to earn a spot in European football next season – Saturday’s hosts are currently third in the Premiership standings, 11 points ahead of fourth-placed Kilmarnock.
After featuring for Scotland in friendlies against Northern Ireland and the Netherlands over the international pause, Lawrence Shankland will be back in Maroon on the weekend and raring to add to his tally of 20 league goals so far in 2023-24.
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After a steady 10th-placed finish in the Premiership last season, Kilmarnock are on a course for an markedly-improved campaign, with a thumping victory before the international break only adding to their chances of achieving a lofty league position this term.
For the first time this season, Killie found the net on five occasions in a single fixture, with a brace from Kyle Vassell – coupled with strikes from David Watson, Marley Watkins and Danny Armstrong – securing an impressive 5-2 win over Steve Robinson‘s St Mirren outfit.
Now looking to record back-to-back Premiership victories since December 27, Derek McInnes‘s men will make the journey to Tynecastle on Saturday afternoon – a venue that Kilmarnock have failed to win at during their last two visits.
With only nine points left to battle for ahead of the post-season split, Kille are sitting handsomely in fourth place in the first-tier standings, eight points ahead of seventh-placed Dundee, who will welcome Phillipe Clement‘s Rangers to Dens Park on April 10.
Hearts Scottish Premiership form:
Hearts form (all competitions):
Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership form:
Kilmarnock form (all competitions):
Team News
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Hearts are set to be short of options at centre-back, with 28-year-old Craig Halkett still out of action due to a knee injury sustained in February.
The backline selection is further restricted by the absence of Frankie Kent, who is also recovering from a knee issue picked up over a month ago.
Shankland’s place in the XI is firmly secured but the Scotland international could have a new partner in attack, with goalscorer Oda potentially replacing Aidan Denholm in a two-man forward line.
Kilmarnock have dearly missed the presence of Brad Lyons in the middle of the park, with the 26-year-old last featuring on December 30 due to a knee injury.
Another engine room option who is yet to play a part in 2024 is Kyle Magennis, although the midfielder was not a guaranteed starter before his fitness issues.
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Clark; Sibbick, Rowles, Kingsley; Lembikisa, Vargas, Baningime, Cochrane, Forrest; Shankland, Oda
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
Dennis; Watson, Wright, Findlay, Deas, Armstrong, Donnelly, Polworth, Kennedy; Watkins, Vassell
We say: Hearts 3-1 Kilmarnock
With Shankland raring to get back to scoring ways following his two-game drought on international duty, we are expecting lots of goals for Hearts on Saturday.
Kilmarnock have been impressive in recent matches but we reckon that the hosts’ quality will shine through at Tynecastle in this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.