<h1>Kilmarnock-Hearts – Premiership 2023/2024 Statistical Preview</h1>
<p><strong>Probable Lineups</strong></p>
<p>Missing Players<br>
Kilmarnock<br>
Hearts</p>
<h2>Team News</h2>
<p>Kilmarnock<br>
Hearts</p>
<p>Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes made one change to the Killie team that beat Ross County 1-0 in their last Scottish Premiership game at home, before a third away league win of the season as they beat St Johnstone 2-0 in Perth. Will Dennis continued in goal behind a defensive trio of Stuart Findlay, Joe Wright and Lewis Mayo. Robbie Deas made way for an extra man – David Watson – in midfield as he joined Liam Donnelly and Liam Polworth in the middle of the park. Danny Armstrong started on the right-hand side of midfield, with Matty Kennedy on the left-hand side. Club captain Kyle Vassell and Marley Watkins lead the line for Killie at McDiarmid Park once more, the weekend before last.</p>
<p>Hearts boss Steven Naismith made three changes from the Jambos’ 4-2 victory over Livingston at Tynecastle in their last Scottish Premiership match, before suffering Hampden heartache as they lost 2-0 to Rangers in the Scottish Cup. Craig Gordon came back in between the sticks for the Livingston game in preparation for the semi-final. Stephen Kingsley replaced Alex Cochrane at left-back to join Nathaniel Atkinson, Frankie Kent, and Kye Rowles in the back four. Cammy Devlin and Beni Baningime continued in the middle of the park. Yutaro Oda and Barrie McKay made way for Kenneth Vargas and Alan Forrest to start on the right-hand side and left-hand side respectively, behind Lawrence Shankland.</p>
<h3>Match Facts</h3>
<p>Sponsored Under 2.5 goals 1.80
Kilmarnock win or draw 1.33</p>
<p><strong>Prediction</strong></p>
<p>Fourth hosts third as Kilmarnock and Hearts go head-to-head in Ayrshire, both teams looking to lock in their respective positions in the Scottish Premiership table. Killie are unbeaten in five Scottish Premiership matches, including a 1-1 draw in Edinburgh against this weekend’s opponents, as fourth place looks a certainty but the possibility of third not eliminated just yet. They would have to beat Hearts to stand a chance, as a draw means the gap would remain 11 points with four games to go, something which they haven’t done this season. However, Hearts head to Ayrshire knowing that a third victory at Rugby Park this season would secure third place and European group-stage football for next season. The Jambos missed out on the ‘best of the rest’ tag to Aberdeen last season but a second league victory at Rugby Park over Killie would right those wrongs, having also won there in the League Cup earlier on in the season. Both league meetings at Tynecastle have ended in draws so, despite Hearts having won twice in Kilmarnock already, a share of the spoils between these two teams at Rugby Park wouldn’t be too surprising.</p>
<p>© WhoScored.com User Predictions</p>
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