This is a vital face-off in the cellar of the Premiership, with both Kilmarnock and Dundee United feeling more distress than glee. This fixture is a classic "six-pointer" with the team playing at home placed 12th and the guests in 10th place.
- Kilmarnock have the the worst goal difference (-22) in Premiership
It should be mentioned that Dundee United play their home matches on grass, so they have to adjust for this one as it's played on artifical turf. Does it matter? Recent statistics for Dundee United on artifical turf are 3 victories, 2 draws and 2 defeats from seven games. In these matches they have a goal statistics scored/conceded: 7-8. You can compare this with overall results below.
There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.
Kilmarnock form and stats
When playing at home in the Premiership, Kilmarnock, who have the the worst goal difference (-22) in Premiership, have managed 5 wins, 3 draws and suffered 3 defeats from 11 games. When Kilmarnock hosts teams that live in the bottom of the table (like Kilmarnock, Motherwell and Ross County), they have won 2 of 2 matches! Kilmarnock has three losses from their three previous games and the tension is increasing in the dressing room for both the manager McInnes and the players.
The fans are hoping that Kilmarnock will strike back in this fixture, putting things right after the 0-3 away loss in the game against Ross County (placed 11th). Polworth (midfield) was the top team player in that game with a rating of 7.15/10. Polworth hit three key passes and dribled past the opponent 2 of 3 times.
A win at home before that one, as anticipated. The team were solid favourites against Dumbarton and won 1-0. The bookmakers consider this a fairly even contest. One could say only the home advantage separates the teams. It could be relevant to look at how Kilmarnock have performed in matches similar to this (as small favourites). Our database has found 8 matches with the results: Won 3, drawn 2 and lost 3.
The manager McInnes will start preparations for the next game as soon this is finished, as the hosts are going to Livingston in only three days.
Kilmarnock are certainly not overdoing their scoring at home in league matches, having created 15 goals in 11 games. Defensively it’s touch-and-go for the home team as 17 goals have been conceded.
Dundee United form and stats
The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Dundee United so far with only 7 points returning home. The records show 1-4-5 (win-draw-lose).
The manager Fox was unhappy after their last game, played at their home stadium Tannadice Park. Dundee United suffered a 0-2 loss to Celtic (placed 1st). Midfielder Sibbald was the best performer of that match, with a rating of 7.13. Sibbald dribled past the opponent 2 of 2 times.
A home victory as anticipated against Stirling University ahead of that, in the Scottish Cup. So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Dundee playing away and similar expectations, we found 12 relevant matches. Results were 4 Dundee United wins, 6 draws and 2 defeats.
The visitors will be packing their bags again in only three days as another away game awaits: The Premiership trip to Hearts.
Defensive performances away have varied in quality as Dundee United have conceded 17 goals on the road. For more goal statistics, check out the Statistics tab above.
Head 2 Head
This was the final score when the teams faced each other earlier this season; Dundee United - Kilmarnock 4-0. Head-2-head stats last ten meetings: three - two - five (Kilmarnock wins - draws - Dundee United wins). As for goals, seven matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), three had two or less.
Top Goalscorers
  D. Armstrong 5 goals |  A. Taylor 4 goals |  J. Wright 4 goals |
Kilmarnock missing players
Dundee United missing players
| Kilmarnock | Dundee United | ||||||
| Total | Home | vs | Statistics | Stat | vs | Away | Total |
| 23 | 11 | 2 | Played | P | 2 | 10 | 22 |
| 5 | 5 | 2 | Won | W | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| 5 | 3 | 0 | Drew | D | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| 13 | 3 | 0 | Lost | L | 0 | 5 | 12 |
| 19 | 15 | 3 | Scored | S | 1 | 10 | 25 |
| 41 | 17 | 1 | Conceded | C | 1 | 17 | 39 |
| 91% | 91% | 100% | Over 0.5 | O 0.5 | 50% | 90% | 95% |
| 65% | 73% | 50% | Over 1.5 | O 1.5 | 50% | 70% | 73% |
| 52% | 64% | 50% | Over 2.5 | O 2.5 | 0% | 50% | 55% |
| 35% | 36% | 0% | Over 3.5 | O 3.5 | 0% | 30% | 32% |
| 17% | 27% | 0% | Over 4.5 | O 4.5 | 0% | 20% | 14% |
| 43% | 64% | 50% | BTTS | BTTS | 50% | 70% | 41% |
| 17% | 27% | 50% | Clean Sheets | C S | 50% | 20% | 27% |
| 48% | 18% | 0% | Failed to Score | F T | 50% | 20% | 36% |
| 4.2 | 4.2 | 6.5 | Corners for (avg) | C F | 8 | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| 5 | 4.9 | 5.5 | Corners against (avg) | C A | 3.5 | 4.7 | 5 |
| 2 | 2.2 | 2 | Yellow cards (avg) | Y C | 0.5 | 1.6 | 2 |
| 3 | 1 | 0 | Red cards | R C | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 11.1 | 12.7 | 15.5 | Shots (avg) | S ( | 11 | 8.9 | 9.6 |
| 1.8 | 2.2 | 1.5 | Shots on Target (avg) | S O | 2.5 | 2.7 | 3.2 |
| 46% | 62% | 100% | Goal Efficiency | G E | 20% | 37% | 36% |
| 13 | 11.4 | 10 | Shots against (avg) | S A | 13 | 14.8 | 14.5 |
| 4.8 | 4.3 | 5.5 | Shots on Target against (avg) | S O | 2 | 4.9 | 4.6 |
- Kilmarnock have conceded at least twice as many goals as they have scored.
- Kilmarnock have played more matches over 2,5 goals home than away.
- Kilmarnock have the the worst goal difference (-22) in Premiership
| Total | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||||
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | MP | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | P |
| 1 | Celtic | 23 | 21 | 1 | 1 | 71 | 17 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 7 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 37 | 10 | 54 | 64 |
| 2 | Rangers | 23 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 53 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 32 | 7 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 21 | 15 | 31 | 55 |
| 3 | Hearts | 23 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 42 | 31 | 11 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 28 | 16 | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 11 | 39 |
| 4 | Livingston | 22 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 24 | 30 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 14 | 20 | -6 | 32 |
| 5 | Hibernian | 23 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 35 | 37 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 23 | -2 | 30 |
| 6 | St. Mirren | 22 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 31 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 23 | -8 | 30 |
| 7 | Aberdeen | 23 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 35 | 43 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 10 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 9 | 33 | -8 | 29 |
| 8 | St. Johnstone | 23 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 26 | 38 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 14 | 24 | -12 | 24 |
| 9 | Motherwell | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 26 | 33 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 16 | -7 | 20 |
| 10 | Dundee United | 22 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 25 | 39 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 22 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 17 | -14 | 20 |
| 11 | Ross County | 23 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 18 | 35 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 11 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 14 | -17 | 20 |
| 12 | Kilmarnock | 23 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 19 | 41 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 17 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 24 | -22 | 20 |
