Rugby Park draw to condemn Killie to Championship
The second leg of the SPFL Premiership relegation play-off takes place at Rugby Park on Monday evening. Hosts Kilmarnock will be desperate to overturn the 2-1 defeat they suffered at the hands of Championship outfit Dundee at Dens Park on Thursday, and can perhaps count themselves as fortunate they only have a single goal deficit to overcome, such was the gulf in quality and chances created last week. Failure to do so would mean losing their top flight status after a 28 year stint, and there's little reason to suggest they have what it takes to avoid that fate. Read our preview here:
The last Laff?
Overall, it's been a pretty rotten season for Killie. Not since 2015/2016 have they been in the embarrassing position of having to duke it out with a club from the second tier to prolong their stay in the Premiership. It could've been worse. An eight-game losing streak was eventually nipped in the bud by incoming manager Tommy Wright at the end of February. The upturn in form from then on prevented automatic demotion, but off the field problems, notably Youssouf Mulumbu going AWOL from training. However, the veteran figures of Chris Burke and Kyle Lafferty have been doing the business for the East Ayrshire side, and the latter has bagged an extremely impressive 12 goals in 11 matches. The seasoned Northern Ireland international will fancy his chances of adding to that tally back on home soil, but will need far greater support from his teammates in attacking areas.
Adam and eve it
James McPake's charges have stalwarts of their own to shout about, and one of those, Charlie Adam, grabbed the all-important second goal in the opening fixture to preserve their advantage. Their route to this play-off was made less convoluted by their second-placed finish in the regular season, giving them a bye to the semis where they swatted aside Dunfermline Athletic to set up this do-or-die showdown. The key now will be to weather the inevitable onslaught their more vaunted opponents will throw at them, and it will be against a backdrop of some nervy fans in the stadium, willing their downfall. Christie Elliott picked up a knee injury last Thursday, so could be a huge doubt for the tie. His manager is unlikely to risk him from the outset.
Killie it with ice
There has been a resurgence of sorts for Kilmarnock under Wright's auspices, and they are certainly at least capable of getting the goals reliably enough to condemn Dundee to a third season in the second tier. However, it will be easier for the visitors to fire themselves up for the game, full in the knowledge that all they need to do is avoid defeat to earn the final promotion place. betway have odds of 3.30 for a draw on the night that will see them achieve just that.
