Ayr United vs Kilmarnock
26 October 1945hrs
Football – Scotland – Championship
Pick Draw
Bookmaker Betfair
Odds: 12/5 odds taken 2000 GMT, 25 October
The Ayrshire derby is the highest profile game in the Scottish Championship as an improving Ayr United host title favourites Kilmarnock at Somerset Park.
Table of Contents
Ayr United Preview – Will Ayr’s improvement under Duffy continue with the biggest scalp of all?
One point from their first four league games had Ayr United supporters very worried about their future in the second tier of Scottish football. It also spelt the end for David Hopkin who has only been in charge for six months with his assistant Jim Duffy given the job on an initially interim basis. Duffy’s appointment had an instant impact winning his first two league games in charge and overall it’s been a successful change as Ayr have taken 11 points from the six Championship games he’s led the team in.
That’s good enough to see Ayr sit in sixth spot and now only four points outside the playoff zone which would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago. Perhaps more importantly they are six clear of bottom place and five better off than Greenock Morton who occupy ninth which is the relegation playoff position.
Duffy has now been given the job on a permanent basis, until the end of the season at least. A veteran of management in Scotland, particularly in the lower leagues, Duffy will be looking to continue this improvement by getting what would be a massive win against their local rivals.
Ayr took a valuable point away to Arbroath at the weekend at what is a very difficult venue for visiting teams. It means Duffy has lost only one of his six league games, that coming against one of his former teams Partick Thistle in a 4-0 thrashing.
Kilmarnock Preview – Can Killie show why they are favourites for the title by downing rivals once again?
Kilmarnock continue to sit in second spot after their narrow 2-1 weekend win at home to Hamilton. It was the first win in four league games and means they are now three points adrift of leaders Inverness. A late goal from substitute Daniel Armstrong was enough to give them the points on this occasion. As a result giving Killie their first three points in the league since September.
It takes Killie’s home record in the Championship to three wins and two losses in their five games but they make the short journey to Ayr with the best away record in the division. Tommy Wright’s men have accumulated 11 points from a possible 15, conceding just two goals in that time and scoring seven.
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For a team who have the biggest budget in the division (and by some considerable margin) there are still a lot of dissenting voices about the style of play that Wright is adopting, They have the joint fourth best attack with 13 goals and it’s that area which they will be looking to better.
A front two of Olly Shaw and Callum Hendry are the two main hopes of goals in this one. They have combined for five goals in the league and have a lot of Premiership experience between them.
Ayr United vs Kilmarnock Betting Advice
This is the biggest fixture of the season for both sets of supporters and will be the second meeting between the two in this campaign. Kilmarnock were a lot better than their rivals on the opening weekend, winning 2-0, and they are once again favourites to prevail in this game.
Ayr can take some confidence from the fact they won the last meeting at Somerset which was a 1-0 victory in the League Cup back in 2017/18.
Key Facts – Ayr United vs Kilmarnock Betting Tip
- Ayr have lost just one of their last six games in the Championship and only one loss at home in the campaign
- Killie come into this derby match unbeaten on their travels in the league
- It was a 2-0 win for the Rugby Park club when the teams met on the opening weekend of the season
There’s no doubt Ayr have made significant improvement under Duffy and the tag of underdogs will not phase them. They’ve lost just one of their five matches at home all season in the league and will be backed by a boisterous home support. Kilmarnock are good on their travels and this could easily end in a third straight home draw for the visiting team.
Best Betting Odds for Ayr United vs Kilmarnock
