Kilmarnock v Rangers Betting Tip Under 2.5 goals – 23 January 2019

Nervy game in store at Rugby Park

Scottish Premiership Betting Tips

ScotlandKilmarnock v RangersScotland
Wednesday 23rd January 1945hrs 
Football – Scotland – Premiership
Pick: Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker: Marathon Bet
Odds: 99/100 (odds taken 20.50 GMT, Tuesday 22nd January)

Scottish Premiership Betting at Marathon Bet

It’s third v second in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday in a game which could see the winner go top of the league. Continue reading for a match preview of Kilmarnock v Rangers with a selected best betting tip.

 

Key-Facts – Kilmarnock v Rangers

  • Just one point separates Kilmarnock and Rangers in the league
  • Four of the last six meetings between these teams have had two goals or less
  • Five of Kilmarnock’s 10 home games and six of Rangers away games have went under 2.5 goals

 

Kilmarnock Preview

It’s been an eventful couple of weeks for Kilmarnock’s manager Steve Clarke, despite having just returned to action following the winter break. Two of their star players have committed themselves to other clubs with Greg Stewart moving to Aberdeen with immediate effect and winger Jordan Jones signing a pre-contract agreement with…Rangers. The latter of those moves have angered the club’s supporters whilst Clarke himself is unhappy with losing Stewart to a rival who are also in contention for the league title. Killie are currently in third spot and just a point behind both Celtic and Rangers heading into the second half of the season. It was an exceptionally strong finish to 2018 for the Ayrshire club who won three of their last four games in the calendar year, recovering from a 5-1 hammering at the hands of Celtic. Clarke’s men returned with a workmanlike performance against Forfar in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup but a 2-0 win ensures they move on safely and will hope they can put together an extended cup run. Can Kilmarnock win the title? Well they can. Is it likely? Probably not but when pundits continue to right off Steve Clarke and his players they inevitably respond positively and if they can get a result against Rangers on Wednesday it will just add to the confidence which there is currently an abundance of at Rugby Park.

Rangers Preview

Rangers were frustrated in their attempts to return to action at the weekend when their fourth round Scottish Cup tie away to Cowdenbeath was called off. It was somewhat controversial with photos of the pitch suggesting it may have been playable. However the decision was made and it means Steven Gerrard’s men will make the short journey to Kilmarnock with only a friendly as a way of preparing for what is likely to be another big test of their title credentials. The 1-0 win over Celtic at the end of December was, the whole club hopes, a turning point and their first real opportunity since being liquidated to wrestle the title from the Hoops. That victory will mean little, though, if they are unable to follow up by taking all three points home with them on Wednesday. Jermaine Defoe is likely to make his debut at some point with Steven Davis almost certain to make his second debut for Rangers, over 10 years since his first. Perhaps more importantly than either of those two is that top scorer Alfredo Morelos will once again lead the line and with just over a week of the transfer window left, Rangers supporters will be desperate that remains the case with reported interest from other clubs.

Kilmarnock v Rangers Betting Advice

It’s the most open title race in Scotland for decades and although Celtic are still big favourites to pull away come the end of the season, both of these clubs will feel that a positive result on Wednesday will give them the momentum to pressure the current leaders and instil further belief. Having faced each other in an early round of the Scottish League Cup, this will be the third meeting between Kilmarnock and Rangers. Rangers won that cup match 3-1 at Rugby Park back in August but Killie secured a 1-1 trip when the two clashed at Ibrox in the first league game of the season.

The artificial surface at Rugby Park has come in for much criticism but Rangers have proven they are capable of handling it with that win in the League Cup. Killie do have a great record on it, though, Hearts and Kilmarnock are the only teams to win at Rugby Park in the League, and they have won their last five in all competitions. Rangers have had their troubles on the road – particularly earlier in the season – but it’s now six unbeaten on the road in the league. The league table shows that these have been two evenly matched teams this season. Four of the last six meetings have had two or less goals in them and with so much pressure on this match, a similar outcome is expected.