Two sides towards the bottom of the Scottish Premiership table are set to come together on Wednesday evening as Hearts host Kilmarnock at Tynecastle Park.
The hosts are 11th in the table with just six points from their opening 10 league fixtures, while the visitors are ninth in the standings with nine points from nine games.
Match preview
© Imago
After enduring an abysmal start to their 2024-25 campaign, things have started to look brighter for Hearts in their recent outings since the appointment of new boss Neil Critchley.
The Jambos drew 0-0 in their first game against Rangers before losing all of the following eight outings across all competitions, leading to the dismissal of former manager Steven Naismith.
Liam Fox, who took charge on an interim basis, immediately oversaw an improvement from the side as they drew with Ross County, defeated Dinamo Minsk for their first win of the season and narrowly lost 3-2 to undefeated Aberdeen.
Critchley was hired following that defeat, and the former Blackpool boss made an immediate impact on the Jambos, remarkably winning his first game in charge 4-0 against St Mirren.
They have since gone on to beat Omonia 2-0 in the Conference League and draw 1-1 with Hibernian, meaning Critchley is yet to lose after three games in the hotseat.
The Jambos are now set to face Kilmarnock on Wednesday, aiming to extend that unbeaten run under Critchley and move out of the drop zone for the first time this term.
Kilmarnock faced a similarly difficult opening to the campaign, winning just one of their first 13 matches across all competitions, recording six defeats and six draws in that time.
Derek McInnes's side finally secured their first league win of the season when they defeated Dundee 3-2 at the beginning of October, followed by a superb 1-0 win against Rangers.
However, they fell to defeat once again in their last outing as Killie squandered a 1-0 lead to concede two second half goals and lose 2-1 to Ross County, leaving them looking to bounce back with a win here.
The visitors have struggled in this matchup in recent times, failing to win any of the last five meetings across all competitions, with two losses and three draws.
Team News
![Stuart Findlay defender of Kilmarnock FC during the UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round, 2nd leg match between Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock F.C. at the Jan Breydel stadium on August 01, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/31/stuart-findlay.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Stuart Findlay defender of Kilmarnock FC during the UEFA Europa League Second qualifying round, 2nd leg match between Cercle Brugge and Kilmarnock F.C. at the Jan Breydel stadium on August 01, 2024 [on August 2, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts will remain without Calem Nieuwenhof for this match with the midfielder still yet to make an appearance for the side since March, though he is likely to return next month.
Gerald Taylor and Yutaro Oda are also likely to be unavailable for Hearts due to injury issues, although the pair are also expected to return early next month.
Elsewhere, having remained undefeated in his first three games since being appointed, Critchley could name an unchanged 11 for this game against Kilmarnock.
Kyle Magennis and Liam Polworth are both unlikely to feature for the visitors due to ongoing injury issues, while Stuart Findlay is also a doubt after picking up an injury in their last outing.
Liam Donnelly will also be unavailable for the visitors after picking up two yellow cards in seven minutes in that defeat to Ross County, meaning David Watson could start in midfield.
Hearts possible starting lineup:
Gordon; Oyegoke, Kent, Rowles, Penrice; Dhanda, Devlin, Boateng, Spittal; Vargas, Shankland
Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:
McCrorie; Mayo, Deas, Wright, Ndaba; Armstrong, Lyons, Watson, Kennedy; Vassell, Watkins
We say: Hearts 2-1 Kilmarnock
Hearts have been reinvigorated since the appointment of Critchley as the new permanent manager, and we believe his unbeaten start will continue with a win against a Kilmarnock side that will be deflated after squandering a 1-0 lead in their 2-1 loss last time out.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
