Scottish Premiership
Aug 30, 2025 3.00pm
2
2
HT : 0 0
FT

Preview:Motherwell vs Kilmarnock - prediction, team news, lineups

Motherwell vs Kilmarnock - prediction, team news, lineups

Motherwell and Kilmarnock, level on three points after the first three games of the season, are set to clash on matchday four of the Scottish Premiership campaign on Saturday. 

Both teams have drawn all of their opening three league matches, while they have also scored four and conceded four in that time.


Match preview

Motherwell started the 2025-26 campaign with an underwhelming draw with Clyde FC in the Scottish League Cup, but three victories followed to ensure that the Steelmen progressed as the winners of Group G. 

Jens Berthel Askou, who was hired ahead of the new campaign, followed up their group victory with a superb 1-1 draw with Rangers on the opening day of the league season, with Emmanuel Longelo scoring an 87th-minute equaliser. 

Motherwell have gone on to secure another two draws in the following two league outings, being held to a 0-0 stalemate with St Mirren before squandering a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Hearts last time out. 

Still searching for their first win of the league season, Motherwell will be hoping to put that disappointing second half collapse against Hearts behind them and secure the victory against Kilmarnock. 

Killie are similarly looking for their first victory of the Scottish Premiership season, having drawn 2-2 in each of their opening two games against Livingston and Hibernian, followed by a 0-0 draw with Dundee last time out. 

Kilmarnock will be aiming to return to the impressive winning form of their Scottish League Cup run thus far, having won three of their group games as they won Group H, before beating Dundee United 2-1 in the second round. 

Kilmarnock, under the guidance of new manager Stuart Kettlewell, will be hopeful of both continuing their unbeaten streak and securing their first win, though they have struggled in trips to Fir Park in recent history. 

Saturday's visitors have not won in an away game against Motherwell since December 2020, having lost five and drawn three of the last eight meetings.

Motherwell Scottish Premiership form:

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Motherwell form (all competitions):

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Kilmarnock Scottish Premiership form:

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Kilmarnock form (all competitions):

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Team News

Motherwell are expected to be without the services of Tom Sparrow, Sam Nicholson, Filip Stuparevic, Zach Robinson and John Koutroumbis for this match due to injury concerns. 

Tawanda Maswanhise may also be a doubt to feature for the Steelmen after coming off with an injury in their last match, meaning Detlef Osong could join Apostolos Stamatelopoulos and Callum Slattery in attack. 

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock are expected to be without Scott Tiffoney due to injury, while Jamie Brandon could also be a doubt after coming off with an injury in the draw against Dundee.

Kettlewell made only one change to the team that won their second round Scottish League Cup match in the draw with Dundee, and a similar side is also anticipated in this one.

Motherwell possible starting lineup:

Ward; O'Donnell, Balmer, McGinn, Longelo; Just, Watt, Fadinger; Osong, Stamatelopoulos, Slattery

Kilmarnock possible starting lineup:

Stryjek; Thompson, Brown, Mayo, Deas, Brannan; Watson, Lyons, Polworth, Kiltie; Dackers


We say: Motherwell 2-1 Kilmarnock

 

Both teams are in extremely similar form coming into this, leading us to expect a hard-fought encounter on Saturday, but with the hosts dominating their meetings at Fir Park, we predict a home win.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.



 

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