Dundee vs. Kilmarnock: prediction and team news
Scottish Championship side Dundee host Premiership outfit Kilmarnock in the first leg of the relegation playoff final on Thursday evening, looking to boost their chances of a return to the top flight for the first time in three years.
Dundee aim to return to the Scottish top flight following a two-year absence, and we are positive that they will leave their hearts on the field.
The Killie, on the other hand, did well to avoid automatic relegation.
The visitors have lost seven of their eight league matches on the road in 2021, but are unbeaten in their last seven visits to Dens Park.
Kilmarnock head into the first leg of the relegation playoff having won 2-0 away at basement club Hamilton Academical on Sunday.
Killie are unbeaten in each of their last six meetings against Dundee and a victory on Thursday evening would move them one step closer to Premiership survival.
After finishing second in the Scottish Premiership, Dundee progressed from the playoff semi-finals last weekend, beating Raith Rovers 3-1 over two legs.
Dundee were relegated from the Scottish Premiership in 2018-19 after five years in the division. They finished third in their first campaign in the second tier but due to the coronavirus pandemic, all clubs voted to curtail the season, meaning only rivals Dundee United were promoted as champions.
The Dee have had an impressive season, claiming 45 points from their 27 Championship matches, although they finished 12 points behind this year’s champions Hearts.
Kilmarnock have only lost two of their past nine games.
Kilmarnock have only won two of their past nine away games.
Dundee’s 1-0 home defeat by Raith Rovers in the second leg of the semi-final ended a run of seven games without a loss, including three consecutive wins.
This is the first meeting between the sides since February 2019, when they drew 2-2 at Dens Park.
No team in the bottom half of the Scottish Premiership has scored more goals than Kilmarnock (41) this season, while only Hearts have scored more Championship goals than Dundee this term (52).
Both sides have also looked vulnerable defensively throughout this campaign and so goals are to be expected on Thursday evening.
The two teams take good form into the first leg, but we feel that the visitors will edge a closely-fought encounter at Dens Park.
Our prediction: Kilmarnock win @ 2.25
