Our prediction for this Scottish Premiership match:
Kilmarnock
Match Time & Date:
05/08/2023
18:15
Prediction: 0-2
Rangers
Rangers begin their quest for the title with an away game against Kilmarnock at Rugby Park. The Gers are eager to put an end to Celtic’s dominance in Scottish football and we are positive that they will fight tooth and nail in the season opener. The team's game is expected to see improvement with the arrival of new signings Danilo, Cyriel Dessers, and Sam Lammers, while Antonio Colak, Ryan Kent, Scott Arfield, Alfredo Morelos, and Mateusz Zukowski have left the Ibrox Stadium outfit.
The Killie, on the other hand, aim to build on the League Cup win over Albion Rovers, but they will have a mountain to climb in Saturday’s showdown. Rangers do not suit Kilmarnock, with the Gers winning each of their last six head-to-head meetings and, taking everything into account, we predict that history is going to repeat itself. Derek McInnes should have a full squad to choose from.
Highlighted Player (Jon McLaughlin):
Jon McLaughlin is a goalkeeper who plays for Sunderland. The 188-cm-tall shoot-stopper played for non-League sides Harrogate Railway Athletic and Harrogate Town in the past, but in 2008 he joined Bradford City. After spending six years at Valley Parade, McLaughlin signed a contract with Burton Albion and he has been playing for the Pirelli Stadium outfit ever since.
Jon McLaughlin made 45 appearances for Burton Albion in both 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons and he has established his self as the team’s first-choice goalkeeper. He was producing scintillating displays for Burton in the 2015/2016 League One campaign and, no doubt, he helped the team secure promotion to the Championship.
Jon McLaughlin was born on 9 September, 1987 in Edinburgh, but he has yet to make his debut for the Scotland national team. Speaking of his honours, the goalkeeper won the Football League Two play-offs with Bradford City in the 2012/2013 season.
Highlighted Team (Kilmarnock):
Founded on January 5, 1869, Kilmarnock are the oldest professional club in Scotland. The Killie welcome their opponents at Rugby Park, the stadium with the artificial turf. The venue, which was opened back in August 1899, can hold up to 17,889 people.
Kilmarnock won their first and only Scotland Premier League trophy in the 1964/65 season despite being level on points with Hearts at the end of the season. Fellow Ayrshire club Ayr United are considered the Killie’s bitterest rivals. The two teams have been facing each other in the Ayrshire derby since September 1910.
Dark blue is the dominant colour of the club’s home kit, while Kilmarnock footballers wear yellow and blues kit when playing on the travels. The Killie recorded their biggest win back in 1896, with the team beating Saltcoats Victoria 13-2 in the second round of the Scottish Qualifying Cup. The club suffered their biggest defeat in August 1938 as they were hammered by Celtic 9-1 in the Scottish League Division.
