St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock prediction, preview & betting tips

St. Johnstone will face Kilmarnock on Sunday, 2 August, as the opening weekend of Scottish Premiership action draws to a close.

The match marks the hosts' first game back in the top flight after winning the Championship by 11 points last season.

Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.

St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock key stats

Kilmarnock ended last season with four consecutive league victories.
St. Johnstone have been eliminated from the League Cup after winning just two of their four group games.
Fewer than three goals have been scored in each of Kilmarnock's last four competitive matches.

St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock preview: Hosts to fall short

St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock — Tale of the Tape

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Last season was a memorable one for St. Johnstone and their supporters as they dominated the Scottish Championship from the first game through to the last.

After 16 consecutive seasons in the Premiership prior to last season, a season of winning regularly in the second tier was perhaps what they needed to reset and start again.

Manager Simo Valakari will certainly be hoping so, but the early signs this summer aren't great. Failure to beat East Fife and Inverness means that their League Cup journey is already over this season, which adds a little more pressure onto them for this match.

Arguably their biggest signing this summer was securing a permanent deal for Ruari Paton, and he will lead the line on Sunday.

As for Kilmarnock, they will be hoping for a better season than last when they needed a run of four consecutive victories at the end of the season to move clear of the relegation zone.

Had they not won those matches, we could easily be looking at a scenario now where Killie and St Johnstone were preparing for seasons in different leagues.

Manager Neil McCann, who was appointed in January to keep the club in the Premiership, has been rewarded with six new players this summer and the early signs have been positive – Killie won three of their four League Cup group stage matches to top Group H and qualify for the next round.

Kilmarnock's only injury absentee for this one is Djenairo Daniels, who remains out with a long-term knee injury.

St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock form guide & betting tips

St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock — Last 5 Form Guide

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Whispers predicts: St. Johnstone 0-1 Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock have enjoyed a better pre-season and League Cup campaign, which should mean they have plenty of momentum on their side. Kilmarnock to win has been best priced at 2/1.

Only two goals have been scored across Kilmarnock's last four competitive matches. Under 2.5 goals has been priced at 1/1.

St. Johnstone have scored just one goal across their last two matches, and neither of those matches were against Premiership opposition. St. Johnstone to score under 0.5 goals has been priced at 3/1.

📈 St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock — Whispers' Tips

> Kilmarnock to win at 2/1 (3.00) | Likelihood: Probable

> Under 2.5 goals at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable

> St. Johnstone to score under 0.5 goals at 3/1 (4.00) | Likelihood: Outsider