Kilmarnock vs Hearts Predictions

Kilmarnock vs Hearts predictions for Scottish Premiership fixture. Kilmarnock and Hearts meet on Sunday in their Scottish Premiership season finale, with both sides safe from relegation, likely focusing on a positive finish to their campaigns. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips.

Scottish Premiership | May 18 2025 at 3pm UK at Rugby Park

Kilmarnock vs Hearts Predictions

Can Hearts Extend Their Hot Streak to Secure the Relegation Round Top Spot?

• Kilmarnock’s Home Resilience: The hosts have lost just three of their last 17 Premiership games at Rugby Park, making them a tough nut to crack at home.
• Shankland’s Hot Streak: Hearts’ talisman has netted five goals in his last four appearances, driving their recent revival under Fox.
• Goals Galore: Hearts have scored eight goals in their last three league outings, all of which have seen over 2.5 goals.

Best Bet for Kilmarnock vs Hearts

As the curtain comes down on the Scottish Premiership season, Kilmarnock and Hearts face off at Rugby Park on Sunday in what might seem like a low-stakes affair, but there’s still plenty to play for. Kilmarnock, safely nestled in ninth place, have no chance to climb higher or drop lower in the standings, having already secured their survival. Their 3-0 humbling by Motherwell midweek likely left manager Derek McInnes with a bitter taste, but they’ll be hoping to end on a high in front of their home fans. Hearts, on the other hand, have been resurgent under interim boss Liam Fox, racking up three consecutive wins and seizing the top spot in the relegation round. Despite a disappointing overall campaign, the Jambos have rediscovered their attacking edge, setting the stage for an intriguing finale.

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Match Analysis

Kilmarnock’s Inconsistent Form

Kilmarnock’s return to the top flight has been a mixed bag, with their regular season ending in a frustrating ninth place. A dreadful start, marked by just one win in their first 13 games across all competitions, effectively killed off any hopes of a European push. This sluggish beginning included a quick exit from both the Europa League and Conference League, leaving their fans deflated. Yet, they did find some stability in the season’s final stretch, winning three of their last four post-split games to guarantee safety.

McInnes’s side are typically a tough nut to crack at Rugby Park, where their synthetic pitch has seen them lose just three of their last 17 home league games. Yet, their vulnerability was laid bare in their recent 3-0 away loss to Motherwell, a result that snapped their mini-revival and highlighted the defensive frailties that have plagued them throughout the campaign. With key figures like Robbie Deas suspended and potential absences for Danny Armstrong and Rory McKenzie, the Killie defence could again find itself stretched against a resurgent Hearts attack.

Hearts’ Rebirth Under Fox

Liam Fox has overseen a remarkable transformation in this Hearts side, guiding them to three straight wins since stepping in as caretaker boss. This run has breathed new life into their season, with Hearts rediscovering their attacking bite just when it seemed their campaign would fade into insignificance. Lawrence Shankland has been the focal point of this resurgence, with the captain bagging five goals in his last four outings. Hearts have scored eight goals in their last three matches, demonstrating a renewed attacking flair that should worry Kilmarnock’s patched-up back line.

Critchley’s ill-fated tenure, marked by a winless 10-match run that ultimately cost him his job, had left the team languishing. Yet, Fox’s decision to push Shankland back into a central striking role has paid immediate dividends, giving the Jambos a cutting edge they had sorely lacked. With the Hearts defence also tightening up, conceding just twice in this recent run, they’ll fancy their chances of rounding off the campaign in style.

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Predicted Line-ups

Kilmarnock (4-4-2)
O’Hara; Ramsay, Mayo, Findlay, Ndaba; Murray, Watson, Donnelly, Wales; Anderson, Vassell

Hearts (4-3-3)
Fulton; Forrester, Kent, Halkett, Milne; Devlin, Baningime, Grant; Forrest, Shankland, Dhanda

Best Bet: Hearts to Win and Over 2.5 Goals

Given Hearts’ recent scoring spree under Fox and Kilmarnock’s patchy defensive record, the standout bet here is a Hearts win combined with over 2.5 goals. The Jambos have scored eight goals in their last three matches, and with Kilmarnock capable of finding the net at home, this seems a solid pick.

“Momentum is everything at this stage, and with Hearts firing on all cylinders, it’s hard to see them letting this chance slip. Fox has them playing with confidence, and a high-scoring finale looks on the cards.” — Herrin Kendrick, BettingTips4You.com expert

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Score Prediction

While Kilmarnock’s home form offers some encouragement, it’s hard to look past a Hearts side riding a wave of confidence. Given their recent attacking output and Kilmarnock’s defensive worries, this could end in a 3-1 away win for the Jambos, with Shankland likely to add to his tally.

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