week 5 Kilmarnock match preview

By: j | September 12th, 2008

Kilmarnock visit Ibrox to face the Rangers in a battle for the top of the Scottish Premier League. Flying high after the Old Firm victory, Walter Smith will look to kick momentum back up after the untimely international break.

The major factor of this match will be the issue of fatigue related to international participation. The Rangers have nine members off on international duty; Allan McGregor, Kirk Broadfoot, Kris Boyd and Kenny Miller were part of George Burley’s Scotland, Saša Papac with Bosnia & Herzegovina, Madjid Bougherra with Algeria, Andrius Velička with Lithuania, Pedro Mendes as well as DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu for the United States and I question whether they will be properly prepared for this match.

Recent Form
Rangers - combined (3 W, 1 D, 0 L) (8 GS, 3 GA)
Aug 9 Falkirk 0 - 1 Rangers
Aug 16 Rangers 2 - 0 Hearts
Aug 23 Aberdeen 1 - 1 Rangers
Aug 31 Celtic 2 - 4 Rangers

Kilmarnock - combined (3 W, 1 D,0 L) (4 GS, 0 GA)
Aug 9 Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Hibernian
Aug 16 St Mirren 0 - 0 Kilmarnock
Aug 23 Kilmarnock 1 - 0 Hamilton
Aug 30 Dundee Utd 0 - 2 Kilmarnock

With a quick review of recent form you might notice a slightly interesting concern in that Kilmarnock hasn’t conceded a goal yet. The defensive fortress they have put up have seen them incredibly at the top of the table and Walter Smith and company should expect them to provide very few scoring opportunities. This is a club that won’t be scored against a great deal. Their weight of their offensive attack is heavily on the shoulders of ex-Parma man Manuel Pascali.

Along with players noted regarding fatiguem the Rangers will be without Lee McCulloch while Kilmarnock will not have the services of Alan Russell. This should work to the visitors advantage but I equally don’t expect them to open up in attack and to continue to fortify in the defense. This match is sure to be a very tight box to box match in which home support will be crucial.

I will report on it once it concludes.