Airdrie Utd v Kilmarnock Match Preview
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading ...Airdrie host Kilmarnock on Saturday in the Fourth Round of the Scottish Cup - a competition which Diamonds fans hold dear to their hearts after two Cup Final apperances in the 90’s.
Despite Airdrie’s giant-killing repuation in the competition - most recently eliminating then Premier League side Dunfermline in 2006 in a thrilling 4-3 victory at East End Park, Jim Jefferies men will go into the match as hot favourites.
With an experienced line-up including ex-Airdrieonian favourite David Fernandez, Killie are still a very good side despite their injury crisis which has left them at the bottom end of the SPL.
The two sides last met in one of Airdrie United’s first matches with Sandy Stewart leading the newly formed side to a penalty shootout victory after a 0-0 draw at Rugby Park.
Airdrie last met Kilmanock in the Scottish Cup during Ian McCall’s time in charge of the club, but were resoundly beaten 3-0 at Rugby Park by a Killie side featuring recently departed Diamonds Jesus Sanjuan and Antonio Calderon.
With Steven McKeown’s recent departure to Partick Thistle leaving a gap in the Diamonds midfield, manager Kenny Black will hold talks with Dundee United boss Craig Levein with a view to obtaining clearance for on-loan midfielder Marco Andreoni to play.
Should talks prove unsuccessful, Black will either have to hope that Graeme Holmes returns to fitness or deploy defenders Mark Smyth or Steven McKenna in a midfield duo with Kevin McDonald.
While the odds are in Kilmarnock’s favour, Airdrie should certainly push them close after being highly unfortunate to lose to SPL side Motherwell at this stage last season:
Score Prediction: Airdrie United 1 - 1 Kilmarnock
Really looking forward to this match. A few weeks ago I thought Killie would give us a bit of a doing but we’re in good form at the moment and they seem to be struggling.
Will be a shame if the boy Andreoni can’t play as he’s settled in well, fingers crossed that he makes it!
Killie are dreadful at the moment, I was at their game with Gretna the other week and it was schoolboy stuff at times.
Fancy Russell to score and no doubt Dougal will be right up for this one like he was against Well last year.