Scottish Cup
2025-07-22 - Kelty Hearts vs Kilmarnock
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Tuesday 22nd July 2025 - Kick Off 7:45pm
Preview
Where some of the other top Seeds in the Group Stage of the Scottish League Cup have been faltering, Kilmarnock are firmly on track to make it through to the Second Round. Two wins are already on the board and another on Tuesday may go a long way to securing a spot in the Knock Out Rounds, while also giving the team some early momentum to take into the opening fixture of the Scottish Premiership.
The side have had almost a full week to prepare for this fixture having beaten Brora Rangers and Livingston and that should set Kilmarnock up to have another successful night in the office.
Last season Kilmarnock were playing in the European Qualifiers rather than the League Cup Group Stage, but two seasons ago they topped a Group with 10 points and that has to be the minimum aim for the team from their current position. Out of the two fixtures left, this one has the potential for being a bit more awkward, but Kilmarnock will have picked up confidence from consecutive clean sheets.
Kilmarnock will be looking to turn things around away from home having finished last season with 7 losses in 8 games on their travels. The opening victory at Brora Rangers will help, but Kelty Hearts have the potential to make things that much tougher for the Scottish Premiership club.
Just as the visitors did, Kelty Hearts opened this League Cup Group Stage with an away win at Brora Rangers, but they suffered a very disappointing 0-1 home defeat to East Fife this past weekend. It leaves Kelty Hearts in 3rd place in the section ahead of games against two Premiership opponents.
Kelty Hearts will have noted that the defeat to East Fife means they have won 1 of their last 10 home games in all competitions and 6 of those matches have now ended in defeat. They don't have anything to lose ahead of this fixture where they are set as considerable underdogs, but this is a team that did upset Hibernian at home in the League Cup Group Stage last season.
This is the first competitive fixture between these clubs.
Prediction
You do have to wonder if Kelty Hearts overlooked East Fife this past weekend knowing they were set to host a Scottish Premiership club, but the defeat is still disappointing. It has also extended poor home form going back several months and Kelty Hearts may find it tough to contain Kilmarnock in this League Cup tie.
Wins in both League Cup ties have put Kilmarnock in control of the Group, but there is still room for improvement.
Only three goals have been scored, which is the area that perhaps needs most development, but back to back clean sheets will give Kilmarnock a lot of confidence.
Winning here will not come easily, but the confidence is with the Premiership club after the opening two successes and they may have enough to score a late goal to put a gloss on the final scoreline.
The Pick :
Kelty Hearts 0-2 Kilmarnock
