Scottish Cup
2025-07-26 - Kilmarnock vs East Fife
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Saturday 26th July 2025 - Kick Off 3pm
Preview
The League Cup Group could have been close to being wrapped up if Kilmarnock had won during the week, but the goalless draw and subsequent Penalty Shoot Out loss to Kelty Hearts has just allowed things to be more open than anticipated. The final round robin of fixtures are to be played on the last weekend before the League schedule begins, and Kilmarnock are at least in a position where a win can take them through to the Second Round.
This game is being played at Rugby Park and that makes Kilmarnock strong favourites to get the better of East Fife, although the League One club have to be respected.
For starters East Fife earned Promotion from League Two through the Play Offs last season having beaten Annan Athletic in the Relegation Play Off Final to take their place in the third tier. They may have opened the League Cup Group Stage with a defeat to Scottish Premiership Livingston, but East Fife have retained some momentum from the end of last season by beating Kelty Hearts and Brora Rangers.
Of course this is a big step up for East Fife, but the players will have some belief and they will know that a win would likely be good enough to secure passage into the Second Round. Other results would need to go their way, but East Fife deserve credit for being firmly in the mix with one more tie to play.
Home form was key for East Fife at the end of last season and they only won 1 of their last 6 away games in all competitions. However, the win at Kelty Hearts earlier in this Group will have given them plenty of confidence and Kilmarnock will know how tough it is to win at Kelty Hearts having been held to a goalless draw there on Tuesday.
Kilmarnock have not exactly dominated like Hearts have in the League Cup Group Stage and narrow wins over Brora Rangers and Livingston have allowed them to top the section and remain in control of their own destiny. They will know a win takes them through and Kilmarnock will point to the fact they have yet to concede a goal in this Group as the foundation that can be laid for a successful last League Cup tie.
They have won 4 of their last 5 home games in all competitions and Kilmarnock have won their last 6 home fixtures against East Fife.
The last of those was back in October 2011, but there should still be a clear edge in favour of the home team.
Prediction
The League Cup continues to throw up plenty of upsets, but the top Seeds have tended to find a way through to the Knock Out Rounds and Kilmarnock can do the same on Saturday.
Credit has to be given to East Fife for their own performances in this Group, but they still have a significant gap to bridge and playing away from home makes it all the tougher to do that.
Kilmarnock have not blown any opponent away, but they have kept clean sheets in all of the League Cup ties played and that may form the basis for a relatively comfortable success.
The Pick :
Kilmarnock 2-0 East Fife
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Kilmarnock - 1.5 Asian Handicap at 1.62 with Bet365
