Kilmarnock can start season by beating St Mirren

Betfred Scottish League Cup
BT Sport 1, 7.45pm Friday

Kilmarnock should be able to get the Scottish football season off to a flying start on Friday night with a win against newly-promoted St Mirren.

The Betfred Cup kicks off at Rugby Park and Killie will be looking to pick up where they left off last season as they stormed into a top-six place in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Boss Steve Clarke recently signed a new deal and although there has not been a huge amount of transfer activity in Ayrshire, he has a settled squad.

Saints lost highly-rated manager Jack Ross to Sunderland and new boss Alan Stubbs' preparations have hardly been ideal as their one planned pre-season game against Bolton was cancelled last week.
Killie should have too much for them.

Recommendation
Kilmarnock
1pt 20-23 BoyleSports

Team news
Kilmanock
Killie could include new signings Mikael Ndjoli and Stuart Findlay.

St Mirren
Saints' new boys include James Kellermann, Paul McGinn, Josh Heaton, Jeff King, Cody Cooke, Hayden Coulson and keeper Danny Rogers.

Key stat
Kilmarnock have lost just twice at Rugby Park since October - both times to Aberdeen.