Image source, SNSHearts: Gordon, Forrester, Kent, Rowles, Penrice, Spittal, Boateng, Devlin, Forrest, Vargas, Shankland.
Substitutes: Clark, Kingsley, Halkett, Oyegoke, Grant, McKay, Dhanda, Wilson, Boyce.
Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Wright, Deas, Ndaba, Armstrong, Lyons, Watson, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.
Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Anderson, Wales, Bainbridge.
Image source, SNSHearts have lost just one of their last seven Scottish Premiership games against Kilmarnock (W2 D4), keeping a clean sheet in three of their last four since a 2-1 defeat in April 2023.
Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last nine Scottish Premiership visits to Hearts (W5 D3), although are winless in their last three (D2 L1).
Hearts have lost just one of their last 15 home league games (W8 D6), going down 1-0 to Dundee United in September.
Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes is winless in his last eight away games against Hearts in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L4) since a 2-1 victory with Aberdeen in May 2017.
Neil Critchley is looking to become the first Hearts manager to win both of his first two Scottish Premiership home games in charge of the club since Robbie Neilson in August 2015.
Image source, SNSHearts midfielder Beni Baningime could return after missing the last two matches through illness but Yutaro Oda, Gerald Taylor and Calem Nieuwenhof remain sidelined.
Kilmarnock midfielder Liam Donnelly is suspended while Stuart Findlay is out for seven to 10 days with a groin issue. Liam Polworth (calf) remains out, alongside long-term absentee Kyle Magennis.
Image source, SNSLiam Donnelly received Killie's fifth red card of the season in Dingwall at the weekend
Derek McInnes is attempting to solve his side's discipline issues by stamping out needless fouls and complaints during training sessions.
Liam Donnelly's sending off in the 2-1 defeat by Ross County last weekend was the fifth time already this season Killie have finished a game with 10 men.
Captain Kyle Vassell revealed the Rugby Park players are fined for committing "silly fouls" in training and mangager McInnes expanded on the issue while also questioning the consistency of decisions.
He said: "We’ve done it for a while now, for things like pulling.
"Sometimes in training games, players will make a foul and I want us to get away from that so we fine players for that type of thing, pulling players back and stopping promising attacks.
"Also questioning and complaining about dubious refereeing decisions, which is a million because I’m the referee most of the time.
"We introduced that and if anybody annoys me too much they get fined for that.
"So we are just trying to train the players to be more disciplined and more accepting of decisions, good or bad.
"Sometimes I'll make decisions that are clearly wrong, just to test them, and I want us to try and be just a bit more concentrated on everything on the pitch.
"The message to the players is to be squeaky clean, to be really sure about our work."
Despite saying he wants his side to "own" their poor disciplinary record, McInnes has also called for greater consistency in the decision-making process from match officials.
He said: "We've got not to give any sort of opportunities for people to be red-carded, but consistency has got to be there, and it's not there.
"I don't care what anybody says, that isn't there at a minute."
Image source, SNSKilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has been previewing his side’s trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts this midweek.
Here are the key points:
After defeat at Ross County, he says this is a "brilliant opportunity" to get points back that they lost at the weekend.
His message to his players is to be "squeaky clean" after another red card last Saturday, their fifth of the season.
They "have to own" the number of red cards they're receiving as it's impacting team selection and results, and have to make sure the issue stops.
McInnes reckons his side could be "seven or eight" points better off if they had kept a full complement of players on the pitch.
He might need to question the "risk" in keeping players on if they receive early bookings, with players also needing to be more savvy.
McInnes "always expects" a tough game at Tynecastle, but recognises Killie have a good record in Gorgie.
He praised Hearts' summer recruitment and reveals he "asked about and tried to get" Yan Dhanda, Blair Spittal and James Penrice.
Sandy Armour
Fan writer
The loyal band of Killie fans headed to Dingwall on Saturday full of optimism following a fine win over Rangers only to be let down once again by a ridiculous lack of discipline.
Liam Donnelly's five minutes of madness cost us three points and in the process became our fifth red card of the season.
Earlier in the season the manager stated our disciplinary record wasn't an issue. I'd suggest it's time for him to reassess that opinion.
Our penchant for finishing a game with 10 men has cost us several points and is the difference between challenging for Europe or fighting in the bottom six plus missing a potential trip to Hampden.
It should also be pointed out that the same referee has sent off three Killie players this season and he threatened to make it four with another ridiculous decision involving Joe Wright.
If the same thing happened to any of the big clubs they would be making huge noise about the referee being removed from their games. Killie need to do the same.
Our poor discipline and poor decision-making must stop now and the players causing the issue need a spell on the sidelines to reflect on their actions.
The hard run of games continues with trips to Hearts and Dundee followed by Celtic at the Theatre of Pies. We have been playing well in recent weeks so let's keep that form up and cut out the nonsense.
Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine
Sportscene pundits Neil McCann and Lee Miller reflect on Derek McInnes' tactical changes in Kilmarnock's 2-1 defeat against Ross County.
Watch highlights as Ross County win 2-1 against Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership.
Killie fans, we asked for your views on Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Ross County.
Here's what some of you said:
John: Another red card cost us dearly, if this keeps up we might get drawn into a relegation scrap. This team could take us down. We give away too many points, we play great one week and then throw away a possible three points again. Players should take more responsibility.
Anon: I mean what can we do when we get a red card? I have no idea why Killie are trying to play on hard mode!
Anna: Joe Wright is a liability we can do without. He cost us the win and was within a whisker of being sent off. As for Liam Donnelly, he's a silly boy getting two bookings. The only plus side was Corrie Ndaba, he's getting better and better as a player. The only criticism is that young David Watson should have started alongside Brad Lyons, we can do so much better!
Frank: What a let down. Cruising at 60 minutes and getting a player sent off gave Ross County their lift and they scored immediately.
Jim: We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Donnelly is not what we need at Killie. The same for Joe Wright. This is not bad luck but it is bad football. Bringing Bruce Anderson on with two minutes left is useless, we keep making the same mistakes. Not good enough.
Image source, SNSRoss County have won after conceding the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 4th May 2024 against Hibernian (five games without a win).
Kilmarnock have lost after scoring the opening goal in the Premiership for the first time since 5th May 2024 against Rangers (three games without defeat).
Noah Chilvers attempted 6 shots in this game, the joint-highest total for a Ross County player in the Premiership this season.
Kilmarnock have scored in their last 6 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 15 games from 23rd December 2023 to 13th April 2024.
Ross County came from behind to punish 10-man Kilmarnock and end the visitors' run of five games unbeaten in the Scottish Premiership.
What did you make of that one, Kilmarnock fans? How costly was that red card?
What is the cause behind the poor disciplinary record? And how does Derek McInnes address it?
Derek McInnes discusses 2-1 defeat to Ross County
Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes told BBC Scotland: "Very strong first-half. We were very confident with our work, we dealt with the movement of Ross County. We used the ball well, deservedly went in front. Really pleased with what the players were giving us.
"In the main, we were fine in the game. We didn't need it to be dramatic, we needed to be in charge and for a spell in the second half, we were exactly that. The onus was on County to try and do something and it changes on the sending off.
"We've seen a lot of soft sending offs. The first one - Liam's guilty of stopping the play and he doesn't need to do that. But we've not seen a yellow card for that all season.
"We're not arguing the point too much on that, because it's silly on his part. The second - he's trying not to grab him because he knows he's on a yellow. It's not last gap, he's done everything not to bring him down. I think it's in the soft variety.
"We get another red card which was thankfully overturned and rightly so. The game became too dramatic and once again we're talking about a couple of decisions, and a sending off, that's cost us.
"I'm annoyed and frustrated at my own team, that we've allowed a game to unravel. We're disappointed with a few aspects of the officiating but also with ourselves."
Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland
Image source, SNSA 408-mile round trip for the poor, soaked Kilmarnock fans - and all for nothing.
It's a wonder Derek McInnes has any hair left, given how frustrating it must be watching his own side throw away points again and again this season.
A fifth red card of the season - and a really stupid one at that - was the start of their downfall in Dingwall, in a game that looked like seeing out.
They have good Premiership players in this squad - Danny Armstrong, Matty Kennedy, David Watson - but they cannot be expected to continually bail their teammates out.
McInnes had predicted a notoriously tough game up north and that was what he got before the red. Kyle Vassell was quieter than normal and the best first-half chances came from defenders marauding forward.
Image source, SNSRoss County: Laidlaw, Leak, Lopata, Wright, Brown, Randall, Denholm, Reid, Chilvers, White, Hale.
Substitutes: Hamilton, Lamie, Allardice, Loturi, Grieves, Nisbet, Efete, Samuel, Brophy.
Kilmarnock: McCrorie, Mayo, Deas, Findlay, Ndaba, Armstrong, Lyons, Donnelly, Kennedy, Vassell, Watkins.
Substitutes: O'Hara, Burroughs, Wright, McKenzie, Watson, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Anderson, Wales.
Image source, SNSRicki Lamie (right) was injured against Stirling Albion in July
On-loan Everton defender Eli Campbell and midfielder Charlie Telfer are suspended for Ross County, but centre-half Ricki Lamie returns to contention after an Achilles injury.
Will Nightingale, George Harmon and Max Sheaf remain out.
Kilmarnock defender Joe Wright is back from suspension, but midfielder Liam Polworth remains out along with long-term absentee Kyle Magennis.
Image source, SNSCorrie Ndaba has welcomed Kilmarnock's hectic run of three away games in nine days, insisting: "Bring it on."
Derek McInnes' men, having racked up their first two league wins of the season in their last two outings, are away to Ross County on Saturday before trips to Tynecastle and Dens Park.
Defender Ndaba, who missed the start of the season through injury, said: "You don't really think about it, you almost get in a rhythm of just game, game, game. So bring it on.
"Sometimes it's really good, if you have a good performance, you just want to get back out there and play a game again, you know, get in your rhythm.
"Because there's a lot of breaks as well. We had a good performance and then there's a break. You don't really want to be waiting round, so if the games are coming I'm happy."
Nbada says confidence is high in the Killie squad after dispatching Rangers at Rugby Park.
"It's always good beating a big club like Rangers, they have good players who can hurt us but we played really well and got the job done," the 24-year-old said.
"The mood in the camp is good, we always believe we can put a performance together, training's been good as well, so hopefully we can stay at that level and get the win this weekend."
Image source, SNSKillie hope to be celebrating a third win on the bounce on Saturday
Derek McInnes has told his Kilmarnock players to "park" their Rangers heroics and be braced for a battle in Dingwall as they bid to continue their revival.
Killie notched their first home victory of the season in style by edging out Rangers 1-0 last weekend, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to six games, five in the league.
They hit the road on Saturday to begin a run of three successive away games and McInnes says standards can't drop against a County side who do their best work at home.
"It was a big win for us [against Rangers], the boys came back in with a bounce as you expect," said the Rugby Park boss.
"It was a good performance from us, getting a clean sheet was vitally important.
"It keeps everything going, we've now got to park that and just concentrate on Ross County.
"Ross County have shown this season already they're a good team, particularly at home, and they'll be looking to respond from a tough afternoon for them at Perth.
"You've got to fight your corner, particularly up there, I've been up there over the years with various teams, really strong Aberdeen teams, and we always felt we had to play well to win a game and that's not going to be any different.
"It'll be a tight game, as the nature of this league a lot of the time is. It deserves our full attention and we'll try and continue the unbeaten run which we're pleased with but try and get another win."
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes has been speaking to the media before Kilmarnock's trip to face Ross County this weekend.
Here are the key points from his press conference:
The players "came back in with a bounce" after last weekend's win over Rangers but "we've now got to park that and concentrate".
Killie now have an "unusual" run of three "very tough" away games that will each bring "their own challenges".
McInnes is wary of County's strong home form and praises striker Ronan Hale, who has "justified the outlay" the Staggies paid for him.
He feels there's "not a lot between a lot of the teams" in the Premiership and says Killie have "got to try and find a way of maximising the performance and trying to get all three points" as they eye a third straight win and look to go seven unbeaten.
Joe Wright is back after suspension. Kyle Magennis and Liam Polworth are out.
Image source, SNSRoss County are unbeaten in seven Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock (W4 D3) since a 2-1 reverse in March 2017 under Jim McIntyre.
After their 1-0 win in April last season, Kilmarnock could pick up back-to-back Scottish Premiership victories over Ross County for the first time since March 2017.
Ross County have won just one of their last 12 league games (D6 L5), losing both of their last two. Only once since the start of last season have the Staggies lost more league matches in a row, suffering four successive defeats in February.
Kilmarnock have won back-to-back league games, and could win three in a row within a single Scottish Premiership season for the first time since October 2020 under Alex Dyer.
Marley Watkins has scored in three of his last four league appearances (three goals), with those goals worth four points to Kilmarnock. Only Pape Gueye’s goals for Aberdeen have been worth more to a side in the Scottish Premiership this season (five).
Sandy Armour
Fan writer
It was hoped our incredible comeback at Dundee would act as the catalyst to kickstart our season and judging by the performance against Rangers that may just be the case.
We could easily have been two ahead at the break and although the visitors were more of a threat in the second half Killie always looked comfortable.
It was one of those games where every single player played their part. Corrie Ndaba really looks a class act again and is a player we might get decent money for in the future.
The game did look to be heading for a goalless draw, but David Watson once again introduced some enthusiasm and quality when he came on.
The Prestwick Pirlo provided the assist for the tireless Marley Watkins to grab the all-important goal and suddenly we have climbed to seventh in the table.
The run of tough games continues as we head to Dingwall this Saturday, not a happy hunting ground for us in recent seasons. However, confidence will be sky high and a third win on the trot would take us into the top six.
I hope the manager leaves the defence alone as a central pairing of Robbie Deas and Stuart Findlay with Lewis Mayo beside them is our best option. I predict another narrow victory.
Sandy Armour is editor of The Killie Hippo fanzine
