Celtic vs Kilmarnock Prediction and Tips: Corners

Celtic's home corner count against the division's leakiest defence

Celtic go into this as runaway favourites — 1.14 to win at home against a Kilmarnock side bottom-half and leaking goals at the league's worst rate, 28 conceded in 12 games. That gap between the sides is exactly the kind of match state that tends to produce plenty of corners: a team expected to dominate the ball against a side that sits in and defends the box produces repeated crosses, blocks and deflections, each one a corner.

Celtic's own numbers back it up. In their last five home league games — against Dundee United, Heart of Midlothian, Rangers, Aberdeen and Falkirk — they have won 13, 6, 8, 15 and 6 corners of their own, an average of 9.6 a game. Add the away side's corners in and the match total in those five games was 18, 9, 12, 20 and 9 — every single one of them 9 or higher.

Kilmarnock away from home have not been a side that keeps the game tight at the other end either: in their last five away league games they have conceded 7, 9, 8, 15 and 6 corners to the home side, an average of 9.0, while winning 5.8 of their own on average. Celtic's home matches have consistently produced plenty of total corners, and Kilmarnock's away numbers do nothing to suggest this will be the exception.

With the match total over 9.5 corners never missed in Celtic's last five home league games, and Kilmarnock unlikely to come to Celtic Park and sit on a lead, over 9.5 total corners at 1.87 is the tip.

Form guide

Key numbers

• Celtic league position1st, 28 pts from 12
• Kilmarnock league position11th, 9 pts from 12
• Kilmarnock goals against (league)28 from 12 games, worst in the division
• Celtic corners won, last 5 home league games13, 6, 8, 15, 6 (avg 9.6)
• Match total corners, Celtic's last 5 home league games18, 9, 12, 20, 9
• Match odds (full time)Celtic 1.14 / Draw 7.50 / Kilmarnock 14.00

Team news

No confirmed line-ups yet. Celtic's wide players and full-backs driving the corner count are the detail to recheck once the team sheet is out; an unexpected rotation in that area would be the main reason to reconsider.

Verdict

Over 9.5 total corners at 1.87 implies a 53.5% chance. Celtic's last five home league games have all produced 9 or more total corners, and three of the five have cleared the 9.5 line comfortably; the two that landed closest to the line (9 each) still came within half a corner of going over.