St. Johnstone begin life back in the Premiership at home to Kilmarnock on Sunday 2nd August, with kick-off at 2pm at McDiarmid Park.
St. Johnstone are back in the top flight after promotion from the Championship, replacing relegated Livingston, and they open up against a Kilmarnock side that finished 10th last season. Our football tips desk has two Premium Tips for the opener below, followed by the full market-by-market predictions and a score prediction.
Premium Tips
Two standout calls for the Premiership opener, picked out by our betting desk and backed with the numbers. Our full market-by-market predictions table sits further down the page.
| Premium Tip | Odds | Why we’re backing it |
|---|---|---|
| Ruari Paton 1+ shots on target, Jamie Gullan 1+ shots on target and Logan Chalmers 1+ shots on target | 15/4 with Spreadex | St Johnstone’s shot volume should concentrate through them. Paton is naturally shot-happy between the lines, Gullan gives you central striker penalty-box touches, and Chalmers offers the left-footed wide threat cutting inside. Kilmarnock can concede territory away from home, so one on target each isn’t asking for goals – just three attackers to test the keeper once. |
| Ruari Paton and Greg Kiltie Both To Score | 14/1 with Spreadex | Paton and Kiltie both scoring is punchy, but there’s logic to it. Paton brings St Johnstone’s direct goal threat from advanced areas, with enough shot volume to make him live if Saints create pressure at home. Kiltie, meanwhile, is a proven Kilmarnock scorer from attacking midfield, arriving late and taking chances around the box. In a fixture that can open up, both sides have a clear route to their main finishers landing one. |
18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. GambleAware — gambleaware.org · Odds correct at time of publishing.
How St. Johnstone go into the game
St. Johnstone are back in the Premiership after a season away, promoted from the Championship and taking the place of relegated Livingston. That makes them the hardest side in the division to price up: there is no top-flight form from last season to lean on, only the momentum of going up. bet365 still make them 11/10 favourites here, a nod to home advantage and opening-day energy at McDiarmid Park, but a first game back at this level is a genuine step up and sharpness is never a given. We will get a much clearer read on the promoted side once the ball is rolling.
How Kilmarnock go into the game
Kilmarnock finished 10th in 2025-26 on 40 points, and their season was rarely dull: they scored 50 goals and carved out 57 big chances, but they also conceded 68, the kind of leaky return that keeps the goals markets interesting. Tyreece John-Jules and Joe Hugill shared the scoring load on eight apiece, and both remain at the club. Kilmarnock will also fancy their recent record in this fixture, having won three of the last five meetings with St. Johnstone, including a couple of trips to Perth, so a visit to McDiarmid Park holds no fear.
St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock head-to-head
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/05/25 | St. Johnstone | 0-2 | Kilmarnock |
| 15/02/25 | Kilmarnock | 3-1 | St. Johnstone |
| 23/11/24 | St. Johnstone | 1-0 | Kilmarnock |
| 11/08/24 | Kilmarnock | 0-3 | St. Johnstone |
| 13/04/24 | St. Johnstone | 0-2 | Kilmarnock |
The last 10 meetings are finely balanced, with St. Johnstone edging it on five wins to Kilmarnock’s four and one draw. The most recent games have leaned Kilmarnock’s way, though, with three wins in the last five. St. Johnstone’s standout result in that run was a 3-0 win at Rugby Park in August 2024, proof they can hurt this Kilmarnock defence when the mood takes them.
St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Johnstone to win | 11/10 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Home advantage on opening day makes the hosts favourites, though they are an unknown quantity back at this level. |
| Over 2.5 Goals | 4/5 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Kilmarnock’s games averaged over three goals last season across their 38 matches. |
| Both Teams to Score – Yes | 8/13 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Kilmarnock scored 50 but shipped 68 last term, and both defences carry questions. |
| Joe Hugill anytime | 2/1 (bet365) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Joint-top scored for Kilmarnock with eight last season and still leads the line. |
| Correct Score – St. Johnstone 2-1 | 8/1 (bet365) | ⭐⭐ | The scoreline our over-goals, both-teams-to-score lean points towards. |
St. Johnstone vs Kilmarnock score prediction
The recent head-to-head can’t split these two, but the pieces point one way for us. Kilmarnock’s matches were a goal-fest last season, both defences carry question marks, and St. Johnstone have home advantage and the bookmakers’ backing at 11/10. We expect goals at both ends and a narrow home win to get the promoted side up and running. Score prediction: St. Johnstone 2-1 Kilmarnock.