Kilmarnock v Tromso: Prediction, Tips and Odds

Kilmarnock are two rounds away from a place in the Conference League group stage but know they will face a battle against Norwegian side Tromso in the third qualifying round.

Derek McInnes' men were dumped into the Conference League after losing their Europa League tie with Belgian side Cercle Brugge.

Tromso are, on paper at least, easier opponents than the Belgians, but they've beaten Finns KuPS to get to this stage and look defensively resolute.

The winner of the tie will meet either UEFA Champions League regulars FC Copenhagen or Banik Ostrava in the play-off round.

Kilmarnock v Tromso betting tips and predictions

Draw - 23/10

It is over two decades since Kilmarnock last won a European tie, so perhaps it's no surprise that they are 5/4 to see off Tromso over two legs of their Conference League third qualifying round showdown.

Killie go into the double header on the back of three competitive matches - a 1-1 draw and 1-0 loss to Belgium's Cercle in the Europa League and Sunday's 4-0 drubbing at Celtic in their Premiership opener.

Kilmarnock have won only one of their last eight competitive matches and boss McInnes is already suggesting that juggling a Thursday night-Sunday afternoon workload is going to stretch his thin resources.

Indeed, he rang the changes at Celtic Park at the weekend just to give himself more options for this tie and it's no surprise that they were on the receiving end of 32 shots, with the 4-0 scoreline flattering Killie if anything.

Veteran striker Kyle Vassell will doubtless lead the line for the Ayrshire side, but he has only found the net in three matches since November and that lack of firepower has to be a concern going into the season.

As for Tromso, they are pretty much midway through their Eliteserien season, a campaign that is heading towards a fight to avoid relegation.

They, too, cannot score goals in the absence of injured striker Vegard Erlien. They have only registered 18 goals in 18 league matches this season.

They have won a game to reach this stage, beating Finland's KuPS in the previous round. Unsurprisingly it was a match high on tension and short on goals, with the Norwegians winning 1-0 away and repeating that scoreline at home.

Tromso are 4/7 to qualify and are less rusty and more experienced at this level. They should oblige though with little to excite from either side and precious little goal threat, so the draw at 23/10 looks a big runner for the first leg.

Corner match bet - Kilmarnock - 5/6

Kilmarnock racked up 10 corners in the home leg of their Europa League tie against Cercle and given their need to be positive in the home leg against Tromso, expect them to dominate the corners stats.

The Scottish side won four corners in Brugge in the return leg, too.

Tromso won three corners in Kuopio against KuPS in the previous round and Gard Holme's men will head to Rugby Park with a mindset simply to stay in the tie.

Killie are 5/6 to land the corner match bet honours and that's a price worth taking.

Tobias Guddal to be booked - 11/4

Tobias Guddal, the linchpin of Tromso's back five, has accrued a clean sweep of yellow cards this season.

The 22-year-old has been booked twice in the Eliteserien plus once in the Norwegian Cup, the Conference League and even for his national Under-21s side.

These stats make Guddal an enticing selection to find his way into referee Menolos Antoniou's notebook at Rugby Park.

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Kilmarnock v Tromso odds

Kilmarnock - 29/20
Draw - 23/10
Tromso - 13/8

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.