Queen of the South

vs

Kelty Hearts

Preview

Queen of the South

• Queen of the South are third in League One 2025-2026 with 31 points from 20 games.
• They are on a three-game winning streak all at home.
• They have won six home games and scored 18 goals this season.
• Recent home results:
  • 4-1 vs Hamilton Academical.
  • 1-0 vs Montrose.
• Peter Murphy’s 4-4-2 is focused on shape, width, set-piece chances and second-ball dominance.
• Murphy prefers to play football rather than park the bus when ahead.

Kelty Hearts

• Kelty Hearts are bottom of League One with 13 points.
• They have conceded 18 goals in 10 away league matches.
• They have won one of their last three away games.
• Tam O’Ware has mixed systems since becoming player-manager in May 2025.
• Recent run includes:
  • 2-5 home defeat to Cove Rangers.
  • 1-0 away win at East Fife.
  • 1-1 home draw with Alloa Athletic.

Head-to-Head

• The last meeting between the sides here ended 1-1.
• The five home head-to-head contests have averaged 1.0 goal per game.

Key Players

• Ricco Diack - big, powerful centre forward with 6 goals in 14 League One games.
• Kurtis Guthrie - Queens' goal-getter with 5 in 16 who can out-muscle most defenders.
• Matthew Douglas - has scored three of Queens’ last nine goals in four games.

Betting Insights

• Odds: Home win 1.48, Away 5.64.
• Defensive/attacking trends: Queens have 18 home goals, Kelty have conceded 18 away.
• Suggested markets:
  • Over 2.5 goals at 1.69.
  • Both teams to score at 1.76.
• Kelty’s counter threat makes BTTS attractive despite Queens’ home consistency.

Prediction

• The home team’s consistency and tactical discipline should see Queen of the South take all three points.
• Kelty Hearts can cause problems on the counter but are unlikely to stop Queens from winning.