Skip to content

Andy Walker and Ian Crocker's weekly Scottish Premiership predictions

Scottish Premiership weekly predictor-= some of the players to look out for this weekend.
Image: Scottish Premiership weekly predictor - some of the players to look out for this weekend.

Sky Sports Scotland's commentating team of Ian Crocker and Andy Walker give their take on the Scottish Premiership fixtures this weekend.

Motherwell v Hearts - Friday 7.45pm

Hearts have lost five of their last seven top-fight trips to Fir Park. They haven't scored in their last two Premiership matches and the last time they failed to score in three consecutive games in the Premiership was December 2013.

Motherwell are a model of consistency this year in terms of squad selection. They have made the fewest changes to their starting line-ups this season, with just five alterations in the opening seven fixtures. Louis Moult has scored with every shot he has had on target in the Premiership this season (five goals). 

Andy Walker's prediction: Motherwell 1-2 Hearts

Key player: Callum Paterson
Recognition from Gordon Strachan should help his game. He's a real goal threat at set-pieces.

Callum Paterson
Image: Callum Paterson was included in Gordon Strachan's squad for Scotland's upcoming qualifiers against Lithuania and Slovakia.

Ian Crocker's prediction: Motherwell 0-1 Hearts

Also See:

Key player: Tony Watt.
He has fond memories of Fir Park, where he scored twice on his Celtic debut.

24/09/16 LADBROKES PREMIERSHIP .  HEARTS v ROSS COUNTY .  TYNECASTLE - EDINBURGH .  Hearts' Tony Watt (right) sees his shot saved by Scott Fox
Image: Hearts striker Tony Watt has scored once since joining on loan from Blackburn Rovers.

Dundee v Celtic - Saturday 12.15pm

History tells us Dundee will have their work cut out against Celtic this weekend. They have only scored three goals in their last 11 league matches against the Scottish champions, last winning in May 2001.

Celtic are unbeaten in their opening six games to a season for the third time in the last four seasons and no player has had a hand in more goals in the Scottish top-flight this season than Scott Sinclair (six goals, one assist).

Watch the Ryder Cup on NOW TV
Watch the Ryder Cup on NOW TV

Get a NOW TV Week Pass for £10.99. No contract.

Andy Walker's prediction: Dundee 0-1 Celtic

Key player: Tom Rogic
One of many standouts for Celtic in the exhilarating Champions League clash against Manchester City.

Celtic's Tom Rogic celebrates having scored the sixth goal
Image: Celtic's Tom Rogic celebrates scoring with team mate Patrick Roberts.

Ian Crocker's prediction: Dundee 1-3 Celtic

Key player: Kieran Tierney
What a player this lad is becoming.  A few rampaging runs down the left are pretty much nailed on

Kieran Tierney keeps shackles on Raheem Sterling during 3-3 draw at Celtic Park
Image: Kieran Tierney keeps shackles on Manchester City's Raheem Sterling during 3-3 draw at Celtic Park

Hamilton Accies v Inverness CT - Saturday 3pm

Inverness CT have won on their last six visits to Hamilton Accies in the Scottish top-flight, with the Accies last win in the fixture coming back in January 2009. Hamilton Accies have dropped the most points (12) from leading positions in the league this season.

Andy Walker's prediction: Hamilton Accies 0-1 Inverness CT

Key player: Greg Tansey
When he plays well, Caley Thistle are a much better side.

Ian Crocker's prediction: Hamilton Accies 0-1 Inverness CT

Key player: Greg Tansey
Capable of pulling the strings as Inverness look to continue their decent recent run.

Inverness CT's Greg Tansey runs with the ball.
Image: Inverness CT's Greg Tansey runs with the ball.

Kilmarnock v Aberdeen - Saturday 3pm

In the 11 Scottish Premiership meetings between the sides since December 2012, Aberdeen have won 10 and drawn one.

Niall McGinn is yet to provide an assist in the league this season, despite being the most prolific in 2015/16 when he set-up 12 goals for Aberdeen. If Motherwell are the model of consistency, Kilmarnock are the opposite and have made 23 changes to their starting line-ups so far in this campaign.  

Andy Walker's prediction: Kilmarnock 0-1 Aberdeen

Key player: Graeme Shinnie
Unlucky to be overlooked for Scotland games but hugely influential for Aberdeen.

Aberdeen's Graeme Shinnie attempts to shake off an injury.
Image: Graeme Shinnie was left out of the Scotland squad again this week, but is a stalwart for Aberdeen.

Ian Crocker's prediction: Kilmarnock 1-2 Aberdeen

Key player: James Maddison
What a free-kick last week! Brilliant and breath-taking. The boy can play. 

James Maddison scores Aberdeen's winner
Image: James Maddison scores Aberdeen's spectacular winner against Rangers.

Rangers v Partick Thistle - Saturday 3pm

Partick Thistle haven't won against Rangers since 1993, but haven't played against the Ibrox side in any competition since September 2008.

Rangers have not won in their last four league matches and they haven't gone six without a victory since December 2005 but have won the most points (five) from losing positions this season.

Andy Walker's prediction: Rangers 3-1 Partick Thistle

Key player: Joe Garner
Time for Mark Warburton's biggest summer signing to step up and turn Rangers' superior possession into goals.

Rangers' Joe Garner scores his side's seventh goal
Image: Rangers' Joe Garner's only goal for the club so far came in the 5-1 Old Firm defeat to Celtic.

Ian Crocker's prediction: Rangers 2-0 Partick Thistle

Key player: Andy Halliday
A driving force to lead Rangers out of a hole. Still amazed he didn't start at Celtic Park.

Andy Halliday started for Rangers at Ibrox
Image: Andy Halliday has started all three Rangers matches since Joey Barton's suspension.

Ross County v St Johnstone - Sunday 3pm

Ross County have recorded 0-0 draws in the last two Premiership matches against Rangers and Hearts, helping goalkeeper Scott Fox to lead the league in clean sheets so far (three).

Danny Swanson is the player to have provided the most assists in the league this season with three in 2016/17.

Andy Walker's prediction: Ross County 2-1 St Johnstone

Key player: Chris Burke
New County signing can provide the service needed for even more firepower from Jim McIntyre's men.

Burke has won seven caps for Scotland
Image: Chris Burke has won seven caps for Scotland and has joined Ross County until the end of the season.

Ian Crocker's prediction: Ross County 1-1 St Johnstone

Key player: Liam Boyce
Ross County are short of goals lately but Boyce has scored their last six!

Liam Boyce (centre) celebrates scoring his second goal
Image: Liam Boyce is the joint top scorer in the Scottish Premiership so far this season. He and Celtic's Scott Sinclair have 6 goals each.

Watch every minute of the Ryder Cup, plus Premier League football and the Malaysia Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price!

Around Sky