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Ian Crocker and Andy Walker's Scottish Premiership Predictor

Andy Walker & Ian Crocker take you though the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures.
Image: Andy Walker and Ian Crocker take you though the weekend's Scottish Premiership fixtures

Sometimes things come full circle in football.

Celtic could break their 100-year-old European record for consecutive domestic matches without a defeat against St Johnstone, the last team to beat them in Scottish competition.

That 2-1 win in May 2016 at McDiarmid Park was shown live on Sky Sports, and you can see if Brendan Rodgers' side manage to take their streak to 63 unbeaten games on Sky Football this Saturday from noon.

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Tommy Wright was manager of St Johnstone the last time Celtic lost a domestic match in May 2016

Leigh Griffiths scored on that day but will he be given the nod after Moussa Dembele started against Bayern Munich on Tuesday?

Elsewhere in the Scottish Premiership this weekend, second-placed Aberdeen travel to Hamilton Accies as they look to stay within touching distance of the champions.

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Highlights of the Scottish Premiership action from October 28, featuring Rangers' clash with Hearts

Managerless Rangers once again turn to Graeme Murty to steward the side, this time to welcome a buoyant Partick Thistle to Ibrox following two wins and a draw in the last three games.

Hibernian moved up to third after their mid-week win against Kilmarnock and host bottom-side Dundee, who have lost four in a row.

Motherwell make the long trip up the A9 to Dingwall to face Ross County while Hearts play Kilmarnock at what the club hopes to be their last fixture at Murrayfield.

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Hibernian inflicted Steve Clarke's first defeat as Kilmarnock manager with a 3-0 win at Rugby Park in the Scottish Premiership

St Johnstone v Celtic - Saturday 12.30pm Live on Sky Sports Football

Andy Walker
St Johnstone 1-2 Celtic

Key Player- Kieran Tierney
Tremendous boost for Celtic to see one of their own sign a new six-year contract.

Ian Crocker
St Johnstone 1-3 Celtic

Key Player- James Forrest
If he can play close to like he did against Bayern Munich he'll have a good day!

James Forrest bagged a brace in the League Cup quarter-final win at Dens Park
Image: James Forrest has scored seven goals in 25 appearances for Celtic and Scotland in all competitions this season

Opta Stats

St Johnstone have won just two of their last 20 Scottish Premiership matches against Celtic at McDiarmid Park (D4 L14), failing to score a single goal in nine of those matches.

However, St Johnstone were the last side to beat Celtic in the Scottish Premiership with a 2-1 victory back in May 2016 at McDiarmid Park.

Since the start of their 50 game unbeaten run in the league (W43 D7), Celtic have in fact beaten St Johnstone on four occasions in the Scottish Premiership (P5 D1). The only two sides they have beaten more during this run are Hearts (5) and Aberdeen (5).

Celtic have conceded just six goals in their opening 11 league matches this season, their best defensive start to a season since 2003/04 (three goals conceded after 11 games).

St Johnstone have failed to score in each of their last five league fixtures; they have only gone longer without a goal once in the Scottish Premiership, a six game run in April 2011.

Hamilton Accies v Aberdeen - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Hamilton Accies 0-1 Aberdeen

Key Player - Ryan Christie
Named in Scotland squad for friendly against Netherlands next week, creative player for Aberdeen.

Ian Crocker
Hamilton Accies 1-2 Aberdeen

Key Player- Ryan Christie
Stunning strike against Ross County rescued the Dons last week. Has fully merited his Scotland call-up.

 Aberdeen's Ryan Christie celebrates his equaliser against Ross County at Pittodrie last weekend, one of his two goals in the 2017/18 Premiership.
Image: Aberdeen's Ryan Christie celebrates his equaliser against Ross County at Pittodrie last weekend

Opta Stats

Hamilton have lost nine of their last 14 Scottish Premiership matches against Aberdeen (W3 D2), scoring just eight goals and conceding 22.

However, the Accies have won each of the last two league matches between the sides at New Douglas Park, most recently a 1-0 victory back in February last season.

Hamilton are winless in their last five home league games (D1 L4), failing to score more than once in any of those fixtures. The last went longer without a win at New Douglas Park came in December 2016 (six games).

Meanwhile, the Dons have won nine of their last 10 Scottish Premiership games on their travels (D1), their longest unbeaten run on the road in the competition.

Three of Hamilton's last five league goals have been assisted by Dougie Imrie; only Rangers' James Tavernier (5) has produced more assists this season than Imrie (3).

Hibernian v Dundee - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Hibernian 3-1 Dundee

Key Player - Brandon Barker
On-loan Man City man making a fine impact for an impressive Hibs side.

Brandon Barker has made three appearances in the Premiership for Hibs since joining on-loan from Man City.
Image: Brandon Barker has made eleven appearances in all competitions for Hibs since joining on-loan from Man City

Ian Crocker
Hibernian 2-1 Dundee

Key Player - Simon Murray
Been stepping up in front of goal in the absence of Anthony Stokes.

Hibernian's John McGinn (right) celebrates his opener with Simon Murray
Image: Hibernian goalscorers John McGinn (right) and Simon Murray celebrate in the 3-0 win at Kilmarnock

Opta Stats

Hibernian have scored in every Scottish Premiership match they've played against Dundee at Easter Road (34 goals in 14 meetings) and are currently on a run of nine home matches against Dundee without a defeat in the Scottish Premiership (W5 D4).

In fact, Dundee have won just one of their last 12 top-flight meetings with Hibs (D6 L5), failing to keep a clean sheet in any of those encounters.

Hib are currently enjoying a three-match winning streak in the Scottish Premiership without conceding a goal; they last went on a longer winning run in the division back in March 2011 (five games).

Dundee are winless in seven league games on the road(D1 L6); they last went longer without an away victory in the top-flight back in March 2013 (13 games).

Hibs boast four different players to have scored at least three league goals this season (Simon Murray, Anthony Stokes, Martin Boyle and John McGinn); only Celtic (5 players) have more.

Rangers v Partick Thistle - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Rangers 3-0 Partick Thistle

Key Player - Ryan Jack
Rightfully won his appeal for red card against Kilmarnock, another hooking up with Scotland squad next week.

Ryan Jack has appealed the red card he received versus Kilmarnock
Image: Ryan Jack won his appeal appeal against the red card he received versus Kilmarnock

Ian Crocker
Rangers 2-0 Partick Thistle

Key Player - Kenny Miller (Rangers)
What on earth was Pedro thinking about? In from the cold and back with a bang, as expected.

Rangers' Kenny Miller celebrates his second goal at Hearts
Image: Rangers' Kenny Miller scored twice for Rangers on his return to first-team action against Hearts at Murrayfield

Opta Stats

Rangers have won ten of their 11 Scottish Premiership matches they have played against Partick Thistle (D1).

The Jags only Scottish Premiership point against Rangers came the last time the two sides met in the league in September at The Firhill Stadium (2-2).

The Gers have conceded 15 goals in their last eight home games in the Scottish Premiership, as many as they had conceded in their previous 21 games at Ibrox in the competition.

Partick Thistle have won two of their last three league games (D1), as many as they had won in their 20 previous Scottish Premiership matches.

Alfredo Morelos and Graham Dorrans combined, have been directly involved in 63% of Rangers' 24 league goals this season (11 goals, 4 assists). In fact, no player in the Scottish Premiership has been directly involved in more goals than Alfredo Morelos (6 goals, 2 assists).

Ross County v Motherwell - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker
Ross County 1-1 Motherwell

Key Player - Ryan Bowman
Spotlight on Bowman after his aggressive display against Rangers, discipline important with cup final against Celtic on the horizon.

Ryan Bowman (L) has four goals and three assists in 11 appearances for Motherwell this season.
Image: Ryan Bowman (L) and Louis Moult have built-up a successful partnership for Motherwell this season, with sixteen goals between them in 2017/18

Ian Crocker
Ross County 0-1 Motherwell

Key Player - Louis Moult
Already a season to remember for Moult and it could get so much better.

Motherwell's Louis Moult celebrates his first goal at Hampden
Image: Motherwell's Louis Moult has had an impressive season so far with 11 goals in 17 appearances in all competitions

Opta Stats

Ross County have managed just one win in their last six league meetings with Motherwell (D1 L4) without scoring more than a single goal in any of those games.

Indeed, the Steelmen are unbeaten in their last three league trips to Victoria Park (W2 D1).

After going on a nine-game unbeaten league run between April 4th and the first game of this season (W6 D3), County have won just two of their last 11 Scottish Premiership games (D2 L7), netting just nine goals in this time.

Motherwell have won back-to-back away league games for the first time since April 2016; they haven't won three on the bounce on their travels in the top-flight since January 2014 (five consecutive wins).

There has been a red card in both meetings between these two sides in all competitions this season, Charles Dunne being sent off in extra-time of their League Cup game and Kenny van der Weg seeing red in the most recent league encounter.

Hearts v Kilmarnock - Sunday 3pm

Andy Walker
Hearts 2-1 Kilmarnock

Key Player - Christophe Berra
Experience will help Hearts get through this tough time after back-to-back defeats against Hibs and Rangers.

Hearts' Christophe Berra takes a hands-on approach during the stalemate at Rangers
Image: Hearts' Christophe Berra tackles Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos

Ian Crocker
Hearts 1-1 Kilmarnock

Key Player - Jordan Jones
Lively presence and deserving of place in Northern Ireland squad.

Kilmarnock's Jordan Jones celebrates making it 1-1 at Pittodrie
Image: Jordan Jones has had call-ups to the Northern Ireland squad due to his performances with Kilmarnock this season

Opta Stats

Killie have won just one of their last eight Scottish Premiership encounters with Hearts (D3 L4), conceding 14 goals in that time.

Hearts have lost two consecutive league games for the first time this season; they hadn't done so since MD22 last campaign, and didn't lose three on the bounce in the league until MD31.

Whilst Kilmarnock are enjoying a four-game unbeaten run on their travels in the league, three have been draws (W1). They have drawn five of their 12 Scottish Premiership games this season, a league-high.

In Hearts' 1-0 victory in their first league meeting with Kilmarnock this season, striker Esmael Gonçalves both scored and was sent off. He had scored a goal in each of his opening two league games of the season at that point, but has found the net just once in 10 appearances since.

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