Friday 27 October 2017 18:47, UK
The dog has caught the caravan.
Life in the Scottish football media world turned a little duller this week, with the removal of the ever colourful Pedro Caixinha from his position as Rangers manager.
The Portuguese made headlines for a number of intriguing press conferences but failed to get the results required of a Rangers manager. Caixinha failed to win three matches in a row at any time in his seven months in charge, not good enough in the eyes of the fans and board.
Speculation is already rife as to who will take over with plenty of candidates being touted across the media from Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes to current Rangers frontman Kenny Miller.
Caixinha was eventually felled by Wednesday night's calamitous ending to the match with Kilmarnock, which saw Rangers lose a 1-0 lead despite having been awarded a penalty in stoppage time at the end of the game.
There was a full card of fixtures this midweek which saw Celtic show their continued dominance of Scottish football with a 3-0 win at Aberdeen.
Motherwell also continued their fantastic start to the season by moving above Rangers in the table to 3rd with a win against Dundee.
Hearts were uninspiring as Hibs controlled the Edinburgh derby from the off after Simon Murray's early strike and there were two goalless draws.
With plenty of talking points, Ian Crocker and Andy Walker look at the players to watch this weekend.
Hearts v Rangers - Saturday, 12.30pm, live on Sky Sports Football
Andy Walker-
Hearts 2-2 Rangers
Key Player - Kyle Lafferty
The Hearts frontman will relish going up against a depleted Rangers defence in the immediate aftermath of Pedro Caixinha's sacking.
Ian Crocker-
Hearts 2-2 Rangers
Key Player - Kyle Lafferty
He may have something in store for his former club.
Opta Stats
Hearts have managed only one win from their last four home league games (D2 L1), but were victorious last time against St. Johnstone.
Rangers are unbeaten in 10 while playing away from Ibrox (W7 D3), and have averaged 2.6 goals per game on the road through their last eight matches.
The Ibrox side have scored more goals in the last 15 minutes of games (7) than any other side in the division.
Aberdeen v Ross County - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Aberdeen 2-1 Ross County
Key Player - Scott McKenna
The central defender, 20, has a chance to make a name for himself this season at the heart of Aberdeen defence.
Ian Crocker-
Aberdeen 2-1 Ross County
Key Player - Ryan Christie
Couldn't play against parent club Celtic so must be itching to go.
Opta Stats
Aberdeen have won six of their last seven home games against Ross County in the league (L1), including each of the last two.
These sides have not played out a draw in the top flight in any of their last 11 meetings (Aberdeen winning eight to Ross County's three).
Aberdeen's loss to Celtic last time out was their first defeat in 12 (W9 D2) - the last team they lost to before their unbeaten run was also Celtic.
The Staggies previous two away games have seen them earn successive clean sheets on the road for the first time since September 2016.
Celtic v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock
Key Player - Moussa Dembele
With Bayern Munich on the horizon in the Champions League, it's great timing for Brendan Rodgers to have last season's top scorer back to full fitness.
Ian Crocker-
Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock
Key Player - Kieran Tierney
What a game he had at Aberdeen and more than capable of a repeat showing. Not been so excited about a player for years!
Opta Stats
Celtic have lost none of their last 15 league games against Killie, scoring 42 goals in those games (W13 D2) and winning each of their last five in a row. They last suffered defeat back in October 2012 (2-0).
That win five years ago is Kilmarnock's only victory at Celtic Park in 30 attempts in the Scottish Premiership, losing 25 and drawing four of the other 29.
Celtic's victory at Aberdeen in the week stretched their unbeaten run to 49 games (W43 D6).
Killie have won just one of their previous 12 Scottish Premiership games (D4 L7), and have managed just one clean sheet across their last 14.
Celtic are yet to concede during the first 30 minutes of a game during this campaign - in fact, the earliest they have conceded was in the 39th minute against St Johnstone, courtesy of Steven MacLean.
Dundee v Hamilton Accies - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Dundee 1-0 Hamilton Accies
Key Player - Faissal El Bakhtaoui
He scores eye-catching goals occasionally but needs to improve his consistency; Dundee are playing a lot of good stuff but failing to finish teams off.
Ian Crocker-
Dundee 2-1 Hamilton Accies
Key Player - Sofien Moussa
Back in the groove after injury and pivotal to Dundee finishing all those chances.
Opta Stats
Dundee have lost three consecutive Scottish Premiership games against Hamilton without scoring a single goal.
Indeed, the Accies are unbeaten in their last three league visits to Dens Park (W2 D1), conceding just once.
Dundee have now lost three league games in a row - the last time they lost three times in a row was in August, a run of five.
Hamilton have failed to win any of their last eight Scottish Premiership matches (D2 L6), despite only failing to score in one of those matches.
Motherwell v Hibernian - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Motherwell 1-1 Hibernian
Key Player - Dylan McGeouch
Alongside John McGinn, McGeouch is in excellent form, here's hoping his injury problems are behind him.
Ian Crocker -
Motherwell 1-1 Hibernian
Key Player - Dylan McGeouch
Always felt there was more to come. Now enjoying an injury-free eye-catching run.
Opta Stats
Although the Steelmen are unbeaten in their last six top-flight encounters against Hibs (W4 D2), each of the last two have been drawn, including a 2-2 stalemate in September.
Hibernian have only managed to win one of their last five visits to Fir Park, losing the other four including each of the last two; they have never lost three consecutive Scottish Premiership visits to Motherwell.
Motherwell have won four of their last five league games at Fir Park (L1), keeping three clean sheets during that spell.
Hibs meanwhile have managed to win only two of their last 14 games away from home (D6 L6), though they are unbeaten across their last five (W2 D3).
Partick Thistle v St Johnstone - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Partick Thistle 1-2 St Johnstone
Key Player - Steven Anderson
You can rely on someone with close to 400 appearances for the one club, Anderson still has a lot to offer.
Ian Crocker-
Partick Thistle 1-0 St Johnstone
Key Player - Blair Spittal
Might need some flair from Blair to decide a tight contest.
Opta Stats
The Jags are currently enduring a three-game losing streak against St Johnstone in 2017, losing each game 1-0.
However, since the start of the 2015/16 season, these sides have identical records against one another in the league; four wins each, eight goals scored and eight goals conceded in eight encounters.
Thistle have won only one of their last 17 Scottish Premiership matches (D5 L11), though that one win did come in their latest home game against Dundee (2-1).
St Johnstone have won one of their last eight league games (D3 L4), and have lost three in a row on their travels.
