Friday 4 May 2018 15:51, UK
The old cliche "never a dull moment" springs to mind when thinking of a way to sum up this week in Scottish football.
Celtic clinched their seventh straight title with a thumping 5-0 win over Rangers, something they had not done since the famous championship win in 1979.
Following that defeat Graeme Murty was"relieved" of his duties as Rangers manager with Jimmy Nicholl and Jonatan Johansson taking charge for the remaining three games of the season.
This news was twinned with rumours and reports that Rangers were pursuing Steven Gerrard as their prime managerial candidate...and on Friday the speculation became reality.
The former Liverpool midfielder signed a four-year-deal at Ibrox and was unveiled to the media the day before Rangers host Kilmarnock in the Premiership.
All of this comes ahead of another crucial weekend of fixtures at both ends of the Scottish Premiership table.
The race for second and the battle to beat the drop look like they will go right down to the wire.
Luckily, Andy Walker and Ian Crocker are here to talk you through their thoughts on the weekend's matches.
Partick Thistle v Ross County - Friday 7.45pm
Andy Walker-
Partick Thistle 0-1 Ross County
Key Player - Harry Souttar
On-loan Stoke man could lead his team to a significant victory here, a defeat against Thistle will all but relegate County
Ian Crocker-
Partick Thistle 2-1 Ross County
Key Player - Chris Erskine
Capable of making the difference in this crucial battle between the bottom two.
Opta Stats-
Partick Thistle have lost just one of their last six Scottish Premiership games against Ross County (W3 D2), however, that defeat did come the last time the two sides in April (0-4).
The Staggies have failed to win any of their previous four trips to the Firhill in the top flight (D1 L3), since a 3-1 victory back in February 2015.
The Jags have won just one of their last 10 Scottish Premiership matches played during the month of May (D4 L5), including a 5-0 defeat to Celtic and a 6-0 defeat to Aberdeen at Firhill Park in the final two games of last season
Patrick Thistle ended a run of five winless home games last time out (D1 L4), they have not won two in a row since December 2017 (three successive wins).
Ross County have lost nine of their last 10 league games on the road (W1), failing to score in five of their last seven.
Dundee v Hamilton Accies v - Live on Sky Football Saturday 12pm
Andy Walker-
Dundee 3-1 Hamilton Accies
Key Player - Sofien Moussa
His recent goals have given the club a lift, a win here will keep Dundee safe from the automatic relegation spot.
Ian Crocker-
Dundee 1-2 Hamilton Accies
Key Player - Craig Wighton
Back from long-term injury just in time to make an end of season impact.
Opta Stats-
Dundee ended a run of four straight league defeats against Hamilton with a 2-1 victory the last time the two sides met back in January.
Hamilton are unbeaten in their last four trips to Dens Park (W3 D1), winning each of the previous two.
Dundee have won just one of their last 10 Scottish Premiership games played on home soil during the month of May (D5 L4), conceding at least once in all those games (13 goals in total).
Dundee ended a run of six home games without a victory in the league with a win over St. Johnstone, they last won two in a row at home in September.
Hamilton have lost each of their last four Scottish Premiership away trips, their longest losing streak since March 2017 (seven successive losses).
Aberdeen v Hibernian - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Aberdeen 2-2 Hibernian
Key Player - Dylan McGeouch
Sadly for Hibs fans it looks likely he will move on this summer, he's had a tremendous season.
Ian Crocker-
Aberdeen 2-2 Hibernian
Key Player - John McGinn
Will be eager to stamp his mark all over this potential classic contest.
Opta Stats-
Aberdeen are enjoying a four-game unbeaten run against Hibs on home soil (W3 D1), winning each of their previous two against them at Pittodrie.
However, Hibs secured a 2-0 victory over the Dons the last time the two sides met back in February, ending a run of nine league games against them without a victory (D2 L7) and five straight defeats.
Aberdeen have failed to win any of their previous 13 Scottish Premiership games played on home soil during the month of May (D2 L11), suffering defeats in each of their previous six home games played during this month. In fact, their last league victory at Pittodrie in May came back in 2009, beating Hibernian 2-1 in the final games of the 2008-09 season.
The Dons have won seven of their last nine home league games (D1 L1), including each of their last three - they last won four successive Scottish Premiership games at Pittodrie in April 2017 (eight in a row).
Hibs themselves have won eight of their last 11 league games home and away (D3), although the last three away games have ended in stalemates.
Motherwell v St Johnstone - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Motherwell 2-0 St Johnstone
Key Player - Chris Cadden
Gearing up for the Scottish Cup final against Celtic, Cadden has become a big influence for Stephen Robinson's men.
Ian Crocker-
Motherwell 2-0 St Johnstone
Key Player - Cedric Kipre
The big man has been a solid presence at the back and now has his first-ever goal!
Opta Stats-
Motherwell have won just one of their last eight Scottish Premiership games against St. Johnstone (D2 L5), despite avoiding defeat in each of the previous two (W1 D1) without conceding.
St. Johnstone's run of three straight league victories over the Steelmen at Fir Park (all by a 2-1 scoreline) came to an end the last time the two sides met there, as they suffered a 2-0 defeat courtesy of second-half goals from Allan Campbell and Curtis Main.
The Well have failed to score in five of their last seven Scottish Premiership outings, although they have scored in two of their last three at home.
St. Johnstone have won just one of their last eight league games on the road (D2 L5), a 4-0 victory away to Dundee in March.
Since scoring in four of his first five Scottish Premiership games, Curtis Main has only got one goal in his last nine league appearances.
Rangers v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Rangers 3-1 Kilmarnock
Key Player - Alfredo Morelos
The arrival of Steven Gerrard should give everyone at Ibrox a huge lift.
Ian Crocker-
Rangers 1-1 Kilmarnock
Key Player - Jak Alnwick
Kept the score down at Celtic Park and for that Rangers should be grateful
Opta Stats-
Rangers have won just one of their last four top-flight games against Kilmarnock at Ibrox (D1 L2), suffering as many defeats during this period as they did in the 25 Scottish Premiership games between the two sides prior (W22 D1 L2).
Killie are unbeaten in four league games against Rangers (W2 D2), losing just one of the previous eight meetings between the two sides in the top-flight (W4 D3).
Rangers have lost just one of their last 11 Scottish Premiership games played during the month of May (W8 D2).
Rangers are unbeaten in their last two league games at the Ibrox, they haven't won three in a row since a five-game winning streak in December 2016.
Kilmarnock have lost each of their last two league games after a six-game winning streak, they last lost three successive games in August (five in a row).
Hearts v Celtic - Sunday 12.15pm
Andy Walker-
Hearts 1-2 Celtic
Key Player - Odsonne Edouard
What a magnificent display against Rangers last weekend, at just 20 he'll be worth the reported £6m-£7m required to get him signed up permanently.
Ian Crocker-
Hearts 1-2 Celtic
Key Player - Scott Brown
Over 50 rather good games this season and has led by award-winning example.
Opta Stats-
Hearts have won just one of their last nine home Scottish Premiership games against Celtic (D1 L7), however that victory did come the last time they hosted Celtic at Tynecastle back in December (4-0), ending Celtic's record 56-game unbeaten run in the process.
Celtic have lost just one of their last 20 top-flight matches against Hearts (W17 D2), keeping 11 clean sheets during this period.
Celtic have lost just one of their last 18 league games played during the month of May (W14 D3), including victories in each of their previous five games played during this month.
Hearts have won six of their last nine Scottish Premiership games at home (D3), conceding just two goals and keeping seven clean sheets.
Celtic lost in their most recent league away trip to Hibs, they haven't lost twice in a row on the road since March 2013.
