Friday 17 November 2017 11:46, UK
After yet another international break, more meaningful to some home nations than others, the Scottish Premiership is back this weekend.
A new-look Scotland side suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands last Thursday.
Malky Mackay was also confirmed by Stewart Regan not to be in the running for the permanent manager's job, unbeknownst to Scottish FA performance director Mackay.
Rangers, like Scotland, are still without a manager. The club appear to be in no hurry to make an appointment while Graeme Murty remains consistent in producing results.
It's been a tumultuous week for Hearts as they look to finally make their return to Tynecastle Park. The club has been working against the clock to ensure Sunday's match against Partick Thistle goes ahead, new main stand and all.
The international break allowed some clubs to recuperate, while others had a good portion of their squads gain experience with their national team set-ups.
But for now, it's back to league business with Ian Crocker and Andy Walker bringing you their predictions for the weekend's fixtures.
Ross County v Celtic - Saturday 12.30pm
Andy Walker-
Ross County 1-3 Celtic
Key Player- Scott Sinclair
He's had a good rest during the international break, could be the biggest threat to the home side.
Ian Crocker-
Ross County 1-2 Celtic
Key Player- Scott Sinclair
Ended his longest Celtic drought last time out and that could signal a scoring spree.
Opta Stats-
Ross County have only beaten Celtic once in their 18 Scottish Premiership meetings (D6 L11), last tasting league victory in a 3-2 win back in March 2013; 15 games ago.
Celtic have only failed to win once in their last six league trips to Ross County (D1), netting 20 times in those last six visits (3.3 goals per game on average).
The Staggies have won just two of their last seven home league matches (D1 L4), however those two victories have come in each of their last two home games. They have not won three in a row since a run of five straight wins back in April 2015.
Celtic have won each of their last nine away league matches, keeping six clean sheets, netting 29 times and conceding just three goals in those nine victories.
Michael Gardyne has netted three of County's last four league goals, including a brace last time out in their 3-2 victory over Motherwell. In fact, that brace was Gardyne's first in the league since December 2015, and his season tally of three already eclipses the two goals he bagged in the whole of last season (33 appearances).
Aberdeen v Motherwell - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Aberdeen 2-0 Motherwell
Key Player- Ryan Christie
Played well on his Scotland debut, regular football doing him the world of good
Ian Crocker-
Aberdeen 1-0 Motherwell
Key Player- Ryan Christie
Impressive Scotland debut against Holland but then he's been rather good for his club too.
Opta Stats-
Aberdeen have beaten Motherwell in each of the last five league matches, scoring 16 times in the process, representing their longest ever winning run against The Steelmen in the Scottish Premiership.
After a run of eight games without losing at Pittodrie (W5 D3), Motherwell have now failed to win in each of their last six league visits to Aberdeen (D1 L5), last tasting victory in May 2014.
The Dons have only lost once in their last 14 Scottish Premiership matches (W10 D3), but have won just one of their last three (D1 L1).
Following a run of three successive wins in the Scottish Premiership, Motherwell have lost each of their last two league games. They have not lost three on the bounce in a single campaign since February this year (four straight defeats).
No side has scored more goals than Aberdeen (5) in the first 15 minutes of league matches so far this season, although, no side has conceded more than The Dons in that time either (also 5).
Only James Tavernier (5) can boast more assists in the Scottish Premiership this season than Motherwell's Chris Cadden (4). In fact, Cadden has assisted three of his sides last four league goals.
Dundee v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Dundee 1-1 Kilmarnock
Key Player- Josh Meekings
Time for players like Meekings to step up at this difficult time for Dundee.
Ian Crocker-
Dundee 1-2 Kilmarnock
Key Player- Jordan Jones
Didn't get long for Northern Ireland against Switzerland but will do in the future.
Opta Stats-
Dundee have won just once in their last eight league meetings with Kilmarnock (D5 L2), with the sides sharing the spoils in their Scottish Premiership meeting earlier this season (1-1).
In their last eight visits to Dundee in Scotland's top-flight, Killie have lost just once (W2 D5) with each of their last three trips to Dens Park ending in 1-1 draws.
The Dee have lost each of their last five league matches, and have only managed two victories in their last 16 top-flight games (D3 L11).
Kilmarnock are unbeaten in their last five away league matches (W2 D3), their longest run without defeat since March 2017 (also five unbeaten).
No Scottish Premiership side has conceded more goals in the last 15 minutes of action than Dundee (7).
Along with Partick Thistle, Kilmarnock have scored the fewest goals In the Scottish Premiership so far this season (11).
Hibernian v St Johnstone - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Hibernian 3-0 St Johnstone
Key Player- John McGinn
Another one to impress for Scotland against the Netherlands, Hibs will do well to hold on to McGinn in January's transfer window.
Ian Crocker-
Hibernian 2-0 St Johnstone
Key Player- Martin Boyle
Always a lively presence and three goals in the last three games too.
Opta Stats-
Hibernian have won just once in their last five Scottish Premiership meetings with St Johnstone (D2 L2), with their first meeting in the top-flight in three years ending in a 1-1 draw earlier this season.
The Saints have only tasted defeat twice in their last eight trips to Hibs in the top-flight (W3 D3) with their most recent league trip to Easter Road in December 2013 ending in a 1-1 draw.
Hibernian have won their last two home Scottish Premiership matches, and are looking to win three on the bounce at home in the top-flight for the first time since November 2012 (also three).
St Johnstone have won just one of their last 10 league matches (D3 L6), and have failed to score a single goal in any of their last six league games; their longest goal drought in Scotland's top-flight since April 2011 (also 6 games).
Martin Boyle has netted exactly one goal in each of his last three Scottish Premiership matches, his longest consecutive scoring run in league football since playing for Montrose in March 2013 (also three matches).
Despite his side failing to score in the league since September 23rd, only Louis Moult and Alfredo Morelos (six each) have bagged more league goals than St Johnstone's Michael O'Halloran (five).
Rangers v Hamilton Accies - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Rangers 2-0 Hamilton Accies
Key Player- Ryan Jack
Showed a good strength of character when he was subjected to some pathetic booing recently by so called Scotland fans, went on to play well.
Ian Crocker-
Rangers 3-0 Hamilton Accies
Key Player- Daniel Candeias
Looks like he's got something about him but there may be more to come.
Opta Stats-
Rangers have never lost to Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership, winning 12 of the 13 previous meetings (D1).
Indeed, the Accies have never scored more than once in any of those 13 games, scoring just seven goals whilst conceding 35.
The Gers are currently enjoying a five-game unbeaten run in the top flight (W4 D1), their best run of the season so far; they haven't gone longer without a league defeat since April 2017 (seven games).
After losing six consecutive games starting from September, Hamilton are unbeaten in their last three league games (W1 D2); they too last went longer without a league defeat back in April (four games).
Despite being goalless in each of his last six league games, Alfredo Morelos has been involved in more goals in the Scottish Premiership than any other player this season (eight; six goals, two assists).
Former Rangers player David Templeton has netted in consecutive games in the Scottish top-flight for the first time since December 2010 for Hearts; he hadn't scored in any of his first seven league games this season prior to this run.
Hearts v Partick Thistle - Sunday 3pm
Andy Walker-
Hearts 2-1 Partick Thistle
Key Player- Aaron Hughes
At 38, he gave a tremendous performance for Ireland in their World Cup playoff defeat to Switzerland, Hearts need his experience to get through this tough time.
Ian Crocker-
Hearts 1-1 Partick Thistle
Key Player- Don Cowie
Back from injury and experience handy amid the young ones.
Opta Stats-
Hearts are winless in their last four top-flight clashes with Partick Thistle (D3 L1), including a 1-1 draw earlier this season at Firhill.
The Jags haven't managed to beat Hearts away from home in the Scottish Premiership in any of their last four visits in the previous two campaigns (D2 L2); they last beat them at Tynecastle in the top-flight back in May 2014 (4-2).
Hearts have lost back-to-back home games in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since March 2014; they haven't lost three in a row at Tynecastle at this level since January of that year on their way to relegation to the second-tier.
Partick Thistle are winless in their last 11 away games in the Scottish Premiership (D5 L6) and haven't scored in any of their last three. They last went longer without a win on the road in the top-tier back in April 2004 (17 games).
Kyle Lafferty has scored two goals in his last three home games for Hearts; only one other Hearts player has found the net in a home league game this season (Esmael Goncalves, one).
Partick Thistle have scored just two goals away from home in the Scottish Premiership this season, a league-low.
