Friday 1 December 2017 19:39, UK
It usually takes until December before the festive frenzy of fixtures takes Scottish football on a cavalcade of drama and entertainment.
But with six Premiership matches coming Live on Sky Sports throughout the month, this week has already brought us plenty of moments of controversy and intrigue as managerless Rangers won the first leg of their double header with Aberdeen while Motherwell complained about refereeing decisions against Celtic.
This weekend promises to deliver more enjoyment and fascination with a full card of Premiership fixtures across Saturday and Sunday.
To take you through the weekend's games, Sky Sports Scotland commentary team of Ian Crocker and Andy Walker are on hand to give their predictions and players to watch.
Celtic v Motherwell - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker
Celtic 4-0 Motherwell
Key Player - Callum McGregor [Celtic]
Won the stonewall penalty to enable Celtic to avoid defeat against Motherwell on Wednesday, having a fine season.
Ian Crocker
Celtic 2-1 Motherwell
Key Player - Leigh Griffiths [Celtic]
Back in the team with Dembele injured and likely to make his presence felt.
Opta Stats
This is the third time these two sides have met in the past seven days alone in all competitions, with Celtic winning 2-0 in the Scottish League Cup final last Sunday before playing out a 1-1 draw at Fir Park in midweek; that draw ended Celtic's five-game winning streak in the league against the Steelmen.
Motherwell are goalless in their last three league trips to Celtic Park (L3), conceding 11 goals in the process; in fact, they haven't kept a clean sheet there in the Scottish Premiership since a goalless draw in October 2009 (W1 D1 L13 since).
Celtic's 53-game league unbeaten run began with a 7-0 home win over Motherwell in May 2016; that result remains their biggest victory of the 45 they have enjoyed in this undefeated streak.
Motherwell have won three of their last four away league games (L1), as many as they had won in their previous 12 on the road (D3 L6).
After scoring a late penalty in the midweek meeting between these two sides, Scott Sinclair now has two goals in his three league games for Celtic against Motherwell.
Louis Moult scored two goals the last time Motherwell beat Celtic in the league in December 2015 and has scored four goals in his last seven league outings against the Hoops for the Steelmen; only against Hamilton Academical (seven) and Ross County (five) has he scored more top-flight goals for Motherwell than against Celtic.
Hearts v Hamilton Accies - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker
Hearts 2-1 Hamilton
Key Player - Isma Goncalves [Hearts]
Needs to convert a higher percentage of chances coming his way to get Hearts back on top form.
Ian Crocker
Hearts 1-0 Hamilton Accies
Key Player - Jamie Walker [Hearts]
He might be the key to deciding a close contest.
Opta Stats
Hearts are unbeaten in their last six league games against Hamilton (W4 D2), including a 2-1 triumph at the SuperSeal stadium in September this season.
Indeed, the Accies have lost all seven of their visits to Tynecastle in the Scottish Premiership, scoring just twice whilst conceding 16 times in those games.
Hearts are winless in their last five Scottish Premiership games (D2 L3), never scoring more than once in any of those matches. This will be their fifth home league game in succession.
Meanwhile, Hamilton are undefeated in their last five top-flight matches (W2 D3). They haven't gone six games without defeat at this level since a run of nine games between August and October 2014.
Each of Hearts' last two home league goals have been scored by Esmael Gonçalves, who is their joint top-scorer in the top flight this season (five goals, level with Kyle Lafferty).
Rakish Bingham has scored three goals in his last three league games against Hearts, although they all came at home. Against no other side has he scored as many goals in the Scottish Premiership.
Partick Thistle v Hibernian - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker
Partick Thistle 1-3 Hibernian
Key Player - Marvin Bartley [Hibernian]
Midfielder more than capable of meeting physical challenges head-on.
Ian Crocker
Partick Thistle 0-2 Hibernian
Key Player - Simon Murray [Hibernian]
Enjoying another goal spree with four in his last six games.
Opta Stats
Partick earned their first ever home Scottish Premiership win over Hibernian the last time these sides met at The Energy Check Stadium at Firhill in March 2014. They had lost four of the previous five such meetings (D1).
Hibernian's 3-1 win over the Jags back in August this season ended a run of three top-flight games without a win over Hamilton (D2 L1); they last won back-to-back games against Partick at this level in January 2004.
Partick Thistle have won consecutive home league games for the first time this season; they last won three on the bounce in May 2015 (four games).
Hibernian have begun this season without losing any of their opening eight away league games (W4 D4); Celtic are the only other side to not suffer an away defeat in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Miles Storey has scored in consecutive home league games for Partick Thistle (two goals). He last achieved this in the Scottish Premiership for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in September 2015.
Simon Murray, who scored Hibernian's third in their 3-1 win over Partick earlier this season, has had a hand in five goals in his last six league games for Hibs (four goals, one assist).
Ross County v Dundee - Saturday 3pm
Andy Walker
Ross County 1-2 Dundee
Key Player - Mark O'Hara [Dundee]
Tremendous double against Rangers that should see him well marked in this one, has potential to score more regularly.
Ian Crocker
Ross County 1-2 Dundee
Key Player - Mark O'Hara
Hasn't been a regular starter but might be now after his double against Rangers.
Opta Stats
Ross County are unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Dundee (W2 D2); indeed, they have lost just two of the 14 Scottish Premiership meetings with The Dee (W7 D5).
Dundee have never kept a clean sheet away at Ross County in the Scottish Premiership, winning just one of the six previous visits in the competition (D1 L4).
The Staggies have lost five of their eight home league games this season (W2 D1); only Kilmarnock (six defeats) have lost more on home turf in the Scottish Premiership.
Only Partick Thistle (three goals) have scored fewer goals away from home in the top-flight this season than Dundee (five also Ross County); indeed, Partick and Dundee are the only sides yet to win a league game on the road this season in the division.
Michael Gardyne has had a hand in each of Ross County's last four Scottish Premiership goals (three goals, one assist).
Darren O'Dea has scored two penalties in his last three league games against Ross County; he has scored as many goals against them (two) as he has against every other side he has faced in the Scottish Premiership for Dundee combined.
St Johnstone v Kilmarnock - Sunday 3pm
Andy Walker
St Johnstone 1-0 Kilmarnock
Key Player- Liam Craig [St Johnstone]
Leads by example, can score as well as create.
Ian Crocker
St Johnstone 1-1 Kilmarnock
Key Player - Adam Frizzell [Kilmarnock]
A fast emerging talent. Having a great season and has added goals lately.
Opta Stats
St. Johnstone have suffered back-to-back Scottish Premiership defeats at McDiarmid Park against Kilmarnock without scoring; they last lost three in succession against them at home in the league back in November 2010.
Kilmarnock have lost two of their last three league meetings with St. Johnstone (W1), as many as they had in the previous seven combined (W4 D1).
The Saints have failed to find the net in any of their last three home league games (D1 L2); they last went four without victory back in February 2016 (five games).
Kilmarnock have picked up 10 of their 12 league points away from home this season (83.3%), the highest ratio in the division.
No player in the Scottish Premiership has scored more home league goals this season than Michael O'Halloran (four, level with Callum McGregor and Anthony Stokes).
Killie's joint-top league scorer Kris Boyd (three goals, level with Jordan Jones), has scored three goals in his last four league games against St. Johnstone.
Aberdeen v Rangers - Live on Sky Football from 12pm
Andy Walker
Aberdeen 1-1 Rangers
Key Player - Adam Rooney
Despite Stevie May being recognised No 1 striker, Rooney has same amount of goals.
Ian Crocker
Aberdeen 1-2 Rangers
Key Player - James Tavernier [Rangers]
Offers attacking threat from crosses and due his midweek goals after plenty of assists.
Opta Stats
Aberdeen's 3-0 defeat at Rangers in midweek was their second loss against them by that exact score line in 2017; the Dons have won just two of their last 12 Scottish Premiership meetings with the Gers (D1 L9).
Rangers have won four of their last five Scottish Premiership trips to Aberdeen (L1), as many as they had managed in their previous 15 visits (D6 L5).
Aberdeen have lost two of their last three home league games without scoring in those defeats (W1); they hadn't lost nor failed to find the net in any of the previous four prior to this run (W3 D1).
Rangers' 2-1 loss at Dundee last weekend ended an 11-game unbeaten run away from home in the Scottish Premiership (W8 D3); they haven't lost back-to-back away games in the competition since February (three straight losses).
Stevie May has been directly involved in exactly half of Aberdeen's 10 home goals in the Scottish Premiership (three goals, two assists); only Blair Spittal (55.6% of Partick Thistle's nine home goals) has been involved in a higher proportion of a side's goals on home soil this season.
James Tavernier scored his first Scottish Premiership brace for Rangers in the midweek 3-0 win over Aberdeen; he has only scored two goals against every other side he has faced in the competition for Rangers combined.
