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Scottish Premiership predictions

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

Ian Crocker and Andy Walker give their predictions for this weekend's six fixtures in the Scottish Premiership.

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A round-up of Saturday's action from the Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen v St Mirren - Saturday 3pm

Referee: Alan Muir

Derek McInnes' side are outside the top six with nine points from their opening seven games, eight points worse off from this time last year. They've conceded the same amount of goals as they did after seven games of the 2017/18 campaign, but have scored just five goals compared to 12.

This will be St Mirren's second trip to Pittodrie this season, following their 4-0 defeat to Aberdeen in the League Cup in August. Since then, Oran Kearney has taken over from Alan Stubbs, recording a draw against Celtic in his first game, but his new side then succumbed to successive defeats against Hamilton and Hibernian. The saints are still without a win since the opening day of the Premiership season and sit 11th; just a point above Dundee at the bottom of the table.

Ian Crocker

Prediction: Aberdeen 2-1 St Mirren

Key Men

Gary Mackay-Steven: Should ask a few questions and create a few chances.

Simeon Jackson: St Mirren desperately need to him to rediscover his early career goal ratio.

Aberdeen's Gary Mackay-Steven (L) celebrates his second goal with Graeme Shinnie.
Image: Gary Mackay-Steven (L) scored four goals in his first five games of the 2018/19 season but has not netted in his six games since

Andy Walker

Prediction: Aberdeen 3-0 St Mirren

Key Men

Andrew Considine: Added responsibility on his shoulders following the retrospective ban of Scott McKenna.

Cameron McPherson: A chance for him to shine in a demanding season for his club.

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Aberdeen's Scott McKenna has been given a two-game ban for his challenge on Celtic's Odsonne Edouard

Dundee v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm

Referee: Steven McLean

Neil McCann was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief last Saturday when his side picked up their first points of the season with a 2-0 win against Hamilton. The victory brought Dundee to within a point of Motherwell and St Mirren, meaning they could drag themselves out of both relegation places if they take three points this weekend and other results go their way. But, despite a clean sheet on Saturday, Dundee have the worst defensive record in the league with an average of conceding two goals per game in the Premiership this season.

Kilmarnock continue to improve and develop under Steve Clarke, who is still to reach his one-year anniversary in the job at Rugby Park. This time last year after seven games, Kilmarnock were bottom of the table with just three points and a goal difference of minus six. Now Killie are sitting fourth with thirteen points and that's even after a start which has seen them come up against Celtic, Aberdeen, Hibernian and current leaders Hearts.

Ian Crocker

Prediction: Dundee 1-1 Kilmarnock

Key Men

Andy Boyle: On loan centre-half likely to be kept busy by Stewart and Brophy.

Greg Stewart: Sizzling start to life at Killie and now a return to Dens Park where he wasn't bad either.

Andy Boyle scored his first goal last weekend as Dundee got their first points of the season in victory over Hamilton.
Image: Andy Boyle scored his first goal last weekend as Dundee got their first points of the season in victory over Hamilton

Andy Walker

Prediction: Dundee 1-0 Kilmarnock

Key Men

Calvin Miller: A good decision by him to go on loan from Celtic and develop his game.

Aaron Tshibola: Gives Kilmarnock a competitive edge in midfield.

Aaron Tshibola, Kilmarnock
Image: Aaron Tshibola has played four matches for Kilmarnock this season, winning four and losing once

Hibernian v Hamilton - Saturday 3pm

Referee: Don Robertson

With unbeaten Hearts top of the league, Neil Lennon's side make it an Edinburgh top-two in the Premiership after seven games. Hibs are on a run of three straight league wins after victories over St Mirren, Dundee and Kilmarnock. With tricky trips to Celtic and Hearts next up for Hibs in the league, Lennon will want to continue their momentum going into those away fixtures.

Hamilton travel to Hibernian with two league wins under their belt and defeats in their other five Premiership matches. Their two wins have come against Motherwell and St Mirren, two of the three who currently sit below them in the table. This weekend's fixture at Easter Road kicks off a tough run of games for Martin Canning's side who face Rangers, Kilmarnock, Aberdeen and surprise-package Livingston after the international break.

Ian Crocker

Prediction: Hibernian 2-0 Hamilton

Key Men

David Gray: Five goals already this season for Gray makes him dangerous.

Fredrik Brustad: Accies will be hoping for a decent goal return from the Norwegian striker.

David Gray celebrates after opening the scoring for Hibernian against St Mirren
Image: David Gray celebrates after opening the scoring for Hibernian against St Mirren last weekend

Andy Walker

Prediction: Hibernian 4-1 Hamilton

Key Men

Mark Milligan: High praise from his manager last weekend, Neil Lennon's kind of player.

James Keatings: Unlucky not to score last weekend against Dundee, a danger from free kicks.

Hamilton Manager Martin Canning (centre) with summer signings Fredrik Brustad, Scott Martin, James Keatings and Matthew Kilgallon.
Image: James Keatings (second from left) re-joined Hamilton Accies in the summer and has three appearances for the club this campaign

Motherwell v Livingston - Saturday 3pm

Referee: William Collum

Livingston have managed an incredible start to their return to the Scottish Premiership. Since their opening-day defeat to champions Celtic, Livingston have notched up four wins and two draws in the league. Gary Holt was in charge for all but one of those six games (the draw at home to Kilmarnock), winning at home to Rangers at the weekend and drawing away to leaders Hearts the week before. Only Hearts have a better defensive record than Livingston, who have conceded just four goals in their seven games so far.

Since the start of August, Motherwell have only won two matches in all competitions. One of those was a victory at bottom-side Dundee with the other a 1-0 victory over this weekend's opposition Livingston in the League Cup last 16. Stephen Robinson's side are on a run of four straight defeats and missed a good chance to end that run last week - Curtis Main missed a penalty when Motherwell were 1-0 up at Rugby Park on Saturday but Kilmarnock came back to win the match 3-1.

Ian Crocker

Prediction: Motherwell 1-1 Livingston

Key Men

Curtis Main: Back among the goals and might relish a battle with Livingston's exceptional back three.

Craig Halkett: The pick of an outstanding defensive bunch against Rangers, although the rest weren't far behind!

Motherwell striker Curtis Main celebrates his opener against Kilmarnock last weekend
Image: Motherwell striker Curtis Main celebrates his opener against Kilmarnock last weekend

Andy Walker

Prediction: Motherwell 2-1 Livingston

Key Men

Chris Cadden: Well established as a key player these days.

Alan Lithgow: Tremendous performances leading his team to a fantastic start to the season.

Livingston's Alan Lithgow celebrates making it 2-0 at St Mirren.
Image: Livingston's Alan Lithgow celebrates scoring against St Mirren earlier in the season

Rangers v Hearts - Sunday 3pm

Referee: John Beaton

Sunday's defeat to Livingston seemed to highlight Rangers' difficulty in producing results on the road domestically. Last-minute goals conceded at Aberdeen and Motherwell account for two draws away from home but defeats at Celtic and at the Tony Macaroni Arena mean Steven Gerrard's side are yet to record three points away from Ibrox. Rangers' record coming back from Europe into domestic competition has been steady so far this campaign (DWWDLW) with the only defeat coming at Celtic Park after their trip to Russian side FC Ufa.

Hearts have had nothing short of an incredible turn-around under Craig Levein. In the 13 games in all competitions so far this season, Hearts have won 11 and drawn twice, once to Livingston in the Premiership and the other a 1-1 draw with Raith Rovers in the League Cup. They currently sit five points clear at the top of the Premiership but the last time Hearts won a top-division fixture at Ibrox was in March 2012 - when Ian Black and Jamie Hamill scored as the visitors came back from 1-0 down.

Ian Crocker

Prediction: Rangers 1-1 Hearts

Key Men

Glenn Middleton: Rangers' rising star will be itching for more action and he has no fear.

Olly Lee: Has brought a bit to the Hearts party including goals. His Dad could play a bit too.

Hearts' Olly Lee celebrates his goal
Image: Olly Lee has four goals in his twelve appearances from the Hearts midfield this campaign in all competitions

Andy Walker

Prediction: Rangers 2-0 Hearts

Key Men

Kyle Lafferty: Will surely relish facing his old club.

Jimmy Dunne: Vital goal last weekend but more importantly, he's dependable in defence.

Rangers' Kyle Lafferty scored against Villarreal in the Europa League
Image: Rangers' Kyle Lafferty has scored four goals in his eight appearances since rejoining the club from Hearts

St Johnstone v Celtic - Sunday 3.30pm

Referee: Kevin Clancy

After losing their opening Scottish Premiership match to Kilmarnock, St Johnstone went on a run of five games unbeaten in all competitions. Since then, they have recorded three straight defeats, admittedly, to Rangers, Celtic (League Cup) and Hearts which has left them eighth in the Premiership table. Tony Watt started the season sharply, scoring six goals in his first eight St Johnstone appearances, but he is yet to find the net in five games since the start of September.

Leigh Griffiths' goal helped Celtic to a narrow win at McDiarmid Park just last week to send Brendan Rodgers' side into the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup. They haven't tasted defeat in Perth since May 2016, after which Celtic began their incredible 'Invincibles' run of form. Celtic sit fifth in the Premiership but have fixtures against Hearts and Hibs coming up after the international break, in which they will want to make up ground on those at the top of the pile.

Ian Crocker

Prediction: St Johnstone 1-2 Celtic

Key Men

Tony Watt: Only a sub last week but will surely be unleashed against the club for whom he scored THAT goal.

Kieran Tierney: Has maintained his level of performance even if some around him haven't.

St Johnstone's Tony Watt celebrates his goal against Dundee
Image: St Johnstone's Tony Watt celebrates his goal against Dundee earlier in the season

Andy Walker

Prediction: St Johnstone 0-1 Celtic

Key Men

Zander Clark: A cert to be the busier of the two keepers.

James Forrest: Unlucky to be sent off against RB Salzburg, he's on a high after signing a new contract.

James Forrest was sent off for Celtic
Image: James Forrest was sent off for Celtic in their Europa League group stage defeat to Salzburg on Thursday night
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