Skip to content

Crocker & Walker's Scottish Premiership Predictions

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

As we get our teeth stuck into the festive football period, Kilmarnock are top of the Premiership and travel to champions Celtic this weekend.

The midweek fixtures gave us all some food for thought as we get ready for a December jam-packed full of Scottish football.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Steve Clarke says Kilmarnock fans are dreaming of success after the club went top of the Scottish Premiership

Aberdeen moved into the top-six after a victory over then table-toppers Rangers at Ibrox on Wednesday night.

Motherwell's late equaliser at home to Celtic prevented Brendan Rodgers from retaking the lead in the Premiership as Hearts and St Johnstone retained 4th and 5th place respectively after a 2-2 draw in Perth.

Bottom side Dundee got their second win of the season after a hat-trick from veteran striker Kenny Miller defeated Hamilton. Meanwhile St Mirren earned a point at Easter Road in part thanks to Adam Hammill's stunning goal from his own half.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

St Mirren's Adam Hammill scores from the halfway line during their 2-2 draw with Hibernian

There are only seven points separating Kilmarnock at the top with Aberdeen in sixth and Wednesday's results also narrowed the gap between the relegation places and the rest of the bottom half of the table.

What a weekend we have to look forward to and to give you their thoughts on the fixtures - we have Sky Sports Scotland's commentary team of Ian Crocker & Andy Walker.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

St Johnstone's Tommy Wright is the Scottish Premiership's Manager of the Month for November after his team won two games and drew another without conceding to keep up their run of good form

Aberdeen v St Johnstone - Saturday 3pm

Referee: Don Robertson

Opta Stats-

Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last four league games against St. Johnstone, winning three and drawing one since a 2-0 home loss in April 2017.

St. Johnstone, who lost both of their league visits to Pittodrie last season by an aggregate score of 7-1, have never lost three consecutive away games against Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.

Aberdeen have won each of their last four home league games, their best such run since April 2017 (eight straight wins).

St. Johnstone are unbeaten in their last seven league games (W5 D2) and could equal their longest ever run of games without defeat in the Scottish Premiership (eight in December 2014) if they avoid a loss here.

Aberdeen have had more different goalscorers (12) than any other side in this season's Scottish Premiership (excluding own goals).

Ian Crocker's Prediction:

Aberdeen 1-0 St Johnstone

Key Men:

Scott McKenna: Tower of strength at the back and a midweek Ibrox winner at the front.

Matty Kennedy: A man in form and Saints' best bet for a goal just now.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Rangers and Aberdeen

Andy Walker's Prediction:

Aberdeen 2-1 St Johnstone

Key Men:

Graeme Shinnie: Provides tremendous drive & energy for his team.

David Wotherspoon: Another good teammate who works tirelessly.

David Wotherspoon struck in St Johnston'e victory
Image: David Wotherspoon has scored two goals in his last six appearances for St Johnstone

Celtic v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm

Referee: Nick Walsh

Opta Stats-

Celtic are winless in their last four league meetings with Kilmarnock (D2 L2); only against Rangers (three times) have they ever gone 5+ games without a victory in the Scottish Premiership.

Kilmarnock have won just one of their 32 visits to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership (D6 L25), a 2-0 victory in October 2012.

Celtic have won each of their six league games at Celtic Park in 2018-19, the only 100% winning record at home in this season's Scottish Premiership.

Kilmarnock have lost just one of their last 11 league games (W7 D3), a 2-1 defeat at home to Aberdeen in November.

Leigh Griffiths has scored seven goals in his last eight league appearances against Kilmarnock for Celtic.

Ian Crocker's Prediction:

Celtic 2-1 Kilmarnock

Key Men:

Ryan Christie: Hot hot hot. A terrific run of form and goals.

Greg Stewart: That Brophy/Stewart partnership can be so hot to handle.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ryan Christie, who has been named Scottish Premiership player of the month for November, says Scottish football is benefiting from an exciting title race

Andy Walker's Prediction:

Celtic 3-0 Kilmarnock

Key Men:

Filip Benkovic: Celtic give very little away & much of their success is down to the on loan Leicester star.

Eamonn Brophy: Greg Stewart gets all the praise but Brophy does so much for the team.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Eamonn Brophy has six goals in his last nine appearances for Kilmarnock. Last week Sky Sports took a detailed look at the striker as One2Watch

Hamilton v Hibernian - Saturday 3pm

Referee: Bobby Madden

Opta Stats-

Hamilton have lost just one of their last five home games against Hibernian in the top-flight (W3 D1), a 2-1 defeat in March 2011.

Hibs are unbeaten in three league meetings with Hamilton (W2 D1), winning the last two by an aggregate score of 9-1.

None of Hamilton's last 18 home league games have been drawn, with the Accies winning six and losing 12 of these matches - in fact, their last home draw in the Scottish Premiership was against Hibernian in November 2017 (1-1).

Hibernian's seven-match run without a league win (D3 L4) is their longest such run in the Scottish Premiership since May 2014 when they were relegated from the top-flight (13 games).

Hibs' Florian Kamberi has been directly involved in seven goals in just two appearances against Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership (four goals, three assists), more than he has against any other side in the competition.

Ian Crocker's Prediction:

Hamilton 1-2 Hibernian

Key Men:

James Keatings: Capable of moments of magic and up against his former club.

Oli Shaw: Young talent may be due a run amid misfiring other strikers.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

A round-up of Saturday's action from the SPFL, including James Keatings' stunning goal for Hamilton in their 3-1 win against St Mirren

Andy Walker's Prediction:

Hamilton 0-0 Hibernian

Key Men:

Scott McMann: Essential for Hamilton to improve defensively, McMann can show the way.

Martin Boyle: Maybe Boyle is the man to spark Hibs back into life again.

Hearts v Motherwell - Saturday 3pm

Referee: William Collum

Opta Stats-

Hearts have lost just one of their last seven league meetings with Motherwell (W5 D1), a 1-2 reverse in August 2017.

Motherwell are without a victory in their last five visits to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership (D1 L4) since a 1-0 win in January 2014.

Since Steven Naismith's injury at the end of October, Hearts have won none of their six league games without the forward (D2 L4); they had won eight of 10 with him at the start of the campaign (D1 L1).

Motherwell have conceded nine goals in their last two away league games (L2), more than they had in their previous eight combined (eight).

Hearts' Steven MacLean has been directly involved in 10 goals in his last 11 starts against Motherwell (eight goals, two assists), including a hat-trick for St. Johnstone last time he started against them in May 2018.

Ian Crocker's Prediction:

Hearts 2-1 Motherwell

Key Men:

Arnaud Djoum: Makes sure he's a presence all over the field.

Carl McHugh: Captain back in place to set the tone.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between St Johnstone and Hearts. Arnaud Djoum opened the scoring for the visitors

Andy Walker's Prediction:

Hearts 1-1 Motherwell

Key Men:

Peter Haring: Harshly judged to have conceded a penalty against St Johnstone in midweek.

Danny Johnson: Can he build on his excellent point-saving goal against Celtic in midweek?

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Motherwell and Celtic. Danny Johnson scores a late equaliser for the home side

Livingston v St Mirren - Saturday 3pm

Referee: Andrew Dallas

Opta Stats-

This will be just the second ever meeting between Livingston and St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership.

Livingston won their first encounter with St. Mirren in the Scottish Premiership 2-0 this season, with goals from Jack Hamilton and Alan Lithgow.

Livingston have lost just one of their eight home league games this season (W5 D2), a 0-1 defeat to St. Johnstone in October.

St. Mirren are the only side yet to win an away game in this season's Scottish Premiership (P7 W0 D2 L5) - their last win on their travels in the competition was at Ross County in May 2015.

Excluding penalties, Livingston have scored more goals from set-pieces (11) than any other side in this season's Scottish Premiership, whilst only Celtic (two) have conceded fewer goals from such situations than Lions (three).

Ian Crocker's Prediction:

Livingston 1-1 St Mirren

Key Men:

Dolly Menga: A strong robust handful who just needs to score more goals.

Adam Hammill: We all love an entertainer and he loves to try the spectacular.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Hibernian and St Mirren

Andy Walker's Prediction:

Livingston 2-0 St Mirren

Key Men:

Declan Gallagher: One of the stars of this sparkling debut season for Livingston in the top flight.

Anton Ferdinand: His experience will be vital for St Mirren in their quest for survival.

Dundee v Rangers - Live on Sky Sports Football from 1pm Sunday

Referee: Alan Muir

Opta Stats-

Dundee have won both of their last two home league games against Rangers by a 2-1 scoreline; they had never beaten them at home in their first 14 such games prior to this in the Scottish Premiership (D4 L10).

There hasn't been a draw between these two sides in the Scottish Premiership since May 2003 (2-2), with Rangers winning 11 and losing two of the 13 clashes in the competition since then.

After beating Hamilton 4-0 in midweek, Dundee will be looking to win back-to-back league games for the first time this season.

Rangers have won their last three away league games - they were winless in eight such matches prior to this (D5 L3).

Alfredo Morelos has been directly involved in five goals in his four league games against Dundee for Rangers (three goals, two assists); against no other side has he had a hand in more in the Scottish Premiership (level with Hamilton Academical).

Ian Crocker's Prediction:

Dundee 1-2 Rangers

Key Men:

Kenny Miller: 5 goals in 3 games including a midweek hat-trick. He couldn't could he? He probably could.

Kyle Lafferty: Could easily have been suspended along with Morelos. Time to make presence felt.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Scottish Premiership match between Dundee and Hamilton as Kenny Miller scored a hat-trick to help Jim McIntyre's side to a 4-0 victory

Andy Walker's Prediction:

Dundee 1-3 Rangers

Key Men:

Darren O'Dea: His experience will be vital, can Dundee build on that tremendous win over Hamilton?

James Tavernier: A captain who leads by example both in play & discipline.

James Tavernier celebrates after scoring to make it 3-1 to Rangers against Motherwell
Image: James Tavernier has scored nine goals and contributed 13 assists for Rangers in the 2018-19 campaign in all competitions so far

Around Sky