Friday 8 March 2019 13:55, UK
Sky Sports Scotland's commentary team of Ian Crocker and Andy Walker look ahead to this weekend's Scottish Premiership.
Referee: Steven McLean
Opta Stats
Hibernian are unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Rangers (W1 D3) since a 1-2 home defeat in December 2017.
Hibs are the only Scottish opponent that Rangers have faced in all competitions under Steven Gerrard without yet winning, having drawn both meetings with them this season.
Hibernian have won all three of their Scottish Premiership games under new boss Paul Heckingbottom and are looking to win four in succession for the first time since September-October 2018.
Rangers are unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions (W7 D3), keeping a clean sheet in seven of those, including five of their last six.
Rangers have scored 39 goals in the first half of their league games this season, more than any other Scottish Premiership side, with 10 of their last 13 such goals coming in the opening 45 minutes.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hibernian 1-2 Rangers
Ian Crocker's Key Men
Marc McNulty: On a terrific run of goals.
Glen Kamara: Has settled in quickly to the Rangers midfield.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hibernian 0-1 Rangers
Andy Walker's Key Men
Stephane Omeonga: On loan from Italian club Genoa, the Belgian has shown he has a lot to offer.
Scott Arfield: Loving his time back in Scotland with Rangers, a good goalscoring threat from midfield.
Referee: Craig Thomson
Opta Stats
None of the last 25 league meetings between Celtic and Aberdeen have finished level, with Celtic winning 21 and losing four of these games since a 1-1 draw in March 2012 under current manager Neil Lennon during his first spell in charge.
Aberdeen have lost 26 of their last 27 visits to Celtic Park, with the only exception being a 1-0 victory in May 2018.
Celtic have won all eight of their league games in 2019, scoring 20 goals whilst conceding just two in this time.
Aberdeen lost 0-2 to Hamilton in their last league game and are looking to avoid suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time since February 2018 - when their two defeats came first to Neil Lennon's Hibs side and then to Celtic themselves, who Lennon now manages.
Celtic have had more different goalscorers (excluding own goals) than any other side in the 2018-19 Scottish Premiership (16).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen
Ian Crocker's Key Men
James Forrest: When he scores Celtic win - though only just at Hearts!
Sam Cosgrove: The big man is making a huge contribution.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Celtic 1-0 Aberdeen
Andy Walker's Key Men
Nir Bitton: Out of the side for so long under Brendan Rodgers, the Israeli has made a welcome return to a side now under the guidance of Neil Lennon.
Connor McLennan: Has done well to come through the ranks and is now getting his reward with some first-team action.
Referee: Nick Walsh
Opta Stats
Dundee beat Hearts 2-1 in January and are aiming to win back-to-back top-flight meetings with them for the first time since November 2012 under Barry Smith.
Under Craig Levein, Hearts have only lost one of their nine top-flight away games against Dundee (W4 D4), a 2-1 defeat in September 2017.
Dundee have won a league-low seven points in their 14 home Scottish Premiership games this season (W1 D4 L9).
Hearts are winless in four league games (D2 L2) and are hoping to avoid losing back-to-back such matches for the first time since December 2018.
Scott Wright has been directly involved in each of Dundee's last four league goals, scoring one and assisting three.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Dundee 1-1 Hearts
Ian Crocker's Key Men
Scott Wright: Involved in Dundee's last four goals.
Oliver Bozanic: The Australian certainly makes sure he's involved.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Dundee 1-2 Hearts
Andy Walker's Key Men
Craig Curran: The 29-year-old recently signed from a potential promotion-winning side in near neighbours Utd but is determined to play his part in keeping his new club safe from relegation.
Uche Ikpeazu: Such an important player for Hearts, with everyone at the club grateful he is now back to full fitness.
Referee: John Beaton
Opta Stats
Livingston have lost each of their last three Scottish Premiership meetings with St. Johnstone without scoring a goal in any of them, including both this season.
Only against St. Mirren (four) are St. Johnstone currently on a longer top-flight winning run than they are against Livingston (three).
Livingston have lost six of their last eight league games (W1 D1), as many as their opening 20 such matches of the season beforehand (W8 D6 L6).
St. Johnstone have gone seven league games without a win (D1 L6), the longest ongoing run in the Scottish Premiership.
Christopher Kane has been directly involved in three of St. Johnstone's last four league goals (one goal, two assists), scoring their only goal versus Hibs in their last such match.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Livingston 0-0 St Johnstone
Ian Crocker's Key Men
Chris Erskine: Looks well suited to life at Livingston.
Chris Kane: Relishing a run in the side.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Livingston 0-1 St Johnstone
Andy Walker's Key Men
Chris Erskine: Relegated last season with Partick Thistle but more than capable of playing his part for Livingston in the top flight.
David Wotherspoon: Happy enough to sign a two-year contract extension recently and has been a good pro for a number of years now.
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Opta Stats
Motherwell have lost two of their last three home league games against Hamilton (W1), as many as their previous 10 combined since 2008-09 beforehand (W6 D2 L2).
Hamilton have won three of their last five league meetings with Motherwell (L2), although they have lost two of the last three (W1).
Motherwell have won each of their last three home league games, last winning four in a row in March 2014 under manager Stuart McCall.
Hamilton picked up as many points in February (seven - W2 D1 L2) as they did in their previous 13 league games beforehand (W2 D1 L10).
January signing George Oakley has scored three of Hamilton's five league goals since his debut in February.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Motherwell 2-2 Hamilton
Ian Crocker's Key Men
Jake Hastie: Has made a startling impact in a short space of time.
George Oakley: Wow what a goal at Aberdeen! Breathtaking.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Motherwell 1-0 Hamilton
Andy Walker's Key Men
Gboly Ariyibi: Took advantage of some extraordinary gamesmanship to score that now infamous goal against Celtic. Will he inspire Motherwell for a late charge at finishing in the top-six?
Anthony Andreu: The on-loan man from Coventry is suited to a more attack-minded Hamilton side under Brian Rice.
Referee: Don Robertson
Opta Stats
After losing their first four Scottish Premiership home games against Kilmarnock between July 2000 and March 2007, St Mirren have since lost just three of their last 15 such games against them in the competition (W7 D5).
Kilmarnock have won six of their last seven league games against St Mirren, losing the other 4-1 in April 2015.
St Mirren, 1-0 winners over Livingston last time out, haven't won back-to-back top-flight matches since May 2015; however, they haven't won a Scottish Premiership match on a Monday since April 2007 (2-0 v Falkirk), drawing three and losing six of nine such games on this day since.
Kilmarnock are without a win in six league games (D3 L3), their longest such run since September 2017, when they went 10 without victory.
Kilmarnock have only managed to win one of their last 14 away matches against newly promoted sides in the Scottish Premiership (D8 L5), although this was a 2-1 win at St. Mirren in October 2018.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: St Mirren 1-2 Kilmarnock
Ian Crocker's Key Men
Duckens Nazon: Has got himself noticed since arriving on loan.
Conor McAleny: On-loan striker has looked a lively presence.
Andy Walker's Prediction: St Mirren 1-1 Kilmarnock
Andy Walker's Key Men
Mateo Muzek: One of many signings in the January transfer window, the Croatian full-back has helped give Oran Kearney's men a fighting chance for survival.
Stephen O'Donnell: Should be joining up with Scotland soon for more international experience, he's had a very consistent season so far.
