Ian Crocker and Andy Walker's Scottish football predictions
Sunday 20 November 2016 14:13, UK
Seven days on from Scotland’s 3-0 defeat to England at Wembley and after a week full of speculation surrounding national team manager, it’s now time to return to domestic action.
The Scottish Premiership is back after a tough time for Tartan Army supporters as focus now turns to club allegiances.
Sky Sports commentary team Ian Crocker and Andy Walker are here to take you through their predictions and point out the players to watch this weekend.
Kilmarnock v Celtic - Friday 7.45pm
Tom Rogic's last-minute winner in Celtic's last visit to Rugby Park was crucial in clinching the 2015/16 Scottish Premiership title and helped stretch the visitors' unbeaten run away at Kilmarnock to 11 games.
Lee Clark's side have kept three clean sheets in their last five Premiership appearances but will have to keep out the league's top two scorers in Scott Sinclair (7) and Moussa Dembele (9).
Andy Walker's prediction:
Kilmarnock 0-2 Celtic
Key player: Tom Rogic
Improving enormously under the guidance of Brendan Rodgers.
Ian Crocker's prediction:
Kilmarnock 1-2 Celtic
Key player: Scott Sinclair
Scored in nine of Celtic's 11 league games. Reborn, rejuvenated, remarkable.
Inverness CT v Aberdeen - Saturday 3pm
Aberdeen start the weekend in second place and go into their trip to Inverness having won three of their last four away matches in the Premiership.
Inverness CT find themselves in the top six despite having conceded the most goals in the league so far this campaign (24).
Andy Walker's prediction:
Inverness CT 0-1 Aberdeen
Key player: Jayden Stockley
Former Bournemouth man beginning to take the pressure off top scorer Adam Rooney with vital goals.
Ian Crocker's prediction:
Inverness CT 1-1 Aberdeen
Key player: Jayden Stockley
Great strike at Partick Thistle last time out and an imposing presence.
Motherwell v Partick Thistle - Saturday 3pm
Partick Thistle have won their last two Premiership away matches and face a side who have lost four of their last seven home games.
Motherwell have kept just one clean sheet in 16 matches, conceding 34 times in the process.
Andy Walker's prediction:
Motherwell 1-1 Partick Thistle
Key player: Craig Clay
Motherwell's attacking midfielder has been improving as the season goes on.
Ian Crocker's prediction:
Motherwell 2-1 Partick Thistle
Key player: Lionel Ainsworth
Speedy winger capable of lighting up this game.
Rangers v Dundee - Saturday 3pm
Rangers have not lost in the league to Dundee since April 2001, winning 13 of the 15 matches during that time.
Paul Hartley's Dundee have recorded two much needed Premiership wins in a row but have not won three consecutive top-flight games since November 2014.
Andy Walker's prediction:
Rangers 2-1 Dundee
Key player: Joe Garner
The pressure is building on the striker to up his game and start scoring regularly.
Ian Crocker's prediction:
Rangers 2-0 Dundee
Key player: Martyn Waghorn
Two dry months but 36 goals in 50 games for Rangers. He'll be back.
St Johnstone v Ross County - Saturday 3pm
St Johnstone have not lost to Ross County in the last five meetings between the sides, winning three of them.
Ross County sit bottom of the Scottish Premiership without a win in 10 games despite goalkeeper Scott Fox making the most saves in the league this season (56).
Andy Walker's prediction
St Johnstone 1-1 Ross County
Key player: David Wotherspoon
Has had a difficult time with the home support but never hides.
Ian Crocker's prediction:
St Johnstone 1-0 Ross County
Key player: Danny Swanson
The type of player who can swing a game your way.
Hamilton Accies v Hearts - Monday 7.45pm
Hearts are the second highest scorers in the Premiership behind Celtic with 21 goals and have also hit the woodwork more than any other side so far this season (7).
Hamilton have lost just once in their last six Premiership matches but have also only recorded one win in that time.
Andy Walker's prediction:
Hamilton Accies 1-3 Hearts
Key player: John Souttar
Can the Hearts centre-back improve to the extent to be considered for an international cap?
Ian Crocker's prediction:
Hamilton Accies 1-1 Hearts
Key player: Massimo Donati
Has been a perfect fit for Accies and will relish this contest.
