Friday 15 March 2019 11:48, UK
Sky Sports Scotland's commentary team of Ian Crocker and Andy Walker look through the weekend's Premiership fixtures.
Aberdeen vs Livingston - Saturday 3pm
Referee: Don Robertson
Opta Stats
Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last eight top-flight games against Livingston (W6 D2), having failed to win their previous four matches against them in the Scottish Premiership before this (D1 L3).
Livingston have failed to win their last five trips to Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership (D1 L4), failing to score in four of those matches.
Aberdeen have failed to win five consecutive home league games since a 2-0 victory against Hearts back in December (D2 L3) - the Dons last went longer without a victory at Pittodrie in the Scottish Premiership between May-September 2012 (run of six).
Livingston have won two of their last three league games (L1) - as many victories as in their previous 12 Scottish Premiership games prior to this (W2 D3 L7).
Sam Cosgrove (14 goals) has scored 31 per cent of Aberdeen's 45 league goals so far this campaign - the highest percentage in the division.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Aberdeen 2-1 Livingston
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Connor McLennan - Making the most of a deserved run in the side.
Craig Sibbald - Capable of making a contribution that counts.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Aberdeen 1-0 Livingston
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Andy Considine - Outstanding in Aberdeen's thoroughly deserved Cup victory over Rangers at Ibrox.
Scott Pitman - Another consistent performer for Livingston with the occasional eye for goal.
Referee: William Collum
Opta Stats
Hamilton will be facing Hearts in the Scottish Premiership without Martin Canning as manager for the first time since February 2011 - the Accies have failed to win any of their last five top-flight games against Hearts at home (D2 L3), since a 3-2 victory back in August 2015.
Hearts have lost just one of their last 15 Scottish Premiership games against Hamilton (W11 D3) and are unbeaten since a 3-2 defeat back in August 2015 (P10 W7 D3 L0 since).
Hamilton have failed to score in 16 league games in 2018-19 - more than any other side in the Scottish Premiership this campaign.
Hearts have won three of their last four away league games (L1), with the only exception during this period being a 2-1 defeat against Motherwell in February.
George Oakley has scored three of Hamilton's last four league goals, including a brace in Hamilton's 2-1 victory against St Johnstone in February.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hamilton 1-1 Hearts
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Tony Andreu - Can he find his goalscoring touch from first time round at Accies?
Craig Wighton - Timely return to action in the absence of Naismith.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hamilton 0-1 Hearts
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Alexander Gogic - Back in the side recently to try & stem the loss of too many goals.
Sean Clare - Beginning to offer himself as a goalscoring threat more often for Hearts.
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Opta Stats
Hibernian have scored two or more goals in each of their last four home league games against Motherwell, remaining unbeaten during this period (W2 D2).
Following their 1-0 victory the last time the two sides met in the league in January, Motherwell will be looking to win back-to-back top-flight games against Hibernian for the first time since the November 2013 (run of four).
Hibs have won just one of their last six home league games (D3 L2), a 2-0 victory against Hamilton in February.
Motherwell have won seven of their last nine league games (D1 L1), keeping five shut outs during this period, including two in their last two games.
Marc McNulty has been directly involved in seven of Hibernian's last eight league goals (5 goals, 2 assists).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hibernian 2-1 Motherwell
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Marc McNulty - Everything he touches turns to goals.
Jake Hastie - One of the most talked about talents in the space of a couple of months.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hibernian 2-2 Motherwell
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Marc McNulty - A big boost for him & the club to be named in recent Scotland squad.
David Turnbull - Motherwell fans hoping he'll stay for another season, a regular goal threat from the middle of the park.
Referee: Greg Aitken
Opta Stats
Rangers have won just two of their last 11 top-flight matches against Kilmarnock (D4 L5), with each of those victories during this period coming at Ibrox.
Kilmarnock have failed to score more than a single goal in each of their last 26 visits to Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership (13 goals in total during this period), since Bobby Williamson's Kilmarnock side beat Dick Advocaat's Rangers 3-0 back in October 2000.
There have been 42 league goals scored at Ibrox this season (36 for Rangers, six conceded) - only Celtic Park (46) and the Pittodrie Stadium (48) have seen more in the Scottish Premiership.
Kilmarnock ended a six-game winless run in the league with a 1-0 victory against St Mirren last time out - Killie last won back-to-back league games in January (run of three).
Kilmarnock have won 18 points from losing positions this season - at least six more than any other Scottish Premiership side this campaign (Aberdeen and Hibernian, 12).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Rangers 1-0 Kilmarnock
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Alfredo Morelos - Pure box office to watch for many reasons.
Stuart Findlay - Becoming one of the best defenders in the Premiership.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Rangers 2-1 Kilmarnock
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Steven Davis - Will he get a run in the side now after the disappointment of the Scottish Cup defeat to Aberdeen?
Stuart Findlay - In tremendous form at the moment, outstanding in vital 1-0 victory over St Mirren on Monday.
Referee: Andrew Dallas
Opta Stats
St. Johnstone have won each of their last four top-flight matches against St. Mirren without conceding a single goal - in fact, the last player to score a goal for St. Mirren against St. Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership was Adam Drury in St Mirren's 2-1 victory back in October 2014.
St. Mirren have lost five of their last six trips to St. Johnstone in the top-flight (W1), with the only exception being a 2-1 victory back in October 2014 under Tommy Craig.
St. Johnstone have lost seven of their last eight Scottish Premiership matches (D1) - as many defeats as in their previous 27 league games (W13 D7 L7).
St. Mirren have won just one of their 14 away league games this season (D4 L9) - no side has won fewer (Livingston also 1).
Each of St Mirren's last six goals in the Scottish Premiership have been scored by different player (Duckens Nazon, Kyle McAllister, Paul McGinn, Ryan Flynn, Simeon Jackson and an own goal by Sean Clare against Hearts).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: St Johnstone 1-1 St Mirren
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
David Wotherspoon - Tommy Wright knows what he'll be getting week in week out.
Mihai Popescu - Romanian seems to take the no-nonsense approach to defending.
Andy Walker's Prediction: St Johnstone 3-1 St Mirren
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Liam Craig - Perhaps he'll be back in the side for one last run of positive results to challenge for top-six spot.
Jack Baird - Looks comfortable in back three for a side who have a fighting chance of survival.
Referee: Bobby Madden
Opta Stats
Dundee have won just one of their 43 Scottish Premiership games against Celtic since 1998-99 (D8 L34) and are winless since a 2-0 victory under Ivano Bonetti back in May 2001 (P31 W0 D6 L25 since).
Celtic are unbeaten in their 20 trips to Dens Park in the Scottish Premiership since 1998-99 (W15 D5), winning each of the last four by an aggregate scoreline of 10-1.
Dundee have won just one of their 15 home Scottish Premiership games this campaign (D4 L10) - fewer than any other side, whilst only St Mirren (11) have lost more such games on home soil this season than Dundee (10).
Celtic have won eight of their last nine league games (D1), however they did draw their last such game (0-0 v Aberdeen) - they last failed to win back-to-back league games in September 2018 (D1 L1).
Scott Wright has been directly involved in five of Dundee's last seven league goals (2 goals, 3 assists), assisting three of their last four in the Scottish Premiership.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Dundee 1-3 Celtic
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Ryan McGowan - Just the sort of game the Aussie will relish.
Scott Brown - Still driving his team on towards another title.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Dundee 1-2 Celtic
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Darren O'Dea - Former Celt who'll be keen to do well in a tough game against the champions.
Kristoffer Ajer - Looking more like his confident self in recent weeks alongside Dedryk Boyata.
