Ian Crocker and Andy Walker's Premiership Predictor

By Sky Sports Scotland

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

For the first time in what seems like forever, Scotland fans return to club allegiances delighted with the results from the international break.

The Premiership is back this weekend with fans hoping their teams can prolong the feel-good factor re-ignited by Gordon Strachan's squad.

Six Celtic players started both in Vilnius and at Hampden on Monday, with Leigh Griffiths limping off injured against Malta, ruling him out for Friday's trip to Hamilton Accies.

Image: Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest, Scott Brown, Kieran Tierney, Craig Gordon and Leigh Griffiths all started for Scotland in both internationals.

Aberdeen are the only side to win their opening four league matches and will look to continue their 100% record away to Hearts on Saturday. This will be a slightly irregular trip to Edinburgh for Derek McInnes' side, as Murrayfield will host due to the ongoing work on Tynecastle Park's new main stand.

Tommy Wright and Michael O'Halloran won the double for St Johnstone in the Ladbrokes monthly awards by picking up the manager and player of the month gongs for August, and they welcome Neil Lennon's Hibs to McDiarmid Park on Saturday.

Advertisement

A fan favourite returns to Rangers this weekend when Neil McCann takes his Dundee side to Glasgow. Having won three league titles and four Scottish Cups with Rangers, it will be McCann's first experience of Ibrox as a manager.

Michael O'Halloran - the Premiership Player of the Month for August - responds to Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha's claim he was not the type of player needed at Ibrox before he was loaned to St Johnstone.

Partick Thistle are yet to pick up a single point after a difficult start to the season and will hope a trip to fellow strugglers Ross County proves to be more fruitful. County have recorded three consecutive defeats since their opening day win at Dundee.

Also See:

Kilmarnock are one of three teams without a victory so far and travel to Motherwell, who recorded wins in their last two Premiership matches - against Ross County and Hearts - before the international break.

Hamilton Accies v Celtic - Friday 7.45pm

Andy Walker-
Hamilton Accies 0-2 Celtic

Key Player- Odsonne Edouard
Perfect chance for the current third choice striker to make an impact in the absence of Griffiths and Dembele.

New Celtic loan signing Odsonne Edouard warns the Hoops of team-mate Neymar's threat after joining on loan from PSG.

Ian Crocker-
Hamilton Accies 0-2 Celtic

Key Player- Patrick Roberts
Unlikely to make a quiet return. Can unlock doors with style. Good to have him back on our beat.

Image: Patrick Roberts could make his first appearance since re-joining Celtic on loan against Hamilton Accies.

Opta Stats-

Celtic won all three meetings between these two sides last season without conceding a goal.

Indeed, Hamilton haven't beaten Celtic since October 2014 (D1 L7), Ali Crawford scoring the only goal in a 0-1 win at Celtic Park.

The Accies have picked up seven points from their last three games (W2 D1), their best run of league form since August 2015 where they won three consecutive matches.

Hearts v Aberdeen - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen

Key Player- Jamie Walker
Didn't get the move he wanted to Rangers but should get a chance to shine at Murrayfield.

Image: Hearts winger Jamie Walker was the subject of rejected bids from Rangers during the transfer window.

Ian Crocker-
Hearts 1-2 Aberdeen

Key Player- Scott Wright
Quickly making a name for himself and what a goal at Firhill a fortnight ago!

Highlights from Firhill where Scott Wright scored a hat-trick as Aberdeen thrash Partick Thistle 6-0 i n May.

Opta Stats-

Hearts have won just one of their last five home league games against Aberdeen (D1 L3).

Aberdeen have won each of their last three meetings with Hearts, this after a run of four without a victory over them in all competitions (D1 L3).

Hearts have won just one of their last 10 Scottish Premiership matches, (D3 L6), their worst run in the league since January 2014, when they went 10 without a victory (D3 L7).

Meanwhile Aberdeen have won each of their last six league games, their best run of form since a run of eight consecutive victories between August and September 2015.

Motherwell v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Motherwell 1-1 Kilmarnock

Key Player- Dom Thomas
Played well against Celtic recently, very direct & creative.

Image: Kilmarnock's Dom Thomas played in Scotland U21's 2-0 win over Netherlands on Tuesday.

Ian Crocker-
Motherwell 1-1 Kilmarnock

Key Player- Lee Erwin
Likely to prove a handful for his former club.

Image: Lee Erwin has scored twice in his first five appearances for Kilmarnock.

Opta Stats-

Motherwell are unbeaten in their last four meetings with Kilmarnock (W3 D1), and have lost just once in their last 10 games against them (W7 D2).

Killie have won just two of their last 11 away league games against Motherwell (D5 L4).

The Steelmen have won their last two consecutive league matches; they haven't won three in a row since April 2016 (five straight wins).

Carl McHugh has scored in each of his last two fixtures against Kilmarnock (two goals). They are the only Scottish team he has ever scored against.

Rangers v Dundee - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Rangers 2-0 Dundee

Key Player- Eduardo Herrera
Has found the route to goal, Rangers desperate for a consistent goalscorer.

Image: Rangers manager Pedro Caixinha (left) embraces Eduardo Herrera after his first goal for the club.

Ian Crocker-
Rangers 2-1 Dundee

Key Player-Niko Kranjcar
Capable of adding a touch of class to the proceedings.

Image: Nico Kranjcar (right) has made five appearances for Rangers so far this season.

Opta Stats-

Rangers' 2-1 defeat to Dundee in February ended a run of eight straight wins against them and was their first league loss to Dundee in 17 matches (W15 D2).

Dundee haven't beaten Rangers away from home since March 2001, losing eight consecutive matches since then.

This is Dundee's worst start to a Scottish top-flight season since 2012/13 (also D1 L3). They won their fifth league match that season.

Ross County v Partick Thistle - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Ross County 2-2 Partick Thistle

Key Player- Blair Spittal
Former Dundee Utd man given another chance in top flight, has the ability to take it.

Image: Blair Spittal scored twice as Partick Thistle beat St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup group stages earlier this season.

Ian Crocker-
Ross County 2-2 Partick Thistle

Key Player- Stuart Bannigan
Like a new signing after injury and looks eager to make up for lost time.

Image: Patrick Thistle's Stuart Bannigan missed the whole of last season due to injury, but has made eight appearances so far this season.

Opta Stats-

Ross County have scored exactly one goal in all seven of their top-flight home fixtures against Partick since their first meeting at this level in 2013/14.

Partick were unbeaten in each of the three meetings between these two sides last season (W2 D1).

The Staggies have lost three consecutive top-flight games. They haven't lost four in a row since a run of seven straight losses between August and September 2014.

The Jags are winless in their last 10 Scottish Premiership fixtures, losing each of the last eight (D1 L9).

St Johnstone v Hibernian - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
St Johnstone 2-3 Hibernian

Key Player- John McGinn
Hibs held on to him despite interest from Nottingham Forrest, good to see him stay a little longer in Scottish football.

Image: Hibernian rejected bids from Nottingham Forest for John McGinn in the summer transfer window.

Ian Crocker-
St Johnstone 1-2 Hibernian

Key Player- Anthony Stokes
Four goals in as many games, Stokes and Hibs are meant to be together!

Image: Anthony Stokes celebrates one of his four goals in five appearances for Hibs this season.

Opta Stats-

St Johnstone have kept a clean sheet in each of their last two league meetings with Hibernian. They have never shut them out in three consecutive top-flight matches.

Hibernian have won two of their last three away league games (L1) against The Saints.

The Saints unbeaten run of four league games at the start of this season is their best such run since December 2016 (five unbeaten W2 D3).

Outbrain