Ian Crocker & Andy Walker's Premiership Predictions

By Sky Sports Scotland

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

The Premiership is back in full after last weekend’s Scottish Cup fifth round which largely saw the favourites from each tie safely through to next month’s quarter-finals.

However, with just nine points separating the top-six and the relegation play-off, there are few matches in the Premiership where the clear favourite is obvious. The unpredictability of the league was on show on Tuesday as 10-man Kilmarnock came back from 2-1 down to take the three points against Dundee in an enthralling game of football at Rugby Park.

But don't worry if you missed the action midweek as Sky Football has a Scottish Premiership double header this weekend - starting with Ross County v Hearts on Saturday, followed by Hamilton Acices v Rangers on Sunday.

Highlights of Kilmarnock's 3-2 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

Ian Crocker and Andy Walker are the Sky Sports Scotland commentary team for both matches - and both are on hand to give their thoughts on all the matches this weekend.

Ross County v Hearts - Live on Sky Football from 12pm Saturday

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Andy Walker-
Ross County 2-3 Hearts

Key Player- Demetri Mitchell
Excelling on the left side of a Hearts team much improved under Craig Levein.

Image: Hearts' Demetri Mitchell celebrates his goal with Kyle Lafferty in last week's Scottish Cup win against St Johnstone.

Ian Crocker-
Ross County 1-3 Hearts

Key Player- Demetri Mitchell
On loan from Manchester United and it shows. Terrific goal last weekend.

Watch the goals from the Scottish Cup game between Hearts and St Johnstone.

Opta Stats-

The Staggies have won just one of their last 12 top-flight matches against Hearts (D5 L6).

Hearts have lost just one of their seven trips to Ross County in the Scottish Premiership (W4 D2), scoring in each of those matches. In fact, Hearts have won four of their last five visits there, (D1) scoring at least two goals in each of those outings.

Ross Country ended a run of 12 league matches without a victory (D3 L9) in their last outing in the competition, beating Dundee 4-1 away from home. The Staggies have failed to win back-to-back league matches in the same campaign since winning their last two games of last season.

However, Hearts have lost just one of their last 13 Scottish Premiership ties (W5 D7), keeping eight clean sheets in their previous 10 matches.

Hearts have received five red cards in the Scottish Premiership this season including Connor Randell's second-half red against Ross County back in October. Only Hamilton Academical (six) have been awarded more reds than Hearts in the competition.

Hibernian v Aberdeen - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Hibernian 1-1 Aberdeen

Key Player- Gary Mackay-Steven
Took his time to settle in Aberdeen but producing the goods more regularly now.

Image: Aberdeen's Gary Mackay-Steven scored twice last weekend in their Scottish Cup win against Dundee United.

Ian Crocker-
Hibernian 1-2 Aberdeen

Key Player- Kenny McLean
Norwich bound in the summer and seems determined to sign off in style at Aberdeen.

Image: Kenny McLean has three goals in his last three Aberdeen performances.

Opta Stats-

Hibernian are winless in their last nine top-flight matches against Aberdeen (D2 L7), failing to score in seven of those matches. In fact, Hibs have claimed just one victory in their last 14 Scottish Premiership matches against Aberdeen (D4 L9).

Aberdeen are unbeaten in their last 10 league visits to Hibernian (W6 D4), keeping seven consecutive clean sheets and winning each of their previous three visits to Easter Road.

Hibernian have kept just a single clean sheet on home soil in the Scottish Premiership this season - Ross County are the only side in the competition that have failed to keep a home clean sheet.

Despite winning their last three top-flight games, Aberdeen have lost two of their last three on the road in the competition (W1), failing to score in both of those defeats.

Each of Oli Shaw's three league goals for Hibernian this season have come in home games - he has scored those goals in just four appearances at Easter Road.

Motherwell v Kilmarnock - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Motherwell 0-0 Kilmarnock

Key Player- Jamie MacDonald
Kilmarnock have climbed well above the danger zone, players like McDonald will help them deliver consistency.

Image: Jamie MacDonald has made thirty appearances for Kilmarnock so far this season.

Ian Crocker-
Motherwell 1-1 Kilmarnock

Key Player- Kris Boyd
The goals just keep on coming. It's like the old days!

Image: Kris Boyd has fifteen goals in all competitions so far this season, including eight in his last eight Premiership matches.

Opta Stats-

Motherwell have lost just one of their last six Scottish Premiership matches against Kilmarnock (W4 D1), however that single defeat did come the last time the two sides met in the competition as Killie ran out 1-0 winners back in December.

Kilmarnock have won just one of their last seven trips to Motherwell in the top-flight (D2 L4), a 2-0 victory back in February 2016.

Motherwell have lost just one of their last five Scottish Premiership matches (W2 D2) having lost six of the previous seven (D1).

Despite being winless in their last three away league matches, Kilmarnock have lost just one of their last nine top-flight matches home and away (W6 D2).

Kris Boyd has scored 37% of Kilmarnock's 30 league goals this season (11 goals) - the highest percentage in the division.

Partick Thistle v Dundee - Saturday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Partick Thistle 2-2 Dundee

Key Player- Steven Caulker
An excellent signing for a Dundee side who have thrown far too many points away recently.

Former Spurs, QPR and Cardiff central defender Steven Caulker has signed an 18-month contract at Scottish Premiership side Dundee.

Ian Crocker-
Partick Thistle 1-2 Dundee

Key Player- Steven Caulker
An eventful debut at Rugby Park in midweek. Looks like the sort to settle quickly.

Highlights of Kilmarnock's 3-2 win over Dundee in the Scottish Premiership.

Opta Stats-

Despite losing their last meeting against Dundee (3-0), Partick have won four of the last five matches between the two sides in the top-flight, keeping three clean sheets during this period.

The Dee have lost each of their last two visits to Partick in the Scottish Premiership having previously gone unbeaten in the competition against them (P8 W6 D2 L0).

Partick Thistle have lost back-to-back home league games having previously won three on the bounce. This is their worst run since losing five consecutive matches on home soil between May and August in 2017.

The Dee have lost three of their four Scottish Premiership matches in 2018 (W1). No side has lost more away matches than Dundee in the competition this season (eight).

Partick Thistle keeper Tomas Cerny has conceded a league-high 39 goals in the Scottish Premiership this season, six more than any other goalkeeper.

Hamilton Accies v Rangers - Live on Sky Football from 2pm Sunday

Andy Walker-
Hamilton Accies 1-3 Rangers

Key Player- Alfredo Morelos
Top scorer in Scotland and Rangers are currently in discussions to sign him on better terms.

Image: Alfredo Morelos has eleven goals in this year's Scottish Premiership, equal top with Kilmarnock's Kris Boyd.

Ian Crocker-
Hamilton Accies 1-3 Rangers

Key Player- Josh Windass
Six goals in the last four matches is some scoring spree. Has become a pivotal player for Rangers.

Image: Rangers' Josh Windass has six goals in his last four games- twelve in 30 appearances in all competitions.

Opta Stats-

Hamilton claimed their first ever Scottish Premiership victory over Rangers when the sides met back in November, courtesy of a 2-0 victory at Ibrox; the Accies had lost 12 of the 13 meetings prior to that victory (D1).

Rangers have won all seven trips to Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership scoring 14 goals and conceding just four in the process.

Hamilton have lost three consecutive Scottish Premiership matches, their worst run in the competition since losing six consecutive games between September and October earlier this season.

Rangers have scored more away goals than any other side in the division (27).

Daniel Candeias has recorded a league-high seven assists in the Scottish Premiership this season.

Celtic v St Johnstone - Sunday 3pm

Andy Walker-
Celtic 2-0 St Johnstone

Key Player- Jack Hendry
With so many injuries at the heart of Celtic`s defence, it looks like the former Dundee man will play more often.

Image: Jack Hendry made his Celtic debut in the 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock but was cup-tied for last weekend's tie with Partick Thistle.

Ian Crocker-
Celtic 2-0 St Johnstone

Key Player- James Forrest
Last weekend's hat-trick hero sure is having a season to remember.

Highlights of the Scottish Cup match between Celtic and Partick Thistle as James Forrest scores a hat-trick to take the home side through.

Opta Stats-

Celtic are unbeaten in their last six top-flight matches against St. Johnstone (W5 D1) and have scored in each of their previous 10 league matches against the Saints (29 goals; an average of 2.9 per game).

St. Johnstone have won just one of their last 12 visits to Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L9), a 1-0 victory back in March 2015.

Celtic remain unbeaten at Celtic Park in the Scottish Premiership since losing 2-1 to Motherwell back in December 2015 (P42 W34 D8 L0).

St. Johnstone are without a win in their last six top-flight matches (D2 L4), the second time they have been on such a run this campaign (also winless in six between September and November; D1 L5).

Liam Craig has been directly involved in 32% of St. Johnstone's 22 league goals so far this season (three goals, four assists) - only Kilmarnock's Kris Boyd has been involved in a higher percentage of his side's goals in the Scottish top-flight (43% - 11 goals, two assists).

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