Friday 26 April 2019 20:04, UK
Sky Sports' commentating team of Ian Crocker and Andy Walker look at the Scottish Premiership fixtures this weekend.
Referee: William Collum
Opta Stats
Since the Scottish Premiership began in 1998-99, Celtic have only lost one of their 33 home league meetings with Kilmarnock (W26 D6) and are unbeaten in 10 (W7 D3) since a 0-2 defeat in October 2012, under current boss Neil Lennon.
After avoiding defeat in each of his first four league matches against Celtic as Kilmarnock boss (W2 D2), Steve Clarke has since lost both of this last two.
Celtic have drawn back-to-back league games 0-0; they have never had three straight goalless stalemates in the Scottish Premiership and last drew three in a row by any scoreline in December 2010 - when the third draw in this run was at home to Kilmarnock (1-1).
Kilmarnock have only lost one of their last eight away league outings, although five of those have been drawn (W2).
Celtic's James Forrest has been directly involved in five goals in his last four home league appearances against Kilmarnock (four goals, one assist), scoring a brace in his last such match in December 2018.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Celtic 3-1 Kilmarnock
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Tom Rogic: The Wizard of Oz might be in from the off this time,
Daniel Bachmann: May need a huge game in the absence of usual defenders.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Celtic 2-0 Kilmarnock
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Scott Brown: As current captain, he walks in the shadow of the greatest of them all, Billy McNeill. A poignant game for every Celtic supporter in the week of Billy`s passing.
Gary Dicker: Guaranteed a game given Kilmarnock had 3 sent off last weekend! He`s had a terrific season & Kilmarnock still have high hopes of securing European football.
Referee: Greg Aitken
Opta Stats
This will be the fourth Scottish Premiership meeting between Hamilton Academical and Livingston, all coming this season - the side playing at home has won each of the previous three.
Livingston lost their only previous visit to Hamilton in the Scottish Premiership 1-0 in November 2018 after a late Mason Bloomfield goal - his only league goal for the Accies.
Hamilton have only lost one of their last six home league matches (W2 D3) and are unbeaten in three (W1 D2) since losing 5-0 to Rangers in February.
No Scottish Premiership side has picked up fewer points away from home in 2018-19 than Livingston (10 - P16 W1 D7 L8), who haven't won on their travels in the league since August 2018 (2-0 v St. Mirren).
Excluding penalties, Livingston have scored more goals via set-piece scenarios (15) than any other side in the Scottish Premiership this season.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hamilton 1-1 Livingston
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Darian MacKinnon: Always seems to relish any challenge and any game.
Scott Pittman: Started every game this season and consistent throughout.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hamilton 1-0 Livingston
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Marios Ogkmpoe: If ever Hamilton needed a man to build on his goalscoring it`s now. A vital equaliser from Ogboe last weekend gave Hamilton a vital point in their fight for survival.
Scott Robinson: Livingston will have one eye on their preparations for next season, Robinson will play his part in a much-changed side.
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Opta Stats
Motherwell have won each of their last five league meetings with Dundee; only against Inverness Caledonian Thistle (six between August 2007 to February 2009) have they had a longer winning run in the Scottish Premiership.
Dundee have lost back-to-back league visits to Motherwell; they had only lost one of eight such trips before this (W4 D3) and have never lost three in a row away at the Steelmen in the Scottish Premiership.
Motherwell lost their last home league match 3-0 to Rangers, ending a five-game winning streak on home soil in the Scottish Premiership.
Dundee's eight-game losing streak is the longest run by any side in the Scottish Premiership this season and is their longest ever losing streak in the competition since it began in 1998.
No player has scored more goals in the Scottish Premiership in 2019 so far than Motherwell's David Turnbull (seven, level with Jermain Defoe and Sam Cosgrove).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Motherwell 2-0 Dundee
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
James Scott: The latest youngster to get himself noticed at Fir Park.
Kenny Miller: Dundee seem bereft of ideas can anyone save them?
Andy Walker's Prediction: Motherwell 3-1 Dundee
Andy Walker's Key Men:
James Scott: Stephen Robinson looks likely to give another of his promising youngsters a run in the side after playing for 75 minutes last weekend against Hamilton.
Jesse Curran: Came on for Scott Wright last weekend but no matter what team Jim McIntyre puts on to the park, it looks as though Dundee are bound for automatic relegation.
Referee: Steven McLean
Opta Stats
St. Mirren have lost each of their last three top-flight home games against St. Johnstone by a 0-1 scoreline since beating them 4-3 in October 2013.
St. Johnstone have won each of their last five league matches against St. Mirren; they have only had a better winning run over a single club in the Scottish Premiership against Hamilton (six games between September 2017 to November 2018).
St. Mirren have only lost one of their last four league fixtures (W2 D1) and are looking for back-to-back wins in the Scottish Premiership for the first time since May 2015.
Only Livingston (14 games) are on a longer ongoing run without an away win in the top-flight this season than St. Johnstone (seven games - D1 L6).
St. Mirren have had fewer different league goalscorers (12) than any other side in the Scottish Premiership this season (excluding own goals).
Ian Crocker's Prediction: St Mirren 1-2 St Johnstone
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Simeon Jackson: Needs to make the most of anything that comes his way.
Callum Hendry: Making the most of recent opportunities.
Andy Walker's Prediction: St Mirren 2-1 St Johnstone
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Simeon Jackson: Came off the bench last weekend to get a goal, might just start this one.
Callum Hendry: Another who deserves to stay in the side after scoring last weekend.
Referee: Craig Thomson
Opta Stats
Hibernian are looking to pick up back-to-back top-flight wins over Hearts for the first time since May 2009 under Mixu Paatelainen having beaten them 2-1 at Tynecastle Park at the start of this month.
Hearts, 1-0 winners in their last league visit to Hibernian in December 2018, haven't won back-to-back trips there in the Scottish Premiership since November 2010 when Jim Jefferies was in charge.
Hibernian are unbeaten under new manager Paul Heckingbottom in the league (P9 W6 D3 L0), with no side picking up more points in the Scottish Premiership than Hibs since he took over in February (21, level with Celtic).
Hearts have lost all three of their league games this April; they last lost four league matches in a single calendar month in May 2017 under Ian Cathro. All four of their league matches this month will have been against either Rangers (two) or Hibernian (two).
Marc McNulty has been directly involved in 10 of Hibernian's last 14 league goals, scoring six and assisting four.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Hibernian 1-1 Hearts
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Stevie Mallan: A gritty derby may need something spectacular.
Steven MacLean: Did more as a sub last week than most did in 90 minutes.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Hibernian 1-0 Hearts
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Ofir Marciano: His top class display helped get a point against champions-elect Celtic last weekend.
Steven MacLean: Gave a lacklustre Hearts side a lift when he came on last weekend in a poor team showing at home to Rangers.
Referee: Don Robertson
Opta Stats
This will be the seventh meeting between Rangers and Aberdeen in all competitions in 2018-19; Rangers have only managed to win one of the previous six (D2 L3), losing both previous such matches at Ibrox.
Aberdeen have only won one of their last seven league matches against Rangers (D2 L4), however that was their last such match at Ibrox in December 2018.
There have been five red cards in the six meetings between Rangers and Aberdeen in all competitions this season (3x Rangers, 2x Aberdeen). Indeed, since Rangers' return to the Scottish Premiership in 2016, this league fixture has seen 10 red cards, more than any other matchup in the competition since 2016-17.
Rangers have only lost twice in their 26 games at Ibrox in all competitions under Steven Gerrard (W17 D7) - both defeats have been to Aberdeen, first in the league in December 2018 and most recently in the Scottish Cup in March.
Aberdeen have won eight of their last 10 away league outings (D1 L1) and have earned more points away from home (33) than any side in the Scottish top-flight this season.
Ian Crocker's Prediction: Rangers 2-1 Aberdeen
Ian Crocker's Key Men:
Ryan Kent: Back from a ban and should be itching to go.
Sam Cosgrove: Walked a thin line at Kilmarnock but has had a great season.
Andy Walker's Prediction: Rangers 2-0 Aberdeen
Andy Walker's Key Men:
Glen Kamara: Looks more and more comfortable in the heart of Rangers midfield.
Max Lowe: Has played a fair number of games now for Aberdeen, it`ll be interesting to see if he`s still in the red of Aberdeen next season or back at Derby County.
