Rangers chase gap reduction as Celtic and Hearts return after contrasting European results
Rangers can close to within a point of Celtic before the leaders host Kilmarnock, while Hibs and Aberdeen seek league momentum and Hearts face in-form Falkirk before the international break.
The Scottish Premiership has one more round of fixtures before the November international break. Rangers travel to St Mirren on Saturday evening knowing a win could cut the gap at the top to a point before Celtic host Kilmarnock on Sunday. Derek McInnes' side are unbeaten in 11, but the article notes they dropped two points on their last Saturday 20:00 outing, away to Dundee, and warns that St Mirren have recently drawn with Hibernian and beaten Dundee at home.
Hibernian head to Aberdeen on Saturday evening after coming from behind to beat Heart of Midlothian 2-1 in the League Cup semi-final, ending a seven-game winless run. Under new Dutch coach Marink Reedijk, Hibs have taken one point from 12 and sit bottom after 11 games. Aberdeen are third from bottom, three points better off, and the sides drew 1-1 at Easter Road last month. The article suggests neither club is in crisis yet, but both need to improve to preserve top-six ambitions.
Saturday's 15:00 GMT fixtures include Dundee United hosting Motherwell and a Tayside derby between St Johnstone and Dundee. Motherwell ended their wait for a win by beating St Mirren last weekend, while St Johnstone twice fought back with 10 players to draw 2-2 with Kilmarnock. Dundee and United both have the chance to move above Falkirk before the Bairns face Hearts on Sunday.
Celtic respond to their Falkirk defeat with a 3-2 Europa League win at home to Besiktas, while injury-hit Hearts lost 3-1 to Thun in Switzerland. Both play their Premiership games on Sunday, and Rangers' result the night before could offer encouragement or add pressure. Celtic lead Rangers by four points, with the same margin between second place and Hearts.
Hearts, with one win in seven and 10 first-team players missing on Thursday, host in-form Falkirk, who are bidding for a fifth straight win. Falkirk's first league victory of the season came at home to Hearts in mid-September. Kilmarnock, second bottom, will find it difficult to improve a run of one win in six when they visit Celtic, where Kasper Hogh and Camilo Duran are among the attacking options.
Image: SNS / BBC Sport
