Hearts set the pace, Celtic’s cutting edge deserts them, and Rangers squeak through -- Ste Carson distils the Scottish Premiership’s key talking points in Flashscore UK's regular snapshot.
Hearts go top before derby
Hearts will face Hibernian in the Edinburgh derby as league leaders following their 3-0 win over Falkirk at Tynecastle, in which Alexandros Kyziridis impressed.
It is the latest marker of an excellent start under Derek McInnes, whose side have cashed in on Rangers’ stumbles and edged beyond Celtic over the weekend.
Hibs, for their part, have offered more grit than gloss so far, with five draws from six. Yet a 1-1 draw at Celtic Park is nothing to be sniffed at and gives David Gray something to build on.
Both halves of the capital head into this weekend’s meeting with a zip in the step, though the hosts will be fancied to land the punch.
Celtic's next match is against Motherwell. Awkward opposition at the best of times, but Brendan Rodgers will need to manage his squad for Braga’s visit in the Europa League three days earlier.
Celtic lacking clinical edge
Celtic’s 0-0 stalemate with Hibs left little to be desired, something Parkhead has experienced more than once already this season. That should not diminish Raphael Sallinger’s performance, though, as the Hibs goalkeeper put in a man-of-the-match display.
Celtic's recent run is mixed; 0-0s with Hibs and a faltering Rangers, a late smash-and-grab at seventh-placed Kilmarnock, Champions League elimination by Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty, and a 1-1 with Red Star in the Europa League. A 4-0 canter past second-tier Partick Thistle in the League Cup is the only saving grace.
It's hard to be too doom and gloom about Celtic, though -- they remain title favourites, are still competing in Europe, and have a League Cup semi-final to look forward to.
But the narrative could flip quickly at home this week; a strong performance against Braga and three points against Motherwell would go a long way. The caveat is obvious -- they need to be more clinical.
Rangers rescue three points
Russell Martin was given a lifeline after Max Aarons struck in the 94th minute to beat Livingston 2-1, and deliver the former Southampton boss his first league win.
Still, Rangers fans made plain their lack of approval for the 39-year-old, who has struggled to convince in the Scottish top flight.
It would be a shock if the powers that be at Ibrox aren't already speaking to potential successors, with Sean Dyche, Gary O'Neil, and even a Steven Gerrard return linked.
Three points in their last match lifted Rangers to eighth in the table, two points adrift from third-placed St Mirren.
Their next Premiership match is against Falkirk, which should provide an opportunity for Martin's men.
Like Celtic, Rangers have a Europa League match -- against Sturm Graz -- three days before, so squad rotation and resolve will be required.
