Scottish Premiership Picks: Big test for Buddies, trusty Tavernier & Doc's Dee
- Published
The first full midweek card of the season marks the end of the first complete round of fixtures for many teams.
Now that almost everybody is on the verge of having played all the rest, what do we know?
The top two are the same as always, St Johnstone are cut adrift at the bottom and it's tight in between, with just two points separating fifth place from 11th.
Business as usual then? Well, not really since Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian and Aberdeen are all in the bottom half of the table.
Here are just some of the things to look out for:
Game of the week- Celtic v St Mirren
Celtic looked somewhat jaded in Saturday's goalless draw at Easter Road following their impressive exertions against Atletico Madrid, so Brendan Rodgers will hope energy levels are restored against one of the league's few form sides.
St Mirren have made a flying start to the season, just three points off second place and way ahead of the chasing pack.
Stephen Robinson's side have lost just once - at home to Rangers after a first-half red card for Ryan Strain. Across their other eight outings, they have scored 15 and conceded seven for their best points tally at this stage in 91 years.
But this will be their biggest test yet, against unbeaten leaders who were last defeated at home in the league back in January 2021.
It was the Paisley side who enjoyed that 2-1 victory, but that has been their sole success over the past 33 visits, losing 29 of them.
St Mirren were the only side to beat Celtic before the title was wrapped up last season and took another point from the champions on their most recent trip to the east end of Glasgow in May. In between those two meetings, Celtic scored 14 times in three revenge wins.
The Buddies are very well organised and will not be overawed, but much will depend on how they deal with a likely fast start from Celtic.
Rodgers' side struck early in the previous four matches this month before losing their edge against Hibs and the manager will be demanding a reaction.
Player to watch - James Tavernier (Rangers)
Rangers were deep in trouble on Sunday before the captain stepped up to lead a late, late show at home to Hearts.
James Tavernier missed the chance to level from the spot earlier but didn't hesitate when another penalty was awarded on 90 minutes and then provided a sumptuous cross for Danilo's winner in added time.
The right-back already has seven goals and three assists in all competitions, while no other player has created more Premiership chances (30 - level with Kilmarnock's Danny Armstrong).
He has now netted 67 goals in 251 Premiership matches, which nudges him up to third on the list of top scorers since the league was rebranded in 2013.
Manager in focus - Tony Docherty (Dundee)
Dundee are enjoying life back in the top flight and Tony Docherty might be thinking he should have stepped out of Derek McInnes' shadow sooner.
The 52-year-old long-time assistant coach has made an impressive start to his managerial career, with only two defeats from nine league outings.
At one point on Saturday, the Dark Blues had dropped to 11th place. But, come full-time, a 2-0 victory away to Livingston had propelled them up to the giddy heights of fourth.
An unbeaten run of four games is Dundee's best form in the Premiership since December 2018 and if that can be extended at home to Rangers then Docherty may well be looking up rather than dealing with the usual survival issues facing newly-promoted sides.
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