FT: Kilmarnock 0-3 Hearts - Halkett heads in corner at near post; Braga knocks in rebound for second after break
FT: Hibernian 4-0 Livingston
FT: Motherwell 1-2 Falkirk
FT: Rangers 2-2 Dundee United
FT: St Mirren 0-1 Aberdeen
Kilmarnock 0-2 Hearts
Steven Naismith
Former Hearts and Kilmarnock striker on BBC Sportsound
Comes from a poor bit of play from Kilmarnock.
But I've said it all night, Hearts' forward play is deadly.
They have defended resolutely and, when they have went forward, have looked a real threat.
Kilmarnock 0-2 Hearts
Brad Lyons and Zac Williams are on for Kilmarnock.
George Stanger and Liam Polworth are off.
Claudio Braga
Hearts double their lead!
Alexandros Kyziridis' initial attempt is saved, but it's palmed into Braga's path, and he shows great composure to fire it low into the net.
Any guesses as to what song the Hearts fans are belting out now?
Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
Much better from the hosts, who have laboured to get back into the game since falling behind.
Greg Kiltie's pass almost finds Marcus Dackers inside the area, but he can't quite stretch to reach it, before Bruce Anderson's reactive header is easily saved.
Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
A looping header from Lawrence Shankland is a little too high and wide, as it flies off target.
Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
A mistimed effort from Harry Milne at the back of the box is met with a sigh of relief from the hosts.
That was a great opportunity for Milne to find the target.
Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
Claudio Braga is hauled down by George Stange, and the Killie defender is promptly booked by the ref.
The second half is yet to reach the tempo of the first.
Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
Time for the second half in Killie.
Away we go...
Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
That Halkett goal means Hearts are now the top scorers in the league from set-pieces.
His bullet header was their seventh from a set-piece, moving them one ahead of Dundee United and three clear of Killie.
Penalties don't count here, just to be clear.
Image source, SNSHalkett heads in Hearts' opener
HT: Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
Steven Naismith
Former Hearts and Kilmarnock striker on BBC Sportsound
Hearts defended securely and it is shots from 18 yards have been Kilmarnock's opportunities.
It is Hearts who have had the quality in the box and it comes from Kilmarnock's first sloppy moment.
It is a really tight game and I think it will be the same in the second half.
Kilmarnock need to create more opportunities and, if they don't, I think Hearts could pick them off as the game goes on.
FT: Hibernian 4-0 Livingston
Livingston manager David Martindale told BBC Scotland: "Architects of our own downfall. We lose a goal on eight minutes from poor decision-making. We had started the game ok, but we're lucky to go in 1-0 down at half-time.
"Hibs exploited our left-hand channel. We changed shape and the [enforced] substitutions didn't help to be fair. We had to put a patchwork defence together.
"Then first five minutes [of the second half] we make a terrible decision. Cris [Montano] makes a really really poor decision [for the penalty]. And at that point the game is gone.
"Our sole aim is to make sure we're in the Premiership next year. That's it, the sole aim. I know we've got the staff and players capable of doing that.
"I think the year out was brilliant for us and a good reset. But coming back up we've got to lay the foundations to be a sustainable Premiership club."
Image source, SNSFT: Hibernian 4-0 Livingston
Hibernian head coach David Gray told BBC Scotland: "Everything I asked for we saw. The big thing was the reaction to losing our first game of the season and we did it in the perfect way.
"Four goals, a clean sheet and we could have had more. The biggest thing I asked for was intensity and I got that from the start.
"The subs came on and made us better, which is the challenge for them. It's a really good day's work."
"It's great for [Thibault Klidje] him on a personal level, getting a goal. His level of performance was excellent, he's a constant threat and looks to run in behind.
"That was part of the game plan today to exploit the space in behind and he certainly did it.
"He's had to be patient, but we've been patient with him. He's come over to a new culture and new way of working and coming into a team that is very competitive as well.
"I'm delighted with his performance and he should be delighted with his performance, but to single anyone out today would be wrong because to a man they were fantastic."
Image source, SNSFT: St Mirren 0-1 Aberdeen
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "It is obviously a sore one to take. I thought we were excellent throughout.
"We had a goal disallowed. I haven't seen it back yet, but it is hard to see what it was disallowed for.
"We managed the game brilliantly with 10 men. I thought we were the better side with 10 men and in the last 30 seconds, instead of taking the ball into the corner, we got done on the counter.
"The gap in the finances of the two clubs is huge and it didn't look like that today.
"We can't control other people's decisions.
"Performances are good, but we need to turn performances into wins now. We are stitting okay in the table and we go forward into next week now."
FT: St Mirren 0-1 Aberdeen
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "I am proud of the team today.
"We started the game really well and then St Mirren did well to create some corners and throw-ins around the box, which they are good at.
"So I am proud at the way we managed different areas of the game and they were resilient to the end and the amount of shots we had, we just have to be a little better when we get the chances.
"Sometimes you need someone to step up and Marko's goal was incredibly good - it was magnificent.
"The team spirit, a clean sheet and then the goal at the end.
"Two wins in a row, two clean sheets, but we have to stay humble and keep pushing to get better."
Image source, SNSMarko Lazetic's goal was hailed by Jimmy Thelin
FT: Rangers 2-2 Dundee United
Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "Rangers were by far better team in first 45, we were second best all over the park. We looked as if we were half a yard off it.
"Second half we carried [the game plan] out a lot better. We have built a really strong, competitive squad. Unfortunate thing is we haven't had the whole group available. We're starting to get numbers back and there's real competition.
"We need to make sure we start games like we did in the second half. That's three games in a row where we've been poor in the first half but really good in the second. We can't let first halves pass us by.
"We definitely deserved at least a point, but to not hang on is extremely disappointing.
"The Scottish Premiership is probably the strongest it's been for a number of years. It's going to be a real battle for the top six and European places."
Image source, SNSFT: Rangers 2-2 Dundee United
Rangers interim head coach Steven Smith tells BBC Scotland: "I think I understand the reasons why [the game changed]. Dundee United changed their aggression, started winning second balls, gained territory. That changed the game and we didn't change with it, which is disappointing.
"We managed to get an equaliser, so I'll give them a wee bit of credit for that, but we need to recognise in those moments when it gets tough, you need to have killed the game off or matched the level of aggression to go again.
"People will ask me 'did I enjoy today?'. I won't because I know what the expectations are, it's to win the game and that was the message to the players. I'm just disappointed we didn't do that today.
"At this moment, you need to feel the emotion. And the emotion is we didn't win. Consistency doesn't just happen Saturday to Saturday, it happens every day.
"They need to be consistent with their habits every day. When it gets tough, you stick together.
"Its not the moment to speak about [my future]. I'm just preparing for training tomorrow. I can't comment on any speculation."
Image source, SNSFT: Motherwell 1-2 Falkirk
Falkirk manager John McGlynn told BBC Scotland: "It was a rollercoaster. First half, we were totally outplayed, out-fought, out-thought. And we were lucky to survive only being 1-0 down.
"There was another goal before they did score, which was disallowed for a foul in the build-up to the goal, so we got a little bit of a warning, but unfortunately we just couldn't handle Motherwell in the first half.
"They were so good. As I say, we were very fortunate to come in 1-0 down, fair play. I thought that Motherwell were excellent and we were miles off it.
"However, thankfully there's two halves in a game of football and we certainly rose to the challenge in the second half.
"I can't fault our players for their resilience, their attitude, their team spirit to fight back and continue to do it.
"A really, really good goal, a well-worked goal. Great cross, well set-up for Ross MacIver and Calvin Miller finishing it really, really well.
"I'm delighted that Scotty Arfield goes on and gets us a winner. After that we'll go to defend. We managed to defend the box really, really well. And I'm delighted for everyone involved."
FT: Motherwell 1-2 Falkirk
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "I'm extremely disappointed with a couple of things.
"Happy with the first half, I thought we were excellent and scored two beautiful goals. We should have scored another one and I don't think I'm ever going to understand how they disallowed that goal.
"That's one of the worst VAR decisions I've seen in my career so far - until it got beaten in the second half when Paul McGinn gets pulled just before he's about to hit the ball. That's how it is.
"Looking at our own performance, the first half was fantastic but we were way too messy in the second half. We played an open game when we shouldn't and that let them score some crazy goals. We didn't deliver the quality we should when we put a little bit of pressure on them. We made some bad decisions in the beginning of the second half, we didn't do what we set up to do. We forced our transitions and forced our game on the ball, some technical mistakes and then we weren't good enough at repairing it. We need to perform both halves like the second and we didn't do that today.
"We show up on Monday and then we look at what we need to do better. You move on. Right now we all need to clear our heads a little bit but Monday is a new week, there's a game we need to win next week and that's what we'll set out to do."
HT: Kilmarnock 0-1 Hearts
Right, let's get some post-match reaction from the three o'clock kick-offs.
Craig Halkett's thumping header has the hosts ahead at the break.
They had a huge chance at the end of the half to double their lead, but Cammy Devlin's tame shot was easily saved.
Killie started the brightest, but as soon as Hearts took the lead, they've been impressive.
Five points clear as it stands, too...
Image source, SNSHalkett celebrates his bullet header
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| |
| 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 8 | 17 |
| |
| 8 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 11 |
| |
| 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 10 |
| |
| 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 10 |
| |
| 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 8 | 9 | -1 | 9 |
| |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | -2 | 9 |
| |
| 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 14 | -4 | 9 |
| |
| 8 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 8 |
| |
| 8 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 7 |
| |
| 8 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 13 | -7 | 6 |
| |
| 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 18 | -8 | 6 |
|
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Derek McInnes
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Manager: Stuart Kettlewell
Formation: 3 - 5 - 2
Manager: Derek McInnes
Formation: 4 - 4 - 2
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Kilmarnock have lost both of their last two Scottish Premiership games against Heart of Midlothian, as many as their previous 13 beforehand (W7 D4 L2).
This will be Heart of Midlothian boss Derek McInnes’ first league match against Kilmarnock since leaving the club. McInnes has only lost one of his last 30 top-flight matches against Killie (W23 D6), and is unbeaten in his last 16 away games against them at this level (W13 D3) since a 3-2 defeat with St. Johnstone in February 2010.
Kilmarnock have won both of their last two league games without conceding, but haven’t won three in a row with a clean sheet each time in the Scottish Premiership since April 2018 under Steve Clarke.
Heart of Midlothian have won 10 of their last 11 league games (D1), including each of their last five away from home. Not since January 2011 have Hearts had a longer away winning run in the top-flight (7).
David Watson has scored in both of Kilmarnock’s last two home league games; the last player to score in three successive home appearances for Killie in the top-flight while aged 20 or younger was Steven Naismith in March 2007.
