New St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari is in Paisley today to watch St Mirren and Dundee United. Valakari will bring his team down from Perth to face the Buddies later this month.

Saints will take on Rangers tomorrow evening but Andy Kirk and Alex Cleland will continue in temporary charge at Ibrox, with Valakari taking formal charge after the international break.

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Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA

Good stuff here in the opening few minutes. Richard Taylor blasts over for the Buddies while a couple of early Tangerine raids upfield trouble the home defence.

First shot on target is a Motherwell one as Ewan Wilson nicks the ball, charges forward and picks out Apostolos Stamatelopoulos at the back post.

He catches it on the volley but it's easy for the keeper.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA

Why am I talking about the Lyon centre forward at match between St Mirren and Dundee United? Because Alexandre Lacazette, and a few of his super talented team-mates - are the talk of the steamie even here.

As he was heading out to warm up, the Buddies' Toyosi Olusanya was fully enthused to a team-mate in the tunnel, saying: "Lacazette's still got it, man, he's still got it." In reply, Roland Idowu was more in awe of a 19 year old's display at Ibrox, commenting: "What about [Malick] Fofana? Wow."

Couldn't agree more. I was there at Ibrox in midweek. If I see anywhere near the same standard of attacking football today, I'll be thrilled.

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St Mirren get an early chance from a free-kick.

It's floated in behind for Richard Taylor, but he can't gather it initially. It comes back to him and his touch flicks the ball up, but then an acrobatic effort on the turn sails over the bar.

And we're off...

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA

Good-sized crowd already gathered here in Paisley. Good to see. Very solid support from the home side, while United have travelled in good numbers too. Buddies' boss Stephen Robinson tells me Kevin van Veen, who gets his first start today in St Mirren colours, is "one of the best finishers I've ever seen". High praise indeed. United's best finisher, Louis Moult, misses this one through injury, so can the hosts capitalise?

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland why he's given Kevin van Veen his first St Mirren start.

"He's trained really well and looked the part in matches," Robinson said.

"The forward boys have done well, we've scored goals. I feel we'll have a lot of the ball in this game and sometimes you just need that spark."

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Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA

Looking forward to this one. Sixth hosts fifth and both these teams would bite your hand off if that's still the case come the Premiership split. Dundee United don't really like this ground, though - they've only won once here in their past nine trips. They are, however, unbeaten on the road so far this season and did knock the Buddies out of the Scottish League Cup earlier this term.

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland why Louis Moult misses out.

"He limped off in the game last week and took a bang on the outside of his knee," he said. "We gave him every opportunity but this game just came too soon for him.

"This is a really difficult game and our third away in a row. But St Mirren are a very difficult and aggressive team and get the ball forward quite early."

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Jane Lewis
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

The sun is out here and the Dens Park pitch is looking in fine condition. This game could be a tight one - both teams are in similar form and last season they played out four draws when they met in the league.

What price for another draw today?

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Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road

This game at Easter Road could end up being one of the best of the day. There is a sense of belief around Hibernian that has maybe been lacking in recent years but now it’s time for results on the pitch to improve.

Motherwell have been on a good run of late with their only defeat recently coming at Pittodrie so confidence will not be an issue for Stuart Kettlewell and his players.

A win for the Fir Park side would take them level on points with Rangers for at least 24 hours and impose a gap on others who have aspirations of a top-six place.

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Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "That's the key, to take the positives from last weekend [in the 1-0 defeat by Rangers]. The level of performance is improving, that's the message to the players.

"There were a lot of very good performances last week and the players have earned the right to play the game again today."

Gray added both Joe Newell and Martin Boyle are "very close" to returning.

Kilmarnock's Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "Kieran [O'Hara] has done well but it's an opportunity for Robby [McCrorie] today. Just because he's come in today, doesn't mean the position is his. He's got to perform. It's always a big decision to change your goalkeeper but I feel it's the right time.

"David's started nine of the 12 games we've had. He's a key player for us. He was different class last week. He's a proper running number eight who backs himself to score. It was an easy decision to play him today.

"[The lack of a win] is not affecting us but it's annoying me. We've drawn the last four in all competitions but we've been close in all of them, none more so than last week. We need that 90-minute performance."

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Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "We find ourselves in a good run but we've got another stern test today.

"We're going to have to deal with a team that's really open and expansive, they made the pitch big at Ibrox last weekend.

"We'll have to manage the game in various stages because this Hibs team are a different beast in comparison to last season."

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Amy Canavan
BBC Scotland at Falkirk Stadium

Enough of this top-flight talk, game of the day comes in the Scottish Championship.

A top of the table tussle at the Falkirk Stadium with league leaders, Ayr United, in town.

It's a home sell-out here as the Bairns are back home for the first time in five weeks. Wild way the fixtures fell in September for John McGlynn's side.

Their 43-game unbeaten league run came to an end last week, a win here would be quite the way to kick-off another.

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Dundee manager Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "It's important we recognise last week was a strong performance [in the 2-1 loss to Aberdeen].

"This week, training has been about converting that level of performance into points. Last week, we didn't convert our dominance into goals and we'll try and do that today.

"If we consistently show that level of performance, we'll be okay. We want a bit more attacking intent in the team, with balance behind it as well."

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin makes two changes from the thrilling draw against Kilmarnock.

There's no Louis Moult in the squad due to a knee issue, while David Babunski drops to the bench.

In comes Vicko Sevelj, who may step into midfield, while Jort Van der Sande partners Sam Dalby in attack.

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Stephen Robinbson makes three changes from last week's defeat by Motherwell and there could be a change of shape with both wing-backs dropping out.

Roland Idowu and Charles Dunne coming in for Elvis Bwomono and Scott Tanser could mean a switch to a back four, or a change of position for centre-backs Marcus Fraser or Richard Taylor. We shall see.

Up top, Kevin van Veen makes his first start for St Mirren in place of Mikael Mandron.

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Motherwell make two changes following their win over St Mirren last week as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos comes in to make his first start since returning from injury.

The Australia striker replaces Moses Ebiye, while the suspended Dan Casey also drops out. On-loan Hibs winger Jair Tavares is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Kofi Balmer, making his first Premiership start, comes into the back three.

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