Are St Johnstone the Southampton of the Premiership?

An insistence to play possession football from the back proved to be Russell Martin's undoing with the side he left sitting adrift at the foot of the Premier League a few weeks ago.

Facing Martin's former side, Simo Valakari has also again stuck to his guns and his attempt to play open, attractive football is again being questioned by former Saints striker Billy Dodds on Sportsound.

Will it also prove to the Finn's downfall even this early in his tenure, or will the Saints board stick by him even if relegation is inevitable?

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Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

This is kamikaze football from St Johnstone.

Rangers have been absolutely ruthless. It could've been five or six.

St Johnstone are giving them a huge helping hand here.

Hearts have mainly attempted to find striker James Wilson by launching the ball direct to the youngster.

Up against two much older, and bigger, centre-halves, it's been a tough afternoon for the 17-year-old.

The goal stats show just how contrasting Rangers' home and away form has been in the Premiership this season.

At Hampden and Ibrox in league games, Rangers have scored 28 goals and conceded three.

On the road, Rangers have netted 13 and let in 14.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie Stadium

Aberdeen started the half well, Hearts finished it strongly.

The stuff in between was pretty forgettable.

Chances have been few and far between, but Aberdeen have had a couple of good ones and will feel they should have converted one of them.

Hopefully we get a bit better in the second half.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox Stadium

Simo Valakari must surely be thinking of changing the approach here. There feels an inevitability that more Rangers goals will follow in the second half.

It just hasn't been a contest since the opener and the visitors have been more than generous in allowing Rangers an open door to assemble this lead.

Exactly the type of afternoon Philippe Clement would have hoped for.

Hearts have ridden the storm after intense Aberdeen pressure right at the beginning.

Kristers Tobers almost scored from a yard out, while Topi Keskinen has missed a glorious chance to open the scoring.

Hearts have got into better areas but haven't tested goalkeeper Ross Doohan at all.

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If Rangers manager Philippe Clement wanted to see a reaction from his players, he's certainly got one.

St Johnstone haven't helped themselves with their defending and use of the ball, but Rangers have taken their three goals well, with Hamza Igamane, Vaclav Cerny and Mohamed Diomande all scoring.

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Liam McLeod
Sportsound Commentator

This game is not winning any beauty contests.

A combination of poor defending from St Johnstone and good finishing has made for a very comfortable opening half for Rangers.

In the latest attack, Hamza Igamane flicks up Vaclav Cerny's pass and attempts an audacious overhead kick that goes wide.

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That's a strange one. James Penrice is haring down the left, about to send a cross in, and Aberdeen winger Topi Keskinen dives at his feet head first.

It's a clear foul and yet... Referee Steven McLean is unmoved.

Billy Dodds
Former Scotland striker on Sportsound

These are the kind of results, when you are eight points adrift, that can just finish your season.

Right here, right now.

What now for the Union Bears supporters' association's protest.

Following their Saturday statement demanding board changes along with the sacking of manager Philippe Clement, they have unfurled a banner at Ibrox complaining that the club has allowed a "standards fall".

However, with their side already three goals to the good and looking like they will add to that, will many heed the call for a mass walkout on the 55th minute?

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Ouch!published at 15:37 Greenwich Mean Time 12 January

15:37 GMT 12 January

Aberdeen 0-0 Heart of Midlothian

Leighton Clarkson crunches James Penrice in the Hearts half and it's a booking for the Aberdeen midfielder.

He's lucky he doesn't catch the left-back with his studs. That was a full-blooded tackle.

Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound

I don't know if chances come much better than that.

Keskinen has got to make the goalkeeper work. I think he's just trying to be too precise.

That should've been the first goal.

Best chance of the game for Aberdeen!

It's a brilliant, defence-splitting pass from Kevin Nisbet that slips Topi Keskinen in behind.

One-on-one, the winger tries to slide it into the corner, but it goes agonisingly past the far post.

Willie Miller
Former Aberdeen captain on BBC Sportsound

I don't think it's been a great contest; the quality has been lacking. Just too many unforced errors.

It's been fast, it's been furious, but the players need to slow it down and think a little bit.

It's too frantic out there.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie Stadium

Aberdeen started really brightly, but Hearts have now settled and there is really nothing in this one.

The quality has dropped and both sides are making plenty of unforced errors.

It has the feel of a game where one of those unforced errors could be a factor should the deadlock get broken.

Half-chance for Hearts as Jorge Grant tries to bicycle kick Musa Drammeh's cross, but the midfielder doesn't get a decent connection.

Kristers Tobers then goes down holding his knee, but the newly signed defender looks okay to continue. That would be a nightmare for manager Jimmy Thelin.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Ibrox

It's turning out to be the perfect afternoon for Rangers, but my goodness, St Johnstone are fully contributing to their own downfall.

They are making basic defensive errors, conceding acres of space in dangerous areas.

They have been ruthlessly punished.

This is over already and may well get way, way worse for Simo Valakari's side.

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