And away we go at a raucous Pittodrie.

Hearts go close to an opener through Blair Spittal.

Kenneth Vargas does brilliantly to control a long diagonal ball and cut the ball back to the midfielder on the edge of the box. He curls in a low shot, but Robby McCrorie makes a good save low to his left.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland at Pittodrie

A spectacular firework show to accompany the teams emerging from the tunnel.

Will we get fireworks on the pitch it once the action starts? Surely we are in for a night of thrills and spills.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Sport Scotland at Pittodrie

The word ‘blockbuster’ gets bandied around - but tonight’s Pittodrie encounter deserves such a billing.

Not just because of the well documented historical rivalry between the sides but because this is a really high stakes affair.

Yes it is early days, but Jimmy Thelin’s side are unbeaten in their 15 games across all competitions. If his team win tonight, they would move nine points clear of Rangers.

While Aberdeen’s form has been lauded, Rangers have been stop-start, with just one win from their four league games on the road this term.

Put all of that together and you start to see why this a huge game for both sides.

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Ouch!published at 19:55 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024

19:55 GMT 30 October 2024

Hearts 0-0 Kilmarnock

A delay in play at Tynecastle as Frankie Kent takes a head knock. The physios are really taking their time with the Hearts centre-back.

What a miss from Kyogo Furuhashi! He does ever so well to work his way into the middle of the box but doesn't even test Jon McCracken in the Dundee net as he sends his shot well wide.

St Mirren should probably have the lead from an Elvis Bwomono header.

A teasing Scott Tanser cross is met by a leaping Bwomono in the box, but a low stop from Ross Sinclair keeps the ball out.

Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells BBC Scotland: "[Vaclav Cerny] has a small muscle injury, he was not good enough to play this game.

"We will see towards the weekend. We would love to play with him, but that's part of football."

On tonight's game, Clement adds: "It's a really big one, a really exciting one, one with a full stadium. We want to do everything to win this game."

On a potential hostile reception for Connor Barron, Clement says: "Totally not [worried about him]. It's a pity in a way. He did his ultimate best for the club. I always prefer they are praised for that."

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On Graeme Shinnie returning to the XI, Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "[He brings] energy and leadership skills, but also his quality as a player.

"Rangers are a good team, they have a good coach, but at home we have to have a strong belief.

"Regardless of the result tonight, we still believe in our game for the future. This is game is just another game."

On Kevin Nisbet's continued absence, he adds: "We tried yesterday again to get him out on the pitch. He didn't respond too well, we can't push it, we have to wait until the weekend."

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Dundee win a free-kick just outside the Celtic box after Arne Engels' challenge on Lyall Cameron.

The first ball is headed clear by Auston Trusty before Kasper Schmeichel is forced into a diving save to keep out the rebound.

Jane Lewis
BBC Scotland at SMISA Stadium

The teams ran out to fireworks, quite the demonstration too. As they were going off behind the stadium, the home fans in the stand across from me unfurled a banner saying 'It's showtime'. Lets hope it's a good show!

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We're under way at Celtic Park. Tardy at the other grounds.

Celtic have not lost a midweek match in the Premiership since March 2015... That's a 37-game sequence (W33 D4).

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Tannadice

The Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells me the side is "in a good place" despite being without several key players. He points out the two Premiership matches they've lost this season have been single goal defeats to two good teams (Rangers and Aberdeen) and that he wants his side to have a good go at Motherwell this evening to reinforce their promising start to the season.

Motherwell have won six of their last 10 away games in the Premiership (L4). That's as many as they managed in their previous 30 on the road (W6 D12 L12).

Rangers are the only visiting team to have left Tannadice with maximum points this season.

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "I think it's the first time all season, in Europe as well, I've kept the same team. It's the first time we've had a wee bit of consistency and continuity.

"I thought the performance (during Sunday's loss to Rangers) was terrific, the energy levels were very good and I think the boys deserve to start again.

"At the moment, you would take a poor performance and three points because recently we've had a few decent performances and things have gone against us.

"It's a run of results that aren’t good enough that we are working ever so hard to turn around. And I am confident we will.

"I've been impressed with (Valakari). And with St Johnstone's signings. The boys up front are very dangerous with real electric pace. They are a good side. It's a tough test."

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Ross County manager Don Cowie tells Sportsound: "That's always the challenge, following up a really good result. We're at home where the performance levels have been really good, really consistent.

"It's a dangerous game in terms of, I believe Hibs have got really good individual players despite where they are in the league table, so we need to be ready for that, but we always have real belief when we play at home.

"We were really happy with how we turned around the game on Saturday and got a really big three points. The challenge straight after the game was very clear. We've got another tough one in a couple of days, but can we back it up?

"If we're not at it and we're not on it, as we are collectively, then they'll punish us. So we have to make sure we're ready for that."

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Hibs have made a horrible habit of conceding late goals, with the latest lapse coming in Sunday's derby draw at home to Hearts.

Is this the time to remind nervous fans they coughed up a 88th-minute winner on their most recent visit to Dingwall, while their other away game with Ross County last season ended with the Staggies equalising in the eighth minute of stoppage time?

Kilmarnock boss Derek McInnes tells Sportsound: "I'm expecting a tight game. There's some subtle changes the new manager has made for Hearts, but the individual players can cause us problems.

"We need to nullify their influence, stop the supply to Shankland, but try and be us and cause Hearts problems. They've had a wee upturn in fortunes so we're aware of that.

"I wasn't disappointed with the performance [against Ross County]. As an away team, our stats were terrific for that first hour. We were in control, but the game turns on the sending off. We need to make sure that's not an issue going forward."

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