Scottish Premiership
That's all from us for the moment, but join us for the final Premiership game of the weekend on Sunday as third-top Rangers visit Ross County.
It is a noon kick-off in Dingwall, weather permitting, as the visitors look to narrow the gap again on leaders Celtic and Aberdeen.
BBC Scotland (19:15) & BBC One Scotland (23:35)
Our coverage of the Premiership is not quite over yet for the day.
Sportscene brings you highlights of today's five games on the BBC Scotland channel, repeated later on BBC One Scotland - and watch out for that superb finish from Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi.
Host Steven Thompson is joined by fellow former Rangers and Scotland player Neil McCann along with ex-Celtic and Republic of Ireland winger Aiden McGeady.
FT: Dundee United 1-1 Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Scotland: "It's no more than we deserved. I thought it was a really gutsy, gritty performance. We were competitive throughout. It's exactly the type of performance that was required after the other night.
"I thought it would've been harsh on us to lose this game 1-0. We thought later in the game, the subs would be important for us and I think that proved pivotal.
"Character was screaming out the team and I'm absolutely delighted that we've got something from the game."
Image source, SNSDerek McInnes took a point from his old stomping ground
FT: Dundee United 1-1 Kilmarnock
United are now undefeated in five Premiership games, while Kilmarnock have failed to win in their latest six.
The upside for the visitors is that they have won 11 points from losing positions in the Premiership this season - more than any other team.
FT: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers tells BBC Scotland: "The win was very good on the back of the midweek game against Aberdeen. Some of our attacking play was excellent.
"Our downside for today was our pressing - it was nowhere near what I would want and expect it to be - and that gave them chances. Thankfully, I have a top international goalkeeper, who, when we needed him, made saves.
"I can trigger [the option for another year in Schmeichel's contract] at any time; I wouldn't tell you, I would tell him first."
FT: Dundee United 1-1 Kilmarnock
United manager Jim Goodwin was also asked about the possibility of scorer Sam Dalby remaining at Tannadice beyond his current loan deal from Wrexham.
"We want to be at the table when those conversations need to take place, but right now we're not wanting any distractions," he says.
"Sam and his representatives know where we are and they know that we would love the big fellow to stay longer term."
FT: Dundee United 1-1 Kilmarnock
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Scotland: "Over the whole piece, we did enough to win the game. First half, I felt we had really good control. Second half, a little bit different.
"Jack Walton has had to make a couple of good saves. Delighted to get our noses in front with the goal that we scored.
"There are a few decisions then thereafter that I think will be talking points on the Sportscene show tonight. Sam Dalby feels that the goalkeeper, O'Hara, has completely wiped him out for that cross that's come in the box.
"I'm not sure there's much contact from the goalkeeper on the ball and there's certainly a punch to the head and a knee in the back for Dalby. That's one that could go either way. The penalty that we give ourselves, it's really, really soft."
Image source, SNSFT: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian
Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "Firstly, disappointed to lose the game. We'll never accept losing a game of football, but everything I asked the players to do was there for large periods.
"When you get big opportunities, though, you need to take them. That's cost us today - their goalkeeper gets man of the match.
"We came away from the game losing 3-0, so I'm not going to be overly positive for that reason. We had three or four clear-cut chances - I can't remember a Hibs side coming here and having so many.
"The fact we're created is a positive. If I didn't see the attacking intent we've got, I'd be much more concerned."
Image source, SNSFT: Heart of Midlothian 2-0 Dundee
Lawrence Shankland burst back to scoring form thanks to nine goal attempts - the highest total for any player in the Premiership this season. In contrast, visitors Dundee failed to muster an attempt on target.
The Scotland striker's two goals against Dundee takes his total to only three for the season - but it still makes him Hearts' top league scorer.
FT: St Mirren 0-1 Motherwell
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Scotland: "Over the moon that we break the run we were on before today.
"We showed we weren't content with that run. I feel we were deserving of it, especially in the second half. I felt the momentum was with ourselves. I thought we carved out the two best opportunities.
"The biggest thing for us today was to try and arrest the silly goals we conceded and we did that. It was a fantastic finish from Tony Watt to get his first goal of this second spell - he's waited patiently. It's big for confidence for the players."
FT: Aberdeen 1-1 St Johnstone
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari tells BBC Scotland: "A good performance from our boys against a very good team. Excellent first half, we created good moments and were solid. Credit to Aberdeen for how they scored, but the rest of the match we kept them to not being as dangerous.
"Where we have been struggling is we have not been solid in defence. We know we have a threat and can play, but we first need to be solid to have the foundation to attack.
"The last few games we have been solid. Credit to Kyle Cameron, it's not easy to step in during the warm up, but one of our values is we have to always be ready. He was fantastic."
FT: St Mirren 0-1 Motherwell
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "I thought it was a poor game. There wasn't a lot of quality on show because the weather made it difficult to play any kind of football.
"We had the better chances, but we didn't take them and you're always open to losing a goal.
"We showed a lack of quality and composure. I thought we were the better team on the day, but if you don't take your chances, be as creative as you should be, that's a few weeks now where we haven't had that end product."
FT: Aberdeen 1-1 St Johnstone
Aberdeen had seven attempts at goal in drawing with Saints, their lowest total in a single match in the Premiership this season and have now failed to win in their last five league games.
FT: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian
Kyogo Furuhashi's sublime finish means the Japan striker has scored six goals in the Premiership this season - and no Celtic player has more.
FT: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian
Celtic have scored in their last 24 games in the Premiership, their longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of 27 from October 2022 to May 2023.
They have also scored in Celtic all 15 of their league games this season - and in each of their last 24 into last season, scoring 71 in total.
Scottish League 2
A goal seven minutes into stoppage time ended East Fife's poor run as they beat Elgin and overtake the visitors back into pole position in the fourth tier.
Third-top Peterhead lost away to Clyde despite coming from two behind to draw level momentarily at 2-2, while Edinburgh's convincing win away to Stirling means they leapfrog the hosts into fourth.
FT: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
Hibs simply could not take the glorious chances that came their way. Captain Joe Newell blasted over from inside the penalty spot and scored an own goal. It was that kind of afternoon for the Easter Road men and they've had too many of them for their own liking this season. Which is why they're bottom of the pile.
At the other end, Celtic extend their lead after making five changes. They have bigger fish to fry, with Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday and Rangers in the League Cup final a week tomorrow.
They missed Cameron Carter-Vickers at the heart of the defence, but he'll be back for the next two matches I would suspect.
FT: Celtic 3-0 Hibernian
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at Celtic Park
That's 30 games without defeat for Celtic: 28 wins and two draws since Hearts beat them at Tynecastle in March.
They weren't at their best against Hibs but still scored three and could have had more but for the crossbar denying Luke McCowan and Hibs goalkeeper Jordan Smith pulling off a couple of fine stops.
It's the other keeper who may well walk away with the man of the match award, which will tell you a lot about the amount - and quality - of chances the visitors created.
Three times he foiled one-on-one chances; twice denying Mykola Kuharevich early in the first half, then keeping out Elie Youan in the second. There were other key saves as well.
FT: Dundee United 1-1 Kilmarnock
Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at Tannadice
Well, the last 20 minutes of that match at Tannadice made up for the previous 70.
Loads of action in the closing stages and Liam Polworth’s deflected shot nine minutes into stoppage time nearly stole all three points for Killie.
The two sides have to be content with sharing the spoils. Sam Dalby’s sixth of the season on the United striker's 25th birthday and Bruce Anderson equalising with the most emphatic of penalties.
Scottish League 1
Stenhousemuir remain two points clear at the top of the third tier after thumping bottom side Dumbarton.
Alloa ended their poor run by beating Kelty to overtake the hosts into second.
Caley Thistle staged a thre-goal fightback to beat hosts Montrose but are eight points adrift of Annan in second bottom.
Leighton Clarkson equalised in the second half for Aberdeen
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin says his side need to "be true to our identity" after a draw with St Johnstone at Pittodrie stretched their winless run to five games.
Makenzie Kirk pounced to give the lively visitors the lead after James McGarry sclaffed Matt Smith's cross off his own face as he attempted to clear.
However, half-time changes from Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin again made the difference as his side improved after the break.
Ante Palaversa teed up his fellow substitute Luis 'Duk' Lopes, who drove into the box and cut back for Leighton Clarkson to tap in the equaliser.
It was Aberdeen's fifth game in two weeks and, after three draws and two defeats, Thelin admits his side need to learn to cope with a heavy schedule.
"It's not only about fitness, but mental capacity," the Swede told BBC Sport Scotland.
"We need to keep believing and being strong in our conviction in how we want to play, be true to our identity.
"During seasons you always have good periods, and some tougher periods. It's how you manage those periods and get out the other side."
In difficult conditions both sides struggled to fashion clear chances at Pittodrie, with the teams sharing only five shots on target.
Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan reacted quickly to smother Nicky Clark's fierce effort, before Nicky Devlin's crucial block denied Adama Sidibeh.
Meanwhile up the other end, St Johnstone goalkeeper Josh Rae pushed away a curling shot from Duk.
But in the end neither side could find a winner, which leaves Aberdeen nine points behind leaders Celtic having played a game more.
St Johnstone are ninth, two points in front of bottom side Hibernian.
After a blistering start to the season, the busy winter schedule and injuries are catching up with Aberdeen.
The energy, pressing and daring attacking play which carried them to 13 straight victories have all dropped a level.
At the back there is uncertainty, with goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov and left-back Jack MacKenzie injured, and centre-backs Slobodan Rubezic and Gavin Molloy caught in two minds about whether to squeeze or sit off, leading to some awkward moments.
In midfield there are more gaps, less forward passing and fewer bodies getting into the box to create chances.
In general, everything is less connected and convincing.
It was summed up by St Johnstone's goal, when the usually reliable Sivert Nilsen gifted the ball away, compounded by woeful defending from McGarry.
Thelin did get a reaction again after making three changes at the break, with Palaversa's wonderful pass allowing Duk to surge forward and set up Clarkson.
However, the continuous slow starts - Aberdeen have scored 70% of their goals after the break - are now more troublesome without the same energy in the second half of games.
Aberdeen look like they could do with a reset and with no game next weekend it might be a timely break.
St Johnstone will take a lot of confidence from claiming a point at Pittodrie, where only Celtic have won this season.
However, they might feel they could have won it having shaded the game in terms of chances, with Lewis Neilson hitting the crossbar at 1-0.
Simo Valakari has changed the style of play and they are a side full of energy that look to play forward and combine in tight spaces.
Nicky Clark was brilliant again in knitting things together, while Kirk continues to grow at this level.
Kimpioka, with more composure and tighter control, could have made more of the space he was afforded on the break but his pace frightened Aberdeen.
The biggest plus is they have conceded just twice in their last three matches, which is a huge defensive improvement.
The caveat for Valakari is the good performances are not yielding enough wins, with just two in seven games since the Finn took charge.
Other than a trip to Celtic Park on 29 December, they have very winnable games coming between now and the beginning of January.
They need to make the most of those opportunities.
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "Our performance was not the level we want. We did not come out with the same intensity we did against Celtic.
"We need to find a way back to being more stable in our performances between games because we have been a bit up and down now."
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari: "A good performance from our boys against a very good team. Excellent first half, we created good moments and were solid.
"Credit to Aberdeen for how they scored, but the rest of the match we kept them to not being as dangerous."
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 4 | 40 | 43 |
| |
| 2 | 16 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 30 | 18 | 12 | 34 |
| |
| 3 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 15 | 29 |
| |
| 4 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 22 | 15 | 7 | 24 |
| |
| 5 | 15 | 7 | 1 | 7 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 22 |
| |
| 6 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 29 | -2 | 19 |
| |
| 7 | 16 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 26 | -7 | 18 |
| |
| 8 | 15 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 27 | -15 | 15 |
| |
| 9 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 29 | -11 | 14 |
| |
| 10 | 16 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 17 | 34 | -17 | 14 |
| |
| 11 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 18 | 25 | -7 | 13 |
| |
| 12 | 16 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 18 | 28 | -10 | 12 |
|
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Simo Valakari
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Manager: Jimmy Thelin
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Simo Valakari
Formation: 4 - 3 - 3
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Aberdeen have only lost one of their last eight league meetings with St. Johnstone (W5 D2), winning both of their last two since a 0-2 defeat in February of last season.
After their 1-0 defeat in their last league visit to Aberdeen in May last season, St. Johnstone could lose back-to-back away league games against the Dons for the first time since March 2018.
Having won 10 of their first 11 league games this season, Aberdeen are now winless in their last four in the Scottish Premiership (D2 L2).
St. Johnstone have lost both of their last two away league games, though they haven’t lost three in a row on the road since January 2023.
Aberdeen lost 1-0 at home to Celtic last time out, ending a 10-game winning run at Pittodrie. They last lost consecutive home league games in September 2023.
