John Barnes
BBC Scotland at Fir Park

Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson says he will deal with his three-match touchline ban by sitting in the stand and probably getting a better view of games.

"I have to accept it and move on. The less I say about it the better. Most of our work and preparation is done well ahead of the match.

“It’s something I’ll regret. You live and learn and, whether the punishment is right or wrong, you just have to get on with it.”

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Hearts manager Craig Levein is delighted to have Steven Naismith back in his starting line-up. He tells BBC Scotland: "I don't think it's any secret how much I admire Steven as a player and person. It's a boost for us. I always feel better when he's in the team.

"We have missed his leadership and football ability. Any team would."

Hearts arrive at Pittodrie on the back of a 5-0 defeat by Livingston, and having not scored in any of their previous four visits.

Levein said: "I don't think I've ever been up here and not had a tough game.

"I hope they haven't forgotten about it [Livingston defeat] because it's important we make up for that performance last week."

Hearts assistant manager Austin MacPhee shares something of interest on his phone with his players as they enjoy a stroll across the Pittodrie turf.

What could it be?

• His list for Santa?
• The identity of his fantasy football captain this weekend?
• Whether brussel sprouts are on the menu at MacPhee Towers on Christmas Day?

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Livingston may be sitting pretty in sixth place in the Premiership, 19 points above bottom sides St Mirren and Dundee, but manager Gary Holt is adamant his side are not safe from relegation yet.

"We were relegation favourites in everyone's eyes, so until someone tells me it is arithmetically impossible for us to go down, we are not counting any chickens; that is the way we have to look at it," Holt tells BBC Scotland.

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"We know today is going to be another tough battle against a top-six Premiership side. But is a great surface and a great stadium so let's embrace it and enjoy it."

There is minimal tinkering at New Douglas Park. Hamilton make just the one change from their defeat to Rangers last week. Mickel Miller returns up front for his 25th Accies appearance, Rakish Bingham drops to the bench.

For Kilmarnock, Kirk Broadfoot, who scored the opener against Dundee last weekend, is missing in the centre of defence so Scott Boyd comes in to partner Stuart Findlay.

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Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson begins a touchline ban today, so his assistant Keith Lasley will likely have a more vocal role in the technical area against St Mirren.

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Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is a man who likes consistency, and although it has taken until December he has finally found a line-up he is happy with.

The Dons name the same team for the third game running after wins over St Mirren and Dundee, with Stevie May and Sam Cosgrove continuing their partnership up front. Cosgrove is lookijng to score or the fourth game in a row.

Craig Levein is not quite as pleased with his side after the 5-0 mauling by Livingston, with five changes to his side.

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Goalkeeper Zdenek Zlamal begins on the bench, with Republic of Ireland's Colin Doyle making his first team debut.

There are returns for Olly Lee, Sean Clare, Marcus Godinho and the somewhat talismatic Steven Naismith.

Arnaud Djoum is suspended, Clevid Dikamona is injured, with Ben Garuccio and Callumn Morrison also dropping out.

For the third home game in seven days, Hibs boss Neil Lennon makes some interesting changes.

Ofir Marciano and Stevie Mallan picked up injuries in Wednesday's 0-0 draw with Rangers, while Steven Whittaker, Lewis Stevenson, Florian Kamberi and Daryl Horgan drop to the bench.

Darren McGregor is called into what looks like a back three, Sean Mackie, 20, makes a first start and Lewis Allan joins Oli Shaw in a youthful attack.

Martin Boyle, Mark Milligan and Adam Bogdan stay in the team after coming on as midweek subs.

Club captain David Gray is fit enough for a place on the home bench and is joined by goalkeeper Kevin Dabrowski, 20, who has been recalled from a loan spell at Berwick Rangers.

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Livi boss Gary Holt makes one change to the line up that started the demolition of Hearts last weekend as Scott Robinson takes over from Nicky Cadden.

Veteran striker Lee Miller is among the replacements for the visitors, having been out of action since August.

Motherwell: Gillespie, Tait, Aldred, Dunne, McHugh, Grimshaw, Mbulu, Campbell, Turnbull, Johnson, Main.

Substitutes: Ferguson, Taylor-Sinclair, Frear, Bowman, Bigirimana, Sammon, Gorrin.

St Mirren: Lyness, P McGinn, Baird, Ferdinand, Jones, Hodson, Erhahon, S McGinn, Edwards, Cooke, Jackson.

Substitutes: Rogers, Flynn, Smith, Kirkpatrick, McShane, Breadner, Hammill.

Image source, bbc

There's something brewing in the north east...

Having won seven of their last nine league games, Aberdeen are up to fourth in the Premiership with designs on climbing even higher in the table.

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Aberdeen, who have finished second to Celtic in each of the last four seasons, have found their feet in the current campaign after a sluggish start.

"We want to be on 36 points after the Hearts game and we've given ourselves a chance to do that," Dons boss Derek McInnes said after the midweek drubbing of Dundee.

"We normally break the 70-point barrier and we're on course to do that if we can go and win [against Hearts]."

Scott McDonald
Former Celtic striker on BBC Sportsound

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "That [spending Christmas top of the Premiership] would be nice.

"We had a good win in midweek [against Motherwell] and today's another chance to finish the year [at Celtic Park] with three points and a good performance."

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Asked about Tom Rogic potentially missing the upcoming Old Firm derby at Ibrox because of a call-up to the Australia squad ahead of the Asian Cup, Rodgers said: "I think it's just unfortunate that he's been put in a position that he didn't really want to be in.

"He clearly wants to play in those types of games - which are very important for us and for him - and he wants to go then [Australia call-up] after that and represent his country.

"My feeling is that it won't be resolved, and that he'll go after the Aberdeen game [on Boxing Day] which is real shame."

Motherwell make five changes following Wednesday's defeat at Celtic Park with Christian Mbulu, Allan Campbell, David Turnbull, Danny Johnson and Curtis Main starting, Gael Bigirimana, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Conor Sammon and Ryan Bowman dropping to the bench and Andy Rose missing out.

Two changes for St Mirren with Paul McGinn and Cody Cooke in for Cameron MacPherson and Adam Hammill, the latter on the bench.

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Kilmarnock's travelling fans are being offered an early Christmas present at Hamilton's Hope Stadium today - a free pie and drink.

The Killie board are picking up the tab as a thank you for the support the team have received this year.

Hibernian: Bogdan; Ambrose, McGregor, Porteous; Boyle, Milligan, Slivka, Hyndman, Mackie; Allan, Shaw.

Substitutes: Dabrowski, Kamberi, Maclaren, Whittaker, Stevenson, Gray, Horgan.

Livingston:Kelly, Gallagher, Halkett, Lithgow; Lawless, Pittman, Byrne, Jacobs, Robinson; Menga, Hardie.

Substitutes: Stewart, McMillan, Lawson, Cadden, Sibbald, Hamilton, Miller.

Image source, bbc

Hamilton Accies: Woods, McGowan, McMann, Gordon, Kilgallon, Imrie, Keatings, Miller, Taiwo, MacKinnon, Sowah

Substitutes:Marsden, Tshiembe, Bingham, Want, Monlouis, Martin, Brustrad

Kilmarnock: Bachmann, O'Donnell, Taylor, Power, Dicker, Jones, S Boyd, Findlay, Stewart Brophy, Burke

Substitutes:MacDonald, McKenzie, K Boyd, Ndjoli, Waters, Millen, Tshibola