Summary

  • Hit the play button to watch Sportscene

  • FT: Aberdeen 2-1 Livingston - Anderson adds to McLennan strike before Dykes pulls one back

  • FT: Hamilton Academical 0-1 St Johnstone - McCann forces in from close range

  • FT: Rangers 1-0 Kilmarnock - Morelos strokes in 28th of season

  • FT: Ross County 1-2 Motherwell - Gallagher & MacIver cancel out Spittal effort for 10-man hosts

  • FT: St Mirren 1-2 Celtic - MacPherson nets after first-half Forrest & McGregor goals

  • Hibs win derby 2-0 to leave Hearts marooned in 12th place

  • Boyle volleys in Hibs' opener after five minutes, then slips in second on half hour

  1. 'Real lack of quality'published at 15:56

    HT: Hamilton 0-0 St Johnstone

    Derek Ferguson
    Former Rangers and Hamilton midfielder on Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Plenty of effort and desire on show from both sides but a real lack of quality, certainly in the final third. Not a great first-half of football, hopefully it gets better in the second-half.

  2. Blunt attacks on show...published at 15:55

    HT: Hamilton 0-0 St Johnstone

    This was a half where it was apparent both sides are approaching tentatively - neither side managed to register a single shot on target.

    Stevie May and Chris Kane linked up well for St Johnstone at times – the former peeling off to the left and putting in a few crosses, but none of any real danger to Luke Southwood’s goal.

    Mickel Miller and David Moyo looked dangerous together at the other end at times. Moyo – in just his second start for the club - played a cutting pass through to his teammate 15 minutes in, but the Saints handled it well.

    St Johnstone’s Michael O’Halloran and Hamilton’s Alex GogicImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    St Johnstone’s Michael O’Halloran and Hamilton’s Alex Gogic vie for possession

    Miller also dragged an early shot outside the box just wide of the post and Moyo has played some dangerous passes in and around the Saints’ penalty area, but there have been few clear cut chances for either side.

    All to play for in the second half, where one of these teams could put six or seven points between them and bottom side Hearts with a win...

  3. 'Aberdeen deserve their lead'published at 15:53

    HT: Aberdeen 1-0 Livingston

    Tyrone Smith
    BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

    This hasn't been great so far, but Aberdeen will not care about that, they have the lead, and they deserve it after shading what was a disappointing first half.

    But Livvy should have levelled just before the break, and will feel they can certainly still get something out of this game.

    Chances have been at a premium, hopefully it will get better after the break.

    Aberdeen's Connor McLellanImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Connor McLellan fired the Dons in front with his first goal of the season

  4. HALF-TIME St Mirren 0-2 Celticpublished at 15:50

    St Mirren haven't done a lot wrong but look destined for defeat after two goals in a 10-minute spell from Callum McGregor and James Forrest.

    Hesitant defending played a part int the first, but the second was sheer quality as Forrest and Odsoone Edouard sliced Saints open.

    Celtic now cantering towards an 11th straight league win before Sunday's Old Firm derby.

    James ForrestImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Forrest doubled Celtic's lead with his first goal in eight matches

  5. HALF-TIME Rangers 0-0 Kilmarnockpublished at 15:46

    It's back to the future for Kilmarnock at Ibrox, where the visitors have reverted to the "difficult to play against" style that worked so well for them under Steve Clarke against Rangers.

    Steven Gerrard's side have had all the possession, most of the chances but are in danger of falling further behind leaders Celtic unless they can find a way to unpick their bogey team.

    Rangers' Joe Aribo and Kilmarnock's Nicholas HamalainenImage source, SNS
  6. HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 44 mins

    Rangers 0-0 Kilmarnock

    Rangers go close to breaking the deadlock on the stroke of half-time as Glen Kamara's side-footed effort clips the crossbar.

  7. HALF-TIME Aberdeen 1-0 Livingstonpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2019

    Gary Holt brought his Livingston team up to Aberdeen last night to get a proper rest ahead of the match, yet this has been a rather sleep affair at Pittodrie.

    Aberdeen and their guests have huffed and puffed across the park, yet the only moment of genuine skill was the very play that put the hosts in front.

    SNSImage source, SNS

    Niall McGinn, the every-present assist creator for Derek McInnes’ side, played Lewis Ferguson through in the 13th minute who then laid the ball off for Connor McLennan to tap the ball home.

    Livingston have by no means looked shy or devoid of incentive but they - like Aberdeen for much of the half - simply look like they’re lacking the needed sharpness in the final third.

  8. HALF-TIME Aberdeen 1-0 Livingstonpublished at 15:46

  9. HALF-TIME St Mirren 0-2 Celticpublished at 15:46

  10. St Mirren 0-2 Celticpublished at 45 mins

    Celtic pushing for a third before half-time and Jeremie Frimpong hares down the right before delivering a cross that finds no takers.

    Saints can't get out and Olivier Ntcham loops a deflected drive narrowly over the top. Celtic well on top now.

  11. HALF-TIME Hamilton 0-0 St Johnstonepublished at 15:45

  12. HALF-TIME Ross County 1-0 Motherwellpublished at 15:45

    This really has been smash-and-grab stuff from the hosts in Dingwall.

    Motherwell have carved open a glut of chances, a couple falling to James Scott while Liam Polworth has also been guilty of fluffing his lines. The flow of traffic towards Nathan Baxter's has been pretty constant.

    However, somehow County are ahead. Blair Spittal's fourth of the season, which came from a completely free header in the box, makes the difference. For home managers Steven Ferguson and Stuart Kettlewell, they will be delighted their team has managed to garner an unlikely lead here. For their Lanarkshire counterpart, he will be left scratching his head...

    Blair SpittalImage source, SNS
  13. CLOSE!published at 44 mins

    Hamilton 0-0 St Johnstone

    Stevie May found space in the box, but has his shot blocked - although both sides have had a combined four shots (all off target), he has looked lively down the left, linking up with Chris Kane well - but no real cutting edge so far. Mickel Miller and David Boyo are the same at the other end - some decent play around the box but 44 minutes in and not a single shot on target yet...

  14. CLOSE!published at 43 mins

    Aberdeen 1-0 Livingston

    A huge chance for Livingston to level as Scott Pittman runs through on goal, knocking the ball beyond the on-rushing Joe Lewis. However, the Aberdeen goalkeeper gets a touch to it with his foot and manages to knock it sideways and Aberdeen repel the danger.

  15. CLOSE!published at 42 mins

    Ross County 1-0 Motherwell

    What a let off for County. Motherwell sliced through the home defence with a series of neat interchanges, Jermaine Hylton's sliderule pass to Liam Polworth setting the midfielder through on the box. The angle is narrowing, but Polworth has to do better than the effort he skews across goal and beyond the far post. Another big let-off for County.

  16. ouch!

    Ouch!published at 41 mins

    St Mirren 0-2 Celtic

    Celtic defender Kris Ajer catches an arm in the face from St Mirren striker Jon Obika as they jostle for a header. It looks accidental and referee Willie Collum is happy to take no action.

  17. 'St Mirren are defending well'published at 15:40

    St Mirren 0-2 Celtic

    Steven Thompson
    Former Scotland striker on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Celtic are going to create a lot of opportunities for themselves. St Mirren are defending well, but that second goal was delivered with good quality.

  18. CLOSE!published at 39 mins

    Ross County 1-0 Motherwell

    Motherwell finally rouse from their slumber. In the wake of County's shock opener, the visitors appeared rattled. Jermaine Hylton attempts to break the malaise with a rasping shot from 25 yards. He's not far away, the ball dipping just beyond the far post.

  19. 'Scorers all over the pitch'published at 15:38

    St Mirren 0-2 Celtic

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    There's goalscorers all over the pitch for the Celtic team. They are all capable of finishing if they get themselves down the pitch and get the chances.

    James Forrest doubled Celtic's lead in PaisleyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    James Forrest doubled Celtic's lead in Paisley

  20. 'Celtic deadly on the counter'published at 15:35

    St Mirren 0-2 Celtic

    Pat Bonner
    Former Celtic goalkeeper on BBC Sportsound

    Quote Message

    Celtic were deadly on the counter-attack. It was a big chance to take on the halfway line. Odsonne Edouard was clever enough to hold steady and keep onside to play the ball through.