Summary

  • Off the Ball's Saturday Supplement (17:30)

  1. Holt looks to end 'mental block'published at 14:33 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Hamilton Academical v Livingston (15:00)

    Livingston manager Gary Holt is looking to turn good displays on the road into points.

    "Our performances away from home have been really good, but we've maybe got that wee bit of a mental block of trying to see games out," he tells BBC Scotland.

    "We just need to get over the line and see it through."

    Of the three changes to his side, he adds: "Steve Lawson hasn't recovered from his ankle knock and we have also looked to freshen it up.

    "Craig Sibbald and Aymen Souda did well before the break and it means Keaghan Jacobs and Scott Robinson get a wee rest."

    Livingston manager Gary HoltImage source, SNS
  2. Livi look to build on home formpublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Hamilton Academical v Livingston (15:00)

    Livingston are flying right now, with just one loss in their past seven outings in all competitions. The West Lothian side sit fifth in the Premiership but have not managed a league win at Hamilton in a long time.

    The Accies prevailed 2-1 on their own plastic back in September, while last season there was a 3-3 thriller and a 1-0 home win in South Lanarkshire.

    Livi's last success in this part of the world came on Boxing Day 2011 in the old Division One.

    Accies will be smarting from Wednesday's 2-1 loss at Hibs when they fell away after a strong first half, while Livi should probably have scored a few more in their 1-0 win at home to St Johnstone.

    The visitors have won four in a row at home in the league but have not picked up three points on the road since August.

    Blair Alston was on target when Accies beat Livi earlier this seasonImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Blair Alston was on target when Accies beat Livi earlier this season

  3. Will 'Well go wide again?published at 14:27 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Motherwell v Hibernian (15:00)

    Motherwell pulled four points clear in the race for third with a dogged 1-0 win at Aberdeen on Wednesday, while Hibs got away with a shocking first half, coming from behind at home to beat Hamilton 2-1 on the same evening.

    The Steelmen brushed Hibs aside at Fir Park in August, their pace on the flanks a feature in a 3-0 success.

    Hibs gained revenge with a 3-1 victory at Easter Road in November in what was Jack Ross's first game in charge.

    Home advantage has been decisive in the past six meetings between these two.

    Liam Donnelly scored a penalty in Motherwell's win over Hibs in AugustImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Motherwell were too strong for Hibs at Fir Park in August

  4. Can Kabamba keep on scoring?published at 14:25 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    St Johnstone v Kilmarnock (15:00)

    St Johnstone's five-game unbeaten league revival came to an end at Livingston on Wednesday, while Kilmarnock fell to a sixth successive Premiership defeat at home to Celtic.

    Yet, the visitors remain three points better off going into this one.

    And the good news for manager Alex Dyer is that Kilmarnock have only lost once in their past seven league visits to Perth.

    Saints boss Tommy Wright has been grumping and groaning about a lack of new signings this month and has just lost winger Matty Kennedy to Aberedeen and Murray Davidson to a broken arm. Will that get a reaction from those left in the home dressing room this afternoon?

    Nicke Kabamba has made a good start to life at Killie with two goals in two games. Can he keep that run up?

    Nicke KabambaImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Nicke Kabamba has scored in games against Queen's Park and Celtic

  5. Another big win for Celtic?published at 14:22 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Celtic v Ross County (15:00)

    The champions will be fancied to win comfortably this afternoon, having put 10 goals past Ross County in two previous meetings this season.

    It was 6-0 at Celtic Park in October, with Odsonne Edouard, given a rest on the bench today, finding the net twice. The French striker was at it again on Wednesday, opening the scoring in a 3-1 victory at Kilmarnock.

    County resumed with a stuffy 0-0 draw at home to Hearts and are away at Ibrox and Rugby Park next in what is a rather fiendish run of fixtures.

    Odsonne Edouard scored twice when Ross County were last at Celtic ParkImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Odsonne Edouard scored twice when Ross County were last at Celtic Park

  6. LINE-UPS at Fir Parkpublished at 14:17 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Motherwell v Hibernian (15:00)

    Motherwell: Gillespie; Grimshaw, Gallagher, Hartley, Carroll; Donnelly, Campbell, Polworth; Scott, Ilic, MacIver.

    Substitutes: Carson, Tait, Seedorf, Manzinga, Mugabi, Ndjoli, O'Hara.

    Hibernian: Marciano; James, Jackson, Hanlon, Stevenson; Boyle, Omeonga, Newell, Horgan; Kamberi, Doidge.

    Substitutes: Bogdan, Whittaker, Murray, Hallberg, Allan, McGregor, Gullan.

  7. LINE-UPS at McDiarmid Parkpublished at 14:16 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    St Johnstone v Kilmarnock (15:00)

    St Johnstone: Clark, Kerr, Gordon, Booth, Wright, Tanser, Holt, McCann, Wotherspoon, Kane, May.

    Substitutes: Parish, Duffy, Ralston, Hendry, Craig, Swanson, Northcott.

    Kilmarnock: Koprivec, O'Donnell, Del Fabro, Findlay, Hamalainen, Power, Dicker, Kiltie, Bunn, Burke, Kabamba.

    Substitutes: Branescu, Millen, Johnson, Wilson, El Makrini, St Clair, Brophy.

  8. LINE-UPS at FOYSpublished at 14:15 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Hamilton Academical v Livingston (15:00)

    Hamilton Academical: Fon Williams, McMann, Woods, Fjortoft, Want, Gogic, Martin, Collar, Miller, L Smith, Ogkmpoe.

    Substitutes: Southwood, Hunt, Davies, Alston, Winter, Dales, Mimnaugh.

    Livingston: McCrorie, McMillan, Taylor-Sinclair, Brown, Guthrie, Bartley, Sibbald, Pittman, Souda, Lawless, Dykes.

    Substitutes: Maley, Lithgow, Crawford, Jacobs, Robinson, Erskine, Lamie.

  9. LINE-UPS at Celtic Parkpublished at 14:13 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Celtic v Ross County (15:00)

    Celtic: Forster, Bauer, Jullien, Simunovic, Hayes, Brown, Ntcham, McGregor, Forrest, Johnston, Griffiths.

    Substitutes: Gordon, Taylor, Welsh, Rogic, Dembele, Klimala, Edouard.

    Ross County: Baxter, Fraser, Kelly, Watson, Donaldson, Spittal, Cowie, Tillson, Vigurs, Mullin, Erwin.

    Substitutes: Laidlaw, Fontaine, McKay, Spence, Foster, Shaw, Paton.

  10. Defoe Rangers deal confirmedpublished at 14:11 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020
    Breaking

    Steven Gerrard had teased us with it for a few weeks, but Jermain Defoe has now put pen to paper on a permanent move to Rangers.

    The 37-year-old has been on loan from Bournemouth for a year and, with his contract with Premier League club ending this summer, has agreed a one-year deal with the Ibrox club for next season.

    Manager Gerrard expects the former England striker to continue being a key player next season despite his age, describing him as "an incredible professional".

    Defoe will be called on to start in the absence of the suspended Alfredo Morelos tomorrow against Hearts at Tynecastle.

    Defoe agrees permanent Rangers deal

    On-loan Bournemouth striker Jermain Defoe signs a pre-contract agreement to join Rangers on a permanent basis this summer.

    Read More
  11. Boyce delight at Hearts switchpublished at 14:09 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Hearts manager Daniel Stendel has continued his Tynecastle rebuild by completing the signing of Liam Boyce from Burton Albion for an undisclosed fee, with the Northern Ireland striker saying he "couldn't see myself going anywhere else" despite interest from English clubs and others in Scotland.

    The 28-year-old could make his debut against Rangers tomorrow along with centre-half Toby Sibbick, the 20-year-old heading to Edinburgh on loan from Stendel's former club, Barnsley.

    Hearts sign Boyce and Sibbick

    Hearts sign Burton Albion striker Liam Boyce on a three-and-a-half year deal after adding Toby Sibbick on loan from Barnsley.

    Read More
  12. Cove Rangers in commanding positionpublished at 14:07 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Scottish League Two

    Cove Rangers go for a sixth successive victory this afternoon and the bad news for visitors Annan Athletic is that the League Two leaders have won every home game so far this season.

    Now that Rory McAllister has been twinned with Mitch Megginson up front, the ambitious newcomers look nailed on for promotion in their first season in the division.

    Nearest challengers Edinburgh City were given a pasting by Hamilton Accies in the Scottish Cup last weekend and they go to Stenhousemuir, who have shown signs of improvement of late.

    Stirling Albion are making a strong push for the play-off places and will aim to follow three wins on the bounce away from home as Elgin City visit Forthbank.

    Scottish League TwoImage source, BBC Sport
  13. Top three look for home comfortpublished at 14:05 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Scottish League One

    Two points cover the top three and the tile race looks like going to the wire in League One.

    Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Airdrieonians are all at home today and will fancy carrying on their good form after last weekend's Scottish Cup adventures.

    Montrose, who visit Stark's Park, have been making good progress up the table with four wins from their last five outings.

    League OneImage source, BBC Sport
  14. Riveting race for the play-offspublished at 14:03 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    Scottish Championship

    Dundee United, who haven't lost since mid-October, are pretty much out of sight at the top of the table.

    The scramble for play-off places is hotting up though, with just 10 points separating Inverness CT in second place from Morton down in eighth.

    Dunfermline ended a run of five defeats by beating Dundee last night to revive their hopes.

    The cutthroat nature of the division means Dundee, in fourth, are only seven points better off than bottom side Alloa.

    ChampionshipImage source, BBC Sport
  15. S is for Saturday and stealing a marchpublished at 14:00 Greenwich Mean Time 25 January 2020

    It's all about getting points on the board.

    Celtic can open up a five-point lead with a home win today and then it's over to title rivals Rangers, who play tomorrow.

    It's a similar story for Motherwell in the race for third, with nearest rivals Aberdeen in action on Sunday.

    And the same goes for Hamilton, who will be looking to apply pressure on Hearts, the only team below them in the table.

    Easy on paper, but how will it all pan out today? Stay with us and find out.

    Premiership fixturesImage source, BBC Sport