Livingston midfielder Josh Mullin is incredulous after being booked for a foul on Ian Harkes.

Adrian Sporle has a go with the resulting free-kick, but the Argentine left-back's effort bounces wide.

Brian Rice will be encouraged with his side's start here. David Moyo is causing problems for the Killie backline.

However, the hosts need to be wary of Nicke Kabamba up the other end as the striker wins another header in the box. Goalkeeper Ryan Fulton gathers comfortably again though.

It's a gilt-edged chance for St Mirren, who really should have taken the lead.

Jamie McGrath hits the by-line, cut it back for Dylan Connolly, but the winger blasts over from close range.

Another crack at goal from the visitors, but this one is wild as midfielder Melker Hallberg blazes over with an ambitious 25-yard strike.

The rain is lashing down at Tony Macaroni Arena, likely to give the ball a bit more zip on the artificial surface.

United striker Lawrence Shankland fires wide from an offside position but nothing else to report as yet.

The first shot at Fir Park comes from Hibs as Martin Boyle's cross is headed out to the edge of the area, where midfielder Joe Newell thumps a volley a yard wide.

St Mirren first to threaten in Paisley as Ilkay Durmus drives through the middle and hits a shot high towards the roof of the net that Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis does well to tip over the bar.

End-to-end start in Hamilton as Kilmarnock's Nicke Kabamba diverts a header into the arms of Ryan Fulton before the goalkeeper's punt upfield is flicked on by David Moyo into the path of Callum Smith, but his effort goes high over the bar.

We are off around the country...stay with us for the goals and other action as they come in.

St Mirren manager Jim Goodwin says Hibs counterpart Jack Ross "spoke a lot of sense" when he called for compassion from the SPFL in punishing clubs for breaching Covid-19 protocols.

"There's so much I'd love to be able to say, but I'm not allowed to, as a club it's with the legal team," he tells BBC Scotland.

"But I listened to Jack Ross yesterday and I would advise people to listen to him."

Goodwin's side are trying to make it back-to-back wins against Aberdeen this afternoon.

"Aberdeen have made a few changes and some really top quality players have come back into the side, so it's a different task today and probably more difficult," he says. "We're not going to face a stronger Aberdeen 11 than the one we face today.

"But good teams follow up good performances with another good one."

The talk is almost over - lots to get through - but the action is about to start on the field of play at last...

Those two 3-0 wins awarded to Motherwell came in handy for Stephen Robinson's side considering they have not won in the last three games they have actually had to play in, including two home defeats in a row.

Hibs are unbeaten in four games, but they were all at home and they have lost their last two away from Easter Road.

Well have not beaten Hibs in three meetings, with the latest two ending goalless, including in Edinburgh in August.

St Mirren suffered two 3-0 defeats because of Covid breaches, but on the actual field of play they have gone five unbeaten, with three wins in a row.

Their latest, of course, was that 2-1 Scottish Cup win over today's visitors.

That exit leaves Aberdeen without a win in three outings, all away from home, losing twice.

The big match in the second tier is the Fife derby, with third-top Raith Rovers hoping to close the three-point gap between themselves and leaders Dunfermline Athletic in Kirkcaldy.

Pre-season favourites Heart of Midlothian, one point behind the Pars, will hope to take advantage of any slip-up as they visit sixth-top Greenock Morton.

Bottom side Alloa Athletic and Arbroath will hope to take advantage of Queen of the South's 3-0 defeat at home to Inverness Caledonian Thistle last night.

However, the Red Lichties have a difficult derby to contend with away to Dundee while Alloa host another side with promotion ambitions - Ayr United.

Hibs head coach Jack Ross has called for "compassion" from the SPFL in punishing clubs who break Covid-19 protocols.

After today's opponents Motherwell benefited with two 3-0 wins after breaches by Kilmarnock and St Mirren, Ross tells BBC Scotland "Clubs will be conscious of doing everything absolutely properly, but there may be genuine human mistakes along the way.

"It's very difficult to enforce everything we're asked to do every day. It would be nice if an element of compassion came into it as well.

"I don't think anybody has gone round clubs asking if they're doing things properly. Perhaps that could help in the future."

Image source, SNS

On the SPFL's verdict to penalise Kilmarnock by awarding Motherwell a 3-0 for Covid breaches, manager Alex Dyer tells BBC Sportsound: "I don't understand how they've come to that conclusion. It's a hard one to take. I don't think it's fair.

"It's not right. It doesn't make sense. It's a disgraceful decision. If we got fined, no-one would've batted an eyelid because everyone is trying to do their best. It's a sorry time for football up here.

Image source, SNS

"They [SPFL] should be there to help us. There is no money coming in, everyone is trying their best. They've slapped us in the face with it. But we have to move on and try get the points back somehow."

The Killie boss also confirmed Chris Burke and captain Gary Dicker are both injured.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes says some clubs are not doing enough when it comes to allowing for social distancing at football grounds.

"On matchday, I still think we can be better," he tells BBC Scotland. "At some clubs, a lot of clubs we've visited, they've catered for us and there's enough space for everybody - staff and players. And there's been others clubs where we don't feel that's quite been the case.

"We've got to provide enough space for clubs when they come to Pittodrie and the majority of time it has been right, but there's been a couple of occasion where we feel that we just possibly can't get everyone in a dressing room with the space provided to us, so that's concerning."

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Dundee United stand-in coach Thomas Courts: "It has been a bit of whirlwind. It's been good for my learning.

"We have been able to provide a good service to the players. They're feeling buoyant, they've feeling confident.

"The club do have quite a zero tolerance to any sort of risk. The club, as far as I can see, are doing everything to protect themselves, protect the players.

"The manager [has picked the team]. We were probably in touch every six to eight hours. He's still fully in control, he addressed the players on Zoom at the hotel there. It's just business as usual for us. The team that's been selected is strong."

For all their Covid upheaval, United head to Livingston unbeaten in seven outings - and five away from home.

But they haven't scored in three trips away from Tannadice since a 6-2 thrashing of Brechin City in the League Cup.

Livingston have won three of their last four games, but those were in the League Cup and they are without a win in five top-flight outings, losing four, including three in a row at home.

However, their last league win was 2-1 over United in October.

Hamilton benefitted from a 3-0 win thanks to St Mirren's Covid breaches and come into this having won twice in the League Cup on their own patch.

But they have yet to win at home in the league this season, losing four of their six games and have not won in the league for eight games.

Kilmarnock have won three in a row and two of their last three away from home.

They won 2-1 at home to Accies in September, but they have not tasted a victory at Douglas Park in three games and have lost on their latest two visits without scoring.