County are fortunate not to concede a penalty kick immediately after falling behind.

Jota tries a cross just inside the visiting penalty box, it strikes the arm of Joseph Hungbo, but referee Don Robertson waves play on while pointing to his own arm in recognition.

Vicente Besuijen appears to grab the neck of Rocky Bushiri as the Hibs defender ushers the ball back to his goalkeeper and Bushiri is none too pleased. No action taken against Besuijen but that could easily have been a booking.

Ouch!published at 15:18 Greenwich Mean Time 19 March 2022

15:18 GMT 19 March 2022

St Johnstone 0-1 Motherwell

A crunching challenge in the middle of the park as Murray Davidson goes in full force on Connor Shields.

He wins the ball but the follow through looked hard-hitting. Moments later, he goes in for an identical challenge on Jake Carroll, winning the ball again, but this time he sees a yellow card brandished in his direction.

Craig Halkett chests the ball down and gets a volley away, with a deflection taking it into the side-netting.

From the corner, Stephen Kingsley heads wide.

It's all Hearts.

A great block on the line by Kevin Dabrowski to deny Connor McLennan.

The Aberdeen attacker rises to meet Vicente Besuijen's cross with a header but the goalkeeper is not to be beaten on this occasion, with his defence scrambling clear the rebound.

A big save from Max Stryjek denies Hearts a second goal.

Ellis Simms gets into a great position to latch onto Liam Boyce's through ball, but Stryjek sticks out a hand to stop his effort.

Image source, SNS

Am early opening for Hibs falls the way of stand-in captain Lewis Stevenson after Chris Cadden's cross is cleared to the edge of the box.

Stevenson catches the volley well but David Bates is well placed to make a headed block.

Moments later, the visitors win a free-kick on the left-hand side near the corner and Sylvester Jasper's effort flashes by the far post.

Celtic are first to threaten and Jota marks his return to the starting line-up as the on-loan Benfica winger lashes a wicked dipping drive just over the crossbar from 18 yards.

And away we go.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie

A huge cheer from the home fans as the name Andrew Considine is read out by the stadium announcer. The experienced defender has been a big miss for the Aberdeen team and their supporters.

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson tells BBC Scotland: "The mindset at being at a club is that you have to win these games, and I think over the last few years we lost that mindset. But when you play for Hearts you should be expected to win.

"Aaron McEneff changed the game for us last week against St Mirren so he deserves his opportunity.

"John Souttar and Cammy Devlin are going to take a bit of time to be fit, maybe not until after the split."

Image source, SNS

Dundee United manager Tam Courts tells BBC Sportsound: "The last time we were here, at the start of the season, we put in a real strong performance - very similar conditions - and I feel a sense of excitement.

"Tony [Watt] has done everything he possibly could do get himself fit and onto the pitch. It'll give us a boost. If he can continue the form that he's shown since he joined the club, I'll be excited to watch him.

"Miller [Thomson] is a young player that's done very well for our under-18s. We wanted to tweak the formation and attack the wide areas.

"Miller is a very exciting dribbler and we want him to show the fearlessness youngsters show when they get an opportunity."

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Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Scotland: "I'm looking at Hearts, they're back to a back four, so we're going to try and exploit the full-back areas if I'm honest.

"I think the boys can take belief that they've matched Hearts [in previous games].

"It's great for Scottish football that we have a genuine title contest and six to eight teams who are all chasing the top six, so its brilliant.

"I think we need at least six points from the next three games to make the top six."

St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson jokes with BBC Sportsound: "The split is getting in the way this year! If we had this down to the wire, it would be really exciting and every game would be really important.

"But, we've got three games to do it now. Dundee United are in the exact same position as ourselves. It gives us an opportunity, a win today potentially take us into the top six."

On Connor Ronan's Ireland call-up, he adds: "Credit to him, he's been excellent since I've come in. I'd like to play him in all three positions in midfield - he starts play, he ends up on the end of goals as well. He's been a terrific signing."

Malky Mackay says finishing in the top six when the Premiership breaks into two would exceed County's pre-season expectations.

"We're delighted at the form we've been in, but we've got three tough games before the split and there are six or seven teams very close to each other," the manager tells BBC's Sportsound.

"Our main aim this season was to have a brand new team and keep them in the league. Anything after that would be a bonus. We've been terrific recently and I've been so proud of them the way they've adapted to the league and to each other and the methods I want to bring."

Mackay knows Celtic Park from his time at the club as a player and hopes his side can rise to the occasion.

"We are playing a team that are on fire - an absolute test - but you want to test yourself against the best," he adds.

Image source, SNS