Sebastian Soto, on his first start for Livingston, drags the ball past Dan Cleary all too easily and fires low at goal, but Saints goalkeeper Zander Clark gets down to make a great one-handed save.

County will feel that's justice done after a very, very soft penalty call.

Barrie McKay picks himself back up and places a poor penalty low to the left, but Ross Laidlaw is equal to it.

A good chance for Hibs to level goes begging. Sylvester Jasper is played in down the right and he squares it across the six yard box, but Elias Melkersen can't get there to tap home.

It was Jake Doyle-Hayes with a lovely ball through.

Barrie McKay takes a tumble under pressure from Connor Randall.

"A bit of a dive", reckons Inverness CT manager Billy Dodds, who is at the game for BBC Sportsound.

What a hit.

Connor MacLennan picks up the ball 25 yards out and sends a swerving effort crashing off the bar with Ian Lawlor beaten all ends up.

Aberdeen keep the pressure on and from Jonny Hayes' corner, David Bates powers in a header that Lawlor superbly tips over.

Livingston try to hit back after their poor start with three good chances in quick succession.

James Penrice plays a one-two and sets himself up for a shot, but the Livingston man skies his shot over the bar.

Then Scott Pittman dummies the defender and gets into a good area inside the box, but his effort is weak and easily saved.

Finally, Alan Forrest collects the ball on the edge of the box but sends his left-foot shot into the goalkeeper's hands.

Tame shouts for a handball from the home side as Toby Sibbick deals with a dangerous ball into the Hearts box.

Referee having none of it, though.

Dundee come tearing out the blocks and a right-wing delivery skids across the face of Aberdeen's goal begging for a taker.

If Jordan Marshall had reacted he'd have had a tap-in.

At the other end, Connor Barron sends a drive a couple of feet too high as Aberdeen begin to come to life.

The ball is flashed across the face of the County goal and Liam Boyce somehow fails to divert the ball towards goal.

Motherwell have St Mirren pinned back from the off.

Stephen O'Donnell breaks into the box and has a shot blocked as the home side make a lively start.

Callum Hendry takes an elbow to the face from Jack Fitzwater and the Saints have an early spot-kick.

Here we go. Make it rain with goals this afternoon.

Hearts boss Robbie Neilson tells BBC Sportsound: "Both ourselves and County score a lot of goals, I expect today to be an entertaining one.

"We have a number of injuries but the guys that come in slip in seamlessly. Wherever we go, the objective is to get three points and today is no different.

"We cant get too far ahead of ourselves, we know County are a very good team."

Neilson also confirms Nathaniel Atkinson is out with a non-related Covid illness.

Image source, SNS

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Firhill Stadium

Kilmarnock's draw last night has just nudged the door ajar for Arbroath to perhaps renew their fairytale quest to try and take the Championship title. Either way, a win today would go a long, long way to securing second at least.

For the home side, they simply have to get back on track if they are to push on for a play-off spot.

Form has not been good but a positive result and performance today, on what is a fairly wretched playing surface, would do Partick Thistle the world of good at a vital time.

Dundee manager Mark McGhee admits he will be keeping an eye on how relegation rivals St Johnstone are faring against Livingston.

"I think we will," McGhee, whose side are four points adrift at the bottom, tells BBC Sportsound.

"Whether we do anything about it I'm not sure. But we do have to know because there are scenarios we maybe have to react to.

"We've had a good week's training and a lot of preparation went into this game.

"We feel we have a plan and it's just how we execute it. We're optimistic."

Hibs have kept a clean sheet in each of their last three home league games (W1 D2), but they are really toiling at the other end of the pitch.

Since beating Dundee United at Tannadice on Boxing Day, Shaun Maloney's side have only found the net five times in 11 league outings.

Martin Boyle, sold in January, remains the club's top Premiership scorer (11) by a distance and the next two players on that list, Kevin Nisbet (6) and Kyle Magennis (3), are long-term injury absentees.

Image source, SNS

Hibernian manager Shaun Maloney: "There's not a real different feel in the dressing room but we understand the size of the result.

"But you can't focus solely on the result before it. I want to see a different performance from the first-half performance at Aberdeen.

"I want us to show some personality today. Have no fear about missing a pass or making a mistake."