Halt in play at Rugby Park as linesman Douglas Ross seems to be suffering a bit of a technical issue with his communication equipment.

All sorted now and Blair Spittal floats a deep free-kick to the back post. Dan Casey is there, but the defender will be happy to see the offside flag as his finish was poor.

Decent start from Motherwell.

United midfielder Jamie McGrath feels a tug on his arm and goes down in a heap right on the boundary of the penalty box. Referee Steven McLean shakes his head and motions for him to get back up.

Good start from St Johnstone. Stevie May hooks an awkward ball to the edge of the area, Alex Gogic heads away but only as far as Nicky Clark.

The striker fires a shot towards goal, but he's leaning back awkwardly and it slices just over the bar.

Whistles are being blown around the country.

Stay with us for goal updates and action from around the grounds.

Eilidh Davies
BBC Sportsound reporter in Dingwall

United boss Liam Fox says he knows he's under pressure, but he believes his side can claim all three points in the Highlands as they look to move off the bottom of the table.

Fans have been venting their frustrations with the club this week, but the 1,000 or so who have made the long journey north will be hoping their efforts will be worth it if their team can get back to winning ways.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at McDiarmid Park

Both sides are in a good place right now, looking up rather than down at present.

St Johnstone can close to within three of their visitors.

St Mirren can go fourth with a victory that would be such a boost to either manager's top-six aspirations at a crucial stage of the campaign.

It'll be hard fought on a patchy looking surface.

St Mirren boss Stephen Robinson tells Sportsound: "Perhaps it's pivotal for St Johnstone because we could go nine points clear of them. We don't put too much pressure on boys. It's a tricky surface, so both teams will have to play clever.

"There's been a lot of difficult aspects and surprises, from the board down, in the last year - all the financial problems at the football club. Now we're looking forward, we're looking to rebuild the football club, rebuild the academy. To achieve top-six would be an amazing achievement."

As for being clear of relegation trouble, he adds: "Until you're mathematically certain, you must be aware of it. That's our starting point at the start of the season - staying in the division.

"We're down to the bare bones, injury wise. When we get boys back in a few weeks, we can start looking upwards.

Dumbarton and Stirling Albion continue their head-to-head at the top of the fourth tier, with the former 11 unbeaten at home as they host an Elgin City who have lost three in a row on the road.

Stirling are unbeaten in four away from home as they visit Forfar Athletic, who are themselves on a five-game unbeaten run.

Third-top Annan Athletic have lost just once in six outings as they visit Albion Rovers, while fourth-placed East Fife are seeking a third straight win as they visit Stranraer.

Bottom side Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic have lost three in a row at home as they host a Stenhousemuir side who are unbeaten in four.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

The big game in the third tier is at Excelsior Stadium, where third-top Airdrieonians are looking to build on their draw away to leaders Dunfermline Athletic as they host a Falkirk side who are eight points ahead, are unbeaten in nine games and haven't lost on the road in 11.

The Pars start the day five clear of the Bairns as they look to repeat September's win over seventh-placed Queen of the South in Dumfries.

Fifth-top Alloa Athletic host Montrose who are one place behind but have only won once in 12 outings.

Edinburgh are ahead of Alloa on goal difference but have not won in five outings as they host a Clyde side who ended their 22-game wait for a league win by beating Peterhead last time out.

It means Peterhead are three points adrift at the bottom and with one win in 20 outings as they host Kelty Hearts, who are unbeaten in five on the road.

Image source, BBC Sport

Raith Rovers and Ayr United missed a chance to put pressure on their second-tier promotion rivals with a goalless stalemate in Kirkcaldy last night.

Today, stumbling leaders Queen's Park, who have won once in seven outings - and none in their latest four on the road, visit a Hamilton Academical side who have lifted themselves off the bottom after two consecutive wins.

Second-top Dundee themselves lost to Greenock Morton last time out, while visitors Inverness Caledonian Thistle's promotion hopes suffered a blow with two consecutive defeats.

Morton are up to fourth after two straight wins and will be seeking a third consecutive win over visitors Cove Rangers, who have won just once in eight outings.

Arbroath are now two points behind at the bottom and are eight games without a home win as they host a Partick Thistle side who won their first game under caretaker Kris Doolan last weekend and are five games unbeaten against the Red Lichties.

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Sportsound that he's not getting carried away despite his side's league position.

"We're in a good place, but we just have to concentrate on ourselves and take it one game at a time," he says.

"We get more appreciation from managers and players in the league, because they know what we're all about.

"Barry's an Aberdeen man through and through and, if anybody can get them going, it's Barry. I love seeing people within Scottish football get chances at big clubs."

Ross County manager Malky Mackay tells BBC Scotland: "We did well in our last home games against Kilmarnock and Hibs and we're glad to be back here.

"There's always pressure on the manager. You've got the honour of being the front man for the club and that's something you live with every day.

"I know the task in hand and I know the pride taken in this team. I've got great people working for me, on and off the pitch, so I need to front that up."

Image source, SNS

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes tells BBC Sportsound: "It's important we recognise why Motherwell have won their last two games.

"We need to take confidence in how strong we've been at home. We need to show that today and for the rest of the season. We have to make sure that continues.

On Kyle Vassell's failed red card appeal, McInnes adds: "It was worth an appeal. We owed it to our club and Kyle, because he's such an important player.

"I was told there would be an ex-footballer, manager or coach on the panel. I don't believe there was, which is disappointing."

New Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell tells BBC Sportsound: "There won't be many surprises in how we set up today.

"I keep speaking about pushing boundaries. This league has a nature of making it difficult for you. It's so important we look to build.

"Kilmarnock are very strong here, they make it difficult for you. We need to up it another 10% from last week."

Image source, SNS

Aberdeen caretaker manager Barry Robson says that chairman Dave Cormack's recovery takes precedent over on-field matters after the chairman successfully underwent open heart surgery.

"Football takes a back seat with things like this," Robson tells BBC Scotland. "We're just glad Dave's okay - he just have to hope for a speedy recovery.

"Every game's huge. Livingston are a difficult side to beat. Davie's got them firing and fighting and they play more football than people think they do. The most important thing is to keep a clean sheet and build from there.

"We've looked good and sharp in training and hopefully they can bring that today. We need to show that we fight for the club and bring speed and energy to the game."

Image source, SNS

"It is not the end of the world if we get relegated because we will come straight back up."

Those words were attributed to owner Mark Ogren from a Q&A with Dundee United Federation of Supporters.

They were not well received...

"There's still 12 games to go and that's not what fans want to hear," former Tannadice player Allan Preston says on Sportsound. "The reaction has been incredible - fans are saying 'what's going on here?'"

Image source, SNS

Two teams who look fairly safe from relegation but who will nevertheless be hoping to build on wins last week meet in Perth.

Hosts St Johnstone won away to Dundee United but have suffered five defeats in row at home, where they have gone six without a win.

St Mirren edged out struggling Ross County at home to end a run of three straight defeats but have only won once in 11 games away from home.

Arguably the game of the day is in Dingwall, where the bottom two in the Premiership go head to head.

County start the day a point ahead of visitors Dundee United, whose head coach, Liam Fox, was given the dreaded vote of confidence from chairman Mark Ogren at this week's annual meeting.

While United have a game in hand, they can't afford a sixth consecutive defeat, but Malky Mackay's hosts are themselves on a run of one win in 12 outings.

The visitors do seem to hold the Indian sign over County, having not lost to the Highland side in six meetings - and in seven trips to Dingwall, including a 1-1 draw there in October, while United won 3-0 at Tannadice in their last meeting in December.

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Pittodrie Stadium

At this stage of the season, every game is a big one, but you get the feeling this afternoon’s Pittodrie encounter could be pivotal to the respective sides' campaign.

Livingston are sixth, three points ahead of the Dons on place above.

Getting into the top six would have been the minimum of Aberdeen’s expectation this term, but things haven’t gone to plan and defeat today would deliver a big blow to their hopes of finishing in the top half of the table.

That's a situation that seemed unthinkable when they thrashed Livingston 5-0 at Pittodrie back in August.

Livingston will certainly relish the challenge - David Martindale’s side are enjoying another fine season in which they have continued to bloody the noses of a number of the so-called bigger clubs.

If they can do so again, it would give them some real breathing space in terms of cementing their own top-six status.

After what he calls a "sticky" run of form, Dundee United head coach Liam Fox is giving nothing away about his talks with club owner Mark Ogren, telling BBC Sportsound: "We know it will be a difficult game, but it's a game we are looking forward to.

"I'm fully backing my team and hopefully we get the performance that gives us the opportunity for three points.

"I've had several conversations with the chairman this week and they will stay between me and him."

Image source, SNS