Summary

  • St Mirren, third, 10 points above Motherwell, 10th

  1. goal

    GOAL Celtic 0-1 Heartspublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Lawrence Shankland

    It's a surprise lead for Hearts and scorer Lawrence Shankland could not believe the space he had at a corner.

    Cameron Carter-Vickers made an excellent defensive header after Stephen Kingsley tried to find Alan Forrest but then Celtic just switched off.

    The delivery came from the Hearts left and Shankland was all on his own to head in Jorge Grant's cross.

    Hearts goalImage source, .
  2. goal

    GOAL Morton 1-0 Queen's Parkpublished at 15:15 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Robbie Muirhead

    Greenock Morton goal graphicImage source, BBC Sport
  3. GREAT SAVE!published at 15:13 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Celtic 0-0 Hearts

    Zander Clark makes his first save and does well with it to beat Greg Taylor's fierce drive over. First real effort from Celtic.

    Celtic defender Gustaf LagerbielkeImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Celtic defender Gustaf Lagerbielke scored the midweek winner against Feyenoord but is not in the squad today

  4. CLOSE!published at 15:12 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    St Johnstone 0-0 Hibernian

    Hibs midfielder Jair has plenty space on the edge of the area but bends his tidy effort wide of Dimitar Mitov's goal.

  5. Postpublished at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Livingston 0-0 Kilmarnock

    And Killie come again.

    The ball breaks to Kyle Vassell, who charges purposefully down the left and smacks one goalward, but the tight angle gives Shamal George the opportunity to stand tall and parry away.

  6. 'A good start for Hearts imperative'published at 15:11 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Celtic 0-0 Hearts

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

    Given the decades they've had to wait to win here, you sense a good start from Hearts is essential to their hopes, and to dampen the Celtic feel-good factor following their midweek Champions League win.

    Kilmarnock last weekend, albeit on their own pitch, pressed Celtic high up the park and didn't allow them a second's peace. Can the Tynecastle side match that kind of effort?

  7. CLOSE!published at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Livingston 0-0 Kilmarnock

    Kilmarnock's turn to go close.

    An excellent free-kick delivery after three failed corners allows Kyle Vassell to fling himself at the ball, with his header dropping just past the post.

  8. Postpublished at 15:09 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    St Johnstone 0-0 Hibernian

    A slack start from Hibs is exemplified by a poor zipped pass from David Marshall finding opposing forward Max Kucheriavyi in a precarious position, but the Ukrainian fails to truly test the Hibs number one with his low effort from distance.

  9. Postpublished at 15:08 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Celtic 0-0 Hearts

    One of Hearts' tactics in recent weeks has been the long throw-in. Stephen Kingsley tries a couple from the right and the visitors eventually win a free-kick in a dangerous area.

    Alex Cochrane's delivery is deep and cleared, then another throw-in goes straight out of play, which you don't see every day. Wasteful from Steven Naismith's side.

  10. 'Shake on it'published at 15:06 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Dundee United 0-0 Raith Rovers

    Kenny Crawford
    BBC Sport Scotland at Tannadice

    The game was a minute old by the time managers Jim Goodwin and Ian Murray got round to having their ‘pre-match’ handshake!

    The place is bouncing and The Shed is packed with Rovers fans. A great sight.

  11. Clarke keeping his eye inpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Celtic 0-0 Hearts

    Scotland manager Steve Clarke and assistant John Carver are in the crowd at Celtic Park today.

    Scotland assistant John Carver and manager Steve ClarkeImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Clarke (right) will be keeping a keen watch on Scotland internationals like Callum McGregor, Greg Taylor and Lawrence Shankland

  12. Postpublished at 15:05 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    St Johnstone 0-0 Hibernian

    A whipped, wide free-kick from Saints' Graham Carey evades all in the mixer and bounces wide of David Marshall's goal.

  13. Postpublished at 15:04 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Livingston 0-0 Kilmarnock

    A bright start from struggling Livingston

    After Kilmarnock fail to clear their lines following a missed back-post header, Ayo Obileye tries his luck from the edge of the box.

    It's fairly routine for goalkeeper Will Dennis, but the hosts showing that they're not going down without a fight in the very early stages.

  14. Celtic pick the goalscorerspublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Celtic 0-0 Hearts

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

    All of Celtic's main goal threats are in the first XI this afternoon. Matt O'Riley has nine overall, and has scored in his last three league games. He's joint top in the Premiership scoring charts, with Rangers' Abdallah Sima.

    David Turnbull (seven) has more goals this season than Kyogo (six) and is on the same tally as Luis Palma, also seven so far. There could be a real tussle between those two if Celtic get a penalty today...

  15. KICK-OFFpublished at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    And away we go.

  16. Celtic home form formidablepublished at 14:59 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Celtic v Hearts (15:00)

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at Celtic Park

    Celtic have gone 52 home league matches without defeat. They've gone over 16 years since their last top flight loss at Celtic Park to today's visitors. That was at the end of the 2006-07 season - the week after Shunsuke Nakamura's last-minute free-kick clinched the title for Gordon Strachan's men.

    A certain Neil McCann came off the bench that day when Hearts were 3-1 up, a scoreline they maintained to claim all three points. 29th April, 2007. What chance Hearts put a dent in Celtic's title hopes this afternoon?

  17. 'Celtic standard has dipped'published at 14:57 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    Celtic v Hearts (15:00)

    Michael Stewart
    Former Scotland midfielder on Sportsound

    The problem for Celtic is that the team is not as good as it was last season. Jota is a huge loss, even Aaron Mooy. The players that have come in have not been good enough and then there's been injuries to key players like Carter-Vickers, Abada, Maeda and Hatate.

    The only new player to make an impact is Luis Palma and he's not as good as Jota.

  18. 'Auld pals' meet in Perthpublished at 14:55 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    St Johnstone v Hibernian (15:00)

    Amy Canavan
    BBC Scotland at McDiarmid Park

    This could be a good un.

    St Johnstone are still enjoying the Craig Levein-bounce and confidence is high in Perth as impressive Hibs come to town.

    I did knock Levein off his stot when I referenced his "old pals", Hibs. Tongue-in-cheek, of course.

    It wouldn't really matter who they were up against, though, he'd be well game for the occasion. It's evident he's still buzzing to be back in the mix.

    Nick Montgomery, and the rowdy travelling fans, will certainly be hoping to upset that, though.

    It's the beginning of a very hectic period for all, no one wants to start off on the wrong foot.

  19. Wind will be a factor, warns Robinsonpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    St Mirren v Motherwell (15:00)

    St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson has been speaking to BBC Scotland and commented on the blustery conditions in Paisley.

    He said: "Wind ruins the game, doesn't it? It just means you have to keep the ball on the ground. It becomes that bit more predictable when you're in control of it.

    "There's two teams that will be trying to play in the right manner and try and get the ball down and play so hopefully it will be an entertaining game."

    Stuart Kettlewell's Motherwell have not won in their past 13 games and Robinson commented: "You have to make sure it's not against you.

    "We're under no illusions, it's a very good Motherwell team. There are some very good technical footballers but a very good manager in Stuart. They're a team that fights right to the end."

    St Mirren ParkImage source, SNS
  20. Montgomery pleased to see duo returnpublished at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 16 December 2023

    St Johnstone v Hibernian (15:00)

    After opting to make two changes from last weekend's hard-fought victory in Livingston, Hibernian manager Nick Montgomery tells BBC Scotland: "It's good to get players back. Jimmy (Jeggo) probably didn't deserve to be out of the team when he was but he had picked up a little knock a while back.

    "Dylan Levitt and Joe Newell came in and did very well, so it's an opportunity for Jimmy to get some game time today. He's been champing at the bit, he trains really hard and is a proper team player so I expect him to come in and put a shift in today."

    On dropping 16-year-old Rory Whittaker to the bench, Montgomery said: "It's about managing him, he's a young kid. He's been outstanding and come on in some big games, so it's my job to manage him now and make sure we get his development right.

    "We can see technically he's good enough to play in the league, but physically it's been a big test for him."

    Jimmy Jeggo chats with team mates pre-match in Perth.Image source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Jimmy Jeggo (centre) has been "chomping at the bit" to return, says Hibs boss Nick Montgomery.