The first time that Killie get into a dangerous position but Matty Kennedy and Kyle Vassell can't get a touch on Danny Armstrong's cross.

It was superb play from Killie's winger, who Derek McInnes was touting for a Scotland call-up before kick-off.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland at Easter Road

The heavy rain that engulfed the capital earlier in the day has now thankfully relented. This is arguably the most eagerly anticipated fixture of the season for supporters of Hibs and Hearts, and there is something a bit special with the fixture at this time of year.

Although it’s just three points up for grabs there is no doubt a win for either club would provide a major boost heading into the New Year.

A win for the home side would cement a decent start made under Nick Montgomery, but a win for their city rivals would silence some of those critical of Steven Naismith in recent weeks.

Is it too late to say this could be a Christmas cracker?

What a glorious chance for St Johnstone to open the scoring!

Ayo Obileye ambles back a little laboriously and Stevie May nips ahead of the big defender as he goes down clutching a leg.

May is clean through down the left, but his square pass trickles agonisingly too far for Nicky Clark to hook it home.

Clark's effort at an unguarded back post flies off target. Huge let-off for Livingston.

Hearts head coach Steven Naismith tells BBC Scotland:

"It's a derby game so it will be frantic to start with. For us, it's like every game - there are certain aspects we want to control. If we can get a result it helps build momentum. We're on a good run.

"They will try to be aggressive and attack-minded. We have to stop that, and then cause them problems on the back of that."

On speculation linking Lawrence Shankland with a move away from Tynecastle: "We're scoring goals and we're winning games. If [Lawrence Shankland] gets injured or he was to move on, it's an opportunity [for someone else]. I'm not concerned about it to be honest."

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We are up and running in Livingston and Paisley.

We were slightly delayed at St Mirren after a flare was thrown onto the pitch from the away end.

Livingston manager David Martindale tells BBC Radio Scotland: "Every game is big, there's added pressure, we need to pick up points. As a club we all know where we are, I'm not going to hide behind it. We need to win games very, very soon.

"I'm not immune, I am thick-skinned, and it's my job to take pressure off the players. When we win, I praise players, and when we lose, I am big and ugly enough to take it on the chin.

"I think I've got a good group in terms of experiences, even the younger guys have played a lot of football. You find out a lot about yourself as an individual in times of adversity."

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Much was made of the plans to have Nick Montgomery mic'd up during the TV coverage this evening.

However, the SFA are believed to have quashed the arrangement and Sky Sports have had to adapt, with any in-game insight from the Hibs manager now coming from a pitchside interview.

Speaking about the coverage, Montgomery tells BBC Scotland: "That's over my head. As a club, we spoke about what was agreed between the two clubs a couple of months ago. I haven't really thought about it much until turning up to the game today. There's no microphone. We're just concentrating on the game.

"I felt this is the best team to win the game. Elie [Youan] can give us real impact off the bench. It's going to be frantic at times. When things settle down, can give us a real impact off the bench.

"The boys are fresh and ready to go today. There will be plenty of people watching. All we can do is focus on ourselves in front of our own supporters.

"We've got the majority of the fans this time. It's going to be a derby full of passion and two sides who want to go out and win the game. Hopefully, both teams can put on a good performance and showcase the league and clubs that are steeped in history.

"As always, we have to defend well. Most importantly, we have to concentrate on how we play.

Even before the two late call-offs, there was little doubt about the stand out match on paper - the second Edinburgh derby of the season.

When the sides last met, Hibs fought back from two down to secure a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle and both teams have gone quietly about their business since.

Hearts sit third, five points and three places above Hibs and both have played the same amount of games.

If Nick Montgomery's side are to make in-roads to the coveted third spot, Hibs really need to be looking to win on home turf.

However, they are up against arguably the most improved side in the Premiership, with six wins in eight league games.

A festive cracker awaits.

When Kurtis Guthrie found the net against Aberdeen a week ago, it put an end to a run of seven games without a goal for Livingston - a dismal record that was last replicated in the 90s for a top-flight club.

David Martindale's have scored two goals in 10 games and routinely struggled to even rack up too many touches in the opposition box.

The manager looks to turn it around with almost their entire attacking arsenal all in from the off. Will it prove fruitful tonight?

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St Johnstone manager Craig Levein on BBC Radio Scotland: "I didn't think there was going to be a game earlier today - the weather has been horrible.

"Young Fran Franczak had a sickness bug and has been unwell, so has Ryan McGowan. Graham Carey and Chris Kane have played a lot of football, so Stevie May and Nicky Clark come in.

"Nicky Clark has proven himself at this level. We have struggled a little bit in the front line. His finishing ability is most welcome. We are just being really careful because he had a calf problem."

Jane Lewis
BBC Scotland at Almondvale

It's chilly in West Lothian, and the temperature is dropping, but at least we have some action to look forward to here.

David Martindale isn't too downbeat despite his side's miserable run. He says he still believes he can turn this around, and says his players have that belief too.

A small travelling support have made the trip, they're hoping to see their side bounce back after back-to-back defeats...

St Mirren v Kilmarnock: Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes has lost just one of his 29 meetings with St Mirren in the Scottish top flight (W12 D16), a 0-1 defeat with Aberdeen in August 2019.

Livingston v St Johnstone: St. Johnstone have kept just one clean sheet in 10 previous top-flight visits to Livingston, doing so in October 2018 in a 1-0 win.

Hibernian v Hearts: Hearts have only lost one of their last nine meetings with rivals Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership (W3 D5), although that was their last such away game in April last season (1-0).

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes says: "I live in the area and it's been chucking it down all day, so there was an obvious concern.

"The pitch here is brilliant, it's always firm, so I was always confident it would survive. Good on everyone for getting it on.

"We're all searching for consistency. There's not a lot between the teams and on any given day, any team can win. There's no surprising results. St Mirren still have really strong home form and we'll need to overcome that.

"We had good battles with them last season. The games were always tight and we had a decent record. You always get asked questions against Stevie's teams. They keep you honest and we'll have to do the basics right tonight."

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "The pitch looks fine, so credit to the groundstaff.

"There's a tiny area on the far side which will get brushed before the match, but the surface is decent and hopefully the wind calms down and we'll get a good game of football.

"The ground staff have worked tirelessly all day. Where I stay in Stewarton, I didn't think the game would be on. A lot of hard work has gone in and hopefully we can reward them with a result.

"Kilmarnock added pace and energy over the summer, which Derek told me in the summer he would do. It should be a good game, there's not a lot between the two teams.

"I'm very protective of the players. We haven't won as many games as we did early on and lost more than we should have done. We do need more chances to score more goals and we have to be conscious of that."

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Hearts could really strengthen their grip on third should they come away from Easter Road with three points tonight.

Were they to slip up though, a win for Kilmarnock in Paisley could see them go third for the first time this season.

Down the bottom, Livingston are looking for their first win in 11 - they are currently five points adrift.

It's also a trio of changes for Steven Naismith, as his side look to build on big wins over Celtic and St Mirren.

Craig Halkett makes way for Stephen Kingsley after making his first start in nearly a year, while Calem Nieuwenhof is in for Barrie McKay, who also recently returned from a long spell on the sidelines.

The final change comes further up the park, is Alan Forrest is drafted in to take the place of Yutaro Oda.

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After a disappointing performance in Perth last time out, Nick Montgomery makes three changes to his Hibs team.

Edinburgh derby veteran Paul Hanlon drops out for Rocky Bushiri, Jimmy Jeggo makes way for Josh Campbell, and Joe Newell returns from suspension to replace Elie Youan.

Jair Tavares, Martin Boyle and Dylan Vente will be looking to get in behind a solid Hearts defence in front of their home crowd.

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Just the one change for Kilmarnock after their solid 2-1 win over St Johnstone before Christmas.

Matty Kennedy replaces Liam Polworth, who drops to the bench. Kennedy is expected to move to the wing as Killie line up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Marley Watkins supporting Kyle Vassell up top.

Andrew Dallas recovers for a knock to take up a place on the bench.

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St Mirren make two changes from the side that lost 2-0 at Tynecastle through the week.

James Bolton, who signed from Plymouth in the summer, should slip onto the right of the back three. Marcus Fraser is expected to move to right wing-back, replacing Thierry Small.

Toyosi Olusanya is the other change, with New Zealand international Alex Greive dropping out completely.

After falling short against Kilmarnock on Saturday, St Johnstone's line-up shows four changes tonight.

The fit-again Nicky Clark makes his first start since 11 November, and spearheads the forward line with Stevie May. Oludare Olufunwa and James Brown are also given starts by Craig Levein.

Veteran Ryan McGowan and teenager Fran Franczak drop out through illness, while Chris Kane and Graham Carey are on the bench.

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