Following last week’s international break the SPL takes centre-stage again this weekend with a host of intriguing fixtures. Sunday’s clash between Dundee United and Celtic is the pick of the bunch but Rangers will be looking to take the lead in the SPL for at least 24 hours when they host Kilmarnock on Saturday.
Hibs could draw level with Celtic if they can return from a trip to Paisley with three points. Hosts St Mirren have seen their good run come to an end with defeats to Hamilton and Rangers, and with away matches against Celtic and Dundee United up next they will be looking to take points from their home fixture.
The vacant Scotland managers position may mean that some SPL bosses are under greater scrutiny than usual and that will be the case for Jim Jefferies as he takes his Kilmarnock side to Ibrox. Opposite number Walter Smith has ruled himself out of the running to succeed George Burley but a profile-raising win for Killie could see Jefferies being viewed as a serious contender for the post.
Dundee United have put in some decent performance against the Old Firm in recent years and Craig Levein is another manager under the microscope who will be trying to grab the headlines this weekend. However, his side have failed to beat Celtic in the league for 10 years.
Celtic have been rocked by the news that Scott Brown has been ruled out until January and the confidence of central defensive pairing Gary Caldwell and Stephen McManus will have taken a battering following the disaster in Wales last week. However, for all the criticism Tony Mowbray has endured Celtic’s league results have been mostly good and three points won at Tannadice would keep Celtic’s noses in front at the top of the table.
Hearts take on St Johnstone in Saturday’s early kick-off and Csaba Laszlo will face a tough task against Derek McInnes’ side. Most would have expected Hearts to be sitting higher than eight place in the SPL at this stage in the season and Laszlo knows his side have to start scoring goals if they are to climb the table. Derek McInnes will have noted the fact that hearts have only scored nine goals in 11 games but having seen his side concede 23 so far this season he will probably know his side will have to score to take anything from the match.
Motherwell host Aberdeen in a game that sees Mark McGhee return to Fir Park for the first time since leaving to move north in the summer. McGhee showed a willingness to tempt Jim O’Brien north this week, prompting a sharp response from Jim Gannon and the Aberdeen manager will face a fiery reception in Lanarkshire.
The card is completed by a bottom of the table clash where Falkirk take on Hamilton. It may be too early to talk about relegation deciders but with Falkirk still waiting for their first SPL win of the season they will know that a home tie against the side directly above them comes close to being a must win.
Last updated: 20 November 2009, 15:15
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