The Scottish Premiership is set to be decided this weekend, with Celtic all but securing the title. However, the race for the final top-six spot and the battle to avoid relegation are still wide open. Here’s what to look out for this weekend.
The Game of the Weekend is the Edinburgh derby between Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian. The Tynecastle board sacked manager Robbie Neilson after a home defeat by St Mirren allowed Aberdeen to overtake them and move into third spot. Hearts have been getting results even with below-par performances, but have now descended into a run of five straight defeats. Steven Naismith has been installed as caretaker, with Robert Snodgrass also negotiating an early exit. Meanwhile, Hibs have slipped out of the race for third after four consecutive defeats, leaving them in danger of dropping out of the top six should Livingston better their results over the next two games.
The Player to Watch is Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen. The Dutchman has matured like a good cheese and is in the form of his life, having scored 18 goals in the league and 22 overall. His seven goals in his latest four games have been instrumental in lifting the Lanarkshire team out of the relegation zone, and he is only four behind John Sutton’s Motherwell record of most goals in a single Premiership campaign.
The Manager in Spotlight is David Martindale of Livingston. His side were heading into the top six until Motherwell scored an equaliser in the final seconds of their final pre-split game last year. This time, they have dropped to seventh after two lacklustre and damaging 3-0 defeats on the road. Livingston need to improve on a run of one win in eight as they host St Johnstone in order to avoid another top-six disappointment. The plus points for the West Lothian side are that they are at home, have won both meetings so far this season with Callum Davidson’s side and the visitors from Perth themselves are without a win in five outings as they sit only five points clear of the relegation play-off place.
This weekend could be decisive for the Scottish Premiership, with Celtic all but securing the title and the race for the final top-six spot and battle to avoid relegation still wide open. The Edinburgh derby between Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian is sure to be a highlight, while Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen is in the form of his life and Livingston manager David Martindale is looking to avoid another top-six disappointment.