Scottish Premiership: Rangers go to Motherwell stay on Sky Sports activities in action-packed midweek card, with Hearts and Celtic additionally that includes | Soccer Information

Can Hearts stay high with Edinburgh derby win?

It’s the Scottish Premiership title race that’s refusing to comply with the previous script, with Hearts persevering with to paved the way on the summit.

Nevertheless, after struggling simply their third league defeat of the season in final Tuesday’s journey to St Mirren, can Derek McInnes’ aspect reply in opposition to their metropolis rivals seven days later?

Hearts will proceed to be with out the injured duo of Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin, whereas Craig Halkett, who scored the winner within the sides’ final Tynecastle assembly, is suspended because the Jambos picked up one other crimson card in that Paisley loss.

McInnes insists his aspect face “13 cup finals” between now and the top of the season in the event that they’re to be topped champions, however insists there isn’t a “additional nervousness” amid the tense title-race battle.

With either side having a free weekend after being knocked out of the Scottish Cup, Hibernian come into the sport following a dramatic victory over Dundee United as new signing Ante Suto scored a 93rd-minute winner.

He shall be certainly one of many new faces heading from Easter Street to Georgie for his or her first style of the derby – and head coach David Grey hopes his Hibs squad can keep “calm within the chaos” and benefit from the fixture.

Hibs is perhaps 15 factors adrift of their rivals heading into this fixture however with three wins of their final 4 conferences league in opposition to Hearts – they are going to be assured.

Added to that, solely Rangers (22) have extra factors than Hibs (14) within the league since Christmas. Ought to they win once more, they will transfer to inside one level of fourth-place Motherwell.

It stays to be seen if the leaders will come out on high on derby day, or if their rivals will dent their title hopes. Both approach, it’s extra than simply bragging rights at stake.

Rangers on a Röhl however Fir Park take a look at awaits

Wednesday eleventh February 7:00pm


Kick off 8:00pm

Just some months in the past, Rangers’ earlier boss Russell Martin wanted a police escort to go away Falkirk’s stadium because the Ibrox membership dropped down the desk. The whole lot was pointing in the direction of a two-horse title race between Hearts and Celtic.

Nevertheless, changing him with Danny Röhl has remodeled the Ibrox aspect into real title contenders who’re unbeaten of their final eight league video games.

That run, which has seen Rangers decide up extra factors than another membership, began with a 1-0 win over Wednesday’s opponents.

Seven wins have seen Rangers transfer into second spot, simply three adrift of Hearts and three away from Celtic – albeit their Previous Agency rivals have a sport in hand.

New signings have impressed too, with three of them scoring in Rangers’ final two outings. The feelgood issue is again – however will it final?

Motherwell have been identified for his or her attacking, possession-based and free-flowing soccer this season beneath boss Jens Berthel Askou.

Nevertheless, the opposite factor that’s simply as spectacular is their Fir Park kind. At residence, Motherwell have stored a clear sheet in every of their final 9 residence matches – eight of them being within the league.

“Initially, so long as we have now the ball, it is troublesome for the opposition to attain until we put it behind the web ourselves, which we have not finished,” Askou identified.

“The opposite factor is, if we have now the ball so much, they spend quite a lot of power on chasing it and defending in opposition to us. If we then pose a risk on the identical time, then they spend much more power on attempting to ensure we do not create possibilities and rating objectives.”

Ought to Motherwell decide up a well-known Fir Park win on Wednesday, stay on Sky Sports activities, then are they within the title race? Maybe they need to be in the event that they’re inside a degree of these above come full-time.

There’s a fair head-to-head once you have a look at the final six league conferences, with two wins apiece and the opposite two being drawn. One thing has to present and the stakes for each could not be greater.

O’Neill’s landmark night time however will Ox get debut?

For title rivals Celtic, they’re at residence to bottom-side Livingston on what shall be a major night time for Martin O’Neill.

The 73-year-old – in his second interim spell this season – takes cost of his 2 hundredth league sport. He has received 163 of them thus far, probably the most of any Hoops boss.

A lot of Celtic’s highlights this season beneath O’Neill have concerned Benjamin Nygren, who has scored in every of the membership’s final 4 league video games. The final participant to internet in 5 consecutive Premiership outings in his first season on the membership was Scott Sinclair a decade in the past.

From debut seasons to debut matches, will Celtic followers get their first glimpse of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in motion?

The previous Arsenal and Liverpool participant – who joined on Saturday – has been coaching with the Premier League leaders, however it stays to be seen if he can hit the bottom working after only a few days.

In the meantime, Livingston know they will want to provide the most important efficiency of their season in the event that they’re to get a win.

The Almondvale membership are winless of their final 23 league video games and firmly rooted to the foot of the desk.

Marvin Bartley is now in cost, with former boss David Martindale shifting upstairs, however the brand new man within the dugout will face the identical previous job that these earlier than him have failed at. They haven’t crushed Celtic in any of their final 22 journeys to Glasgow.

The chances are stacked in opposition to the guests, and the house crowd will count on an enormous win to assist hold the strain on their title rivals.

Battle on the backside

Two of the three golf equipment above Livingston meet in Ayrshire as Kilmarnock face St Mirren.

The hosts, now managed by Neil McCann, have only one league win in 18 outings. The excellent news is, that one victory got here throughout their final sport at Rugby Park, as they beat Aberdeen 3-0.

One other win at residence might see them transfer 9 factors away from the underside spot, and simply three adrift of these above as they appear to maneuver out of the relegation play-off spot.

Standing of their approach of doing which might be a St Mirren aspect who’ve picked up simply six factors away from residence all season, and are winless of their final eight league outings on the highway. Solely bottom-side Livingston have a decrease factors tally over that interval.

You have to return to Could 2013, when the Saints had been managed by Danny Lennon, for the final time they received within the top-flight at Kilmarnock – can that undesirable run finish on Wednesday?

Elsewhere, Dundee are additionally in that battle on the backside finish of the desk however shall be hoping they will put their very own away-day struggles behind them at Falkirk.

Steven Pressley’s aspect have only one win on the highway all season, and have scored the fewest of any membership with 5 objectives.

Each league conferences have been received the house workforce this season, and Falkirk will hope that pattern continues as they bid to strengthen their grip on the top-six.

The Bairns, promoted in the summertime, have received 5 of their final eight league video games and if one other is added to that tally on Wednesday, they might transfer stage on factors with Hibs, ought to they lose to Hearts the night time earlier than.

Who will win ‘New Agency derby’ to spice up top-six hopes?

Whereas Falkirk are the workforce to catch for that remaining top-six spot, Dundee United and Aberdeen is not going to have given up hope simply but.

They each have a sport in hand and meet at Tannadice Park, the place the hosts have a formidable file over the Dons.

Dundee United have received six of their final seven conferences within the Metropolis of Discovery. It’s protected to say Jim Goodwin hopes his aspect can discover a much-needed win on Wednesday – having watched his aspect lose their final 4 league video games.

In reality, either side are struggling, with Aberdeen – nonetheless managed by caretaker Peter Leven – choosing up only one win of their final eight league video games.

That run consists of 5 consecutive defeats on the highway. Ought to that flip to 6, it could serve an enormous blow to their hopes of reaching the sixth spot they need.