S P L preview 30th January

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12:30 Hamilton vs Celtic
Hamilton will be hoping to move away from the relegation zone against title-chasing Celtic and New Douglas Park.

The Accies' form has tailed off of late having gone five SPL games without victory following a 2-1 win at Aberdeen.

Celtic's title hopes took a knock in midweek after going down 2-1 to Hibs at Parkhead on the back of beating St Johnstone.

Hamilton manager Billy Reid has a couple of injury doubts for the visit of Tony Mowbray's troops.

Alex Neil and Mickael Antoine-Curier are both slight concerns but will have their fitness assessed as late in the day as possible.

Joel Thomas - who has rejoined Accies on loan from Colchester - will be in the squad if the paperwork is completed on time.

Mowbray is boosted by the availability of no-nonsense midfielder Landry N'Guemo.

The Cameroon international has trained after returning from the African Cup of Nations and will be considered for the trip to Lanarkshire.

Glenn Loovens, who missed the midweek defeat against Hibernian after needing stitches in a head knock sustained against St Johnstone last weekend, is out again.

15:00 Aberdeen vs Motherwell
Aberdeen host Motherwell at Pittodrie on Saturday looking to build on a 3-0 defeat of Hearts in midweek.

The Dons are set to give Peter Pawlett a late fitness test ahead of the weekend's SPL clash.

The young midfielder missed Wednesday night's win at Hearts with a knee injury.

Andrew Considine (hip) could miss the rest of the season, while Sone Aluko (pelvis) is a week away from a return to the squad.

Motherwell midfielder Giles Coke is suspended after he was sent-off for a mistimed challenge on Falkirk midfielder Scott Arfield in midweek.

Shaun Hutchinson (hamstring) is likely to be Motherwell's only other absentee.

15:00 Hibernian vs St Mirren
Hibernian are set to welcome back Sol Bamba and Merouane Zemmama for Saturday's SPL game with St Mirren.

Defender Bamba has returned from African Nations Cup duty with Ivory Coast and could go straight back into the team alongside captain Chris Hogg.

Playmaker Zemmama has shaken off the hamstring problem which saw him miss the last two matches and also expected to feature.

Meanwhile, Rangers forward Rory Loy could come into the St Mirren squad for the weekend fixture after joining the club on Friday.

The 21-year-old has gone the Buddies on loan until the end of the season to get some game-time and he will be desperate to show what he can do in the Easter Road clash.

But Chris Smith and Tom Brighton remain on the long-term injured list and will play not part against Hibs.

15:00 Kilmarnock vs Dundee Utd
Kilmarnock will be without striker Mark Burchill for Saturday's home game against Dundee United.

The former Scotland international suffered a hamstring strain during the goalless draw with Hamilton in midweek and could be out for six weeks.

Frazer Wright faces a similar period on the sidelines after having an ankle operation, while Ryan O'Leary (knee) and Allan Russell (thigh) are also out.

However, second-bottom Killie have confirmed that caretaker boss Peter Houston will stay in charge till the end of the season.

Dundee United are likely to be without captain Andy Webster for the trip to Rugby Park.

The centre-half missed Wednesday's 3-3 draw with St Johnstone because of a calf strain and has been unable to resume training since.

Fellow defenders Garry Kenneth and Darren Dods are still suffering from knocks they took in last weekend's 4-1 win at Falkirk.

But they both played 90 minutes in midweek and are expected to play through the pain barrier yet again for fourth-placed United.

Francisco Sandaza (groin), Lee Wilkie (knee), Danny Cadamarteri (calf) and Scott Robertson (groin) are all definitely ruled out though.

15:00 Rangers vs Falkirk
Rangers will be hoping to extend their lead at the top of the SPL table when Falkirk make the trip to Ibrox.

The Gers are currently 10 points ahead of rivals Celtic, having played a game more, and the Hoops face an away game at Hamilton.

Kenny Miller will undergo a late fitness test but is rated doubtful with a hamstring injury which forced him out of the midweek win at St Mirren.

DaMarcus Beasley remains on the sidelines for the visit of the league's bottom side with a thigh strain, but could return for next week's League Cup tie against St Johnstone.

The Scottish champions will also be without Pedro Mendes, who is set to seal a move to Sporting Lisbon after both clubs agreed a fee.

Madjid Bougherra is on international duty with Algeria at the African Nations Cup, while Kris Boyd continues his recovery after a hernia operation.

Brian McLean will return from injury to be part of the Falkirk squad to face the leaders.

Pedro Pele has dropped out of the Bairns squad after undergoing surgery on the Achilles injury he suffered during the midweek draw against Motherwell.

Tam Scobbie is back in the squad following a four-month lay-off with a pelvic injury but he is unlikely to play.

15:00 St Johnstone vs Hearts
St Johnstone's Graham Gartland returns from suspension for their SPL clash against managerless Hearts.

Liam Craig is a doubt with a hamstring injury but manager Derek McInnes is hoping Jody Morris (pelvis) and Murray Davidson (sickness) recover.

Goalkeeper Alan Main has been suffering with a bug but has trained and should be fit.

Hearts, who sacked manager Csaba Laszlo on Friday, could travel to McDiarmid Park with an entire team out injured.

Ruben Palazuelos and Scott Robinson (both knee) are extremely doubtful, while Ian Black (back) and Lee Wallace (hip) are definitely out.

Andrew Driver is set to be on the bench after almost three months out with a knee injury, while Jose Goncalves will make his comeback from a thigh problem and Christian Nade returns from suspension.

But Suso Santana (paternity leave), David Templeton (foot), Gary Glen (stomach), Calum Elliot, Craig Thomson, Johnny Stewart, (all knee), Laryea Kingston (hamstring), Arvydas Novikovas and Jamie MacDonald (both ankle) remain sidelined.
 
Rangers maintained their lead at the top of the SPL, Celtic edged out Hamilton and Kilmarnock and Dundee United played out a 4-4 thriller.

Leaders Rangers proved too strong for basement boys Falkirk running out 3-0 winners at Ibrox.

Steven Davis set Rangers on their way on 18 minutes with a superb free-kick with his second goal in three days.

John Fleck added a second on 57 minutes and Steven Whittaker got in on the act with a third just past the hour mark.

Morten Rasmussen scored his first Celtic goal to help them to a 1-0 win over Hamilton at New Douglas Park.

The recent signing from Brondby came off the bench to score the winner on 67 minutes as Marc-Antoine Fortune failed to add to Celtic's lead, with Tomas Cerny keeping out the striker's penalty in stoppage time.

Jim Jefferies began his second tenure in charge of Hearts with a 1-0 defeat at St Johnstone.

Kenny Deuchar scored the only goal of the game on 51 minutes to give the Saints all three points.

Kilmarnock and Dundee United shared the spoils after an amazing 4-4 draw at Rugby Park.

Prince Bauben gave United the lead on 16 minutes, but Simon Ford fired Killie level four minutes later.

Two goals in five minutes from Craig Conway (28, 33) put the visitors in control before Kevin Kyle pulled a goal back four minutes before the break.

Manuel Pascali's drew Kilmarnock level on 55 minutes before Craig Bryson put the home side in front on 64 minutes.

However, that was not the end of the scoring as Jon Daly equalised for United from the penalty spot just two minutes later.

Jack Ross' last-gasp own goal gifted Hibernian a 2-1 win over St Mirren at Easter Road.

Souleymane Bamba put through his own net to give St Mirren a shock lead after just nine minutes, but Liam Miller drew Hibs level on 33 minutes.

The game looked set to end all-square until Ross unfortunately scored an own goal to give Hibs all three points.

Motherwell leapfrogged Aberdeen in the table and into fifth spot with a 3-0 win at Pittodrie.

John Sutton set Motherwell on their way with the opener on 29 minutes and loan star Lukas Jutkiewicz added a second five minutes after the break.

Sutton completed a great day for Craig Brown's troops with his second and his side's third on 53 minutes.
 
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