SPL preview 12th December

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12:45 Motherwell vs Celtic
Motherwell will be looking to bounce back from defeat to Hibs against league leaders Celtic.

Well boss Jim Gannon hopes to have Steve Jennings back for the visit of Tony Mowbray's side.

The former Tranmere midfielder has missed the last two games with an ankle injury.

Shaun Hutchinson (hamstring) and Chris Humphrey (ankle) have yet to return to training while Marc Fitzpatrick, Darren Smith and Paul Slane are continuing their rehabilitation following surgery.

Celtic have no fresh injury worries ahead of their SPL game at Fir Park.

Long-term injured midfielders Scott Brown and Shaun Maloney are still out.

The Hoops can go five points clear of second-placed Rangers for a few hours at least with a win in their lunchtime kick-off in Lanarkshire.

15:00 Aberdeen vs Hamilton
Hamilton will be without suspended striker Leon Knight for Saturday's trip to Aberdeen.

Unused substitute Knight serves a one-match ban for his part in sparking the tunnel brawl which marred Sunday's 2-1 win over Hearts.

Hamilton have no fresh injury concerns, with Derek Lyle and James Gibson (both knee) out for the season.

Aberdeen defender Jerel Ifil is suspended for following his red card at Celtic.

Midfielder Fraser Fyvie is doubtful with a groin strain but Sone Aluko could make his first appearance for more than a month following a stomach injury.

Defender Zander Diamond is unlikely to be risked after needing hospital treatment on a broken nose suffered in a freak training-ground collision last week.

15:00 Hearts vs Dundee Utd
Hearts face a tough task this weekend when they play host to in-form Dundee United.

The Jambos have struggled for consistency so far this season and have taken only one win from their last eight SPL fixtures.

United have been flying in contrast, with only one defeat all season keeping them on the coattails of the title-chasers.

Michael Stewart's red card reprieve means Hearts now have only three players suspended for Saturday's encounter.

Ismael Bouzid, Ian Black and Suso Santana are all banned following their dismissals in Sunday's chaotic defeat at Hamilton.

Ruben Palazuelos returns after attending the birth of his first child, Jason Thomson is back from a hamstring problem, while Lee Wallace and Jamie Mole should also be fit.

The same applies to Janos Balogh (hamstring) and Marian Kello (illness), but fellow goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald (ankle) is out, and striker Callum Elliot (knee) is a major doubt.

Andrew Driver (knee) and Marius Zaliukas (ankle) remain sidelined.

Dundee United will give late fitness tests to defenders Garry Kenneth and Mihael Kovacevic ahead of their trip to Tynecastle.

Kenneth has been suffering from a groin problem and has not trained all week, while Kovacevic is nursing a hamstring injury.

With Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis suspended, manager Craig Levein will call upon the fit-again Scott Robertson, but long-term absentees Lee Wilkie and Francisco Sandaza remain sidelined.

15:00 Kilmarnock vs Hibernian
Hibernian will make a late decision on Graham Stack's fitness before finalising their side to tackle Kilmarnock.

Stack missed last weekend's 2-0 win over Motherwell with a back problem and manager John Hughes admits he faces a dilemma choosing between Stack and Yves Ma-Kalambay if the former Arsenal player is declared fit.

Midfielder Kevin McBride (ankle) misses out for the third straight game, while Kevin McCann (hamstring) is back in training but still weeks away from a first-team return.

Kilmarnock have an unchanged squad for the weekend clash.

Full-back Tim Clancy is still three or four weeks away from returning from an elbow injury.

And goalkeeper Alan Combe is just making his way back into training following hip surgery.

15:00 Rangers vs St Johnstone
Allan McGregor has been ruled out of Rangers' SPL game against St Johnstone on Saturday but Kirk Broadfoot is available after nine months out.

Keeper McGregor misses the next two games with a hamstring problem, while full-back Broadfoot could make his first appearance since March's Co-operative Insurance Cup final.

Strikers Kris Boyd and Steven Naismith both return from injury, though Maurice Edu has suffered a minor setback in his recovery from knee surgery after incurring an ankle knock.

St Johnstone captain Kevin Rutkiewicz will miss the trip to Ibrox after suffering a medial ligament injury in training which could keep him out for three months.

Striker Collin Samuel will undergo an exploratory operation on his knee to determine the damage sustained in last weekend's game against Kilmarnock and also misses the trip to Glasgow.

Defender Stuart McCaffrey is also toiling with a groin strain.

15:00 St Mirren vs Falkirk
Craig Dargo and Lee Mair are doubts for St Mirren's SPL clash with Falkirk at St Mirren Park.

Striker Dargo has a hamstring problem while stopper Mair is struggling with a thigh strain.

Andy Dorman is out with a hamstring injury while Allan Johnston misses out after suffering a recurrence of a groin injury.

French midfielder Toufik Zerara comes into the Falkirk squad.

The 23-year-old is looking to make his debut after joining on a one-month deal in midweek.

Sean Lynch (hamstring), Mark Stewart (stomach), Jackie McNamara (knee), Burton O'Brien (hernia) and Tam Scobbie (pelvis) remain on the sidelines.

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Clydesdale Bank Premier League
Motherwell 2 - 3 Celtic
Hearts 0 - 0 Dundee Utd
Aberdeen 1 - 2 Hamilton
Rangers 3 - 0 St Johnstone
St Mirren 1 - 1 Falkirk
Kilmarnock 1 - 1 Hibernian​

Celtic came from behind to beat Motherwell in a thrilling encounter at Fir Park.

Marc-Antoine Fortune came off the bench to grab the winner to keep Celtic at the top of the table.

Georgios Samaras gave Celtic the lead on 14 minutes, but goals from Lukas Jutkiewicz and Mark Reynolds turned the game in Motherwell's favour at the break.

Aiden McGeady drew Celtic level six minutes after the restart with a clinical finish and Barry Robson then missed from the penalty spot with John Ruddy saving the midfielder's effort.

Fortune grabbed the winner 11 minutes from time when he smashed a superb shot from the edge of the box high into the net past Ruddy.

Rangers remain two points behind Celtic after a comfortable 3-0 victory over St Johnstone.

Kris Boyd gave Rangers the perfect start with the opener inside the first minute and he added a second from the penalty spot on 27 minutes.

Nacho Novo made it 3-0 on 51 minutes to put his off-field problems behind him.


Hibernian missed the chance to keep pace with the Old Firm after being held to a 1-1 draw at Kilmarnock.

Mark Burchill broke the deadlock on 54 minutes, but the lead proved short-lived as Anthony Stoke drew Hibs level six minutes later.

Danny Cadamarteri missed a penalty as Dundee United were held to a goalless draw at Hearts.

Hamilton moved into seventh spot with a shock 2-1 win at Aberdeen.

Mickael Antoine-Curier fired Hamilton in front on 32 minutes, but Gary McDonald drew Aberdeen level 15 minutes from time.

Hamilton netted the winner on 80 minutes with a fine finish from James Wesolowski.

Carl Finnigan's late goal earned Falkirk a precious 1-1 draw at St Mirren.

Michael Higdon fired St Mirren in front on 53 minutes, but Finnigan popped up with the equaliser two minutes from time.


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