Summary

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  • FT: Kilmarnock 1-0 Hearts - Schjonning-Larsen taps in unmarked

  • Hearts now just two points in front of chasing Celtic; Rangers go to St Mirren tomorrow

  • Kilmarnock nine above bottom-placed Livingston, level on points with Saints

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  1. Do or die for Well's title hopes?published at 14:46 GMT 14 March

    Celtic v Motherwell (15:00)

    Motherwell beat Celtic 2-0 at Fir Park in their last meeting in December and only lost on their last visit to Celtic Park 3-2 in October courtesy of a last-minute goal from Daizen Maeda.

    Former Gothenburg head coach Jens Berthel Askou has been much lauded for his tactical nous and playing style since taking over last summer, so much so that he has been touted as the man to take over at Celtic at the end of the season.

    However, he has his work cut out to restore their title challenge after their nine-game unbeaten league run was ended away to Dundee and they missed a chance to move to within a point of third-top Rangers - and two of Celtic.

    Motherwell's Stephen Welsh and Jens Berthel AskouImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    On-loan Celtic centre-half Stephen Welsh is unavailable to Jens Berthel Askou

  2. Which title challenger will drop points?published at 14:44 GMT 14 March

    Celtic v Motherwell (15:00)

    Are games running out for Hearts' title challengers with just nine rounds of games left? At least one of them will have dropped points after today's meeting of second against fourth at Celtic Park.

    Even after an upturn in Martin O'Neill's second spell as interim manager, reigning champions Celtic are 17 points worse off than at the same stage last season.

    However, a second-half comeback that secured a point away to Rangers, followed by a win over Aberdeen, have taken Celtic a point above their city rivals.

    They again showed their resilience with a backs-to-the-wall display on their return to Ibrox on Scottish Cup duty on Sunday to secure a goalless draw before progressing to the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out.

    Four away games within 10 days, including a Europa League win over Stuttgart, have been scaled without defeat despite some key absences.

    Come through another testing game unscathed today and O'Neill's side have three matches against bottom-six teams before the Premiership splits into two for the final five games of the season.

  3. Top four square up in fourth tierpublished at 14:42 GMT 14 March

    Scottish League 2

    East Kilbride have a five-point lead at the top of the fourth tier as they visit fourth-top Stranraer.

    But the game of the day is second-top Spartans entertaining third-placed Clyde.

    • Annan Athletic v Edinburgh City
    • Elgin City v Dumbarton
    • Spartans v Clyde
    • Stirling Albion v Forfar Athletic
    • Stranraer v East Kilbride
  4. 'Difficult' against new manager - McGlynnpublished at 14:40 GMT 14 March

    Aberdeen v Falkirk (15:00)

    Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "Picked the same team for Kilmarnock, Dundee United and now this game. Looking to make it three wins in a row.

    "We're in a difficult circumstance now Aberdeen have a new manager. Who knows? They might get that new manager bounce.

    "A very experienced manager and I'm sure, in the very short time he's had, he'll get them playing the way he wants to play.

    "At the same time, we've got our own causes to fight. We want to guarantee sixth place and face any challenge in front of us."

    John McGlynnImage source, SNS
  5. Bartley stresses importance of togethernesspublished at 14:38 GMT 14 March

    Hibernian v Livingston (15:00)

    Livingston manager Marvin Bartley tells BBC Scotland: "I wouldn't say morale was low when I came in and that can only improve when you are picking up points.

    "We know we are in a difficult position, but we also know we can get out of this situation. It's in our own hands."

    On the five changes to his XI, he adds: "It's a squad game and these boys deserve to play. It's all about all of us being in this together."

  6. Robinson aiming to provide 'stability'published at 14:36 GMT 14 March

    Aberdeen v Falkirk (15:00)

    Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "It's been a whirlwind 48 hours. We've only really had one proper session with the boys.

    "We're hoping for a little reaction and we've made the game simple, tried to simplify the things they were doing and the things that were causing them problems.

    "They lost the ball a lot playing out from the back, so we're trying to play the ball in the opposition half, trying to deliver more balls in the box. Sometimes people try and complicate football a lot.

    "It's a huge football club. The opportunity arose. I loved my time at St Mirren, got nothing but super memories, but when a job like Aberdeen comes up, it's very difficult to turn that down."

    Stephen RobinsonImage source, SNS
  7. 'We'll go for it with a bit of gusto'published at 14:34 GMT 14 March

    Celtic v Motherwell (15:00)

    Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill tell BBC Scotland: "The stakes are high and they have been for quite a number of weeks. It’s two teams who still feel they have a chance of the title, so it should be very, very open with Motherwell playing a very attractive style of football.

    "We’re looking forward to it.

    "Any manager will tell you that you have to try and impose your own game on teams. That’s been difficult for us, but we have to find a way to do it.

    "What I’ve liked about the team is that they have shown great resilience, like last Sunday, the fourth game in 10 days. They could have gotten really tired, especially in extra time, but they had that ‘never say die’ attitude in the game.

    "There was an excuse for that last week with Rangers pushing us back, them being at home and like our fourth game in 10 days, but now we’ve had a couple of days to recuperate, we will go for it with a bit of gusto, with everything we can, and see what happens."

    Martin O'NeillImage source, SNS
  8. Will Caley Thistle stretch lead?published at 14:31 GMT 14 March

    Scottish League 1

    Third-tier leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle head into their home game against Cove Rangers with a two-point advantage, and a game in hand, over Stenhousemuir, who visit Peterhead.

    • Hamilton Academical v Queen of the South
    • Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Cove Rangers
    • Kelty Hearts v East Fife
    • Peterhead v Stenhousemuir
    • Montrose v Alloa Athletic
  9. Fife derby top of the billpublished at 14:29 GMT 14 March

    Scottish Championship

    After last night's 2-1 win for Partick Thistle over Greenock Morton, St Johnstone's lead at the top of the second tier is down to five points as they entertain second-bottom Ross County.

    The biggest crowd of the day will be at East End Park as fourth-top Dunfermline Athletic host Fife rivals Raith Rovers, while third-placed Arbroath visit bottom side Airdrieonians.

    Meantime, you can watch highlights of last night's controversial affair in Greenock below.

    • Airdrieonians v Arbroath
    • Dunfermline Athletic v Raith Rovers
    • Queen's Park v Ayr United
    • St Johnstone v Ross County
    Media caption,

    Partick Thistle score late to down 10-man Greenock Morton

  10. Boyle bowing out in summerpublished at 14:27 GMT 14 March

    Hibernian v Livingston (15:00)

    It was confirmed this week that Martin Boyle will be saying his goodbyes at Hibs come the end of the season.

    If the 32-year-old Australia forward gets off the bench today, he is sure to get a good reception in what will be his 399th appearance for the Easter Road club.

    Eight of his 108 Hibs goals have come against Livingston and one of his best was an absolute screamer at home to the West Lothian side in 2016.

    Hibs forward Martin BoyleImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Martin Boyle has boots and will be travelling elsewhere in the summer

  11. Robinson changes shape and swaps fourpublished at 14:25 GMT 14 March

    Aberdeen v Falkirk (15:00)

    New Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson reverts his new charges to the 3-5-2 he used regularly at St Mirren this season, making four changes in the process.

    Defenders Liam Morrison and Gavin Molloy come into a back-three, with Dennis Geiger reinstated in the middle of the park. Marko Lazetic starts up top, next to Kevin Nisbet.

    Tom McIntyre and Nicolas Milanovic drop out completely, while Lyall Cameron and Topi Keskinen have to make do with places on the bench.

    Aberdeen head coach Stephen Robinson arrivesImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Stephen Robinson is all smiles as he arrives at Pittodrie

  12. Oliver back but only fit enough for benchpublished at 14:23 GMT 14 March

    Aberdeen v Falkirk (15:00)

    Falkirk name a side unchanged from the XI that beat Dundee United last week in the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

    The biggest news is that striker Gary Oliver is back from injury. It could be his first appearance since November in the league.

  13. Five changes for Livingstonpublished at 14:20 GMT 14 March

    Hibernian v Livingston (15:00)

    Livingston welcome back wing-back Cristian Montano from suspension, while Joel Nouble starts up top with support from Stevie May.

    Cammy Kerr and Mo Sylla are also in for the league's bottom side.

    Emmanuel Danso, Robbie Muirhead, Lewis Smith, Babacar Fati and Ryan McGowan are the players dropping to the bench.

    Livingston manager Martin BartleyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Former Hibs midfielder Marvin Bartley is back at Easter Road as Livingston manager

  14. Suto earns first start for Hibspublished at 14:18 GMT 14 March

    Hibernian v Livingston (15:00)

    Ante Suto makes his first Hibs start after scoring three goals and providing one assist in five appearances off the bench.

    He takes over from on-loan Tottenham Hotspur striker Dane Scarlett in the only change from the 3-3 draw away to Dundee.

    Right-back Chris Cadden is back from injury to take a seat on the bench.

  15. Sparrow in for Welsh; Halliday on benchpublished at 14:14 GMT 14 March

    Celtic v Motherwell (15:00)

    Motherwell make just one change from the defeat away to Dundee last week.

    On-loan Celtic centre-half Stephen Welsh in ineligible against his parent club and is replaced with Tom Sparrow.

    Midfielder Andy Halliday is on the bench for Jens Berthel Askou's side for the first time since October.

    Motherwell midfielder Andy HallidayImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Andy Halliday makes a rare appearance on the visiting bench

  16. LINE-UPS from Pittodrie Stadiumpublished at 14:12 GMT 14 March

    Aberdeen v Falkirk (15:00)

    Aberdeen: Mitov, Milne, Morrison, Molloy, Lobban, Shinnie, Geiger, Armstrong, Frame, Nisbet, Lazetic.

    Substitutes: Bratveit, Heltne Nilson, Bilalovic, Palaversa, Olusanya, Cameron, Jensen, Aremu, Keskinen.

    Falkirk: Bain, Lissah, Donaldson, Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Tait, Broggio, Yeats, Miller, Stewart.

    Substitutes: Hogarth, Adams, Graham, Neilson, Cartwright, Oliver, Allan, Ross, Williams.

  17. No Araujo as Celtic make three changespublished at 14:10 GMT 14 March

    Celtic v Motherwell (15:00)

    Celtic's Martin O'Neill makes three changes from the side that started last weekend's Scottish Cup quarter-final win over Rangers.

    Colby Donovan replaces Julian Araujo at right-back, with the on-loan Bournemouth defender missing out altogether.

    Fit-again Kieran Tierney comes back in at left-back, meaning Liam Scales moves back to central defence in place of the suspended Auston Trusty.

    Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Luke McCowan in midfield.

    Kieran TierneyImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Kieran Tierney returns at left-back

  18. LINE-UPS from Easter Road Stadiumpublished at 14:08 GMT 14 March

    Hibernian v Livingston (15:00)

    Hibernian: Sallinger, O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, Passlack, Chaiwa, Barlaser, McGrath, N Cadden, Suto, Elding.

    Substitutes: Smith, Youan, Boyle, C Cadden, Andrews, Campbell, Garananga, Scarlett.

    Livingston: Prior, Kerr, Wilson, Kabongolo, Montano, Finlayson, Sylla, Pittman, Tait, May, Nouble.

    Substitutes: J Smith, Fati, McGowan, Muirhead, McKay, L Smith, Bokila, Danso, Arfield.

  19. LINE-UPS from Celtic Parkpublished at 14:07 GMT 14 March

    Celtic v Motherwell (15:00)

    Celtic: Sinisalo, Donovan, Arthur, Scales, Tierney, Hatate, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Nygren, Yang, Tounekti, Maeda.

    Substitutes: Doohan, Cvancara, McCowan, Iheanacho, Bernardo, Saracchi, Murray, Forrest, Ralston.

    Motherwell: Ward, Sparrow, McGinn, O'Donnell, Longelo, Fadinger, Watt, Slattery, Just, Said, Maswanhise.

    Substitutes: Oxborough, Gordon, McGhee, Halliday, Bjorgolfsson, Nicholson, Priestman, Ross, McAllister.

  20. Postpublished at 14:07 GMT 14 March

    Let's not keep you waiting any longer and get to the team news...