Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Easter Road

The late goal conceded in the derby at Tynecastle on Tuesday night may have darkened a few clouds around Easter Road this week, but they go into this game against St Mirren in the knowledge of being unbeaten in the last four against the visitors.

Indeed, only Celtic and Rangers have taken all three points at Easter Road since November 2024, when the Buddies won 2-1.

Stephen Robinson's side also need to pick up some points to ease away from the drop zone.

The victory over Hearts 12 days ago is their only win in the Premiership this year, but they have won on three of the last four league visits to Easter Road, so they have a solid proven record.

Image source, SNS

Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

Dundee have rightly been lauded for an upturn in performance over the last few months.

But the harsh reality is that they remain in 10th place and go into this match without a win in four league games – although that does come with the caveat that they have been a tough quartet of fixtures, at home to Hearts then away to Rangers, St Mirren and Falkirk.

After five games on the road, they will hope that home comforts will help them return to the victory trail to avoid getting sucked in to a basement battle.

With just one win in the league all season – in August – to say Livingston are heading for last chance saloon is an understatement.

Nine points adrift at the bottom, it goes without saying that a defeat in the City of Discovery would see them move another step towards dropping through the relegation trapdoor.

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Dundee have failed to score in their latest four Premiership games and only visitors Livingston have had fewer goal attempts in the top flight this season.

That would suggest a likely low-scoring game today, but the two previous meetings between the sides this season have already produced nine goals.

By 3-2, Dundee made it four wins in a row over Livi in their last visit in September before stretching their unbeaten run to five with December's 2-2 draw at Almondvale.

The plethora of goals is probably down to both sides being in the top four for goal attempts faced, with Dundee suffering more than Livi.

Despite Falkirk's long absence from the top flight, they are unbeaten in their latest four meetings with United.

That includes the two from this season so far.

Although United did manage a 2-2 draw on their last visit to Falkirk in August, the Bairns enjoyed an impressive 3-0 victory at Tannadice in November.

Andy Halliday
Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound

I think we're past a must-win for Livingston now. They really need a consistent level of performance and results.

Over the last few years, they've always been hard to beat, but I think they've gone away from that this season.

The trajectory they've been on over the last two months, I think they've been a lot more impressive performance-wise - yes, the results have still been a bit indifferent.

I think it's more than a must-win for Livingston today, but they have to start somewhere. They need the three points.

Hibs are unbeaten in four games against St Mirren, recording an impressive 3-0 win in Paisley in November.

However, the three previous games were draws, including a 1-1 share of the spoils in August that means the Buddies have not lost in four visits to Easter Road.

St Mirren have scored 21 goals from 314 shots in the Scottish Premiership this season, a ratio of 6.7% - the lowest of any side.

Hibs, meanwhile, have an 11.8% ratio (41 goals from 346 shots), second only to league-leaders Hearts (13.1%) in 2025-26.

Make of that what you will...

Falkirk and United's trajectories have been moving in opposite directions in recent months.

Only title challengers Hearts and Celtic have won at Falkirk Stadium in 11 games there since St Mirren left with three points in September.

Overall, they have won five of their latest six outings, the only defeat also coming against Celtic.

In contrast, United have lost four of their latest five, their only win coming at home to second-tier Ayr United in the Scottish Cup.

Livingston head coach Marvin Bartley tells BBC Sportsound why new signing Barrie McKay isn't in the matchday squad:

"We’ve brought Barrie in because he brings us something very different to what we currently have," he says. "He brings a lot of quality and we need that in the final third.

"He’s not played for a long time, so we’re going to have to build him up. People have said we don’t have a lot of time, but we need to get a happy medium with him.

"Yes, it’s going to be like a pre-season for him, but he needs a little bit into his legs before he’s available for selection. The last thing I want to do is put him out there too early and get him injured."

As for Livi's position at the bottom of the table, Bartley adds: "The league table never lies, but in terms of taking encouragement [from the performance against Celtic], I’ll tell you at the end of this game. The same effort and application is needed today and in every game."

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St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "Hopefully no thrills and spills - a solid performance, a 1-0 victory would be fine. It's been a real rollercoaster of a season, very much up and down.

"That's why we are where we are in the league, lack of consistency. We're very disappointed in the game the other night. We score three goals and don't come away with anything.

"And that's because we didn't defend properly. Individual errors, individual decisions. We have to get away from that, because we're up against a very good Hibs side.

"Everyone in the bottom six is [in a relegation battle]. A couple of wins and it sucks people in. Everyone is involved and there's no getting away from it."

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Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin tells BBC Sportsound: "Obviously we've got a couple of games in hand on Falkirk. It's a huge game for both teams.

"We know how good Falkirk are. John McGlynn's done a terrific job. They play some really good, attacking football.

"From our own perspective, we played really well at Easter Road. Obviously didn't get the result that we wanted in the end in the fashion that we conceded the two late goals.

"If we can reach those levels again in possession then I think we can cause Falkirk a lot of problems."

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Dundee have earned plaudits recently for their play under Steven Pressley, but they are back in relegation trouble after a run of four games without a win.

However, they had to play their latest five away from home and will be glad to be back at Dens Park - and particularly against a bottom-placed side who have gone 26 games without a win.

Pushing David Martindale upstairs and handing the managerial reigns to Marvin Bartley has failed to turn the corner amid four straight defeats.

Livingston have not won in 14 games on the road since beating East Fife in the opening League Cup group game of the season in August and have lost their latest six away matches.

However, both sides came close to shock results at Celtic Park this month before being edged out 2-1 courtesy of late goals - Dundee in the Scottish Cup and Livi in the league.

Hibernian head coach David Gray tells BBC Scotland: "First start for Owen [Elding], three changes from the last game. One enforced, with [Munashe] Garanagna coming out through injury.

"It's good to have Warren [O'Hora] back and the other is just about freshness. I'm looking forward to seeing Owen play. He's come in and been unfortunate not to get on so far.

"He came on and did well in the Rangers game. I hope to see that youthful energy and desire right from the very start. I think he's a player with a really bright future.

"The result is the most important thing. My job is to win games of football. It breeds confidence and allows you to build momentum, which is huge."

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

For all the rain there has been in this part of the world of late, the pitch at Dens Park looks pretty decent.

Although I am sure it will be pretty soft underfoot.

However, it looks like a surface that will be conducive to some decent football - so fingers crossed.

Hibs have now only won once in six outings overall, but Easter Road is becoming a bit of a fortress.

The fifth-top hosts are six without defeat at home since losing to Celtic in November and, when it comes to the Premiership, only the reigning champions and Rangers have won there in 25 home league games.

Indeed, against non-Old Firm clubs, Hibs remain unbeaten in 19 home league games, with the last such side to beat them being today's visitors in November 2024.

In contrast, St Mirren have won just once within 90 minutes in their last 11 outings - two Scottish Cup victories coming after extra time.

Indeed, the Buddies are without a win in nine Premiership away games.

Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Sportsound: "It's been a very busy spell. Every game's been difficult.

"We're are at the end of this really busy period. We're delighted with the points we've picked up in the period - we need to keep adding to it.

"Dundee United missed out on a game and will probably be the fresher of the teams. We've tried to rotate the squad a little bit here and there, trying to keep some freshness coming into the team. Hopefully, we've done that well enough to get some points today.

"Dundee United are one of the teams who could catch us and obviously Aberdeen are in a good position behind us so we want to try and continue to make that gap bigger.

"It's a six-pointer, almost, so to speak."

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Dundee head coach Steven Pressley tells BBC Sportsound: "There’s been a lot of pleasing aspects to our performances of late. We went to a really difficult venue at Falkirk and I thought we have a really strong and positive performance.

"We understand what’s missing at present, the final moments, and we need to find them. But the one thing that’s clear is that I do trust these players. Part of my job is to improve them and make them better.

"On another day, I could be standing talking to you on the back of a win at Celtic Park or Falkirk, which our performances merited. Sometimes you don’t get that in football, but you’ve got to keep believing in what you’re doing."

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Three games are casualties to the weather in the fourth tier.

But leaders Spartans are still in action at home to bottom side Edinburgh City, while second-top East Kilbride visit sixth-placed Annan Athletic.

• Annan Athletic v East Kilbride
• Dumbarton P-P Stranraer
• Elgin City P-P Forfar Athletic
• Spartans v Edinburgh City
• Stirling Albion P-P Clyde

All games survive in the third tier, where leaders Inverness Caledonian Thistle visit a Hamilton Academical side who were docked more points in midweek - they now lost 21 points to sit second bottom instead of third place.

That game is live on BBC Alba at 17:30.

But, before then, Stenhousemuir can draw level with Caley Thistle should they beat visitors Montrose.

• East Fife v Cove Rangers
• Kelty Hearts v Peterhead
• Queen of the South v Alloa Athletic
• Stenhousemuir v Montrose
• Hamilton Academical v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (17:30, live on BBC Alba)

With leaders St Johnstone extending their lead with a win over Airdrieonians last night (watch the winner below), and with two games postponed this morning, there are only two games left in the second tier.

Sixth-placed Raith Rovers visit the side one place and two points below the, Greenock Morton.

However, there is an even dogfight below, with bottom side Queen's Park visiting second-bottom Ross County with just one point between them - and a win for either would lift them above Airdrieonians with games in hand.

• Arbroath P-P Ayr United
• Dunfermline Athletic P-P Partick Thistle
• Greenock Morton v Raith Rovers
• Ross County v Queen's Park