Premiership Battles: Hearts Face Aberdeen, Rangers Visit St Johnstone

Hearts currently occupy the bottom position in the Premiership standings as they prepare to resume league play at home against Aberdeen on Sunday. Hibernian’s victory at Motherwell on Saturday has left their Edinburgh rivals three points behind. The question is whether Neil Critchley’s squad can secure a much-needed win over the Dons. Meanwhile, Rangers aim to build on their impressive Europa League win in Nice as they kick off Sunday’s league double-header with an away fixture against St Johnstone. The initial boost Hearts experienced following Critchley’s appointment has somewhat dissipated. An opening run of three wins and only one loss in his first five games in charge has been succeeded by four consecutive defeats. However, Critchley will likely emphasize to his players that two of those losses occurred in the Conference League, with the others coming against either of the Old Firm clubs. Despite this, Thursday’s performance against Cercle Brugge showed some promise, though the Belgian side ultimately secured a 2-0 victory. They capitalized on Lawrence Shankland’s sudden dip in confidence after the Scotland striker missed an opportunity to equalize from the penalty spot. Hearts and their captain cannot afford to dwell on their recent setbacks, as second-placed Aberdeen visits, aiming to inflict a fourth consecutive home defeat on the Edinburgh team. The Dons themselves have encountered their initial setbacks since Jimmy Thelin’s summer transfer from Elfsborg. After achieving 12 victories in their first 13 matches under the Swedish manager, they have now secured only one win in their last four outings. Furthermore, they have failed to win in their last four away games from Pittodrie, following Hibs’ late equalizer in Tuesday’s high-scoring 6-goal encounter at Easter Road. Shankland will be hoping Aberdeen’s defense proves equally vulnerable on Sunday. The 29-year-old, who netted 33 goals last season, is seeking to break an 11-game scoring drought since registering his sole goal of the current season. Hearts might require such a performance if they are to inflict Aberdeen’s sixth consecutive defeat at Tynecastle, or at minimum, prolong their 12-game unbeaten streak against the Dons at that venue, a run that began after a 2-1 loss in May 2017. Philippe Clement likely received news of Rangers’ 4-1 Europa League victory against Nice with a combination of joy, satisfaction, relief, and frustration. The joy is understandable, given that the win in the south of France not only surprised many across Europe but also means the Belgian’s team is virtually guaranteed advancement to the knockout stage. Satisfaction would stem from Hamza Igamane validating Clement’s choice to start the 22-year-old over underperforming striker Cyriel Dessers, as he contributed two goals and assists in his inaugural European start. Relief arises amidst ongoing speculation regarding his managerial future, following a poor beginning to the Premiership season. Frustration, however, stems from his team’s inconsistent “Jekyll and Hyde” performances, contrasting their erratic domestic displays with their strong showings in European competition. Amassing only four points, Rangers have recorded their lowest total from the first five away matches of a league season since the 1987-88 campaign under Graeme Souness. Nevertheless, upcoming fixtures against St Johnstone, Kilmarnock, and Ross County present Clement with an opportunity to alter the domestic perception before new chief executive Patrick Stewart assumes his role on 16 December. This transition will occur shortly after more challenging encounters, including Tottenham Hotspur in Europe and Celtic in the League Cup final. The indicators are positive for Rangers on Sunday, even though Simo Valakari’s team concluded their own three-game losing streak by defeating Kilmarnock 1-0 last Saturday. Rangers have emerged victorious in both of their encounters with St Johnstone this season and in their last three visits to McDiarmid Park, achieving clean sheets in all of them. They have also won their previous seven matches against the Perth-based club. Sandi Toksvig will be accompanied by Gyles Brandreth, Lulu, Emmanuel Sonubi, and Alan Davies. Take the microphone for performances by Queen, Taylor Swift, Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, and other artists. Ben Fogle and Kate Humble return for the celebratory events at Longleat Safari Park. Topics range from microplastics found in our air, soil, and waterways, to the significant amount of food waste generated during this period of the year. This content is © 2024 BBC. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the material found on external websites. Further information regarding our policy on external linking is available.