Rangers beat Motherwell 1-0; Celtic won 2-1 at St Mirren; Hibs lost 2-1 at St Johnstone; Hearts beat Dundee 2-1; Aberdeen vs Kilmarnock was goalless; Dundee United drew 1-1 with Falkirk; watch St Johnstone vs Celtic on Wednesday night, live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm Injury blows, international losses and pressure mounting on THREE managers. We may be less than two months into the new Scottish Premiership season, but there is already plenty of drama and talking points. While Rangers and Celtic will have to cope without key players for very different reasons, some managers are already feeling the heat after a struggling start. Martin O’Neill’s Hoops remain the only team on maximum points and are already 16 points ahead of the league’s current bottom side, Kilmarnock.
Lawrence Shankland could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines just as he was finding his feet at Rangers. The striker appeared to suffer a hamstring injury in Saturday’s win against Motherwell – an issue which kept him out at Hearts for three months last season. Ryan Naderi did come on to score the only goal against the Steelmen and Rangers did bring in £9m striker Kevin Kelsy on deadline day, so you could argue it is not an area they are short in. But, Shankland’s injury comes after they had already lost forward Youssef Chermiti for a “significant period” with an ACL injury.
There is also Bojan Miovski, but he has struggled to get a consistent run since his move to Ibrox from Girona last summer. He scored 13 in all competitions in his first season at Ibrox, averaging a goal every 142 minutes. Naderi’s average for Rangers last season was a goal every 203 minutes. Compare that to Shankland’s average under McInnes at Hearts last season – that was a goal every 86.5 minutes.
Hyun -Jun Yang scored the winner for Celtic at St Mirren and is becoming an instrumental player as they made it five victories from five in the Premiership this season. But, they will now have to cope without him for their next four games as he heads off to the Asian Cup with South Korea. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player From a player who almost left the club in January, to excelling under Martin O’Neill’s guidance. Two goals and an assist in seven games show his influence this season.
Last term, he scored 10 goals and provided three assists. Yang is impressive on the flanks and would likely be the first choice on the left were it not for his international commitments. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Hearts ended last season in second, and that is where they currently sit after their dramatic last win at Dundee. After losing McInnes, Shankland and Cammy Devlin to Rangers in the summer, many questioned how much success they would have under new head coach Wouter Vrancken.
But after some bruising European defeats and a loss to Aberdeen on the opening day of the Premiership, they are unbeaten and deserve to be at the top end of the table. While Hearts are impressing, it is a very different situation across the capital at Hibernian. After losing the Edinburgh derby in midweek. a loss to Premiership newcomers St Johnstone appears to have ramped up the pressure on David Gray. The head coach is always just a few poor results from fan criticism, next they face a trip to face League One side Ross County in the League Cup.
A game now fraught with danger for the former Hibees captain. Aberdeen were booed off after their goalless draw with Kilmarnock, leaving Stephen Robinson with just one Premiership win in five. The expectations are high at Pittodrie, but they have scored just three league goals while conceding six and the fans are furious. Robinson brought in 14 new players this summer, but it is clear he is yet to find his best XI.
How much time does he have to turn things around? If things are bad for Gray and Robinson, then spare a thought for Killie boss Neil McCann. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Saturday’s point against the Dons is the best his side have managed after he saved them from relegation at the end of last season. It is four goals scored vs 14 against for the Rugby Park side in the Premiership as McCann admits they have let the fans down.
But the former Dundee boss insists he and his players can turn things around. After a point at Pittodrie, they take on Aberdeen again this weekend in the League Cup quarter finals. A must-win match for both managers. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m!
