As the Scottish Premiership season ticks towards February, let’s break down the latest round of fixtures.
Game of the Round – Hibernian v Rangers
Eight straight league victories have propelled Rangers into second place, and despite a 3-1 defeat in Porto, optimism remains high on the blue side of Glasgow.
Danny Rohl, who secured his first away win at the Ibrox helm on a cold October night at Easter Road, now looks to Sunday’s return fixture to edge closer to the high-flying Jambos.
The January arrivals of Andreas Skov Olsen, Tochi Chukwuani, and Tuur Rommens have fueled the belief that a first Premiership title since 2021 is within reach, setting the stage for an electrifying few months.
In contrast, Hibernian are reeling from a dismal end to January; after a Scottish Cup exit at the hands of former boss Neil Lennon, they were soundly beaten 4-1 by an invigorated Falkirk.
With top scorer Kieron Bowie reportedly nearing a £6 million move to Hellas Verona, David Gray needs a mammoth performance from his side to claim their first win over Rangers since 2016.
As Easter Road prepares for Sunday’s clash, the question is whether Rangers will stretch their winning run to nine games or if Hibs can ease the mounting pressure on their manager.
Player to Watch – Marc Leonard
The Birmingham midfielder joined Derek McInnes’s side just days before Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Celtic, signing a loan deal until the end of the season that could see the former Hearts youngster become a vital part of their title charge.
With Cammy Devlin sidelined by injury, Leonard appears to be an ideal replacement for the influential Australian; despite some early nerves on his debut, he grew into the game by showcasing an impressive passing range and a relentless work rate against the Celtic midfield.
Having proven he is up for the fight, Leonard will likely keep his place for Saturday’s trip to Tannadice, where another positive performance could help Hearts extend their lead at the summit to seven points.
Team Spotlight – Kilmarnock
Neil McCann’s appointment at Rugby Park came as a surprise to many, marking his return to the dugout for the first time in over five years.
His tenure has seen mixed results so far; after battling to a draw against Livingston, Kilmarnock suffered a disappointing Scottish Cup exit followed by a heavy defeat to an in-form Motherwell.
Now precariously sitting in 11th place, McCann’s side must rely on their home form to survive, and a clash with an inconsistent Aberdeen side this Saturday offers a prime opportunity to kick-start his Ayrshire reign.
With the 4-0 loss at Fir Park stretching Killie’s winless run to 16 matches, all eyes are on whether they can finally end their horror streak this weekend.
