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Celtic begins life without Neil Lennon on a weekend off for the league’s leaders, the Rangers.
Aberdeen return to Celtic Park for the second time in 10 days and Hibernian are looking for a third home win after 28 months for two in a row.
As the fight for survival intensifies, Ross County is aiming for a third victory in four starts, as Kilmarnock desperately seeks a vanguard.
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Kennedy needs big strides rather than ‘small steps’ at Celtic
Is John Kennedy a serious contender for the Celtic job after Lennon’s departure?
The quietly talking 37-year-old seems like the odd man on a list of potential heavyweight replacements, but this is his chance to claim something.
Having also worked with Ronny Deila and Brendan Rodgers, the newly installed interim boss has been part of an enormously successful dynasty that has fallen apart in such spectacular fashion this season.
The fact that defensive failures have been such a glaring weakness may be a black mark against the former midfielder. It will be interesting to see how Celtic fare in that department now that Kennedy is in charge, but their hands are somewhat tied, with Kristoffer Ajer and rookie Stephen Welsh the only central defenders available for Sunday’s loss at Ross County.
Kennedy has talked about “small steps” and “going back to basics,” but this is an audition for a job, even if he insists it’s not an audition, which looks like it will involve major surgery on the team and a major reconstruction of summer.
A strong result in the league and success in the Scottish Cup were enough to lift Lennon from an interim position to his second season as manager in 2019. Kennedy, who starts at home to Aberdeen, will surely need something extra special from a team that it has not had a regrettable performance. be with a scream.
A chance for Hibs to shed some light on Dons?
If Celtic players respond positively to Kennedy’s temporary promotion, it would be a good chance for Hibs to pull away from Aberdeen in the race to finish third.
Jack Ross’s team is looking for a fifth straight league win and that hasn’t happened in the top flight since March 2011.
Back-to-back home wins have vastly improved what was a shaky record at Easter Road and the prospect of a hat-trick is bolstered by Martin Boyle’s brilliant form and Motherwell’s recent recession.
Boyle, who is used so often up the right, has thrived in a center hitting role alongside workhorse Christian Doidge and has five goals from that four-game winning sequence, though he did have a penalty saved by Ryan Fulton of Hamilton Academical. the last weekend.
Can Martin Boyle continue to score his scoring streak at home against Motherwell?
Motherwell, patched up in central defense of late, managed a goalless draw at St Mirren on Wednesday after two strong losses at home, but have not scored three points at Leith since August 2013 (D3 L4).
The Steelmen have scored 26 goals in 30 Premiership games this season. When last season it dropped at the same stage, that figure was 41.
For Hibs, already four points ahead of Aberdeen with a game in hand, the numbers are very similar: 41 goals in 29 this time, compared to 42 in 30. The big improvement has been at the rear, with 26 goals fitted in after letting 49 into one more match last time.
Can Kilmarnock stop the rot?
Tommy Wright is still waiting for his first points as Kilmarnock’s coach. The Northern Irishman has opened with three consecutive 1-0 losses, extending the Ayrshire club’s losing streak to eight.
That alarming drop has left them tied on points with Hamilton, while Accies and Ross County for 10th have recent successes to build on.
Killie desperately needs to find some momentum in his three outings before the league split; Dundee United at home, Ross County away and Motherwell at home.
Can Kyle Lafferty end Killie’s five-game streak without a goal?
Newcomer Kyle Lafferty had 45 minutes at Pittodrie last Saturday and the 33-year-old may be his best hope for survival. For that to happen, the former Rangers forward will need much improved serve down the flanks.
United, in a fight for sixth place, were overwhelmed at Ibrox last time out and have only won one of their last 13 league matches away from home (D6 L6). Local fans clinging to straws will note that the last time they suffered back-to-back losses was in September, against Kilmarnock and Rangers.
A win would be important to Buddies’ top six ambitions
St Mirren have become February’s draw specialist, with four in a row, and they could use a win as United and St Johnstone chase the only spot up for grabs in the top half of the table.
The Buddies have their nose up in that contest and have the apparent advantage of facing fighters County and Hamilton on either side of a trip to Ibrox before the divisional division.
Jim Goodwin, recently rewarded with a new contract, is always well organized by his side, but the goals have dried up and Wednesday’s boring stalemate with Motherwell will not linger.
“We have to go for the jugular and get that very important win,” Goodwin said, but how easy will that be against a team driven by a win over Celtic last Sunday?
Well, Dingwall’s team has been winless since the first weeks of the season in August and has only won one of their last six top-flight league trips to Paisley (D2 L3).
However, they will be fighting for their lives and will score maximum points on their last trip to Hamilton.
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Source: bbc.com
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