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Five things we learned from the Scottish Premiership this weekend

Five things we learned from the Scottish Premiership this weekend
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It was Celtic's 10th domestic win out of 10 fixtures in 2020, with 10 league games remaining.

Celtic moved 12 points clear after another big weekend in the Ladbrokes Premiership title race.

The Hoops bounced back from an early blow to beat Kilmarnock 3-1 and take another major step towards a ninth consecutive title following Rangers' 2-2 draw against St Johnstone.

Here are five things we learned from the weekend's action.

Steven Gerrard is looking for solutions to his defensive woes

The Rangers manager admitted he would need to come up with something after his side conceded two "silly, silly goals" in a 2-2 draw with St Johnstone. Niko Katic looked particularly vulnerable as the back four struggled to cope with balls up to goalscorers Callum Hendry and Stevie May. Gerrard's men have now conceded six goals in their last three away league matches.

Mix-ups can have positives consequences

Stevie May celebrates scoring his side's second goal
Stevie May celebrates scoring his side's second goal (PA)

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright decided to take May off five minutes before his late equaliser – but the message did not get through to his kit man, who held up the number for right-back Anthony Ralston, who Wright had originally intended to take off. Saints had to hold on without a recognised right-back as Rangers threw men forward following the 80th-minute leveller but the blunder ultimately proved beneficial to the Perth team.

Celtic racing clear but Lennon cautious

The Hoops were in tremendous form in their 3-1 win against Killie after going a goal down after seven minutes to an Eamonn Brophy penalty.

It was Celtic's 10th domestic win out of 10 fixtures in 2020, with 10 league games remaining but Lennon played down talk of making it nine successive titles in a row.

He said : "I don't want to talk about titles. I just want to talk about the game.

"The title is a million miles away as far as we are concerned, we just want to concentrate on our affairs. Since the turn of the year we have been magnificent."

Aberdeen were 'shattered'

So claimed Derek McInnes after his side went down to a 2-1 defeat by Ross County following Dean Campbell's first-half red card. The Dons had won 4-3 in an extra-time thriller at Kilmarnock on Wednesday and McInnes admitted they did not have enough in the tank to cope with the numerical disadvantage.

Motherwell could emerge from their slump in a commanding position

Stephen Robinson's side made it seven games without a win but they coped better than Aberdeen with 10 men as they held out comfortably for a goalless draw at Hamilton following Christopher Long's first-half dismissal. They could have snatched a late winner too but came off to find they had jumped back above Aberdeen into third with a game in hand at home to St Mirren on Tuesday.

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Rangers manager Steven Gerrard on December 29, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic000080265478
2RangersRangers000072234975
3Hearts000046341262
4Kilmarnock00004334951
5St Mirren00003843-543
6Dundee00004454-1041
Relegation Group
1Hibernian00004451-739
2Motherwell00004651-537
3Aberdeen00003549-1435
4St Johnstone00002446-2231
5Ross County00003256-2430
6Livingston00002259-3718
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
12Livingston3339212259-3718


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