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5 things we learned from this weekend's Scottish Premiership action

5 things we learned from this weekend's Scottish Premiership action
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Brown was given a second yellow card by referee Bobby Madden for his off-pitch celebrations.

Scott Brown's last-gasp deflected strike gave Celtic a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock and took the Hoops eight points clear of Rangers at the top of the Ladbrokes Premiership.

The already-booked midfielder was given a second yellow card by referee Bobby Madden for his off-pitch celebrations after Killie defender Kirk Broadfoot had already been given his marching orders in the second half.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at five things we learned from the weekend's action.

Celtic on their way to eight in a row

The Hoops' late winner at Rugby Park was testament to their spirit under Brendan Rodgers. It was Celtic's eighth-successive domestic win of 2019 and they have yet to lose a goal. The eight-point lead they enjoy over Rangers, who could only draw 0-0 with St Johnstone at Ibrox on Saturday, will surely be enough to secure yet another title.

Consistency is possible with youngsters

Motherwell won a sixth-consecutive top-flight game for the second time in 82 years thanks to a last-gasp 2-1 win over Hearts. The goalscorers were again 19-year-old Jake Hastie and David Turnbull who, together with fellow academy player Allan Campbell, have netted nine of the team's last 10 goals. Stephen Robinson is currently getting the best from his young players week in, week out.

Steven Gerrard's January recruits not delivering what was expected

The Rangers faithful could barely contain their excitement when it was confirmed Jermain Defoe and Steven Davis had been brought in to boost the Ibrox title push. But so far neither has proved they can help bridge the gap on Celtic. Both men started against St Johnstone on Saturday, as did fellow new recruit Glen Kamara for the first time, but their years of experience did little to unnerve Tommy Wright's rigid Saints side as they held on for a 0-0 draw. Defoe was starved of service but did little to involve himself in general play while Davis and Kamara look far from sharp.

Paul Heckingbottom favours evolution not revolution

New Hibernian head coach Paul Heckingbottom named an unchanged team for his first game in charge, although he tweaked the formation from a midfield diamond to provide more width. Heckingbottom stuck to four simple instructions to avoid flooding his team with information and the approach worked as Hibs beat Hamilton 2-0. The former Leeds boss vowed to gradually introduce more of his ideas in the weeks and months ahead.

Dundee are lifting their support

Literally. Ryan McGowan lofted a child above his head and out of some wild celebrations as Dundee moved out of the bottom two for the first time this season with a 2-1 win at Livingston. It was a third game unbeaten for Jim McIntyre's new-look side.

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Today's games header
Result
Blanch
Nadal
1 0
6 6
Result
Cachin
Ofner
6 6
3 3
Result
Elahi Galan
Bautista-Agut
64 6 1
77 4 6
Result
Gasquet
Sonego
2 5
6 7
Result
Hanfmann
Mensik
4 63
6 77
Result
Koepfer
Carballes Baena
1 6 65
6 3 77
Result
Kovacevic
Medjedovic
6 5 4
3 7 6
Result
Lajovic
Monteiro
4 3
6 6
Result
Machac
Ruusuvuori
6 1 6
4 6 2
Result
Michelsen
Fonseca
6 0 2
4 6 6
Result
Nishioka
Auger-Aliassime
6 1 4
4 6 6
Result
O'Connell
Arnaldi
4 1
6 6
Result
Purcell
Giron
4 6 77
6 4 62
Result
Ramos-Vinolas
Kotov
3 4
6 6
Result
Tabilo
Cobolli
7 4 4
5 6 6
Result
Zhizhen
Kecmanovic
3 2
6 6
Result
Azarenka
Maria
6 6
3 1
Result
Eala
Cirstea
3 78 4
6 66 6
Result
Annie Fernandez
Potapova
7 6
5 3
Result
Gauff
Rus
6 6
0 0
Result
Keys
Camelia-Begu
77 78
63 66
Result
Podoroska
Navarro
2 1
6 6
Result
Karolina Schmiedlova
Jabeur
4 7 3
6 5 6
Result
Swiatek
Wang
6 6
1 4
Result
Sorribes Tormo
Svitolina
6 7
3 5
Result
Vekic
Sakkari
3 2
6 6
Result
Arango
Yastremska
6 5 4
0 7 6
Result
Osaka
Samsonova
2 6 5
6 4 7
Result
Ostapenko
Bouzas Maneiro
6 6
3 1
Result
Haddad Maia
Errani
6 6
3 2
Result
Lourdes Carle
Kudermetova
6 6
4 4
Result
Mertens
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6 3 1
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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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