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Five talking points from this weekend's Scottish Premiership action

Odsonne Edouard's double helped Celtic make it four wins in a row.

Ryan Jack scored a goal-of-the-season contender for Rangers while Celtic made it four straight wins for the first time since October.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at five things we learned from the weekend's Scottish Premiership action.

Odsonne Edouard back to his best

St Johnstone v Celtic – Ladbrokes Scottish Premiership – McDiarmid Park
Odsonne Edouard netted twice as Celtic turned things around at McDiarmid Park on Sunday (Ian McNichol/PA)

The Frenchman has been out of sorts this season amid continued speculation over his future. Question marks over his commitment to the Parkhead cause have certainly been merited at times but credit to the 23-year-old, he has hit back at his critics with eight goals in six games. Celtic needed him to be on it as they fell behind to Shaun Rooney's opener for St Johnstone and he came up with the goods to notch a quick-fire double that handed Neil Lennon's team a 2-1 win.

Rangers remain imperious at Ibrox

Ryan Jack's wonderful first-half volley gave the Light Blues a narrow but deserved 1-0 home win over Kilmarnock on Saturday. Steven Gerrard's side finished the weekend 18 points ahead of reigning champions Celtic having played a game more. Ibrox is proving to be impenetrable for opponents. Rangers have won all 14 league games in Govan this season and Jack's goal was the 40th scored at home in the league with only one conceded, the type of statistic which belongs to champions-elect.

Hamilton are Lanarkshire derby kings

After their 4-1 triumph at Fir Park, Accies have won six Scottish Premiership games this season and half have come against Motherwell. Since the start of November, Brian Rice's men have scored as many goals against their local rivals – seven – as they have done against the rest of the league put together. They were three up after half an hour as they made it five games unbeaten against Motherwell.

Lawrence Shankland finding his feet in the top flight

A lot was expected of the Scotland striker as he stepped up to the Premiership after his 29-goal campaign with Dundee United last term but he has taken time to adapt. However, he now has four goals in eight games since the turn of the year after netting twice in the Tangerines' 3-0 win over Livingston. Now on seven for the season he will be targeting double figures at least, which would represent a decent end to the season.

Toothless Aberdeen lacking bite

Derek McInnes is coming under increasing pressure to turn around the Dons' season but a lack of goals is not helping his case. Saturday's 0-0 draw with St Mirren means Aberdeen have now gone five games without finding the net. McInnes needs new strikers Florian Kamberi, Fraser Hornby and Callum Hendry to get up to speed ASAP.

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Today's games header
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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