Celtic's Dingwall mission after Saturday Scottish Premiership results

By John McGinley

April 1, 2023

Far more often than not this season Celtic have been playing after our closest Scottish Premiership rivals in each round of fixtures and this weekend is no different. Ange Postecoglou’s Bhoys will again be playing to restore a nine-point lead at the top of the table after this afternoon’s results.

Celtic have just nine games remaining in the top-flight and the final push towards a title starts on Sunday lunchtime away to Malky Mackay’s Ross County.

But where did today’s results across Scotland leave the table and what went down on another frantic afternoon in this football daft nation?

Kilmarnock shock Hearts, St Mirren win big

It wasn’t a great day for Hibernian, who lost 3-1 at home to Motherwell after an early goal from Sean Goss and a Kevin van Veen double in the second half. It’s a blow to their European and even top-six hopes after big results for other teams around the league.

That includes wins for Aberdeen and St Mirren, both of whom are ahead of Lee Johnson’s outfit in the table. The Buddies’ Saturday was particularly impressive as they hammered Livingston in Paisley by a 3-0 margin, all of which were scored in the first half. The Dons continued their good run under Barry Robson with a 1-0 victory away to St Johnstone.

Rangers comfortably beat bottom side Dundee United at Ibrox, as expected, with Malik Tillman netting a double ahead of next week’s massive derby at Celtic Park.

United wouldn’t have expected much from that one but their loss was compounded by a shock Kilmarnock win over third-placed Hearts that moves the Ayrshire side six points clear of the Tannadice club. Jim Goodwin will be hoping for a Celtic win over their other relegation rivals Ross County tomorrow.

Celtic in good shape for Ross County trip

A Rangers win today will have been no surprise to anyone at Celtic or any of the club’s supporters. We were always fully expecting that this trip to the Highlands would be in the context of the lead now being six points at the top of the table, with a game in hand.

The Bhoys are in strong shape for the away test despite injuries to Liel Abada and Anthony Ralston. Ange Postecoglou will still be able to name a very strong eleven. Certainly, they will be red-hot favourites. And the business must be done.

Celtic deserve huge credit for the relentless form shown since September, but now certainly isn’t the time to be dropping points considering we host Michael Beale’s mob next week. Relentless has been the word of the season and it’s time to show that again.

In other news, Scott Brown’s English League One battle with former Celtic teammate ends in draw.