Boothy’s predictions

Our resident expert Scott Booth will run his eye over the weekend's Clydesdale Bank Premier League fixtures each week and give his big match predictions.

As a former Scottish international striker and current Setanta Sports Scottish football analyst we feel he's pretty qualified to give a weekly run down of who's doing what in the SPL, check out his latest predictions here.

Dundee Utd 1 - 1 Rangers

You can't underestimate how big a win that was for Dundee Utd in the Highlands last week. Not just the 3-1 victory but the manner in which they went about it must have sent out a very strong signal to those clubs intent on challenging Levein's men for a third place finish this term. Jon Daly is finally repaying the faith his manager has shown in him and, vitally, is staying fit enough to show just how capable he is to lead the Utd line. Craig Conway is in the same boat and is a player I have admired for a long time because he can give natural width and quality delivery from either wing- a much sought after ability in the SPL! Surely, with a couple of quality additions to their squad the Tannadice faithful will begin to let their minds wander to the possibility of European nights next season. Meanwhile Rangers proved they can bounce back in style from defeat at Tynecastle with a comprehensive goal fest against Hamilton at Ibrox. Nevertheless, this week will definitely be a lot trickier for a title chasing team who don't travel particularly well.  

Aberdeen 2 - 1 Falkirk

Aberdeen have answered a few questions over the last couple of months with 14 points taken out of a possible 24. The team needed to dig deep both for themselves and their manager at a time when their supporters were becoming restless, especially at Pittodrie.  Their 2-0 win over Motherwell was an excellent three points but it came at a cost. Their most influential player, November's Clydesdale Bank Young Player of the Month Sone Aluko, has picked up a hamstring strain and will be sorely missed. But even so, Aberdeen should have enough to make it another successful home encounter against the Bairns who have taken just one point from their last three matches.

Celtic 3 - 1 Hearts

Hearts made it a fantastic five wins on the trot two weeks ago when they ran out 2-1 winners against Rangers at Tynecastle in an enthralling match. They will not have wanted last weekend's tie at Fir Park to have been called off when in such a rich vein of form but the rest will have done them no real harm - unlike all the back page headlines surrounding their financial plight! So far the players are handling everything that is being thrown at them but this week they face the last side that beat them, Celtic. Gordon Strachan's men will still be reeling after defeat at the hands of Hearts capital rivals Hibs last Sunday. Just how they react to the end of their 12 match winning streak and the closing of that seven point gap at the top of the league to four will be key in what should be an absolute belter at Celtic Park.

Hibernian 2 - 0 Hamilton

Hibs got their game plan absolutely spot on last week against Celtic to stop the Champions notching a fabulous 13 match winning streak in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Defensively they were strong with good performances from all 4 of the back line but the midfield 'centre half' pairing of Bamba and Thicot worked a treat as an extra protective layer. Celtic found it impossible to play through Hibs centrally and the Hogg, Jones partnership at the back mopped the rest up admirably. O'Brien was a willing out down the left and Rankin, Fletcher and Nish dangerous on the break. Not that Mixu Paatelainen can play that way every week of course. For example, I don't think benching Derek Riordan regularly is the way to go but on that occasion it was an inspired choice by the manager. Hamilton will not relish a trip to a sky high Hibs at Easter Road after an Ibrox humbling last week. Especially as they prop up the rest of the table once again, even if it is by a solitary point.

St Mirren 2 - 1 Inverness CT

Last week's 2-1 victory for St Mirren in Falkirk was such an important result for Gus MacPherson's troops. Before kick off they had occupied the dreaded relegation place so the win showed plenty of grit. In my opinion The Buddies are playing very good football on a weekly basis without getting the rewards they deserve but the tide may be about to turn. Dennis Wyness finally got on the score sheet after what seemed like an endless drought and if you're a betting man stick a fiver on him for 1st goal in one of the last ever matches at Love Street. It's incredible that a home win could lift them to as high as eighth in the table but having said that a win for Inverness would keep them in amongst the group chasing that coveted top six finish! That's how tight this league is and it looks likely to stay like that for a while at least. I think I'll go with momentum on this one and back a home win but given my recent prediction record I could be putting a hex on a valuable three points for the Paisley side.

Motherwell 2 - 1 Kilmarnock

Both club's matches last week were called off due to the weather so it will be interesting to see how the break affects two sides who are struggling to find any consistency this season. So far Motherwell have found it impossible to replicate the kind of performances they churned out on a regular basis last term. This fixture would have signalled another three points a year ago but they will be a lot harder to come by at Fir Park on Monday evening. Kilmarnock haven't won now in three weeks (if you include the non event last Saturday) so Jim Jeffries will be looking for three points to propel them back into the top six. Killie's recent form hasn't been bad but points have been extremely difficult to come by which always points at one failing in particular...an inability to find the net! Yes, it's getting close to that time of the year again when managers all over the country start writing out their requests to Santa...I'll bet a striker is top of Jim's list.

Scott Booth was talking to Robbie Balfour