St Mirren 0-0 Livingston
How did that stay out?
St Mirren threaten from a corner with Jonah Ayunga having his effort from close range blocked and then the ball ricochets around before Livingston scramble clear.
St Mirren 0-0 Livingston
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA
Livingston going with a back three to match up to their hosts.
Dan Finlayson, Danny Wilson and converted midfielder Mo Sylla at the back.
Tete Yengi and Jeremy Bokila up top, supported by Stevie May.
Image source, SNSRoland Idowu was penalised for this early challenge on Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior
Mark McKenzie
Dundee United 0-0 Hibernian
Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Tannadice
Huge blow for Dundee United. Ryan Strain's game is over after just a couple of minutes after picking up an injury.
He has already missed a fair chunk of the season.
Dario Naamo is the replacement.
Motherwell 0-0 Dundee
Dundee are really aggressive in their pressing and it almost pays off!
Tony Yogane intercepts a pass across Motherwell's box but his effort is sent behind for a corner, which comes to nothing.
Dundee United 0-0 Hibernian
Early problem for United as Ryan Strain goes down injured while fouling Nicky Cadden.
The right-back is holding his inner thigh and now receiving treatment.
Motherwell 0-0 Dundee`
Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park
Lovely tribute to Dixie Deans there as both sets of players around the centre circle lead the applause for the former Motherwell players.
And we're up and running...
St Mirren v Livingston (15:00)
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA
What on earth could St Mirren put on the big screens this afternoon to bring some Christmas cheer to their fans?
Ah yes, repeat after repeat of those cup final-winning goals against Celtic last weekend.
Image source, SNSToday's match programme in Paisley
Kilmarnock v Falkirk (15:00)
Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park
A reset for Kilmarnock after manager Stuart Kettleweel's departure with interim boss Kris Doolan searching for a degree of stability and backing from supporters.
10 games without a win is a long stretch to endure. Doolan pointed pre-match to the quality of players in the building and he needs them to demonstrate that fast.
Falkirk have failed to score in their last four. A draw at Ibrox and a home stalemate with high-flying Motherwell help to ease too much concern within that run.
They will continue to learn in the top flight environment according to manager John McGylnn. To date, they've succeeded well beyond expectation.
St Mirren v Livingston (15:00)
Kheredine Idessane
BBC Scotland at the SMISA
As Premier Sports Cup-winning St Mirren seek a third consecutive victory to turbo-boost their festive season, spare a thought for Livingston.
The Scottish Premiership basement boys have not won a football match since 9 August. That's matchday two, to you and I.
That's a solitary league win so far this term and they have zero victories on the road.
If they want to avoid being cut adrift at the wrong end of the table, they need to start picking up points.
Image source, SNSDavid Martindale looks in high spirits in Paisley
Dundee United v Hibernian (15:00)
Hibs head coach David Gray has revealed that Chris Cadden is absent as the right-back's wife gave birth last night, one of three enforced changes and with three players at the Africa Cup of Nations.
"It's not ideal, you don't want them to go away, but we knew that when we signed them and it is certainly not an excuse," he tells BBC Scotland.
"It is an opportunity for others to come in. Zach Mitchell has had to be patient, but he's been training well and I'm looking forward to seeing how he does.
"We played well for two thirds of the game against Rangers and we need a complete performance and we need to make sure we start well."
Dundee United v Hibernian (15:00)
United manager Jim Goodwin is hoping his side can build on the fine midweek win over Celtic.
"The performance on Wednesday, especially in the second half, was excellent in all the key stats that you look at, the main one being the result and goals scored," he tells BBC Scotland.
"We backed up a really good result against Motherwell with Wednesday and we have to do it again today.
"We knew that this part of the calander was always going to be tough. The last game against Hibs was very entertaining with lots of goals and we hope for another good game today."
Image source, SNSVicko Sevelj comes back into United's starting XI
St Mirren v Livingston (15:00)
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Sportsound: "You always want more, that's how we're programmed. You can't rest on your laurels.
"It was a brilliant achievement, of course. It'll be remembered in St Mirren's history.
"Life goes on and the season goes on. I want the exact same work ethic, I want to see the data after the game to be better than it was last Sunday.
"Everything has to be better to win the game because if you don't, you become easy to play against. This is a game that's all about mentality now.
"Livi are a decent side. Real respect for Davie [Martindale]. This is a tough, tough game for us."
Image source, SNSFT: Kilmarnock v Falkirk (15:00)
Falkirk manager John McGlynn tells BBC Scotland: "It looks like they're going to a back four, quite narrow in midfield and two strikers up top.
"So a midfield battle would be the result of that and we're going to have to match them and use our strength in the wide areas.
"We've played four of the top five so it's been difficult to score goals. But we're not disrespecting Kilmarnock but we're hoping to create more opportunities and take them."
Image source, SNSKilmarnock v Falkirk (15:00)
Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: "We've got good players. They've been very unlucky for one reason or another.
"For me it's a bit of confidence. We're in the Premiership for a reason, you've been signed by this club for a reason.
"Their attitude is brilliant. For me it's about channelling that passion into a game plan and style of play.
"We've tried to do it as best we can. The players feel it's on their heads to give the fans something to cheer about."
Image source, SNSMotherwell v Dundee (15:00)
Dundee boss Steven Pressley tells BBC Scotland: "I'm expecting a really difficult game.
"They are averaging nearly 65% possession in the games, they're a team that really wants to play and dominate the ball so it's going to be a challenge for us.
"But I've gone with a team that I think has good energy, good legs and hopefully we can surprise a few people."
On Simon Murray's absence, Pressley adds: "One of the main reasons is that Motherwell have a lot of the ball, transitions against them are really important and Ash Hay is lightning quick and very effective on transitional play.
"That was the tactical element, the other element is that Simon's had a bit of a disruptive season, there's a lot of stress with carrying the burden of the captaincy and I think this is just a little reset for him."
Image source, SNSMotherwell v Dundee (15:00)
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou tells BBC Scotland: "We have to keep doing what we've been doing well.
"I think we've been good at shutting down oppositions' counter-attacks. I want us to invest an extra run in the box here and there, an extra few yards of positioning in the attacking side.
"We don't take clean sheets for granted, we don't expect them to keep coming, so we need to score a few goals today.
"The players have been looking lively in training, we haven't had many good training weeks recently so hopefully we will see a really lively team out there today who gamble a little bit more in the box."
Image source, SNSDunfermline Athletic v Ayr United (15:00)
Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at East End Park
Fifth-placed Dunfermline host fourth-placed Ayr United at a chilly East End Park.
A win today for Neil Lennon’s Pars would take them above Scott Brown's Honest Men and into the play-off positions – they’ve had the chance to do that three times recently Partick Thistle, Arbroath, and Queen’s Park and missed each opportunity.
This is Ayr’s first outing since chucking a two-goal lead against St Johnstone at Somerset Park live on the BBC last Friday, while Dunfermline were knocked out of the Challenge Cup on Tuesday, after salvaging a draw away to Queen’s Park this time last week.
Inconsistency has plagued these sides, but with a place in the play-offs for Christmas up for grabs, neither should be short of inspiration today.
Image source, SNSNeil Lennon and Scott Brown go toe-to-toe in the dugout again this afternoon
Kilmarnock v Falkirk (15:00)
Killie ditched Stuart Kettlewell after a run of 10 league games without a win, so Kris Doolan is keeping the manager's seat warm as the search for a replacement goes on.
Falkirk have gone four games without scoring but did hit three in a home win over the Ayrshire side on 1 November.
Image source, SNS
Falkirk striker Brian Graham wheels away after netting the winner
At a glance
Graham scores winner to end Falkirk's four-game drought
Promoted side stay in seventh but move level with Aberdeen
Managerless Kilmarnock now winless in 11
Managerless Kilmarnock's winless run extended to 11 games after Brian Graham's second-half close-range finish ended Falkirk's four-game Scottish Premiership goal drought and earned a first win in five.
Kris Doolan, in his first outing in interim charge after the departure of Stuart Kettlewell, failed to turn the negative tide of results for the Ayrshire side, who are 11th in the division, three points clear of bottom spot.
Victory for John McGlynn's side lifted them level on points with Aberdeen in sixth place - albeit having played two more games - as their impressive return to the top flight continued.
Kilmarnock's last win came at the start of October, taking just two points from the last 33 available. The exit of Stuart Kettlewell this week did not arrest that run.
Doolan backed his players as having quality but did point to a bit of bad luck and perhaps more importantly a lack of confidence. That began to show as soon as they conceded.
That said, in a game of few chances as the first half wore on, it was Kilmarnock who began to threaten and impose themselves.
James Brown diverted wide from a great position, Brad Lyons fired off target from distance, then Greg Kiltie nipped in but scooped over.
That promised much for the second period but it never materialsed and Falkirk quickly pounced.
A nice move ended when Kyrell Wilson laid the ball into Graham and, from a few yards out, he had time to control the ball and loft it home.
Kilmarnock were left chasing the game once more. Substitute Marcus Dackers nodding over in injury time was as close as they came.
There was no lack of effort but it was all in vain as they fell to another disappointing outcome in a season of many.
It got worse when home defender Dominic Thompson got involved in an exchange with a home supporter at full-time. Troubling times at Rugby Park.
Effort, intent, desire, all there. Impact in front of goal, negligible for Kilmarnock.
It was a familiar story in terms of outcome for these home fans and they let their team know at the end.
Doolan was Graham's boss at Partick Thistle, then Graham took joint-charge after his departure. For him to be the one to spoil his return to the dugout will only add to the frustration, but there will a few other elements that will add to that.
Kilmarnock's long search for a win goes on. They showed promise at times in the first half when they looked the more threatening and defensively solid.
They just couldn't muster that moment to get things heading in a positive direction, and when they conceded, it rarely felt like they would respond despite late pressure.
Doolan called for stability and pointed to the quality of player in the squad as a source of hope, with bad luck and a lack of confidence holding them back.
The confidence part increasingly came to the fore. The players need to respond and show belief and that Doolan is right about their ability.
John McGlynn suggested this may develop into a midfield battle and it largely did in the first period with neither able to produce that moment to unlock their opponent.
The first goal always seemed crucial and when Falkirk got it they managed the game fairly comfortably, almost netting on the counter on a couple of occasions.
McGlynn seemed unfazed by a recent lack of goals in a challenging run. Within that, they did well to take a point against Rangers at Ibrox and and at home against Motherwell. Three clean sheets in their last five is a strong return on top of this win.
Falkirk and their fans couldn't have asked for more since returning to the top flight - 24 points at this stage is something they'd have taken at the start of the campaign.
'We'll make it turn' - Doolan confident in Killie revival
Kilmarnock interim manager Kris Doolan: "The final touch, when you create chances you have to take one. We didn't create huge chances but we put more balls and bodies in the box.
"We had more possession. But the final pass and touch are the most important ones and we couldn't find that last one to get the goal.
"On the other side, Falkirk get one chance after a bit of indecision from us. In the first half we were so decisive, not letting anything drop or bounce.
"In the second half we did and we're reacting to things. It's the Premiership and you get punished."
Falkirk manager John McGlynn: "The dogged determination to win the game and the spirit the players showed. We had to put our bodies on the line.
"Kilmarnock threw everything at us. Once we got in front they put us under pressure a lot.
"The determination from the whole team to defend. We weren't quite right in the first half, but second we were.
"Delighted for big Brian to get the goal after good play in the build up. It's a huge win. I can only complement the players and once again they've delivered.
"A clean sheet and the winning goal."
Kilmarnock travel to face St Mirren on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Falkirk take on Dundee at Dens Park at the same time.
After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 34 | 13 | 21 | 38 |
| |
| 16 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 13 | 13 | 32 |
| |
| 18 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 26 | 15 | 11 | 30 |
| |
| 16 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 29 |
| |
| 18 | 6 | 7 | 5 | 28 | 20 | 8 | 25 |
| |
| 16 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 24 |
| |
| 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 26 | -6 | 24 |
| |
| 18 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 24 | 27 | -3 | 21 |
| |
| 16 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 15 | 22 | -7 | 17 |
| |
| 18 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 32 | -17 | 13 |
| |
| 18 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 33 | -16 | 12 |
| |
| 17 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 32 | -15 | 9 |
|
Manager: Kris Doolan
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: John McGlynn
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Manager: Kris Doolan
Formation: 4 - 4 - 1 - 1
Manager: John McGlynn
Formation: 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Scottish Premiership
All competitions
All competitions
All competitions
Kilmarnock have only won one of their last six top-flight meetings with Falkirk (D3 L2), a 1-0 triumph in February 2010 under Jimmy Calderwood.
This will be Falkirk's first top-flight away game at Kilmarnock since a goalless draw in May 2010; the Bairns are unbeaten in their last three such trips (W1 D2) since a 3-0 defeat in April 2009.
Kilmarnock won none of their final 10 league games under Stuart Kettlewell (D2 L8). This will be Kris Doolan’s first league game in interim charge of the club; none of the last seven managers to take charge of Killie in the Scottish Premiership (incl. caretakers) won their first game with them in the competition (D3 L4), with Paul McDonald the last to do so in October 2017 (2-0 v Partick Thistle).
Falkirk have failed to score in each of their last four league games, attempting 33 shots with an expected goals tally of 2.2 without success in this run. The Bairns have lost their last two, last losing three in a row without scoring in the top-flight in April 2009 – when the third defeat was away to Kilmarnock.
Only Rangers (15) have had more different goalscorers (excl. own goals) in the Scottish Premiership this season than both Falkirk (11) and Kilmarnock (10).
