Celtic took another step towards wrapping up the Ladbrokes Premiership title with a 5-0 win over St Mirren before Rangers claimed a much-needed 1-0 victory at Ross County.
The race for European and top-six places and the battle to avoid the drop heated up with Motherwell and Aberdeen a point apart ahead of their meeting on Friday.
Here are five things we learned from the weekend’s action.
Rangers have stopped the rot
Steven Gerrard’s side produced another unconvincing display but Ryan Kent’s deflected goal in the 77th minute earned them a first win in four domestic matches. Three points and a clean sheet were Gerrard’s key demands after a difficult week which saw Rangers follow their William Hill Scottish Cup exit against Hearts with a home defeat by Hamilton.
Hearts need to be more patient
🗣 “After 1-1 I thought we could change the result but we wanted it too much.— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) March 7, 2020
So claimed Daniel Stendel after his side slipped three points adrift following a 1-1 home draw with Motherwell. The bottom side gave themselves an uphill task after gifting Christopher Long the opener but looked like they had the momentum after Conor Washington’s 49th-minute equaliser. However, Stendel felt they rushed play and hit the ball long too early and Motherwell had some good chances before Hearts snatched at three stoppage-time opportunities.
Hamilton are finding consistency at the perfect time
The last time we had successive league wins was 2 years ago this weekend, with a 2-1 home v Partick followed by a 2-0 home v Motherwell— Hamilton Accies FC (@acciesfc) March 7, 2020
Accies secured consecutive league wins for the first time in two years by following their Ibrox triumph with a late victory over Kilmarnock. Brian Rice’s side also extended an unbeaten run to four matches and moved out of the bottom two. They could be back in after St Mirren play Hearts on Wednesday but they have the chance to leapfrog Ross County in Dingwall next weekend.
St Johnstone are top-six contenders again
🏆 Ladbrokes Premiership table pic.twitter.com/1gslsw4Qz5— SPFL (@spfl) March 8, 2020
Tommy Wright’s side – bottom of the league at the start of December – put themselves a point off sixth-placed Hibernian and cut the gap on Livingston to three points thanks to Callum Hendry’s late winner against the West Lothian side. They also have a game in hand against Rangers and travel to Easter Road next Saturday. With a run of just two defeats in 15 league games, the Perth men are a major threat to Hibs.
Leigh Griffiths is making an irresistible case for Scotland selection
The Celtic striker netted his first hat-trick in four years to make it eight goals in 13 games this year after finding the net only three times in a 2019 which was beset by mental health and other fitness problems. Griffiths had declared himself eager and ready to make his international return on the eve of the game and Scotland boss Steve Clarke will surely pick him in a squad for the first time ahead of the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final with Israel.
