#scottish-premiership

#scottish-premiership

When these two sides met at Tynecastle in August, they delivered arguably the best match of the season so far. Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell swept into a three-goal lead with some of the free-flowing football we've become accustomed to from them this season, before Hearts roared back to snatch a point, thanks to Claudio Braga's double. They lock horns again this weekend, with a similarly high-scoring encounter hopefully in the works.

Chairman Calvin Ford stated on the Livingston website how "frustrated" he was by the decision. "It was a huge moment in the match, particularly having just levelled things moments before, and we firmly believe we should have been awarded a penalty and, with it, a very good chance to take the lead," he said. "We held lengthy conversations with the SFA this week, and the incident has officially been recognised as a mistake. We should have received a penalty.

No prizes for guessing this one. Our pick for game of the weekend could not be anywhere else as the Premiership's top two face off at Tynecastle with a five-point gap wedged between them. Chat of a title challenge from Hearts is becoming more serious by the week, while Celtic appear to be on the verge of a crisis. Defeat for Brendan Rodgers' men, who beat Sturm Graz on Thursday, would stretch open a scarcely-believable eight-point advantage for Derek McInnes' side.

A deal to appoint Kevin Muscat as Russell Martin's successor collapsed because the former Rangers defender wants to complete the Chinese Super League season with current club Shanghai Port. (Daily Record), external Rangers have intimated they are now not prepared to wait until December for Muscat, putting Rohl firmly back on the agenda. (The Scotsman), external Muscat is believed to have concerns over the recruitment model at Rangers. (TalkSport)

Momentum is hard to gather when the season is as stop-start as this. A second international window is on the way next week, with another to follow in November. Following another miserable midweek of European football for our clubs, focus returns to the Scottish Premiership and top-flight teams will be keen to enter the latest break on high. With a tasty derby tussle at Tynecastle taking centre stage, we also shine a light on a Motherwell man making moves and manager who remains under pressure.

Livingston first team coach Marvin Bartley revealed "there was a bit of an argument" between the dugouts during Sunday's defeat by Rangers. (Clyde 1 via Sun, external) Former Rangers defender Arthur Numan is still upset about the red card he received when the Ibrox side lost to Sturm Graz in 2000, with the sides facing each other again in Austria this week. (Record), external

Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay believes his club could win the Scottish Premiership "at some point". (Herald - subscription required), external Celtic captain Callum McGregor plays down Hearts' promising start to the season after the Tynecastle side moved two points above the defending champions at the top of the Premiership, saying: "Anyone can get off to a good start. Aberdeen did it last year." (Record), external McGregor suggests the table will be more relevant after 36 games rather than six.

Four draws and a defeat has Martin's side one point behind their West Lothian hosts - albeit having played a game fewer - in their worst league start in 48 years. Rangers are winless in six league games - stretching back into last season - (D5 L1), the joint-longest run in their entire history (level with six other runs of six, most recently in December 2005).

Last seen marking their return from September's international break with a 1-1 stalemate at home against Motherwell, the Dark Blues have failed to win any of their first five top-flight appearances and they have put just a trio of points on the board. Getting this weekend's fixtures underway sat down in 11th-place, the former Carlisle boss has a major job on his hands.