5 Ladbrokes Premiership talking points as Rangers keep pressure on Celtic

Steven Gerrard chose the wrong time to experiment with a midfield diamond against Kilmarnock in midweek and paid the price as his side slumped to defeat at Rugby Park. Against Livingston he returned to the tried and trusted 4-3-3 system that served him well during the first half of the campaign – and his side immediately looked more comfortable. The Rangers boss will no doubt go back to the narrow four-man midfield in future as he looks to squeeze Steven Davis and Jermain Defoe into his starting line-up but picking and choosing the times to do it will be vital.

2. Ryan Fulton watches good performance slip through his fingers

Hamilton's 22-year-old keeper Ryan Fulton kept Celtic at bay on Saturday with a string of good saves – only to let a Callum McGregor shot from distance slip through his legs. A fumble in the second half allowed Ryan Christie to add a second with the home side running out 3-0 winners.

3. Satisfaction all round at Pittodrie

Aberdeen's goalless draw with Kilmarnock might not have been the brightest of spectacles but neither Dons boss Derek McInnes nor his Killie counterpart Steve Clarke will be too unhappy with the point. Defeat would have been a body blow with both sides hoping to hang on to Celtic's coattails and maintain their part in the title race, but a share of the points keeps both sides in the hunt.

4. Buddies' sliding doors moment

St Mirren missed a great chance to go 2-0 up and possibly move off the bottom of the table as they hosted crisis-hit Hibs on Sunday. On the hour-mark, visiting keeper Ofir Marciano blundered badly to present the ball to Kyle McAllister 35 yards from goal but the Saints player delayed his shot before clipping a tame long-range effort that Marvin Bartley easily swept up. Hibs went on to win 3-1.

5. Jim McIntyre sees rays of hope despite latest Dundee defeat

The Dens Park side missed the chance to clamber out of the dropzone as they allowed Motherwell to snatch a 1-0 win through David Turnbull's second-half penalty. But it was not all doom and gloom for McIntyre after watching his new-look side dominate Well. If the Dark Blues' forwards can dig out their shooting boots, there might yet be hope for their fight for survival.

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