ABERDEEN have third place within their grasp but will have to brave a Tynecastle storm today to seal the deal.
Hearts had looked like dead certs to finish best of the rest for a second successive season but an alarming slump that saw them lose six Premiership games in a row opened the door for the Dons.
Barry Robson duly booted it down with the new Pittodrie boss inspiring a seven-game winning streak that helped them move five points clear of the Jambos.
Neither side has been in particularly good form since the split, with both picking up just a point from their last two games.
But battling back from 2-0 down to grab a draw with 10 men in Paisley last week would have felt like a win for Stevie Naismith’s men.
And I’ve a feeling Hearts will keep the race for third place alive today as their last two performances at home have been good.
Naismith got his first win as interim boss when the Jambos battered Ross County 6-1 and his side were giving champions Celtic plenty of problems before Alex Cochrane was sent off.
McBookie have Hearts at 13/10 for the win and that looks good, with a one-goal winning margin for either side also tempting at the same price.
We’ve seen red cards in the last two games for the Jambos and this one could be fiery too with so much at stake.
You have to go to over 5.5 cards to get to 27/20 with Unibet so backing individual players looks the best option.
Ylber Ramadani and Cammy Devlin will scrap it out in midfield and the Dons star is 11/10 with Bet365 for a card while the same firm price the Aussie at 6/4.
It’s hard not to feel for Jim Goodwin a little as the former Aberdeen gaffer watches the squad he assembled close in on third just weeks after the club he quit last season, St Mirren, made history by reaching the top six.
Goodwin jumped back into the dugout at Dundee United but it was a risky move and he must have felt like Rishi Sunak looking through the treasury’s books after Liz Truss had set about them with a packet of crayons.
A run of three successive wins gave United hope but they’re now back at the bottom after losing at home to Ross County last weekend.
The only positive for Goodwin is they now visit a Livingston side who seem to be approaching their work with all the enthusiasm of a teenage shop assistant.
The Lions have lost five of their last six games without even scoring so I’m betting against BTTS in this one at evens with QuinnBet.
Kilmarnock beat Livingston 2-0 at home last week and another Rugby Park victory today over St Johnstone would lift them above Saints into ninth place.
Derek McInnes’ men are tempting at 21/20 (McBookie) but I’m going for the half-time draw at the same price.
Second-bottom Ross County head to Motherwell and I can see a few goals. Over 2.5 strikes is 21/20 (Coral).
Back in the top six, it will be interesting to see how Rangers and Celtic react to last week’s derby at Ibrox.
The Hoops slipped to just their second domestic loss all season but should get back on track today at home to St Mirren. I like Anthony Ralston for an assist at 13/10 with McBookie.
Rangers head to Hibs tomorrow and we should see action at both ends. Over 3.5 goals has landed in all three meetings this season and that bet pays 17/10 at BetVictor.
Super Singles
- Hearts to win (13/10, McBookie)
- BTTS no at Livi (evs, QuinnBet)
- HT draw at Killie (21/20, McBookie)
- Ralston assist (13/10, McBookie)
In December 2020 we sadly 
I’m on a red card for Aberdeen, which looks decent value at 6/1 with Hills.
The Dons have been a lot more aggressive since Barry Robson took charge and I also noticed a spate of red cards in the first set of fixtures post-split (all for the away sides), so with a lot at stake here, I see this having a good chance.