Is the Old Firm clash at Ibrox now make or break for Philippe Clement and his Rangers reign?
ANDY NEWPORT: It’s looking increasingly like it. Some fans were willing to cut him some slack after his team’s recent upturn. But others have already made their minds up. If he goes seven games without success against Celtic, there will be no convincing the big Belgian’s detractors.
CRAIG SWAN: To be honest, it’s probably reaching the stage of being up anyway. Another defeat to Celtic would surely be it.
FRASER WILSON: History will tell you it is. Rangers managers can’t go seven derbies without a win and expect to keep their job. He’s been dealt a tough hand and I do believe Clement is a good manager. But he’s up against a Celtic side who are levels above and the punters appear to have lost faith.
It’s now 13 goals each for Celtic stars Daizen Maeda and Nicholas Kuhn? Are they the leading candidates for Scotland’s player of the year?
ANDY: Absolutely, only Callum McGregor gets close. Kuhn has been a man reborn this season while Maeda has emerged as the player Brendan Rodgers can rely on for the big occasion. For me, the Japanese ace just edges it.
CRAIG: Absolutely. The pair of them have been outstanding both domestically and in the Champions League with key goals and assists.
FRASER: Probably. Kuhn is the stand out for me. He has taken his game onto another level this year and is a real direct threat with his pace. Kuhn is exciting, can go inside or outside and what sets him apart from Maeda is simply his more clinical edge in front of goal.
It was derby delight for Hibs in the capital – but how much bother are Hearts now in after their Tynecastle defeat?
ANDY: They’re trapped in the sticky stuff alright. The table doesn’t lie, not this deep into the season. Neil Critchley has a massive job on his hands in January to find the players needed to heave Hearts out of the mess he inherited.
CRAIG: Plenty. There are injury issues and Hearts need a good January in the market because they are in trouble. No doubt.
FRASER: Serious trouble. While there were signs of progress when Neil Critchley first arrived, they seem to be reverting to bad old ways. They have problems at both ends of the park but Critchley himself says he knows exactly what is needed in January. That business will be key.
The darts action at the Ally Pally resumed last night. Who are you tipping to go all the way and win the PDC shootout at the oche corral?
ANDY: The fairytale story would see teen sensation Luke Littler win it after last year’s disappointment but I suspect Michael van Gerwen might bounce back to win his fourth crown after a six-year wait.
CRAIG: Michael van Gerwen against one of the Lukes would be an incredible Final. The Dutchman might just silence the doubters, but money would be on whichever one of the English pair makes it.
FRASER: Peter Wright. He might sound more Suffolk than Scottish but born in Livingston, Snakebite is a fully fledged member of the Dartan Army. That’s good enough for me.