Football Feb 11, 2026

Scottish Premiership: Rangers visit Motherwell live on Sky Sports in action-packed midweek card, with Hearts and Celtic also featuring

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Scottish Premiership: Rangers visit Motherwell live on Sky Sports in action-packed midweek card, with Hearts and Celtic also featuring

It is the Scottish Premiership title race that is refusing to follow the old script, with Hearts continuing to lead the way at the summit.

Derek McInnes' side bounced back from their defeat at St Mirren last week, .

The Jambos are now six points clear of Rangers, who are at Motherwell on Wednesday, live on Your Site. Champions Celtic are three points further adrift ahead of their game against Livingston.

Here's a look at the big talking points ahead of Wednesday's action...

Just a few months ago, Rangers' previous boss Russell Martin needed a police escort to leave Falkirk's stadium as the Ibrox club dropped down the table. Everything was pointing towards a two-horse title race between Hearts and Celtic.

However, replacing him with Danny Röhl has transformed the Ibrox side into genuine title contenders who are unbeaten in their last eight league games.

That run, which has seen Rangers pick up more points than any other club, started with a 1-0 win over Wednesday's opponents.

Seven wins have seen Rangers move into second spot. They went into this midweek card just three adrift of Hearts and three clear of Celtic - albeit their Old Firm rivals have a game in hand.

It is a run that has seen .

New signings have impressed too, with three of them scoring in Rangers' last two outings. The feelgood factor is back - but will it last?

Motherwell have been known for their attacking, possession-based and free-flowing football this season under boss Jens Berthel Askou.

However, the other thing that is just as impressive is their Fir Park form. At home, Motherwell have kept a clean sheet in each of their last nine home matches - eight of them being in the league.

"First of all, as long as we have the ball, it's difficult for the opposition to score unless we put it in the back of the net ourselves, which we haven't done," Askou pointed out.

"The other thing is, if we have the ball a lot, they spend a lot of energy on chasing it and defending against us. If we then pose a threat at the same time, then they spend even more energy on trying to make sure we don't create chances and score goals."

Should Motherwell pick up a famous Fir Park win on Wednesday, live on Your Site, then are they in the title race? Perhaps they should be if they're within a point of those above at full-time.

There's an even head-to-head when you look at the last six league meetings, with two wins apiece and the other two being drawn. Something has to give and the stakes for both couldn't be higher.

For title rivals Celtic, they are at home to bottom-side Livingston on what will be a significant night for Martin O'Neill.

The 73-year-old - in his second interim spell this season - takes charge of his 200th league game. He has won 163 of them so far, the most of any Hoops boss.

Many of Celtic's highlights this season under O'Neill have involved Benjamin Nygren, who has scored in each of the club's last four league games. The last player to net in five consecutive Premiership outings in his first season at the club was Scott Sinclair a decade ago.

From debut seasons to debut matches, will Celtic fans get their first glimpse of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in action?

The former Arsenal and Liverpool player - who joined on Saturday - has been training with the Premier League leaders. O'Neill has had two sessions to cast his eye over the 32-year-old and will make a late call over his selection.

Meanwhile, Livingston know they'll need to produce the biggest performance of their season if they're to get a win.

The Almondvale club are winless in their last 23 league games and firmly rooted to the foot of the table.

Marvin Bartley is now in charge, with former boss David Martindale moving upstairs, but the new man in the dugout will face the same old task that those before him have failed at. They have not beaten Celtic in any of their last 22 trips to Glasgow.

The odds are stacked against the visitors, and the home crowd will expect a big win to help keep the pressure on their title rivals.

Two of the three clubs above Livingston meet in Ayrshire as Kilmarnock face St Mirren.

The hosts, now managed by Neil McCann, have just one league win in 18 outings. The good news is, that one victory came during their last game at Rugby Park, as they beat Aberdeen 3-0.

Another win at home could see them move nine points clear of the bottom spot, and just three adrift of those above as they look to move out of the relegation play-off spot.

Standing in their way of doing that are a St Mirren side who have picked up just six points away from home all season, and are winless in their last eight league outings on the road. Only bottom-side Livingston have a lower points tally over that period.

You need to go back to May 2013, when the Saints were managed by Danny Lennon, for the last time they won in the top-flight at Kilmarnock - can that unwanted run end on Wednesday?

Elsewhere, Dundee are also in that battle at the bottom end of the table but will be hoping they can put their own away-day struggles behind them at Falkirk.

Steven Pressley's side have just one win on the road all season, and have scored the fewest of any club with five goals.

Both league meetings have been won the home team this season, and Falkirk will hope that trend continues as they bid to strengthen their grip on the top six.

The Bairns, promoted in the summer, have won five of their last eight league games and if another is added to that tally on Wednesday, they could move level on points with Hibs, should they lose to Hearts the night before.

While Falkirk are the team to catch for that final top-six spot, two club's chasing John McGlynn's side will not get the chance to try and close the gap.

It's after Dundee United's match against Aberdeen was postponed following a pitch inspection.

It is the third fixture in recent weeks to be called off at Tannadice Park.

Their league game on January 24 against St Mirren was the first to be postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Saturday's Scottish Cup tie against The Spartans was also called off following heavy rainfall that left the pitch unplayable.

Following the latest postponement on Wednesday, United said: "A pitch inspection was conducted at 1pm this afternoon, with a match official deeming the surface unplayable in the interest of player safety.

"We apologise to both sets of supporters for any inconvenience caused. Details for the rearranged fixture will be communicated in due course."

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