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Five talking points from the weekend's action in Scotland

Five talking points from the weekend's action in Scotland
© Reuters
The Old Firm were united ahead of kick-off.

Rangers remain on track for an invincible Premiership campaign as the champions drew 1-1 at Celtic Park.

Here the PA news agency takes a look at five things we learned from the weekend league action

Old Firm stand united against racism

Sparks usually fly when Glasgow's big two meet but there was a classy moment before the game when Celtic skipper Scott Brown crossed the half-way line to embrace Glen Kamara following the alleged racial abuse directed at him during Thursday's explosive clash with Slavia Prague. Both teams then opted not to take a knee before kick-off, with Rangers skipper James Tavernier telling Sky Sports his squad have decided the gesture is no longer "strong enough" to make an impact. Gers will now expect UEFA to back their stance and take severe action against Slavia's Ondrej Kudela, who denies whispering an offensive slur at Kamara.

Fifteenth time lucky for Alfredo Morelos

The Rangers striker must have wondered if his maiden Old Firm goal would have come after 14 successive blanks in his derby head-to-heads with the Hoops. But at long last he has claimed a goal against Gers' bitter foes after heading home at the back post. It was his 55th league goal for the club – a fitting number just two weeks after the Light Blues wrapped up their 55th domestic title.

Odsonne Edouard's spot of bother

Celtic's Odsonne Edouard (centre) goes to ground as Borna Barisic slides in
Celtic's Odsonne Edouard (centre) goes to ground as Borna Barisic slides in (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The Celtic striker had his name taken by referee Willie Collum when he hit the deck under a challenge from Borna Barisic, with his side 1-0 up. Rangers hero Ally McCoist insisted the official had called it right as he accused the Frenchman of taking a dive but both Brown and Parkhead caretaker boss John Kennedy felt they were denied a "stonewaller". It was a pivotal moment as had Edouard stayed on his feet Celtic would surely have taken firm command of this derby contest and put an end to Gers' long unbeaten run.

Kyle Lafferty can rescue Kilmarnock

Lafferty netted Killie's first goal in a 4-1 win over Motherwell which lifted Tommy Wright's side off the bottom of the table. In his three starts, the Northern Ireland striker has now scored three goals, had another one disallowed, set up two more and hit the bar. The former Rangers and Hearts striker could prove the difference when the relegation battle gets down to the final five games.

The Perth Saints do it again

St Johnstone timed their ascent into the top six perfectly, a year after the curtailment of the season saw them leapfrog Hibernian courtesy of their game in hand. Hamilton's late equaliser against St Mirren denied the Buddies a first top-six finish since 1985 while the Perth side sealed their eighth top-half placing in 10 years, second only to Celtic, following their 1-0 win over Ross County.

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General view of Celtic Park from 2015
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
CCeltic550095306593
2RangersRangers531187325585
3Hearts513154421268
4Kilmarnock51224644256
5St Mirren51134652-647
6Dundee50144968-1942
Relegation Group
1Aberdeen54104852-448
2Hibernian52125259-746
3Motherwell52035659-343
4St Johnstone51132954-2535
5Ross County51223867-2935
RLivingston52122970-4125
 
First Phase
CCeltic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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