SPL as it happenedLive

Good afternoon and welcome to our live text coverage of this afternoon's five Scottish Premier League games.

Pre-match, speculation abounded whether Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels would play defender Manuel Pascali.

Shiels had raised the possibility of playing Pascali even though he had served only half of his two-game suspension.

It was the kind of eye-popping sweaty-palmed rebellion not seen since Andy Dufresne darted into Warden Samuel Norton's Office and played The Marriage of Figaro in The Shawshank Redemption.

Alas, there is no sign of the Italian defender - in the starting line-up or on the bench...

Asked about the Manuel Pascali show/now show, Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels has told BBC Sportsound listeners: "It's all part of the game..."

"We're changing our system a bit today and you'll see what it's like once the game starts."

For Kilmarnock, no sign of Manuel Pascali. But midfielder Liam Kelly replaces Lee Johnson in the starting line up.

Neil Lennon makes four changes to his Celtic side for the trip to Rugby Park: midfielder Victor Wanyama returns from suspension with right-back Adam Matthews, midfielder Joe Ledley and striker Lassad Nouioui in for the injured Mikael Lustig (hamstring) and Kris Commons (thigh) with Beram Kayal and Georgios Samaras dropping to the bench.

The cold snap has hit the SFL fixture list. Eight games have fallen victim to the weather, we have full details on our website.

Should you still be heading to a game this afternoon, wrap up warm; it's Rocky IV weather out there...

Kilmarnock skipper Manuel Pascali, asked whether he'd feature this afternoon has tweeted: "I'm playin aye!!!!!! Monopoly!!!!!"

He's playing his Get Out Of Jail free card there...

"Celtic are playing with three at the back with the full backs pushing up..."

Joe Ledley tries to dab a ball through a crowded Kilmarnock penalty area to Celtic striker Gary Hooper but the hosts snuff out the early danger.

"It's freezing and has been raining; the ball is zipping off the turf but both players are trying to get their passing game going."

In a menacing Celtic attack, Joe Ledley dinks in a great cross for Gary Hooper who in turn pulls it back for Scott Brown but the skipper can't get a shot away and it remains goalless after an entertaining opening six minutes.

Izaguirre slaloms past a couple of Kilmarnock challenges but he runs out of steam on the edge of the penalty area and Kenny Shiels's men successfully muzzle another Celtic counter.

Adam Matthews and Gary Hooper combine well before the latter tees up Victor Wanyama but the combative midfielder blazes a wild effort high and wide that's got more chance of knocking out someone's pie & bovril than setting the net billowing...

Kilmarnock respond with Danny Racchi showing enterprise down the right and his cross is cleared for a corner. The hosts, however, fail to test Fraser Forster from the set piece.

It's a good open game with 15 minutes gone, both sides keen to get forward in numbers. I can't see this one ending goalless...

Kilmarnock spurn their first genuine chance of the game: Cillian Sheridan sends over an inviting cross in the box but Paul Heffernan's shot finds the side netting.

Board67: "Killie were the only club who wanted to bend the rules to allow the new Rangers club into the SPL, hence the boycott today #bbcsportsound"

"It's not happening for Kilmarnock in the final third at the moment: in fact, it's not happening for either side..."

Celtic are playing with width but are struggling to get in behind a disciplined Kilmarnock rearguard. Manuel Pascali - if he is still playing Monopoly - would be proud of his team-mates.

Wonder if he's put a hotel on Mayfair yet?

"It's no less than Celtic deserve..."

Gavin MacLeod: "Given Celtic's recent after-Europe record, I've got Kilmarnock for the win. #bbcsportsound #dontletmedown #payingforthexmaspresents"

Celtic, driving forward in search of a second goal, are thwarted by a back-tracking Liam Kelly as Lassad is about to pull the trigger after being teed up by Gary Hooper.

From Charlie Mulgrew's corner, the ball is worked out to Adam Matthews but the Welshman's 25-yard effort is well wide.

Another chance for Kilmarnock who are suddenly warming to the task. Liam Kelly's cross evades everyone in the box and Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster scrambles like a giant crab on roller skates across goal but the ball fizzes inches wide.

Did the big keeper have it covered? I'm not sure he did. Would Kelly have claimed it as a shot? You betcha!

"Celtic (with a 3-5-2 formation) are strangling the life out of Kilmarnock, who can't get their passing game going."

Five minutes until the break and Kilmarnock boss Kenny Shiels is cutting a frustrated figure on the touchline. He's doing the Athletic Bilbao boss Marcelo Bielsa strut in the technical area: two steps to the left and turn, two steps to the right and turn...

He wants more from his side in the final third.

Celtic have the ball in the net through Lassad but the visitors were flagged offside and it remains 1-0 with a couple of minutes remaining of an entertaining first half.

Speaking of Monopoly, what's your best strategy for victory? One of my mates hoovered up the orange and yellow properties (Bow Street, Marlborough & Vine Street/Leicester Square, Coventry Street & Piccadilly) and got as many houses on them. Every journey round the board was fraught with danger...

Gary Hooper has a great chance inside the Kilmarnock penalty area but can't get a shot away and both sides are attacking with ferocious intent, great stuff!

Joe Ledley tries his luck from 25 yards out but screws his effort wide of goal. Celtic are beginning to raise the tempo again as they look to double their lead.

"The big problem for Kilmarnock is the middle of the park: Scott Brown is dominating."

Michael Nelson does brilliantly to block a Lassad half volley and Celtic are getting closer and closer to a second goal...

"Michael Nelson is a really robust centre half, no frills or thrills."

Kilmarnock force a corner after good work by Perez...

... but Paul Heffernan's shot is blocked by Kelvin Wilson and the hosts' latest attack is blunted by Celtic. It remains 1-0 with 25 minutes remaining but you get the feeling there's another goal in this game...

"Kilmarnock were coming back into the game but that's an important goal for Celtic and could be game over."

Georgios Samaras is on for Lassad, with Kilmarnock also freshening things up: James Dayton on for Gary Harkins and Mark O'Hara coming on for Borja Perez.

Victor Wanyama surges into the Kilmanock box to collect a Joe Ledley pass but his effort lacks bite and it remains 2-0 to Celtic as we enter the final 20 minutes at Rugby Park.

Miku comes on for Gary Hooper as Celtic make their third and final substitution. "Hooper has led the line well today," according to BBC Sportsound pundit Murdo MacLeod.

"It's cold but dry as Ross County prepare for their first ever competitive match at the home of Motherwell. These sides have met just once before in the league - on the first day of the season when it was 0-0 in Dingwall.

"Motherwell have won just once at home all season, back in September, but County have struggled of late. A win for Derek Adams' side against one of his former clubs would likely lift them into a mid-table position. Stuart McCall's men are targeting the top four."

"If Kilmarnock had found an equaliser earlier, then it could've been game on..."

"Celtic's workrate was phenomenal and they dominated the match. Scott Brown, talking about an operation, if he plays like that week in week out, then he's got to play."

"I thought we were brilliant today from start to finish and Adam Matthews was fantastic. To come here and perform so well on the back of Wednesday (against Spartak Moscow) is pleasing.

"They're full of confidence at the moment. The only disappointment is not to keep a clean sheet."

"Rihanna might be playing right now on the stadium tannoy, but there's no diamonds in the sky over Paisley at the moment. But, while there's a fair chill factor, at least there is no rain overhead as two groups of Saints attempt to warm up enough to sparkle by kick-off time."

"We set ourselves a target at the start of the season of being in the top six and we need to keep winning..."

"Buddies boss Danny Lennon makes two changes from the team that defeated Brechin City in the Scottish Cup. Captain Jim Goodwin returns to midfield following suspension, while top scorer Steven Thompson is fit to start up front in place of Sam Parkin.

"The unlucky man to make way for Goodwin is young Jon Robertson, who scored with an excellent 25-yard volley last weekend."

"Third versus second in Inverness today but nine months ago this would almost have been a six-pointer. Both Hibs and Caley Thistle have improved hugely. It feels like an evening kick-off. Thick cloud means it's already nearly dark in the Highlands so the floodlights will be needed right from the start."

"Hearts fans get their wish with John Sutton recalled to the starting 11 for match v Aberdeen. The Dons drop Rory Fallon to the bench with Cameron Smith replacing him in the Dons' starting line-up."

"St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas replaces the suspended Dave Mackay with fit-again veteran full-back Callum Davidson. Peter Pawlett and Patrick Cregg are also returning from injury but have to be content with a place on the bench.

"Which is more than can be said of their manager. Lomas will be in the stand and could be there for up to 16 weeks depending on how his meeting with SFA compliance officer Vincent Lunny goes on Monday following his latest touchline misdemeanor."

"It's difficult facing Celtic in December and January when they're firing on all cylinders. We had a great chance to make it 1-1 and then we end up 2-0 down.

"I knew they'd have a sense of achievement with qualification for the knock out stages of the Champions League and they could now focus on their domestic form.

"We didn't match the runs of Ledley and Brown. We're missing our captain through suspension and these things don't happen to sides like Celtic."

"History is not in the home side's favour at St Mirren Park today. St Johnstone have won nearly twice as many times as their rivals in matches between the sides. And the Buddies have not beaten the Perth side on their last 10 visits to Paisley., their last win coming in August 2004. Of course, the Saints also won their last meeting, beating St Mirren 2-1 at McDiarmid Park in October."

"Both Motherwell and Ross County fans in here the main stand at Fir Park, making for a great atmosphere as both sets of players retreated from the pitch to the dressing room at the end of their warm-up, with applause all round."

Former Scotland manager Craig Levein is in the stand at Tynecastle to watch his former side. Wonder if he's considering a return to club football at some stage?

"They are playing "Into the Valley" and now "The Saints Are Coming". With all the black and white regalia at St Mirren Park, I can close my eyes and imagine I am back at East End Park in my days with the Dunfermline Press! Okay, so the latter is more appropriate to today's two foes, but The Skids are Fifers and Pars men through and through..."

BBC Scotland's Jonathan Sutherland has described a "riot of colour" at Ibrox as host of players past and present help the club celebrate their 140th year. Rangers are at home to Stirling Albion...

Aberdeen's Jonny Hayes has the first attempt on goal as he fizzes an effort over from 20 yards. Bright start from the visitors at Tynecastle.

"St Johnstone manager Steve Lomas is on the naughty step in the stand only feet away from the press box, wired for some kind of sound and already communicating his thoughts to someone somewhere else in the ground. So far, his tweed cloth cap hasn't flown off in anger even though his side are having to do all the early defending."

"Rocco Quinn's delicate chip just clears the Motherwell crossbar. Prior to that, it had been the hosts making the early running. There's a couple of former 'Well players in the County rearguard, including keeper Mark Brown and defender Marc Fitzpatrick, and they look as though they've been primed for an early onslaught."

St Johnstone goalkeeper Alan Mannus pulls off an excellent one-handed save to deny John McGinn. From the resulting corner, Steven Anderson had to clear in front of his own goal and Gary Teale flashed another drive across the face of goal.

BBC Sportsound's Chick Young has exclusively revealed... that two SPL players will be heading to Ibrox once their transfer ban has been lifted...

Russell Anderson repels a dangerous cross from Ryan McGowan out for a corner as Hearts start to come into the game at Tynecastle - playing at a high tempo but it remains goalless.

That Ross Draper goal for Inverness came slightly against the run of play as Hibs had looked lively with David Wotherspoon and Ivan Sproule asking questions of the home defence.

A diving header from Ryan McGowan from an Andy Driver corner flashes just past the post. Then the game races to the other end and Johnny Hayes forces Jamie MacDonald to parry his curling left-footed shot.

"St Johnstone go close to stretching their lead when Steven MacLean is given too much time to pick his spot from 25 yards and his curling drive is turned round the post superbly by St Mirren goalkeeper Craig Samson, who is less convincing with his punch clear from the resulting corner."

"Great chance for Motherwell to go ahead as Nicky Law squares the ball for Jamie Murphy but he leans back and skies the ball. County respond with a curling Iain Vigurs shot past the post. It's end-to-end."

Emboldened by that goal, Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson tries an audacious left-foot effort from almost 30 yards...which almost goes into orbit.

"Antonio Reguero is the hero for Caley Thistle as he tips Hibs striker Leigh Griffiths' effort over the bar. The home side are still 1-0 up."

"Jamie Murphy is so effective when he cuts in from the left-hand side to link up the play. Chris Humphrey's strength on the other side is to hug the touchline and the dual effect is a very stretched County defence. Motherwell need to make this pressure count."

Sloppiness in the Motherwell defence allows Gary Glen in. He tries to round Lee Hollis but the keeper narrows the angle to make the save,

"A defensive slip by Steven Anderson presents St Mirren with a chance to equalise, but striker Lewis Guy is falling back as he clips his drive over the crossbar from just inside the St Johnstone penalty area."

"Mr Calamity Steven Anderson has handed the initiative back to St Mirren in Paisley. St Johnstone had soaked up the home side's pressure and were coasting to victory thanks to Murray Davidson's early goal.

"However, following Anderson's sending-off, the Buddies are beginning to exploit the extra space and have a full 45 minutes to equalise and perhaps secure a rare home victory over the Perth side."

"Boogieing to Maroon 5's 'Moves Like Jagger' helping to warm up the crowd at Fir Park, as are the half-time pies."

"County are almost level straight away as veteran Ross Tokely's header from a corner is palmed over by Lee Hollis and, from the next delivery, Colin McMenamin nods over."

Calum Paterson replaces Ryan Stevenson for Hearts - Stevenson obviously hasn't recovered from his first-half injury...

"Winger Dougie Imrie is on for Marc McAusland at half-time as St Mirren manager Danny Lennon goes for the jugular by replacing one of his defenders. St Johnstone counterpart Steve Lomas has countered by replacing striker Rowan Vine with defender Tam Scobbie."

"Penalty claim for Ross County as Mark Fotheringham goes to ground as tries to nip the ball away from Lee Hollis after the keeper spilled the ball but referee Calum Murray gesticulates that Hollis got the ball. Motherwell win a free-kick at the other end and Tom Hateley's superb strike is tipped over by the impressive Mark Brown."

Niall McGinn blazes a volley from the edge of the box as the shell-shocked Dons try to claw their way back into the game at Tynecastle.

"St Johnstone are being pegged back into their own half, not only by St Mirren's one-man advantage but by icy driving rain blowing into their sweaty brows."

"There's been a couple of Michael Laudrup-style drag-back turns here at Fir Park, one from Iain Vigurs and the next from Tom Hateley. It's just a pity neither contributed to a decent chance.

"County's Gary Glen has the ball in the net but he was well offside and his reaction suggests he already knew that."

"Ross County make a double change, having earlier introduced Grant Munro for Mihael Kovacevic. Richard Brittain and Gary Glen are off and on come Stuart Kettlewell and Alex Cooper. For a moment I though the announcer had said 'Alice Cooper'."

"Former Scotland winger Gary Teale blazes the ball over the St Johnstone crossbar after the ball fell kindly to him 15 yards from goal and completely unmarked. But it seems like only a matter of time before St Mirren's two man advantage tells."

The Dons are pressing for a way back into the match, and youngster Jamie Masson has just blazes an effort over. It remains 2-0 to Hearts but Craig Broon's men have a spring in their step as they look to reduce the deficit with a little over 10 minutes to go...

"Magic feet John McGinn weaves his way into the St Johnstone penalty box, ,but the teenager sends his low drive off the outside of the far post."

St Johnstone defender Frazer Wright clears a Steven Thompson header off the line as St Mirren lay siege.

Chris Humphrey has tormented Marc Fitzpatrick all afternoon and if Motherwell do end up winning, it will owe a lot to the winger's performance.

"St Johnstone survive a second-half pounding to secure a point after a magnificent rearguard effort from their nine men and some wayward St Mirren finishing."

"We felt that if we could score the second goal then the game would be over.

"It gives us a nice feeling, we're unbeaten this month and second in the table.

"We enjoy being up there and the boys are relaxed about it: we aim to stay there."

"First half, we played some terrific football. County came and played two strikers and really had a go. Chris Humphrey has found some great form and we had some good performances throughout."

So, victories for Celtic, in-form Inverness, Hearts and Motherwell on a cracking day of SPL action. Sixteen goals from this afternoon's five games and plenty of talking points.

We're back tomorrow for the Dundee derby and highlights of all today's games on our website from 18:00 GMT tomorrow.

Enjoy your Saturday night. Cheers!