Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

It's the first Tayside derby of the season, and one that pitches together two teams who have made intriguing starts this term.

Despite blowing a bit hot and cold so far, there is still plenty of cause for optimism for Dundee.

When they are on it, they are a real handful for anyone. Steven Pressley will be hoping that is the case tonight as they look to build on a start that sees them sit fourth in the table.

As for St Johnstone, I think Simo Valakari will be relatively happy with how they are reacclimatising to life back in the top division.

Yes, it is one win and two defeats from their opening trio of games, but those two losses have been narrow, and at difficult venues - St Mirren and Hearts.

Tonight’s encounter is Saints' third away fixture in a row. If they can get something out of it, it will set them up nicely for the three straight home games that comes next.

Bobby Wales makes his first start for Dundee in the Tayside derby with his head coach Steven Pressley keen to watch him make an impact after his loan move from Swansea City.

"He's really impacted the group," he tells BBC Scotland. "He's a player we're excited about and I'm certainly looking forward to seeing him perform tonight."

"St Johnstone are a very good side. There's elements around them that almost mirror Falkirk last year. They've got a real defined way of playing and a lot of confidence in their manager; a real trust in the way he goes about things.

"I think they've started the season really well and adapted really well to the Premiership. I think this is a really, really big test for us tonight."

Asked if he can take a lot of encouragement from good performances in defeat, St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari is having none of it.

"Those are just hollow words because it’s all about the results," he tells BBC Scotland.

"We need to have enough winning actions on the field to get the small margins going our way. In the last two matches we’ve performed well but haven’t got the results. We need to perform at the level to get the results.

"It’s not easy to play three games in a row on the road but we just need to find a way to get these results.

"I’ve been very impressed with how Dundee have been doing. You can see what culture they want to create on the field. They have some very good players.

"Credit to Hibs in the last game, Dundee were maybe not at their best, but it’s as local a derby as it can be for us, so let’s go."

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Motherwell manager Alfred Johansson tells BBC Scotland: "There is a need once again to manage the load on many of the players in this hectic programme we are in.

"You want to build relationships and play with a really stable starting XI as a manager.

"If you look at the physical output we had [against St Mirren] it was one of the highest this season. If you divide it by how many minutes the ball is in play, then it's even more impressive.

"We are looking really good in aspects, the counter-attack we look strong, we look really strong in the build-up. I think we can be too direct at times and can be better there."

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Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin was admitted to hospital last Thursday after a health scare, but his team did him proud with a hugely impressive 4-0 victory at struggling Kilmarnock at the weekend.

The manager is now recovering at home and will miss tonight's visit to Motherwell.

United’s only win in their last seven league meetings with the Fir Park side was a 1-0 victory in February 2025.

Alfred Johansson's men played out a thrilling six-goal draw at St Mirren on Sunday. They continue to be an attractive watch, but there are a lot of minutes in the legs amid a hectic early-season schedule.

Hmm, Mark must've read those stats.

Rangers boss Derek McInnes will be watching from the stands tonight as he serves the first of a two-game touchline ban.

The original four-match punishment was reduced on appeal earlier this week.

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Tyrone Smith
BBC Scotland at Dens Park

Dundee have confirmed the signing of midfielder Jack Moorhouse on loan from Manchester United.

Boss Steven Pressley has described him as an "exciting" talent and said it is a deal that has been three months in the making.

Tonight's game has come too early for him, but he is watching on from the stand at Dens Park.

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill tells BBC Scotland: "The captain comes back into the team and Kieran [Tierney] is injured so [Liam] Scales moves over to left-back.

"We got off to a really good start against Falkirk, scored early, crowd got right behind us. We could have put the game out of sight and we didn't. You have to take your chances, score the goals, or you will have games in the balance as we saw last Saturday.

"I've never had an easy game against Aberdeen. They're strong, you would expect that from Stephen Robinson's side, and they can play a bit."

On the new signings the club have already brought in, O'Neill adds: "We're very pleased with the players that we've got in."

When asked if there are any more arrivals to come before tonight's Europa League deadline and tomorrow's transfer deadline, O'Neill said: "Every minute that goes past is more awkward. We haven't stopped at this minute so we'll see if anything else develops."

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No double takes required - these stats are real:

• Aberdeen have lost 36 of their last 39 league visits to Celtic.
• Celtic are unbeaten in 28 league meetings with Aberdeen.
• Aberdeen have lost 11 of their last 13 away league matches.

So you can't blame anyone for assuming Celtic are going to maintain their winning start with another victory over the Dons this evening.

The champions are still hurting from their Champions League collapse, even after Saturday's narrow win over Falkirk, and they've been busy in the transfer market.

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Here's how the table looks heading into tonight's fixtures.

Celtic are the only club with a 100% winning record and they will be aiming to maintain that against Aberdeen later.

Meanwhile, Kilmarnock are the only team without a point. Neil McCann's struggling side are hoping to address that at home to St Mirren.

Kris Boyd
Former Rangers striker on Sky Sports

It's baffling. For Raskin not to play in European ties and then to come to Falkirk and start - where will his head be?

It's pretty telling that he's someone who's gone to the World Cup and has performed in spells at Rangers and nobody wants him. Is he as good as we make him out to be?

A few months ago we were speaking about Raskin as Rangers' main man, the one you might get £20m for.

If they can't get top dollar for someone who's performed at the World Cup, where does that leave Rangers with the rest of them?

It was a 1-1 draw at the Falkirk Stadium 11 months ago that proved to be the end of the Russell Martin Rangers era.

Derek McInnes is convinced a gritty victory at Aberdeen will ignite his own, though, with a trip to Falkirk next on his agenda.

It hasn't been the start to the season John McGlynn would have wanted, his side taking one point from their opening three league fixtures.

A positive performance and result would be a real boost, but they are facing a club they have only beaten once in their past 49 top-flight meetings.

The eye-catching team news from Falkirk is Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin starting for Rangers.

He has missed the past two matches amid speculation linking him with a move away from Glasgow. Besiktas had a loan bid for Raskin rejected earlier today.

Raskin replaces Dan Neil, while Kosta Nedeljkovic comes in at right-back for Dujon Sterling in the other change.

Thelo Aasgaard is not involved with the Norway midfielder on the verge of a loan move to Anderlecht.

Meanwhile, Falkirk make one switch to the team beaten by Celtic at the weekend. Jacob Murrell starts up front in place of Ben Parkinson for the hosts.

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Falkirk: Bain, Strain, Neilson, Henderson, McCann, Barbrook, Spencer, Ross, Krauhaus, Fodrey, Murrell.

Substitutes: Hogarth, McMillan, Donaldson, Parkinson, MacIver, Allan, Tanser, Melniks, Doherty.

Rangers: Pandur, Nedeljkovic, Fernandez, Makhanya, Penrice, Raskin, Devlin, Curtis, Kim, Curtis, Shankland.

Substitutes: Kelly, McCrorie, Godfrey, Chukwuani, Dragojevic, Yokota, McCausland, Miovski, Naderi.

Three changes for Dundee as Brad Halliday, Bobby Wales and Alan Forrest all starting.

Drey Wright, Brad Fink and Charlie Reilly all drop to the bench after the defeat to Hibs at the weekend.

For St Johnstone, Matty Todd and Taylor Steven come in at the expense of Josh Fowler and Liam Smith, who both drop to the bench.

Imminent signing Joel van den Berg hasn't yet been officially announced by Celtic, but he's with the squad at Parkhead in his new trackie.

Does this count as an exclusive?

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Motherwell make two changes as Jadell Kanga makes his first start after his injury-time stunner against St Mirren, while Seb Palmer-Houlden leads in attack.

Regan Charles-Cook and Ibrahim Said drop to the bench.

New signing Dylan Levitt, who previously played for tonight's opposition, could make his debut from the bench.

Dundee United are unchanged from their 4-0 victory at Rugby Park on Saturday.

The much-talked-about Will Ferry continues at left-back, following his goal and assist, and Panutche Camara remains in midfield.

Lyall Cameron signed on loan last night is named as a substitute. Dylan Tait also returns to the bench.

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