As ever in the Scottish Premiership, there were plenty of thrills and spills in Thursday’s full card of fixtures.
Rangers inflicted Celtic’s first domestic defeat of the season, Dundee United came away from Dens Park with derby bragging rights, and Aberdeen’s recent woes continued as they were beaten by Ross County.
Meanwhile, there were wins for Hearts and Kilmarnock, while St Johnstone and Hibernian drew at McDiarmid Park.
We asked for your thoughts on the first round of fixtures in 2025 – here are the best of them.
Contrasting emotions after shock Old Firm result
Rangers fans were delighted with their team’s performance in the 3-0 win against Celtic, but want to see that level consistently.
Gary: Sitting at work and getting the early Ianis Hagi goal alert come through was a shock, then I turn on the radio and listen to us utterly dominating with our front five outstanding in front of our makeshift backline. A great performance but the team must back it up and continue at this standard for the rest of the season and beyond.
David: The manager should look at this and wonder why he has been playing poor players like James Tavernier and Cyriel Dessers.
Matthew: It was everything we’ve been crying out for: passionate, driven, efficient and simply the best! We made Celtic look extremely poor: pressing and interceptions were the backbone of our intensity and it paid off big time. Nicolas Raskin and Hagi were outstanding – how we’ve missed Hagi!
Margaret: Where has this team been? What a performance from every single player. I came to Ibrox fearing the worst but hoping for the best! So delighted, but disappointed with our latest performances at St Mirren and Motherwell. We need to push on from this, won’t win the league but need to show what we are capable of.
Robert: This is a result Rangers need to build on. For once the whole team played well. The aggression and intensity which was sadly lacking in the last two games was there in abundance. Seeing the teamsheet before the start you feared the worst. Now they need to be more consistent. One victory doesn’t make the season any better.
Chris: Well here we are in fantasy island again. A brilliant display from the team yet I can’t help but wonder what the next slip-up is going to be. It would be nice to see an unchanged team for the next few matches to see if consistency is achievable.
Celtic fans questioned their team’s attitude at Ibrox.
Eamon: Worst performance of the season by a long way. Rangers wanted it more. Can’t think of any player that put in a shift. The important thing now is how Celtic react. A couple of convincing wins will put us back on an even keel and let’s see how Rangers go over the next two league games, the title can still be won in January.
Paul: A performance nobody could’ve predicted, but essentially every Celtic player contributed to their own downfall. None of them played to their full potential, letting Rangers dictate the game. Serious questions about the mentality of this Celtic side going forward, will it just be a minor blip or the beginning of a run of poor form?
Henry: Over-confident! Actually believing the league is won early January? Any team can have a bad game but lack of commitment, passion and workrate are no excuse for well-paid sportsmen. This defeat was certainly coming but the manner of it was shocking. Time for the manager to take notice.
James: Incredible! Despite no fans allowed we had 11 spectators on the pitch. Made an average team look good. When we’re prevented from playing our A game we’ve no plan B. Still, they have the bragging rights for a few days but we’ll have the silverware for years. Let’s move on.
Ray: An off day indeed. Only Cameron Carter-Vickers gets pass marks. Some would say this was coming and the wayward passing of Liam Scales and Reo Hatate is a concern again. Stop the midfield playing and man-mark wide players and Celtic struggle.
Lee: Complacent, arrogant, lazy, just turned up. Same echo from an arrogant Brendan Rodgers interview, going to the lead in the league table rather than just being humble and accepting.
United take bragging rights back down the road
United fans are understandably riding the crest of a wave after a derby win that took them up to third.
Gordon: Great team performance by United. Down to a ludicrous penalty they silenced the noisy neighbours with two good goals. Kevin Holt and Sam Dalby getting the plaudits but Vicko Sevejl is becoming a real asset to the team. Great game sense and does the hard work that keeps us ticking over.
Ross: Every club has its moaners so let us take time to applaud Jim Goodwin. He did what we needed last season, changed the squad, and has blended a team that never gives in. His tactical changes this season have been spot on and it won us the game at Dens. The highlight of a festive spell that saw us take 10 points out of a possible 12. Thank you United!
Jim: What a festive period it’s been and what an amazing season. Only 18 months ago we were relegated with the worst United side in living memory. Major credit has to go to the tactically-astute Goodwin who built this side and who knows how to tweak it. Winning at Dens is so sweet and so like the old days when Dens was invariably where we performed.
Alasdair: Not at our best, but with the second-half performance we did enough to edge it. Another terrible VAR call for the penalty, or was it? I’ve no idea what the handball rule is after the one we were denied against Aberdeen. This squad has character in abundance and I think they can improve further still.
Jamie: Dundee the better team in the first half and should have been a goal to the good. United came out better in the second half but still not quite firing on all cylinders. It was an awful decision to award a penalty but the heads did not drop. The winning goal was a thing of beauty and reward for trying to win the game. Do everything to keep Dalby!
Dundee fans were left frustrated by their manager’s in-game decisions and post-match comments.
Ian: Embarrassing manager comments. Yes, we played well first half but without any cutting edge. Fortuitous penalty and bad luck with the equaliser but never threatened United’s goal in the second half. Lack of early enough substitutes, it wasn’t working, change it earlier as Jim Goodwin did. Over the 90 minutes we didn’t deserve even a draw.
Danny: This was a game we should never have lost. Once again the manager has failed to react to what is happening on the pitch. His lack of game management and poor tactical awareness has cost us.
Mark: Shambles. Two defensive mistakes cost us yet again. Tony Docherty is to blame. Didn’t make a sub until the 90th minute.
Dudley: Yet another manager who has out thought/coached Docherty, losing late goals is his speciality. We’re obliviously clueless at the back, we’re still not learning. Sorry Tony, but you’re losing the Dundee support. Your shocking summer transfer window will be our downfall. Still, putting on very late subs and sadly you’re taking us down.
Brian: Really should have had the game won in the first half, totally controlled it. Second half we fell away a bit and didn’t deserve to lose. Some refereeing advantage decisions went against us when breaking away. Totally disappointed because we put up a good game.
Steven: Tough to take, once again Docherty’s decisions probably cost the points. No subs when clearly required, befuddled to say the least.
Uplifting wins for Killie, Hearts & County
Kilmarnock swept to a 2-0 victory against St Mirren, thanks to a Bruce Anderson double.
Stephen: Another good home performance with passing, movement and a strong press. Our defence was excellent when Saints did have spells of possession, with Lewis Mayo back to something like last season’s consistency. Good call from Derek McInnes bringing on Kyle Magennis when Kyle Vassell went off injured. His added composure in midfield meant better balance up front.
Robert: Very good professional performance. Probably the most comfortable win this season as I couldn’t see St Mirren score. When I see the number of ridiculous yellow cards we’ve had this season it astounds me that Alex Gogic got away with constant fouling. No wonder he was hooked.
John: Got lucky with penalties, penalties have been good to us this season, it would be good to score more goals from open play but take a win anyway. We have got tricky games ahead but they are winnable, win the home games and we will be sitting pretty.
Sean: Impressed with Bruce Anderson’s performance. We need to start him most games. Against St Mirren’s defence, he was causing all sort of problems. We need to shoot more, as too often, we tried to pass it into the net. But a good performance and win to start 2025.
David: Overall a positive three points with no goals conceded. Thought the midfield ran the show during the first half. Gogic should’ve been sent off before he was taken off. Onwards to Sunday’s game!
Scott: Pretty comfortable win. Maybe not as exciting of a performance as last week but St Mirren never laid a glove on us. I said before the Hearts game a few weeks ago that this would be a big period in our season and so it is proving. 10 points from our last five games and another two home games coming up. It’s a real chance to push for top-six.
Craig Gordon received praise from Hearts fans for a vital late save in their win against Motherwell.
Steven: Craig Gordon is a complete oxymoron. Doesn’t command his box, doesn’t come for crosses, can’t play sweeper keeper but for all his faults he is still amazing between the sticks. You will be pushed to see a better reaction save this season than his one at the end to save the points for Hearts. Absolutely incredible.
Chris: If not for a fantastic save from Gordon we would have left with a point after dominating another game. The lack of cutting edge is soul destroying and Scottish football will punish you for not taking your chances. Bit of luck we have been missing finally showed up. We are not down quite yet!
Steve: Grateful for three precious points, Motherwell were very poor, their manager stated 1-0 flattered them. James Penrice outstanding, but it’s same old Hearts. Give them all the possession and hit them on the break. Gordon gets us out of jail in one of their rare attempts on goal, to save Neil Critchley’s neck.
Anon: Much better. As at Ross County, the Liam Boyce and James Wilson combo looks promising and I’ve never seen Jorge Grant play that well. How they only scored once is a mystery but good to see Gordon’s great saves at the end.
Kevin: Hearts played well as a team. Boyce offers more link-up to Wilson and Musa Drammeh. Grant looked good, as did Wilson, Musa, Blair Spittal, Cammy Devlin, Penrice and Gordon. Overall better but we still need to kill teams off and are still second bottom. I think we need quality and to ship a few players on.
Ross County secured back-to-back away wins with a 2-1 victory at Pittodrie against struggling Aberdeen.
Shaun: Great team performance and a terrific win over the Dons. Every single County player delivered, it was brilliant to see. Strong debut from Nohan Kenneh, pleased to see him back. Hero of the day must be Akil Wright – what an unbelievable strike! He has been a great signing.
Rick: After 14 months of away pain, two wins from two, outstanding and worth the frostbite!
Ian: Cracking first half. Just a poor free kick to give in the dying minutes of the first half. Second half Aberdeen were the better team but some dink and some strong defending from the team. What a turn around by Don Cowie and the team.
Roger: Seems if somehow County could get a couple of good players in, with Cowie at the helm, a move up the table could definitely be on.
Despair for Dons, Buddies & Well
Aberdeen fans feel January additions are a necessity if their winless run is to end soon.
James: A new defender is vital or else the season will continue in a downward spiral. The current attackers seem useless at converting any chances that come their way.
Kevin: We are plummeting towards the bottom six like a sack of tatties being thrown into the sea. Either the players can’t play to Jimmy Thelin’s tactics or the players aren’t good enough.
Stuart: Still no leaders in this squad. Go get a couple decent defenders and a hard-working midfielder. Lyall Cameron from Dundee perhaps. Thursday was unacceptable again.
Bo: Have to question Aberdeen players’ character and mentality. Did they have a great start with a new manager? Yes. But they also did the same when Barry Robson came in and then downed tools. We still have a lot of those same charlatans. Clear them all out, Jimmy.
Mattie: Why are coaches scared to change formation? County played five in midfield against our two. A simple 4-4-2 formation would have made us tough to beat while also having two strikers against their three defenders. We are getting found out because we have no plan B. I like Thelin, but he has to be more adept tactically and not become a slave to one system.
Motherwell fans were disappointed with their tactics at Tynecastle.
Grant: Really poor, no shots on target or corners in the first half. Important players out injured, but the players coming in really have to step up to the plate. We always give teams in need the win and I’m now dreading our next game against Aberdeen.
Ryan: Lennon Miller was a big miss. We were not in the game at all until the final five minutes. Our performances have been very Jekyll and Hyde all season which I don’t know why.
Eddie: When is the manager going to take responsibility? He signed the players and set up the system. The football is dire to watch and we barely reach 40% possession even at home.
James: Pathetic display. Just not good enough. Poor passing, no energy, easy to play against. Some deadwood needing rid of, and some new faces required to spark things up.
Kevin: We could have 11 Brazilians playing for us and Stuart Kettlewell would still have them all behind the ball and passing back the way. He keeps going on about this tenure. The longer his tenure continues the more he’s making Craig Levein look attack minded. Brutal.
David: One shot on target after 80 minutes, fourth bottom in the Premiership for goalscoring and the fifth leakiest defence, says it all about Motherwell under Kettlewell.
St Mirren supporters felt nothing went right at Rugby Park.
Douglas M: Another ragged performance with little creativity, which mirrored the performance against Dundee. We miss a good creative player who can beat a player and pick out a decisive pass. That aside Killie continue to be a bogey team for us, and playing on a plastic pitch doesn’t help!
Ian: Very disappointing. The opposition don’t do much to win games against Saints we conspire to lose games – plain and simple. Two avoidable penalties. Back to square one and not looking likely to win any of our next few games.
Douglas S: Absolutely a dire performance today and Stephen Robinson must take some of the blame. The team selection was wrong. When I saw Jonah Ayunga in the starting XI I feared the worst and when he started the second half I couldn’t believe it. Then Mikael Mandron comes on.
Eddie: We were very poor over the whole game. Poor decisions, passing, and general play. Once again the ref was awful. We need to get back to basics. Celtic next.
Saints & Hibs share the spoils in Perth
Hibs equalised through Dwight Gayle in Perth but were unable to find a winner despite playing against 10 players for the majority of the game.
William: The result basically highlighted our weaknesses at both ends of the park. Rocky Bushiri is still a bombscare, we would have had three clean sheets in a row. Junior Hoilett up front with Martin Boyle is not really working. Nectar Triantis’ yellow cards are mounting up. Hopefully Rangers will make a few changes to give us hope.
Scott: Poor result against the bottom side after a reasonable run of positive results, definitely two points dropped. Next up the real litmus test against one of the Old Firm. Still not convinced this is a decent squad and hope we strengthen during the transfer window and get shot of the dross.
Mark: Another poor result, more vital points dropped. David Gray’s tactics are too negative, making it hard to break teams down and finish them off. Hopefully his tactics will change if we get better players in this window. Hibs need to get their signings in early, though, rather than the usual last-minute English lower-league loans who almost always flop.
Martin: Can’t be too critical. Look where we were only a few weeks ago. St Johnstone are fighting for points, a point away is good considering we were one down, three points became harder when they went to 10 men as they went full defence and we lack the quality to unlock that.
Tom: Two points dropped against 10 but probably a good draw away against a side who have been our bogey team over the years. The last five games we have been much better, so let’s take it up to Rangers in the next game.
Colin: Thirteen points out of 15 in our last five games is a very good return. However, we know we need to add quality in key positions and with Keiron Bowie set to return, if we can make a couple of quality signings we’ll kick on into the top six. We’re moving in the right direction.
St Johnstone fans were able to take positives despite still being bottom of the league.
Paul: Saints were excellent, they are playing some decent football and then were able to dig in and limit Hibs to very few chances. There are reasons to be optimistic, though clearly need a win soon.
Les: That was more like a St Johnstone team, fighting for each other and playing some good stuff. The only downside was obviously the red card for Jason Holt, a really poor challenge. However, questions surely to be asked as to why Rocky Bushiri didn’t receive a second yellow at the penalty in the Dundee game. On to Sunday, it’s a must win.
