FIVE THINGS WE LEARNED FROM THE SPFL THIS WEEKEND

O’RILEY IS THE REAL DEAL FOR CELTIC

THERE were so many breathtaking performances in attack for Celtic in their blistering 9-0 victory over Dundee United, but the pace and precision of play from Matt O’Riley in midfield was the base for Ange Postecoglou’s side to cause terror at Tannadice. O’Riley is the creative influence in midfield for Celtic and a natural replacement for Tom Rogic.

KING HAS CHANCE TO MAKE THE GRADE

CHANCES to succeed at Rangers and Celtic are very few and far between, but Leon King has a chance to stake a claim in Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s backline. Subbed on at half-time for James Sands, the 18-year-old slotted in seamlessly as Rangers ran out 4-0 winners over Ross County and is set to start tomorrow’s league cup tie against Queen of the South.

JOHNSON MUST FIND CONSISTENT LEVEL

IT has been a case of one step forward and two steps back for Hibernian manager Lee Johnson. Spirited home draws against Hearts and Rangers have been punctured by defeats away to Livingston and Saturday’s 1-0 loss at St Mirren. Hibs were blighted by a lack of consistency last season and Johnson (left) must make the club more stable quickly.

McCRORIE FILLS VOID LEFT BY FERGUSON

LEWIS FERGUSON earned his first run-out for Bologna off the bench in defeat to AC Milan on Saturday and Aberdeen may have found his replacement from within on the same day. Ross McCrorie has sometimes been used at centre-half but his thunderbolt strike in the Dons’ 5-0 thumping of 10-man Livingston is evidence that central midfield is his best position.

MORTON BUILDING FROM THE BACK

THE resolve Morton showed under Dougie Imrie in the heat of relegation battle served them well last season in the Championship. All those steely characteristics were on show again when Grant Gillespie’s late penalty sealed a 1-0 win away to Inverness Caley Thistle. Imrie is firmly building a team from the back that will be hard to beat in an open league.