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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
Sport
Ewan Paton

3 things we learned as Hearts and St Johnstone close in on third spot

There was a reduced Premiership card today due to adverse weather conditions across the country. 

However, while Motherwell vs St Mirren and Livingston vs Dundee United may have fallen foul to the wintry weather, there was plenty of entertainment on offer elsewhere in the top flight. 

Hearts beat Kilmarnock 3-1 at Tynecastle as they moved to within a point of Aberdeen in third spot. 

While a dramatic comeback in Dingwall saw St Johnstone leave the Highlands with all three-points against Ross County.

Here's three things we learned across both games...

Shankland now joint top scorer

The Scotland forward bagged a double against Killie on Saturday which fired him on to 11 goals for the campaign so far. That puts the 27-year-old level with Rangers' Antonio Colak and Aberdeen hitman Bojan Miovski. His first in this one was far too easy from a Killie perspective, as the Ayrshire side allowed the striker a free header in the six-yard box. However, his impressive penalty record proved yet again with his second. Robbie Neilson has challenged him to score 20 this season.

St Johnstone in the European hunt

Like the aforementioned Jambos, Callum Davidson's side are also just a single point behind the Dons in third. An Ali Crawford double ensured a stunning second-half turnaround for Saints against County this afternoon.

The second off of Jack Baldwin helped the away team's case, but the quickfire double proved to settle this game. Saints look strong for another tilt at European football, while County, like Kilmarnock, remain in trouble at the bottom.

Kilmarnock in desperate need of January recruits

There were certainly a few things we learned abut Killie. From gifting goals away to a lack of quality on the ball in the attacking areas, Derek McInnes has plenty of work to do with his team if they are to avoid relegation this term. If the Rugby Park outfit are to finish tenth of higher then a strong transfer window in January is required. Hearts away is a difficult fixture, but much of their performance in the capital was poor. There only attacking threat appears to be at set pieces, while the defence looks shaky at best. Expect to see many ins and outs in the coming weeks.

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