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Scottish Premiership: Five things we learned

Scottish Premiership: Five things we learned
© Reuters
Hearts beat Hibs in the Edinburgh derby while Celtic and Rangers enjoyed positive results.

Hearts jumped above Hibernian and escaped the bottom of the Ladbrokes Premiership table with an Edinburgh derby triumph.

Celtic consolidated their lead at the top while Rangers kept on their tail.

Here the PA news agency looks at five things we learned from the weekend's action.

Hearts can handle the heat

After protests outside Tynecastle the previous weekend and owner Ann Budge moving to give Craig Levein her public backing amid widespread calls for him to vacate his role, Hearts faced a high-stakes Edinburgh derby. The pressure intensified when Stevie Mallan gave Hibernian the lead with a wonder strike and Levein faced a huge final 20 minutes with his team still trailing. But Uche Ikpeazu knocked home an equaliser and 17-year-old full-back Aaron Hickey rose to the occasion with his first goal in first-team football to give Hearts a 2-1 win at Easter Road.

Hibernian face a test of mettle

With the pressure on Levein alleviated, it intensified on Hibs head coach Paul Heckingbottom after his side slipped to 11th with a record of one win from 11 league games. The Hearts manager recognised what his opposite number would be going through. "Listen, it's a horrible business," he said. "It's difficult for all of us. You have got to handle the pressure that comes with the job. I've got empathy with every guy who has been brave enough to sit in this chair or chairs like it and take the heat."

Managers are happy with new card system

Neil Lennon was booked
Neil Lennon was booked (Ian Rutherford/PA)

Neil Lennon is anyway, after receiving a yellow card for complaining about a penalty decision in Celtic's 3-1 win over Kilmarnock. While not agreeing with being booked, he feels the system brings clarity. "It's great," he said. "It's like a warning to calm down. It's fine. I've no issue with that at all. I was a bit disappointed, but I'm not going to criticise the referee for that."

Alfredo Morelos is calming down

Alfredo Morelos is 'in a happy place'
Alfredo Morelos is 'in a happy place' (Graham Stuart/PA)

After being sent off five times last season, the Rangers striker was warned he was seriously testing manager Steven Gerrard's patience and doing his career some real harm. Gerrard praised the Colombian after he netted the opener in a 4-0 win at St Johnstone to take his tally for the season to 12 goals – and three yellow cards – in 15 matches. Gerrard said: "He's in good place, he's enjoying his football and he's behaving himself. He was even shaking the referee by the hand on the way off so he's definitely trying."

Police officers don't just watch the crowd

One policeman behind the goal momentarily forgot what his role was as Ikpeazu netted from close range at Easter Road, and raised both arms before quickly regaining his composure. Whether he was a Jambo starting to celebrate or a Hibs supporter throwing his arms up in disgust, every football fan will empathise with his instinctive reaction. Hopefully his bosses do too.

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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool66001751218
2Manchester CityMan City64112461813
3Leicester CityLeicester632185311
4Arsenal63211110111
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham632187111
6Bournemouth63121110110
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs622212848
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd62228628
9Burnley62228718
10Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd62227618
11Chelsea62221213-18
12Crystal Palace622247-38
13Southampton621369-37
14Everton621359-47
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton613258-36
16Norwich CityNorwich6204914-56
17Newcastle UnitedNewcastle612348-45
18Aston Villa611469-34
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves6042711-44
20Watford6024418-142

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