Celtic and Rangers ranked, Hibs and Aberdeen issues, surprise packages - Premiership quarter-term report card
From pacesetters to mid-table grinders, and relegation worries - who is cracking the code or facing remedial work?
The Scottish Premiership has reached its traditional autumn checkpoint, offering a clear view of who has cracked the code and who faces a long winter of remedial work.
With roughly a quarter of the campaign in the books, the table is fracturing into distinct tiers. While the traditional powerhouses have predictably climbed to the top, an incredibly competitive mid-table and a deeply troubled basement have thrown pre-season predictions out the window.
Following 11 rounds of fixtures, every team has now played each other once. With clear standout overachievers and underachievers across the league, here is our report card so far, grading each club relative to their resources and expectations.
Aberdeen - 3/10
Record: 3W - 2D - 6L (-2 GD)
Aberdeen are mired in a deeply frustrating campaign due to a crippling lack of consistency. Pressure is mounting on manager Stephen Robinson, with disgruntled fans becoming increasingly vocal about a squad ranking as the league's joint-lowest scorers. Leaky defending has led to the concession of cheap goals and Robinson could find himself in serious trouble if they crash out of the Premier Sports Cup semi-final to Rangers with a whimper this weekend.
Celtic - 8/10
Record: 9W - 1D - 1L (+19 GD)
Sitting comfortably atop the table, the champions continue to set a relentless pace driven by a league-high 27 goals. Summer recruit Camilo Durán and breakout star Colby Donovan have excelled, but back-to-back defeats to Rangers across the league and Premier Sports Cup deny them a straight-A grade. Frustration is compounded by club-record signing Kasper Høgh going 14 matches without scoring.
Dundee - 8/10
Record: 5W - 2D - 4L (+4 GD)
Dundee have emerged as one of the season's standout stories. Under Steven Pressley, the Dark Blues are punching above their financial weight to occupy fourth spot. They have shown resilience throughout the opening quarter, grinding out crucial results despite navigating a severe injury crisis.
Dundee United - 6/10
Record: 4W - 4D - 3L (0 GD)
The Terrors define stability, sitting balanced with a level goal difference. Jim Goodwin has built a resilient side, with their midfield of Lyall Cameron, Zidane Iqbal and Dylan Tait starting to click. United appear to have found the right blend, with the trio complementing each other well. However, they must convert more draws into wins to sustain a serious push for a European spot.
Falkirk - 6/10
Record: 4W - 3D - 4L (+1 GD)
John McGlynn’s side are proving their return to the top flight is no mere survival mission. Holding a top-six spot is a massive achievement after a summer overhaul in which they lost all five top scorers from the previous year. However, the Bairns continue to play progressive, fearless football, with sharp-shooting American striker Jacob Murrell carrying on the baton from Barney Stewart.
Heart of Midlothian - 6/10
Record: 6W - 2D - 3L (+7 GD)
Hearts have cemented themselves as the "best of the rest" in third place, sitting on the coattails of the top two. Fuelled by the creativity of playmaker Josh McPake, who leads the league with five assists, the Gorgie club are among the most entertaining attacking teams to watch, although Wouter Vrancken’s expansive approach has occasionally led to soft goals. That has prevented the Jambos from mounting a closer challenge.
Hibernian - 2/10
Record: 2W - 2D - 7L (-6 GD)
Hibs' disastrous start and league position make for grim reading. David Gray was sacked six games into the season and there has been fierce criticism of the club’s recruitment from supporters. They look fine statistically, generating plenty of shots and creating dangerous opportunities, but an inability to finish chances, combined with defensive fragility, has repeatedly punished them. An alarming combination has anchored Marink Reedijk’s men at the wrong end of the table.
Kilmarnock - 2/10
Record: 2W - 2D - 7L (-15 GD)
Occupying bottom spot on goal difference, Kilmarnock have had a miserable opening quarter. Shipping 26 goals highlights a broken defensive structure that has left them brutally exposed. While they remain capable of threatening teams going forward, an inability to stop leaking goals is a critical flaw requiring immediate rectification if they hope to survive the drop this term.
Motherwell - 3/10
Record: 2W - 3D - 6L (-7 GD)
Motherwell are a prime example of why possession does not always equate to control. Under Alfred Johansson, the Steelmen look comfortable with the ball, yet this aesthetic style has failed to yield consistent results. A damaging five-game slide has exposed vulnerabilities in both boxes, revealing a team that lacks a clinical edge up front and struggles to defend basic actions in their own defensive third.
Rangers - 7/10
Record: 7W - 3D - 1L (+10 GD)
Rangers are proving a solid, dependable force under Derek McInnes, though they remain prone to dropping points. The Light Blues boast a robust defensive unit, with Olwethu Makhanya widely viewed as the signing of the summer. While frustrating draws have slowed their momentum, defensive resilience and signs that their frontline are starting to gel mean they remain firmly in the title hunt.
St Johnstone - 5/10
Record: 3W - 4D - 4L (-4 GD)
Newly-promoted St Johnstone are proving a tough nut to crack as they acclimatise to the Premiership this season. The Perth club have been competitive in most games, but have relied heavily on individual brilliance. Up front, Josh Fowler has carried the offensive burden almost entirely on his own, while goalkeeper Toby Steward has done serious overtime to bail out his backline on numerous occasions.
St Mirren - 5/10
Record: 4W - 2D - 5L (-7 GD)
St Mirren have endured a volatile campaign, with form swinging dramatically from week to week. A bruising five-game losing streak impacted their goal difference and threatened to derail their season. However, a crucial 2-1 weekend victory over Dundee has breathed life back into the squad, with key cog Killian Phillips stabilising the ship to keep them afloat in mid-table.
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