We analyse what shape the 12 teams are in with the Scottish Premiership poised to resume after the international break.
Club football returns to centre stage again this weekend, with the next break in the domestic schedule not until March.
They took out their frustration when they faced the Dons at Hampden at the start of this month, securing a League Cup final place with a dominant 6-0 win over their nearest challengers in the league. Celtic look well placed to progress in Europe and dominate domestically even if they do not strengthen further in the January window.If, after Neil Warnock left Pittodrie in March, you told an Aberdeen fan their side would only be behind Celtic on goal difference come November with 31 points from 11 games, they would have laughed at you.Fans have flocked to Pittodrie, selling out the famous old ground time and time again as their side churn out win after win.
They have been solid defensively and threatening in attack - a good combination for positive results. Well's defence is the key reason for the improvement, with Kettlewell's well-coached, compact side conceding just 14 league goals. It had the hallmarks of a small squad suffering after the highs of a season of over-achievement as well as not being used to juggling European and domestic games.
They haven't won back-to-back Scottish Premiership matches since February last season but their improved form means they will fancy their chances of an upset against high-flying Aberdeen on Saturday.Dundee's solid start to the season is the reason they sit in the middle of the table and while Tony Docherty will be looking upwards, they might be a team those below them fancy catching.
Fourth place last season was always going to be tough to follow - especially with European adventures to distract minds and tire bodies.Derek McInnes will have expected more, but will not have needed long to diagnose the problems - discipline and defence. They were only four points better off after 12 games last season and with St Johnstone and Dundee next, their season could have a different complexion in a fortnight.Solid home form is keeping County out of trouble for now. Only the top two have won in Dingwall this season, with Celtic and Aberdeen both needing late goals to do so.
Given Hale's great start, seeing him drop deep to help out is perhaps not the best use of his talent but if the Staggies can keep racking up home points at this rate they should be spared a third successive relegation play-off.A run of three successive defeats will have supporters worried that the 'new manager bounce' under Simo Valakari was very short-lived - but amid the frustration of those results, there have been some encouraging signs.
Two things will be lessening the pain for their fans though: there are potentially exciting things happening off the pitch; and Hibernian are the team below them.
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