JUST as it appeared that Dunfermline were making headway towards the play-offs they crashed to another defeat and now travel to Queen of the South four points behind their opponents.

However, the bookmakers still make the Pars favourites to prevail on Saturday, pricing them up at a best price 10/7 (Unibet), the Doonhamers being 21/10 (Betvictor/Bet365) and a draw 12/5. The layers seem to have based their odds on perception rather than reality and the truth is although the Dumfries side have only five wins from their 16 games so far, they are still above the Pars in the standings and have home advantage to boot. Without question, the value lies in the home win.

Prediction: Queen of the South 1 Dunfermline 0.

Hearts’ early bid for title glory appears to have come unstuck with three successive defeats in recent weeks and tomorrow (Friday) night they face a tricky trip to sixth-placed Livingston (BT Sport 1, 7.45pm). The Jambos are slightly favoured by the bookies, Livi are 2/1 (Coral/Boylesports), a draw 9/4 (Unibet) and Hearts 8/5 (Betway).

Celtic and Rangers will resume their league programme on Sunday, the former’s home game with Hibernian being televised on the Sky Sports Football channel (12.30pm). The Bhoys are 8/15 (Ladbrokes), the Hi-Bees 6/1 (Bet365) and a stalemate 17/5 (Unibet).

Rangers play at 3pm and are considered to have a straightforward task at home to struggling Hamilton. The Gers are 1/5 (Ladbrokes), a draw 13/2 (Bet365) and the Accies 16/1.

It is crunch time in the Europa League and both Rangers and Celtic are firmly in contention to qualify from their respective groups today (Thursday). The Gers are in a win-or-bust situation as they travel to Austria (BT Sport 3, 5.55pm). The layers believe it will be a close-run thing as Rapid Vienna are 7/5, a draw 13/5 (Betvictor) and Rangers 2/1.

Celtic have marginally more leeway in their quest to pip RB Leipzig for second place but given the German side are 1/6 to defeat Rosenborg, realistically, victory at home to Salzburg is essential (BT Sport 3, 8pm). The Bhoys are 6/4 (Betfred), Salzburg are 2/1 and the draw 12/5 (Skybet).

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year is awarded on Sunday (BBC1, 7pm) but with a slight change of format; the nominations are actually determined on the evening so there is no guarantee that your selection will even make it to the voting. The prices for the leading contenders are as follows (most bookmakers are paying each way terms 1/5th odds 1,2,3): Harry Kane 6/4, Geraint Thomas 11/4, Lewis Hamilton 6/1, Tyson Fury 12/1 (Coral), Ronnie O’Sullivan 14/1 (Betvictor), Dina Asher-Smith 20/1, Lizzy Yarnold 33/1 and Alastair Cook 40/1.