Lawyers warned the Scottish Government was heading for defeat in its court battle with Alex Salmond more than three months before it lost the case. In a major development which piles more pressure on Nicola Sturgeon, it emerged yesterday that they warned in September 2018 there was 'a real risk that the court may be persuaded by the petitioner's case in respect of the ground of challenge based on 'procedural unfairness'.' Legal advisers then informed officials on October 31 of a 'very real problem' which eventually led to Mr Salmond winning the case. Lawyers warned the Scottish Government was heading for defeat in its court battle with Alex Salmond more than three months before it lost the case