03/11/2013 Sportscene

Pat Fenlon Sportscene Constituency wants

High energy autumn weather. Enjoy tomorrow if you can, the driest day

of the working week before further spells of wet and windy weather come

across the UK. We Scottish football is never short on

drama and this Managerless Hibs without James Mc

pak. In come Maybury, Forrester and Hefernan.

Just wide. Managing to escape his marker in the

middle. Given away cheaply by Hibs and given

immediately back. Firing off target in the end.

He worked that opening himself. Elusive play from Hefernan. When he

cut in, you expect him to be working the goalkeeper. Hibs with plenty of

early possession. Stevenson bursting into the box.

Flinging himself at that. Simon Ramsden looks as if he's pulled up

with hamstring trouble. It is an early change, his match is over.

20-year-old Fraser Kerr takes his place.

Stephen McManus, another one at the front and it is his first goal for

the club. Good play from Sutton. This looks

promising. It spins off the glove of Williams. It could so easily have

gone in for goal number two. Suspended James McPake in the stand.

That is a clearance. From Neil son. Blocked by the goalkeeper. He should

have hit that quicker. That must have brushed the post.

Great run from the midfielder. So close to adding to Motherwell's

advantage. Robertson into a threat threatening

position and the shot comes off the heel of Hutchinson. And spins

behind. It might have been heading wide. But

Neilson wasn't going to be taking any chances and helped this on its

way. Taken out by Sean Hutchinson, it's

outside the box but it is still going to be a red card. A big chance

for Hibs as well. Did well to make contact outside.

Vine, off the wall. That's a real anti-climax for Hibs.

Is there to be one last chance? Big moment for the substitute and he

fires wide. Robertson's pass. There's Hefernan,

great stop by Neil sen and Motherwell look like they are

hanging on for all three points. It was a good foul by Hutchinson, he

genuinely went for the ball. We get that, thankfully. But I think

overall with the chances, we deserved to win the game. How did

the players respond to everything that's gone on? Well, I just thought

the first half we were better than that. There seemed to be a lack of,

lacking something, as if there's something eating away at them.

Second time was better. Half-time, getting into them a bit because of

it. Great three points for Motherwell, but how strange will the

preparations have been for Hibs players Pat Fenlon leaving on Friday

afternoon. It will be strange for them, a quick turn around for

Sunday's game. It is strange especially the ones he brought in

for the game. But looking at the team they played, it was the same

team, so they have a job to do and it's not too bad. We will talk more

about the managerial situation later on. But in terms of their form, not

so great and again today, bit slack at the back. When it really mattered

most, they needed a performance for Pat Fenlon, but it is easy to turn

round and say it, but as a player, they care about their manager, we

are going to do it for him. It was difficult for Jimmy Nichol

yesterday, but they go into the game and defending is not there and that

is one of the reasons why Pat Fenlon lost his job, poor defending that

lost Hibs a goal yesterday. Let's look at the goal here. Was Ryan ma

give earn at fault? The front two that shifted out of the area, that

is for starters, they both got attracted to the ball. You are

looking at ma given, he should do better. McManus wants it, attacks

it, poor defending again all round. I think so, clever Motherwell, they

try and move the front man and they take Stevenson gets attracted

towards the man and leaves a gap where they attack. Hutchinson

attacks the -- McManus attacks it brilliantly. Stuart not too upset

about the red card situation. What did you make of that? It was a good

foul. In the end he knew what he was doing. It was towards the end. I

think the young fullback has got to help him. The fullback has got to

come in to take Vine. Once he has gone the wrong side, I don't think

there's anything else he can do. In the end, Hefernan has a good touch.

Once he is there he is in trouble and should be five yards left of

him. Once they gets there he has to take one for the team. It's paid off

for them. They have won the game 1-0, so I think Stuart McCall will

be a happy man to take three points. We will talk about Butcher and the

Hibs managerial situation in depth shortly. How do you see that

situation briefly developing over the next few days? We will see, it

remains to be seen. Looking at it and you would say rod Petrie has got

to get it right. There's been four or five managers going into Hibs and

it's not gone right, and he is under pressure. It is going to cost top

dollar to get Terry Butcher. They must make it the right signings.

Hibs fans have not been happy. But if you get kwp butcher with the job

he's done, you will have to pay top dollar. It is going to cost them a

few bob if Hibs get him. We will revisit this shortly. Celtic started

the weekend six points clear at the top of the table. Thoughts would

soon turn to another Champions League mid-week mission, this time

to Amsterdam. Dundee United were in the east enld of Glasgow looking for

their first victory at Celtic Park in 20 years.

Armstrong scored here last season. That is a lovely ball for Gary

Mackay Steven. Really good play from United. So

many attacking options here. Great one-two between stokes and

Forest. It is a double clearance. Good defending by the youngster.

That's Graham. Forrester forced into action. A couple of times the big

Celtic number one has had to make a save.

Didn't have the power to trouble the goalkeeper. A bit more pace on the

ball perhaps he might have been able to generate more power in that

header. Celtic looking for the opener before

the break. That is for Ambrose. United managing to scoop it clear.

What a run that was from Armstrong, he's in here and it's 1-0 to the

visitors. A superb goal for Dundee United. Stuart Armstrong, finishing

it off, but it was the Celtic rearguard was open, still had a lot

to do, but do it he did. United think this came off van dyke.

They have a corner, do Celtic. It's over again. Anthony Stokes was

the match winner the last time the teams met at the end of August.

Another good ball. Stokes is in. United just managing to keep Celtic

at arm's length in the first half. They are looking for another one

here. Armstrong almost in, but for a terrific challenge from van Dyke. It

was good defending. Celtic continuing to knock on the

Dundee United door. That should have been 2-0. How he's

missed that, I don't know. Terrific instinct reaction from the

goalkeeper. He takes the plaudits. Clock continuing to tick down.

Dundee United haven't won here since 19 92 and that run is going to

continue by the looks for things because Charlie Mulgrew has rescued

a point in stoppage time. Flicking home the cross. Dundee United look

to the heavens, they cannot believe this. I am very happy we dug out a

point. We could have done better at times, particularly in the final

third, but we have preserved an unbeaten run, so I am happy about

that. We have four or five back for the game on Wednesday night. I

thought we were going to see it through. I thought the players were

fantastic for the first minute, the effort they put in and passed the

ball well at times and caused problems. We were gutted at losing a

goal late on, but it shows how far they have come that sappoint

disappointed. Good point for Dundee United. One of those points,

probably feels like a defeat for the Dundee United players, the way they

lost at the end there. How good were United yesterday? Excellent. Just

the way they set up the play, four, two, three, one and two sitting

midfielders, Rankin and Gomez, this is a kick out, but it is the type of

movement they showed all day, to get forward at will. It was a good first

half, Celtic played their part, had a few chances but United were always

dangerous in their movement. It was right throughout the game, great

ball there, gets Mackay Steven, they were excellent from turning defence

into attack. And they caused Celtic problems. You can see the movement

here again. That is Rankin, he goes forward. The de defenders defenders

are poor. Take nothing away from them, it is an excellent finish,

great movement. A neat finish in the end from Armstrong. You have seen

Dundee United this season, they have this huge attacking potential. This

was a glaering miss from Graham. It was a fantastic ball N he is caught

in two minds. Looks like he is going to go for the heading volley but for

me it is the two defensive midfielders, they do so much work,

cover so much ground, allows the front four to go and play. They get

the fullbacks high and wide as well. Two really good attacking fullbacks.

Robertson has been a star this year. They are a great counterattacking

team. Playing at Parkhead when they can play on the counter probably

suited them. So close to getting that first victory in 20 years.

Celtic created chances but once again passed up plenty of chances.

First half, they were excellent as well. It was a real end to end game.

Stokes had a few chances. You see stokes cut nothing here. The second

half, one shot, they had an unbelievable save from, usually

Celtic, that is the save there, what a save it is, but usually they are

throwing the kitchen sink at you, the goalie is picking off save after

save. I have seen it years, year after year, at Celtic Park if you

are 1-0 up, you are holding on by the skin of your teeth. United will

be disappointed to lose that goal. They want to stay in this unbeaten

run. It sounds bad to say, but they have some massive games coming up. I

think it is very, very difficult to play these high intensity games all

the time. People might say why can't they, but it takes so much out of

them mentally and physically. There, to come away with a 1-1 draw, Neil

was delighted. You could tell he was delighted. Mulgrew has gone in

there, wasn't a great ball n but he's gone and attacked it. I think

Dundee United will be very disaprointed but it was a good point

for Celtic. Ajax on Wednesday night for Celtic. Still to come on

Sportscene tonight: Rain of biblical proportions in

Paisley as St Mirren took on Ross County.

With Celtic stalling slightly the chance for the trailing pack to

perhaps make up some ground. Inverness had such an exhilerating

start to the season had faltered slightly losing their last two

league matches. Terry butcher keen to ensure it was just a blip.

Kilmarnock won their last two league matches putting to an end a horrible

start to the season. Kilmarnock looking to win three

straight league games. One change, Mackenzie replaces Barry Nicholson.

Straight to the goalkeeper. Jackson has a good strike on him. Watkins

gets involved. Watkins with a chip ball for Mackay. Deflection! Kaly

thrustle take the lead after six minutes. -- Cali Thistle take the

lead after six minutes. That looks like an own goal.

Goalkeeper sent the wrong way. Draper made a great run. Didn't have

a great finish though. Just too high.

He's on his favourite left side and opened up for them and he curls it

in. He is aplague out of position as a

right back, normally a left fullback. Looked like he was out of

position here. Wonderful finish from Graham, his first goal in over a

year. Darren Barr, that is his first

Kilmarnock goal and it is a great finish, too. Kilmarnock find

themselves back in the game, with 15 minutes to play.

Danny Williams is up. It's knocked behind.

A job well done I think. Kilmarnock are sticky oi poenents. They passed

it well. They look like a threat, pushing four men up at the end. We

needed the third goal to kill them off. They put us under a lot of

pressure, they had their wind on the side as well, it was difficult

conditions. The way they played in the second half, if you keep playing

like that and putting teams under that much pressure, you get your

rewards. Front of the newspapers today, speculation on television and

roo that Hibs are interested. It was on the front page of a national

newspaper this morning. So I was told. That is all it is,

speculation. It is a headline. We will see what happens. But, no, as

far as I am concerned, that is all it is, speculation. Terry Butcher

batting it. Huge speculation, he could be the next Hibs manager. How

big a loss would Terry Butcher be to Inverness. A huge loss. You can

understand why his name has been linked. He has done a fantastic job

in the last couple of seasons. He is a character. He's one of these guys

that seems to get the best out of his players. It would be a big loss

for Inverness, especially up there. Again it is only speculation, there

will be a few more managers names popping up in the next week or so. I

don't think it will be Terry. I think he will be one of the

frontrunners. He turned down Barnsley, he seems to enjoy life up

in Inverness, you could look at the Hibs job as a bit of a poisoned

chalice? Well the way it's gone you would have to say that, a right good

job as well, if you are looking at Hibs and the size of club and what

might be there if you get it right. But it's certainly enticing, a hard

decision for him, a great team spirit up there, he's done well. He

will leave a really good group of players for somebody to take over.

Hibs need a -- they demand a certain style of play. The fans want that

and they want a win. It is a tough job to go in there. Does Terry Butch

irfit into that? I think managers can adapt and hi gets results. I

think he can get players. To go in there and sort out the dressing

room, if there are problems, there are a few stories leaking out. Let's

look at the goals, it was an important victory for Inverness,

because they lost their last two league games. What did you make of

the goals? Good play from Mackay. They have been unlucky in the last

couple of weeks, but get a bit of luck there. There is the strike,

going wide but sometimes you get your luck. It was good play. In this

goal, the young lad Johnson switches off a bit. I played right back a

couple of times but got hooked after 60 minutes I was that bad. It was a

great finish. It was maybe naive for Johnson great going forward. It

shows you the benefits of that, because people having a go,

Stevenson playing right back, you have Graham playing right back,

comes in and it is the only way he scores, because it suits his left

foot shot. You have seen in the last couple of years, left siders playing

on the right side, and I think I always used to have a problem

playing against left ciders out there, it is difficult to play

against. You had a lot of problems! . You don't win anything with kids,

apart from Edinburgh derbies. Hearts youngsters may have been written off

as relegation certainties but they are staring victory over Hibs meant

they should have gone into a home match brimming with confidence. The

Perth side also had a spring in their steps.

There was hope within Tynecastle that Wednesday night's cup win over

Hibs would give the league campaign a boost it requires. When Walker

came close with this effort early on, confidence within the home fans

began to grow. Lockside hadn't won at home in the league since August.

Saints boss was hoping his side would grab three points on the road

for the first time this season. It was Hearts who continued to push

forward. Stevenson knocking the ball down for Jason Holt, his effort just

over. The striking partnership of Stevie May has Hasselbaink was

beginning to click into gear. However on this occasion, McDonnell

pulled off a point blank save to deny saits the lead. Mistakes by

Hearts defence are part of the reason for the club's poor run of

form and once again questions will be asked. Hasselbaink played in

Chris Miller, his cut back with aid of a deflection bouncing high for

Hasselbaink to nod home. Hasselbaink allowed time and space to drift in

between the central defenders. Magee scored a winner against Aberdeen

earlier this season for Hearts and came within inches of an equaliser

here. It was Walker with space down the right hand side, his cross not

box, Magee stretching his leg out, couldn't get enough on the ball to

force it into the net. Hasselbaink is not well-known for scoring with

his head, but feels he should have found the net for a second time this

afternoon when he was in between Magee and McGowan and heading over

the cross bar. Saints started the second half in whirlwind fashion and

scored a second in controversial circumstances. McDonnell clearly in

an offside position when he received the pass. There was nothing he could

do about Stevie May's sublime finish.

A poor call by the standside assistant. But nevertheless, a

magnificent finish from Saints top scorer. May finding the net for the

ninth time this season. Saints almost made it three. Mackay's cross

Hasselbaink with a chance and on this occasion over the top of

McDonald's goal. One last chance for the home side, Carrick lewding the

Saints defenders before firing a shot over the cross bar. There was

to be Saints day. Wednesday night was a huge game and maybe

psychologically it's taken a lot out of players, but at the same time St

Johnstone played the other night as well, so I am not going to use that

as an excuse. We never started the second half well enough. It's been a

tough week but a great week, three wins and three clean sheets, and

really pleased with the effort and performance today because we showed

a lot of quality at times. You enjoyed watching that. A great win

for your side. How good is this partnership, this develops

partnership between May and Hasselbaink. It is good at the

moment. The partnership between Stevie and him is really good. If I

had to put these two upfront, obviously scored last Sunday and

scored again a couple of goals each. Good play by Nigel here, managed to

shift the ball quickly and continue his run. He wanted the ball there.

Great for your team, but McGowan should be throwing himself at that.

Nigel wanted to win it again. Target man in the box. It was good. It was

a decent game first half, pretty even. We got a little bit of luck

here, a touch offside, but again, a lot of momentum in the second half,

started the second half really well. That was a great finish. He can do

no wrong at the moment. The Scotland squad is announced tomorrow. Is

there a chance May could be in it? Probably too soon. It would be great

if he is, I would be over the moon if he is, but he's developing, we

have been so pleased with him this season. Stephen MacLean, he is up

playing with somebody with so much experience and he helps him. Some of

the things he learns during the game, we can't teach him. It is only

when you playing with somebody upfront, he is getting better and

better. He wanted to stay at St Johnstone, which is a massive thing.

He wanted to stay. He wants to improve and play every week. If he

carries on doing what he is doing, he's got a great chance. I see more

Scotland caps in the future. Are you teaching those celebrations as well?

You are on a great run at the moment. Great win against Motherwell

last weekend. Stevie May and Hasselbaink very much at the fore.

How high can they finish this season, could you finish second?

Make sure we are safe, that is the biggest thing, make sure we are

safe. We are bringing through more youngsters as well. It is tough. But

here again, mortgageon played extremely well, a tough game for us

and a bit of luck at the end of the game. As far as the seedson is

going, a blip after the European games, we have managed to get

ourselves back on track and hopefully that can continue. Wru do

you see St Johnstone finishing? If they get some work like that with

their goalkeeper, they should be finishing seshgd. They will be up

there, good team spirit, good momentum. You would expect them

fourth. That is your target. The Scottish rain is something we are

used to. It can lead to faster pitches and more exciting football,

it can also ruin everything. St Mirren and Ross County would be

doused by the elements in Paisley. So, too was our match commentator

John Barns. Ed Neat turn by McGowan and off the

cross bar. Tenacious play by the St Mirren

player. A good turn and a good effort.

Paul McGowan, scores for St Mirren. After 25 minutes. A fine finish. As

others lost their footing, he managed to remain composed and in

the end it was a Nieto poke into the corner. -- neat toe poke not corner.

That's number two. Another delicate finish there by the big striker. A

lovely through pass there from John McGinn and Thomson didn't hang about

before dispatching it beyond Mark Brown. Conditions are getting worse.

The rain continues to fall. That pass held up in a piddle and that's

allowed St Mirren to go on the attack. The effort carried away by

Brown. The underfoot conditions setting up that opportunity for St

Mirren. The referee has called a halt to the

game and he is encouraging the players to make their way towards

the tunnel. That was that. The match was indeed abandoned. Now it's not

very often we would show you footage from an abandoned match but we

wanted to give you an idea of what the conditions were like in this

match. It sparked massive debate. The referee spent half an hour

trying to decide whether or not the match could continue. Eventually he

decided it couldn't continue, and afterwards he spoke to us. When we

came out for the second half, the pitch had become worse than what it

was before half-time. Players having to check their tackles, watch their

run, the ball was thickened and the pitch had become unplayable and

dangerous. The referee has prime responsibility for the players ae

safety. I gave the ground staff at least two attempts to try and work

hard on the pitch. They did work very hard, I am grateful to them for

that. My prime responsibility is for the safety of the players and we

deemed it wasn't safe enough to continue the match. There is no

doubt in my mind we would have given ourselves a very good opportunity to

go on and pick up all three valuable points today and the way the games

are going, it looks as if ewe could have jumped a couple places on the

back of that. Two games back-to-back abandoned. Yes, it is frustrating,

but today it is obviously different, because we are obviously behind in

the game. We had an opportunity to maybe score just after half-time.

But all in all, it is difficult to accept but we have to accept that,

because it is the correct decision. So, what is it the right decision by

the referee? I think so, when you look at the pictures in the first

half and second half, there was a big difference. In the end the

safety for the players, the conditions there, it's farcical.

Players are risking getting injured and that is what you want to ajoyed.

You are disappointed, you have been making every effort to say the pitch

is great and get it along and don't worry about the puddles. It is

always tough for the referee. He can't win, whatever decision he

makes, people are going to have a go at him. But looking at that, he said

the safety is paramount and for the younger viewers, a few years back,

same conditions, momentum took McCoist, smashed his jaw, he was out

for months, safety was the most important thing there and the

referee called it right. In Dutch football they start off when they

replay the match from the point they finished, so they would play 38

minutes of this match with St Mirren leading 2-0. Good idea? No. Why not?

What rules do you make, you keep it the same 22 that were on the pitch,

when will you get that, somebody may get injured. It is a hard one. The

referee called it right. You have to start the game again. Looking at the

goals, Tom will be devastated, because the water helped his touch.

It was an unbelievable first touch for the goal. It is one of those

things. But they will need to start the game again. Nothing lost,

nothing gained for St Mirren but what about the rest of the sides.

Let's look at the table. Still one match to be played this

weekend, Aberdeen with a chance to regain second place in the table if

they can manage a win at home to par tick thistle. You were at this match

and if Aberdeen get a similar result tomorrow, they will be delighted.

They played well this game, even though sometimes they might lose

goals thistle, they usually play a lot of football. Aberdeen to their

credit, they were a different class that day. Thistle tomorrow, it is a

tricky one for Aberdeen. They have the momentum, they are still in the

cup. Thistle are doing well. Two good performances one against Celtic

and they beat Inverness. How do you see it going tomorrow? It will be

tough for thistle. They have had an excellent start to the season.

Aberdeen have a lot of their big players back. It will be a tricky

one for Thistle. Will Aberdeen finish second? I wouldn't want to

put pressure on Derek, but they have a good squad. He's building a squad

that is getting stronger and strong stronger. Is that how you feel,

second place for Aberdeen, that was your tip at the start? I have said

all season, good mix of youth and experience, they have that momentum.

Certainly have confidence. They will be should be finishing second with

the squad they have. We will have highlights of tomorrow's match on

the BBC sport website from midnight tomorrow night. All the other

matches are already there. Let's look at tomorrow's back pages to see

what the guys in frint are saying. Ajax manager, having a tough time of

it in the Dutch league, they play Celtic on Wednesday night. Let's

talk about that Champions League match. Celtic obviously hoping for

victory in Amsterdam. Do you think he can get it? I think they K the

problem is that Ajax are struggling in the league. Might be a relief,

they are quite a young team, it might not work in Celtic's favour.

But they have a great chance. Probably the key game in the league

for them. If they can get a result over there, there is still a good

chance. Do you see Celtic managing to get three points on Wednesday

night? They might have Commons back and this Ajax defence doesn't look

the strongest. Big bonus for them, those players back, but away

performances have been excellent in this campaign so far. And in the

last couple of seasons. Certainly they can win it, but they would be

delighted with a point, because to get to that AC Milan game at home, I

think Celtic will win that and hopefully results elsewhere will

enable them to go through. They have been excellent so far in the

campaign. They deserve that bit of luck. I think they could take

something out of the Ajax game on Wednesday. We shall see. That is all

we have time for this week. Thanks to Callum and Billy. Hope you

managed to avoid the downpower this weekend. -- down pour this weekend,

at least it wasn't snoechlt good night.