04/03/2012 Sportscene

There aren't too many weekends when the Old Firm can't manage a win

between them. So a collector's item coming up, as we review SPL

Saturday. Highlights of all five matches. It is going to be a scrap

to the end. And that is what we are focused on. The job is to make sure

we stay in the league. More from Hibs manager Pat Fenlon in the next

45 minutes. First to Rangers' last match before the inevitable job

cuts kick in. An announcement is expected tomorrow. Hearts were

yesterday looking for their first Hearts. Joan Hammell has them in

Jamie MacDonald after this goal line clearance from Black. -- stray

Straight down the throat of the touched away by McDonald. A

pressure situation inside the six- on Bocanegra. Goian tech suit

quickly. Squeezed in for a Steven Davis! -- takes it. It has gone

straight through the goalkeeper, but Rangers not too bothered about

how it finds its way to the back of the bed, they lead at Ibrox, right

on half-time -- back of the net. The captain has made the

good opportunity to go a long way towards the sea in the points. --

Ian Black! That is brilliant! And that is a 1-1 at Ibrox, 30 minutes

after the restart. Rangers thought they had dealt with the problem.

Great clearance by Bocanegra, but what about this from Ian Black? It

has an explosive striker. Allan McGregor had no chance -- it is an

explosive striker. Rangers looked though you kiss and Grainger making

It is silent at Ibrox. Nobody around the ground seems to be fully

aware of what has happened. Goian has been booked for some wrestling

inside the penalty box on Andy Webster. He has given Hearts a

penalty kick. He was well placed, certainly, to make the decision. He

was looking at the two players and McGregor, but in goes the rebound.

-- saved. And the problems for Rangers pile up. It is 2-1, at

Hearts, and Jamie Hamill turns this I just can't believe I am sitting

here talking to you after a defeat, up to be honest with you. We were

all here to see a football match and quite frankly, I am staggered

that we got beaten. We are very happy with the result, not because

it is Rangers or it is in Ibrox, or because we didn't win the last five

or six games in the league. I excuse myself, but I don't want to

speak about their game as a sign of respect from my team for the

Rangers professionals, because of the problems they are in. At this

moment in time, we are wounded, no doubt about it, and there are

probably one or two people enjoying it, one or two people having a wee

flying kick thick, and I would suggest to them to have a right

that kick now because we will not be where we are there for a long

time. A fighting talk from Ally McCoist.

The impression I get is there is a lot of sympathy. Our think so, a

difficult time for everybody, but I think those people think and hope

they will come out of it. Support as well enjoy it at the moment,

because they have been on top for so long -- supporters, they just

so long -- supporters, they just so long -- supporters, they just

so long -- supporters, they just I think other clubs can see the

problem in relation to them. Yes, you can sit with Dunfermline and it

can happen right across the lead. It is a big revenue for most of the

clubs. Rangers have lost their last three matches at buy-backs going

three matches at buy-backs going back to the Cup tie against Dundee

United. The bash at Ibrox. Is it the off-field elements making

themselves felt on the pitch? sure it adding to it, but Ally

McCoist will think they should be performing better regardless of

what is going on on the pitch, particularly coming towards the end

of the season when people have been talking about players and other

staff losing their jobs. It can be unsettling. Other times, it can

galvanise teams, but I think the situation that Rangers are in, it

has been a shock for so many people. This is a special goal from Ian

Black. Would you fault Allan McGregor? Is he slightly too far-

McGregor? Is he slightly too far- out? I don't know, I think he has

out? I don't know, I think he has placed it really well. He has put

it into the corner away from him. I don't think Allan McGregor canted

too much. What about the penalty? A bizarre reaction, almost total

silence when it the referee pointed to the spot. Nobody could really

see too much wrong. But he is in a great position and I think as you

say, I thought he was giving a free kick a initially, but Goian isn't

facing the ball, he is facing the opposite way. The referee can't do

anything but give a penalty. think a lot of people missed what

went on. We can highlight the rest lying here. That is a fairly

regular occurrence at corner kicks -- wrestling. It is. But the

referee was so close to it and the fact that the player is not even

looking at the ball and has a hold of the Hearts player, the referee

can't do anything else. A poor penalty but it came straight back

to him. Rangers felt they could have had a penalty for a nudge, or

maybe more, are Lee McCulloch. don't think so, I think the Hearts

Matt Prior pushed his own player into Lee McCulloch and he has gone

down quite easily. Bat is the luck Rangers are having, it is going

against them at the moment. -- that against them at the moment. -- that

is. How difficult would it be for Rangers between now and the end of

the season in terms of motivation. A lot will determine on -- depend

on how many players are sent the -- shown the door tomorrow. It is a

massive club with big support and they want to win matches, but it is

about the survival and how they restructure the club going forward

and that is what the focus has to be on. They need to win games,

about Shayler the coast will be dreading that into the players, but

there is a bigger picture -- and I am sure and McCoist will be

dreaming that into the players. next big league game before Hearts

is the time guzzle Derby. They have gone five without a win, but that

was an incredible wind -- Tine Castle. He would have expected

Rangers to have got the wind, but going into the Derby, at that looks

after itself of. We will see next how Hibernian got on at home to St

Mirren after they opened up a three-point gap at the bottom of

the league last weekend. Taken down by Tom Soares and it is

a great finish. Roy O'Donovan! He finds the top

corner. It is three! It is a lovely ball. Davies and

delicious the top. -- Davison finishers the top. Here is Paul

Easter Road in August, should at least have but this on target. He

swiped at it a little early. -- put Griffiths. He was in behind the

defence. It was a tough one. Pat Fenlon wants to make Easter Road a

traffic around him, he must have seemed that later. -- he must have

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backside of the defender doing the good save by Craig Samson. --

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Hasselbaink is still going. It is But he is up for it. A good save

from Griffiths, intelligent play to pull it back but the goalkeeper was

Hibernian have and won a home game in the league at Easter Road since

September, which is not great -- haven't. But you are inching away

from the bottom. We are improving, the home record has not been good

enough over the course of the season, and that is why we are down

there and have to improve on that short term and long term, but

yesterday was a decent performance. Even in those highlights, it was

pretty clear you were doing a lot in and around the box and making

in and around the box and making Craig Samson look good. Yes, we

created a lot of chances from set pieces. That was a poor free kick

but Roy O'Donovan reacted well and it is a decent save. This is a good

And then a double save. Be us, good strike, good save from the

goalkeeper. He said it again at the near post, a very good game for him.

This is your record, I don't know if you want to look at this! You

are hoping to improve on this sort of win percentage but I think most

would agree it came at a tough time. You have got to look out

improvements, further down the road we can look at longer term but we

have got to improve the team, and over the course of time, there is

more confidence coming back in but the players deserve every credit

because they have been playing on the credit and they have put a fair

bit of work on the training ground and there are getting the rewards

for. You have made big signings but a total of nine players here. Was

changing the atmosphere in the dressing room important to, because

the players are becoming used to not winning? It was important be

brought in some experienced players. Different types of characters, the

club has been struggling for a couple of seasons and with a lot of

good, honest players and young players as well, they needed a pick

me up and a lot of players have done that. The atmosphere is good

at the moment but again, results will improve that. It will breed

confidence like any football club. Lots of people getting in touch,

many new you were coming on the show and a lot asking about Garry

O'Connor, he came on as a substitute but he has not really

featured yet. No, he had a bad injury so we kept him out. We did

not have much choice and obviously he has got a few things going off

the pitch we need to help him with. We need to keep working with him,

get him to be fit this he needs. He is a great goalscorer and he will

be very promising. He will be a big help for us. Other Hibs funds

asking about Lewis Stevens' contract, when you hold on to him?

His future it is possibly in doubt to where we are and we need to make

sure we stay in the league. He has been fantastic ever since I joined

the club but we need to make sure we get ourselves safe before we can

talk about things like that. massive crowd potential with Hibs

if you can get them going up? a fabulous club. And success is

about winning trophies. Everything is in place for the club to move

forward. It is about getting results on the pitch and getting

people back into the club. It into the Scottish Cup semi-finals would

be nice but you have to meet Ayr United, it will be a classic tie.

Are you looking forward to it? will be good, we will be bringing a

good travelling support. We beat Falkirk again yesterday so we are

on a roll so it will be a tricky Cup tie for us but we will go there

with an attitude, the right attitude. 3 o'clock on Saturday.

Dunfermline's quest for a win at East End Park continued. In with a

chance of next season Champions need reminding, they have yet to

win at East End Park in the SPL. They could really do with the

Randolph. Lovely technique here from Harvey from the and outside of

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was heading on target with a make and burst forward. Murphy calling

for it. A call for hidden! Should have been a goal. It fell kindly

for him. And from that distance he on and again it is comfortable for

Randolph. Good execution from flick it over. That might well have

Another Dunfermline corner. I am get past Chris Smith? Michael

Higdon does not care, another calamity for Chris Smith. Michael

Higdon notches his 14th goal of the season and Dunfermline, having done

so well in the match so far, find What a strike! Motherwell's

sharpshooter double the lead. He didn't think twice before striking

out into the top corner. Motherwell look good for the. Now. -- look

am not sure Murphy was necessarily going for goal here but he almost

right foot. A run on for Jennings. Drags it a foot wide or so. Might

have taken a touch off Michael We have got the feeling that

Dunfermline have not been able to pick up the points, have you moved

a bit away from them? The look goes against you sometimes and some of

the goals you are conceding are poor but we are glad of that at the

moment. You need a bit of luck at the moment when you are down there.

We have had some good performances which have helped. That will be a

result you are looking for pretty quickly yesterday? A lot of people

say that but you need to focus on your own job and after the game

finishes, you tend to find out result. At the moment it is about

focusing on our own job and it doesn't matter what happens

anywhere else. Dunfermline have got problems with goalkeepers. Paul

Gallagher was tremendous for them and Chris Smith has come in and

that is a bad one to lose. The last thing he needs is me telling him he

should save it. It is not just about Chris Smith, that was him

punching into his own net. Iain Turner has been taken up on loan

but sadly for Chris Smith, this is him having a fresh air shot. It

would have been difficult have they got through in the cup. Against

your team on loan from Preston and I guess you are looking for a

goalkeeper to save that as well. gets a hand to it and you expect

him to save it but he has had a hard time and it is difficult for

him but if he can come through,... You have some seasons wake you need

to be strong. Two sides to the Michael Higdon goal yesterday

because terrific movement and a good finish from his point of view.

What has he got, Michael Higdon? will be able to take a look at the

goals, very few of them outside the box and he is a poacher. He gives

them a focal point and he has got pace but Michael Higdon is a big

part of how they played. You might want to turn away at this point!

Yes, a good finish and it is a good goal. He seems to have turned the

Motherwell fans his way. Yes, so I heard. I find it hard to believe

because he is a good player and it gives other players a bit a space.

Are you envious of Motherwell and the chance they have potentially to

overhaul Rangers, get into the Champions League qualifiers at the

start of next season? European qualification further down the line,

something you would like to do with Hibs? With a club like Hibs, we are

used to being involved in international football. The

recruitment policy of players has been good. They have got a good

team, we haven't changed it that much. They have got a system that

they believe him. Like mother well, St Johnstone are in with a good

chance of European qualification. They were at Rugby Park to play

Singh. St Johnstone striker Cillian Sheridan in the door shortly almost

inadvertently putting the side 1-0 in front. It was another cross from

Croft that had something soon after, just making contact and we will be

using Sheridan and contact before the end of this highlights, that is

for sure. As for Kilmarnock, they've threatened from Wayne cross,

hit the bar with his header. And the Belgian striker still looking

for his first Kilmarnock goal. Since then have a great chance to

score, Fran Sandaza or almost taking a chance of the hesitancy

between the goalkeeper and Michael Nelson. And sadly for some Johnson,

the duo were having one of those slightly off days. Dave Mackay, the

Penalty for Kilmarnock, and no complaints. Up stepped Dean Shiels,

and it was saved. Dean Shiels was then booked for a despairing swipe

then booked for a despairing swipe which caught the arm of the

goalkeeper and would prove to be an goalkeeper and would prove to be an

expensive booking. Another caution would come the way of Sheridan, for

blasting the ball into Row Z. The referee brandishing the yellow.

Then a moment of real controversy, Dean Shiels going down in the box

with Dave Mackay in real proximity. The referee, in no doubt, a second

yellow for simulation. And from the replay, no sign of any real contact

and Dean Shiels making a real meal of it. Time for a trial by

Sportscene Part two. Sheridan going down, the same decision by the

referee, a second yellow for diving. No goals, but plenty to talk about.

No goals, but plenty to talk about. Just when you thought it had gone

quiet, trial by Sportscene is back. The couple of dives, a couple of

The couple of dives, a couple of second yellow cards. Dean Shiels,

what did you think? I think the referee has got this one right. I

don't think there is any contact. The player has put his leg dead but

he has taken it back in and there is no real contact. His manager and

his dad reckoned it was first day out so that... Sorry, inside the

box and there was contact. I think he went down a fraction after there

was contact. There is no contact, it is not a penalty and a correct

decision. The referee balanced things up with a second yellow for

Sheridan. Liam Kelly was the Kilmarnock player involved. Same

again? I think so, I think the referee has got that right as well.

Sheridan has gone down and both players were looking for penalties,

which you can understand, but if you dared get away with it, there

is a punishment. -- don't. The so well done to the referee. Champions

in waiting Celtic were playing the in waiting Celtic were playing the

only other unbeaten SPL team in 2012, Aberdeen. The fixture was

brings back memories of an eight- Fortune A, at the back post. What a

finish. 4-3, game on. He has done it! Or this Aberdeen-Celtic game,

Craig Brown made one change to the team which drew at St Mirren last

weekend. Rory Fallon was included. Neil Madden, on the back of midweek

internationals, gave their first starts to his full-backs. Kris

Commons and Anthony Stokes were recalled to the starting 11. Paul

Mitchell with a highlight. taking the lead. Great strike by

Charlie Mulgrew. And a finger tip against Gavin Rae. He seemed to art

wrap his arm around, but she couldn't give a penalty for that. -

Anthony Stokes! Nicely finished by Anthony Stokes. His 8th goal by

Aberdeen -- against Aberdeen as a Celtic player. Good play by Kris

Commons, Stokes took it around the goalkeeper and finished really

Celtic. On to Stokes and back to Andre Blackman. He just got nibbled

at the edge of the box. A good call by the referee, just a touch on the

Goal for Aberdeen, the equaliser a minute before half-time. Gavin Rae

will take the credit but it will go down as an own goal. He shot was

deflected by Fraser Forster, whose fine run without conceding it comes

to an end. The shop was going wide and the touch was needed. -- the

shock. Aberdeen's last. Against Celtic was the 4-4 draw in

target. What a chance it was -- cannot put it and target. What a

through the middle himself. And he scrapes it wide. He did all of the

right things but it was a horrible shot. Neil Lennon and none too

pleased. It looks like he is to lay at angry, off came the jacket and

real lack of bodies on the edge of Don't do it, Neil. A surprising

result, because it was the end of Celtic's winning run, or not

because of Aberdeen's recent one -- run of not losing? I think Aberdeen

have been fantastic since the start of the year, it is a decent result,

I know they have changed a few players but they are in fine form

as well, but Aberdeen are hard to beat. Has Craig Brown done what you

have tried to do with Hibs, so let the fire and stop leaking goals, so

you have the chance to win games? - - solidify. I think so. We played

them just before Christmas and if we had won, we would have gone

point behind them and they have kicked off since then and not

looked back. It is about getting results when you are at that end

results when you are at that end and that is what they have done.

Craig will be disappointed by the Celtic goal, because Aberdeen were

looking pretty comfortable in possession. What Celtic do well is

they pressed the ball really well. Pressure on the centre-half and he

gives it away. Still a bit to do from here, it is not that easy, but

Kris Commons has a great weight of pass, and a good finish by Anthony

Stokes. That is what a big they can do if you give them the ball in

dangerous areas -- that is what they can do. You know what they are

capable of from a fortnight ago when it was five, and it could have

been worse. Yes, Kris Commons has not played too much this season,

but a fantastic ball and a great finish. The to Celtic for banks

featured from a negative point of view -- two Celtic full-backs. This

was during the Aberdeen goal. He switches off at right back and then

it ends up going up in off the other full-back. If he had got back

quicker, he could have tracked the run of Gavin Rae, but he didn't and

the ball has fallen into his path. Andre Blackman is unlucky, just

trying to block it. From a positive point of view, Aberdeen could have

gone on and won it. They did have a couple of chances, they should have

done better. Could they have had a red card, Aberdeen? This challenge

on the Celtic player. It could well have been. The Celtic player does

very well, he doesn't go down, he just stands up and is concentrating

on getting the ball and playing again, no rolling around. Celtic

inching ever nearer the title, having pressed have you been with

the job Neil Lennon has done? -- how impressed. He has been

fantastic since the start of last year when there was a lot of

pressure on them. They were behind Rangers at the start of the season

and there was a lot of pressure, 15 points behind them and now they are

21 ahead, so no matter what has happened that Rangers, it is

incredible and he deserves great credit, because it is a big

pressure job. Do you look at the things Celtic do and think you can

implement the bat at Hibs? You need the players first. As much money

would be nice. It is a fantastic football club, they have probably

got two teams, maybe three, that could play in the Premier League

every week and hold their own, so he has to be given credit for that

because that is a lot of players to keep happy. There should be Schelin

well and when you make the change, it doesn't change the performance -

- the ship is sailing well. Let's have a look at the Premier League

as it stands now. 21 points in it half of the table. Although enough

to keep Pat Fenlon happy because Hibs are now four. Away from the

bottom. We will be there tomorrow night for Dundee United against

Inverness. And next weekend, it is Inverness. And next weekend, it is

the quarter-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup, which start with

Hearts against St Mirren. We will have comprehensive Cup coverage

have comprehensive Cup coverage highlights at 10pm. Before that,

two special programmes coming up this week. Jim Traynor investigates

the state of Scottish football tomorrow. And then Scottish