05/05/2013 Sportscene

The story coming up the third last weekend of the SPL season and going

into it with the title already won two big issues still to be settled.

The league last European place and relegation. My guests join me

tonight. Before we go any further, the first individual awards of the

season are being handed out by the Scottish personal footballers

Association in Glasgow. They have not been handed out, but what has

been decided at this stage is Manager of the Year and it is Queen

of the South Allan Johnston. He took the second division title by 25

points. -- the team. Excellent. I must congratulate him. They beat a

lot of big teams into the bargain. There will be people who moan as

usual. It happens. We must congratulate him. Are you surprised

when you looked at the other shortlist was? Congratulations to

him, it is superb. I had Stuart McCall or Terry Butcher down. They

had fantastic seasons. You need to look at Neil Lennon and what Celtic

have achieved. I am being very diplomatic! It was not bad for a

Scottish manager? He was the outstanding candidate for me. The

timing of it is not quite right but I would have on-board kneeled

Lennon. They have won the league, the last 16, he was the outstanding

candidate, but it was not to be stop they all did well and they deserve a

mention. We will have more news on the awards later on. To the weekend

action and Dundee's determination has seen them stable relegation. St

Mirren's miserable run of results has helped. Since they bond the

league cup... If you are only going to win one game in two months, you

would want it to be that one. Their lack of league points has kept them

in the drop zone. Could they see the SPL status Western Mark -- could be

SPL status Western Mark -- could be sealed the SPL status? It is an

early test for Craig Samson. Good played by Hearts. Good first touch.

Gary Locke watches on. Thomson wins the header and it is knocked over

the header and it is knocked over the header and it is knocked over

the top. Hearts trying to build again but St Mary and get there.

Walker shows the inside. A great strike from Jamie Walker. He had his

pocket picked and Jamie Walker sticks it inside. He cracks it away

from Craig Samson. That is his first at Tynecastle. Walker is there

again. He has done it again and now he is going to go himself. Good play

from Jamie Walker. Up and over the top and the referee says it is a

free kick. That is a Sorbonne! He will go with the strike and Hearts

are two ahead. I goal for Kevin McHattie. He gets the break and it

is a good save by Jamie MacDonald. This is better from Saint Mirren. It

is knocked out wide. Play on says the referee. Steven Thompson is

furious. The question is was there at tug? It is off the line and away.

Steven Thompson continues to complain but his side are almost

back in the match. He talks too welcome but he talks too often for

the referee's liking and it is a card. Coming through the middle and

it is a penalty. It was Kenny Maclean with a challenge. Saint

Byrne are furious. If that is a goalscoring opportunity, Kenny

Maclean will see red. Injury time for Saint Mirren. His first goal in

almost 14 months. Hearts go three ahead after 54 minutes. Paul McGann

one tries to get away and it is good save I Jamie Hamill. -- Paul McGann

one. Adam Barr was there. Here is a chance for Walker. Forces a book

from Craig Samson. -- forces a save. It is Jamie Hamill who gets

across. Good work from Steven across. Good work from Steven

Thompson. Dundee were handed the chance for a

great escape bid and they had to great escape bid and they had to

great escape bid and they had to meet Aberdeen at dens Park.

Nicely through and it is deflected! They were desperate for the opening

goal and they have it through Jim McAllister. A lovely piece of

playing. Take and pass to Jamie Langfield. But the first time this

season, Dundee have the lead against Aberdeen. Not a great ball and

McAllister closes him down. A chance for Gary Harkins. The save from

Jamie Langfield. They scramble to get it clear. Gary Harkins would

normally tuck them away. It is a good ball into the middle. The ball

is deflected and comes up... Good save! That took horrible bounce up.

Ballon was there and McBride was on the ground, trying to get it away.

It was a wicked deflection off the ground. Gary Harkins, that is

superb. The ball comes through. It was a delightful touch from Gary

Harkins and came off use. Dundee are attacking again. The referee was

close. He said no penalty. The Dundee players continued to appeal.

Jim McAllister felt it was a penalty. It was driven into the box

and Osborne came across. They did not look to be much in it. -- there

did not look. It comes on to Peter Pawlett the corner and is just wide.

Excellent play from Peter Pawlett. Just turned away and fired the shot

in. It has made a difference. The ball is into the middle and -- and

Dundee have one man down. The flag is up. He is being comforted by

Lewis Toshney. Rory Fallon is being called over and he is about to see

red. It is an off the ball incident. Dundee's man was felled and Rory

Fallon made no complaint about going off. Dundee's men have responded

well. The ball is turned away and Peter Pawlett goes after it. That is

a dive and it is a penalty. Alan Muir has pointed to the spot. Alan

Muir has got but well -- got that wrong. Peter Pawlett seemed to come

up and over. Aberdeen have a penalty and Dundee will be distraught. From

the penalty spot, scores! Aberdeen are level and the ten men have come

back. He rushes across and tolerance the Dundee fans. One or two are

trying to come onto the pitch. The stewards are rushing across. He

deservedly gets a yellow card. McBride plays to Lockwood and puts

the ball into the middle. There is too much in it. Dundee continued to

play into the middle. Brian Easton comes across and sets it up but stop

McAllister with header. That is a great save from Jamie Langfield.

Good played brand Dundee. The ball was cleared. -- good lay by Dundee.

The referee walks up and picks up the ball and there is the full-time

whistle. It has been one season in the SPL and the players are not

happy with the officials. The penalty decision has hurt but they

have early-season form to blame for have early-season form to blame for

have early-season form to blame for exiting the SPL.

John Brown has done an incredible job since taking over at Dundee. He

has galvanised the players. There are born has been incredible and it

is a shame that with two games left, they have hit an iceberg!

has kept his powder dry a long time for that, haven't you? You have been

player and assistant manager at Dundee? How big a blow is this to

them? What league will they be in? He probably knew his team at some

point were going to go down, even after they have that fantastic fight

nearly to the end. There is no doubt why he cited, he knows it is the

difference between 50 grand and 300 grand, and it could be massacre.

They put up as show. They nearly pulled it off. Scott Gardner must be

gutted tonight. How does that feel when this is the incident which

sends you back to the first division? John Brown has a right to

be furious. It is cheating. It is a blatant dive. I wonder if the

referee from his angle, it might have been slightly different?

should be embarrassed watching that, the young lad. He has got to stop

it. It has happened time and again this season and that one will be

highlighted because that is the one that has effectively sent Dundee

down. Peter Pawlett has previous convictions, because here they are!

Both for Aberdeen and St Johnstone. It is the same technique, isn't it?

It is like he is being fired out other Canon. If you do at once,

there are not. It is as if he is diving into a swimming pool. It is

premeditated. It is something he No matter where the referee and a

sister and Wear, was it not fairly obvious? We did not have a camera

angle for where the referee was but we do not have a defence. At the

end of the day it was pretty embarrassing for him. At times we

have blamed it on foreign players bringing bad different football

culture to our country, we cannot do that in this case. It has not

been evident for years. I cannot remember anybody I have played with.

The good thing is, he is young but he has got style. He has got great

place. -- great pace. Everybody knows his style now. He has got a

chance, he is a good young player. That was not clever from Peter

Pawlett, I suppose it worked. This was not too smart from Niall McGinn

to run to the Dundee fans after scoring. Especially with the

magnitude of the game and what it meant. His own fans are behind the

goal he scored end. It was a stupid thing to do and he was right to get

booked. He is mad going beer. He is a lovely guy though I do not know

if he had been getting pilfers from that end. My advice to him is if he

ever plays at Dens Park again not to go near that end. A bad decision,

a diabolical decision that cost than D two D. It is not all terms

of that. It is about making disaster is defensive mistakes.

That left them in a position. damage was done in the first half

of be season. It took them a while to adjust to the SPL. Defensively

they were poor. They were disorganised at times. They started

a 4-4-2. At times 4-4-1. Then they were open at the back. John Brown

found them a personnel and a sheep. Defenders kept them solid. It was

too little, too late. It is relief for you, of course. I had not given

it a lot of thought but it was in the forefront of my mind that be

were now at having a problem a. What has gone wrong in the last

couple of months? In the last few games we had been poor. We played

well and had a series of draws. We have been inconsistent. We should

have been around the top six. We just do not have consistency. When

we are on top in a game we do not close the game out. This is

something that the manager and Tommy Craig will look at over the

summer and will address. We need to correct that going into next season.

How good was Jamie Walker, aged 19? How good was Jamie Walker, aged 19?

I was very impressed by him. He has got real pace. This is a goal

caused by ourselves. He is taking too long on the ball. He is so far

out he wins the ball. He drives. He comes too far. It is that

magnificent finish. Here I think David thinks it will go out. I do

not think he is the air. His pace takes him into the area. He tries

to go near post. It is a good save from Sammy. Hearts, at a time when

they have a dark cloud over them financially, have an awful lot to

be pleased with going forward. Stephen mentioned Kevin McCarthy,

another 19-year-old who scored this free kick. He should have held his

hands up and he might have saved it. We at the position he gets into

here. Kenny was 100% sure he touched the ball, as was Sammy.

From this angle I think he touched the ball. The challenge looks

clumsy. I can see why the referee has given it. I think it might not

have been a penalty. Would that be an appeal? A They might appeal I

think in terms of the season being over the might not. Could there be

an assault charge for this challenge on UWE which went

unpunished? At the time I got booked for protesting and that was

wrong of me for going over the top but it is a blatant penalty, I was

furious. It is so obvious. There is a lot of guiding in this programme

tonight! Come on!That is certainly not one of them. I think you were

unlucky not to get a penalty. furious. Inverness Caley Thistle

were working on the basis they would have to beat Motherwell. It

was some game, plenty action for Al La Moneda. -- Alistair last month.

Thistle here early on. It will be The AM shinny. A poor effort though

from him. There is Billy McKay to pork it into the net. Only three

minutes in and Calais this will have made the breakthrough. --

Caley Thistle. There was the predatory Mackay. Almost a second

for Caledonian Thistle. What a start they have made to this game.

Motherwell have had it all their own way against Caledonian Thistle

this season, it is not looking that way this time around. Shot! It is a

second goal for Caledonian Thistle and it is Andrew Shinnie somehow

managing to get the shot in. Caledonian Thistle have that two-

goal cushion. Caledonian Thistle certainly have their tails up now.

There is that I again. Unbelievably, Caley Thistle gawk two goals up.

Two goals in the space of about three minutes in the home side.

Heatley. McFadden. Motherwell have a goal back. Big fat and does not

need asking twice to take aim at from that kind of distance. It is a

penalty kick. Motherwell have a chance to get themselves right back

into this game. Michael Higdon against Antonio Romero. No surprise.

Michael Higdon comes out on top. That is the 20th for the season for

the striker. It falls for or ya map. This time the decision goes Caley

Thistle's way. A booking for simulation. No real complaints from

the Estonian. He then, bringing law into it. That was lovely football

from Motherwell. Godden has a 360. Forward goes Nick Ross. Down he

goes and a penalty is given. There is not a great deal in that. Billy

McKay for the hat-trick. Denied! A rueful shake of the head. It was

not a good penalty from Billy McKay. Andrew Shinnie. Make that then! And

Motherwell has come back. They are level from three goals down.

Tremendous fightback from Motherwell. Billy McKay. Through on

goal. Shone Hutchison did just enough to put him off to hear. That

is ahead the touch. He is going to call off here. As second yellow

card and an inevitable red. Motherwell down to ten men. The it

was an obvious and easy decision for Willie Collum. And he kicks.

Randolph parries. There is no carry. -- Billy McKay. Motherwell claims

for offside but they are in been. We have been talking Scottish PFA

awards tonight, how is Billy McKay feeling about not been nominated?

That is 20 goals for the season. This guide scores mostly from in

the box but even more of them in the six-yard box. It is incredible.

I had no pace. That is the first time that has ever been said. This

guy is a natural. He is a predator. Always in the right place at the

right time. What a transformation in a player. There were times he

could not hit a barn door. He goes into every match thinking he will

score. Just two or three yards movement gives in the space. Diving

is a recurring theme in the show. That was a similar thing or Pollock.

This one is a silly lunch. If you are on a yellow you do not go for

that tackle. You do not go near it. That is the type of player he is.

He is always trying to make tackles and he works very hard but it is a

definite sending off. Two penalties given, both OF collapsible legs?

think so. It is just too easy. The defender has to try and stay away.

It is collapsible legs before the player gets to them. He falls to

the ground without any great contact. I do not think either of

them have penalties. Just a quick word about diving. Refereed

decisions get criticised regularly on a Sunday night, usually rightly

so but players behaving like that do not help. I have not been aware

of it as a player. It is not something I would have highlighted

myself. This week we have had a couple. Perhaps it is creeping into

the game a little bit but it is something we do not want. Players

have got to take most of the blame, the referees have to take a little

bit of the blame. St Johnstone kept St Johnstone When at Tannadice.

Early on it looked as though Dundee United were keen to make them wait

longer. You get the feeling here that Armstrong felt he should have

done better. With hopes of European football next season since Johnston

felt they could not afford any problems. Et hic off Bryan

MacLean's arm but the referee was coming into this game. One goal up

coming into this game. One goal up coming into this game. One goal up

their pressed forward. Davidson's ball to fine resulted in an effort

that needed a smart save. The ball certainly was goal bound and the

Dundee United keeper made a great save. From the resulting corner,

defender Sean Dillon and Fraser Wright tangled. The home side could

breathe easy again. Another attack was quick to follow but it was met

with more resistance. The shot from Stephen Maclean was blocked. I won

five and zero when it was with St Johnstone just a point of third

Johnstone just a point of third spot. Next they made Celtic. Another

part in the back due for St Johnstone for that result. It looks

like Inverness against St Johnstone, but do not count on it. You would

think that looking at the fixtures. You think they could take care of

that but St Johnstone, after yesterday's performance, what they

did was knock your socks off. The way they celebrated at the end, they

want this European spot so badly. Steve Lomas with the team behind,

the team did the business for him yesterday. Jacking McNamara was not

celebrating because his team's season looks as if it is telling but

the moment? He is talking about making big changes. -- Jackie

McNamara. He had a makeshift act for yesterday. He has been talking about

making changes. -- makeshift back four. It is the financial side at

Dundee United. It is all right talking making changes. Can they go

out and buy as many as Jackie once? Celtic's season is all about Hampden

and trying to rub up the league and Scottish Cup double. They were on a

revenge mission at Dingwall today, having only taken a point there.

having only taken a point there. having only taken a point there.

They played Ross County. Ross

Ross County are trying to catch Inverness Caledonian Thistle in

Inverness Caledonian Thistle in third place. It was a needless

concession of a corner. Kris Commons will deliver. Celtic have the early

advantage. Appeals for a penalty. Michael Fraser pushes it away and

there is no Celtic player on hand. A good combination there. On another

day that might have ended up in the back of the net. Headed away by

Wilson. Pressure being kept on the Celtic backline. There is a man down

in the penalty area and it will be a free kick. Britain is down and we

can see him being grappled to the ground by Wilson. It might have been

a penalty at the referee had spotted it. As it is, it is just a free

kick. It will be a free kick to Celtic. Good save by the goalkeeper.

Ross County are still on the search for an equaliser. Taken down by

Ambrose just outside the box. Not too much doubt about that. Richard

written can happen from here. What a strike by Ian Vipers to draw Ross

County level. -- Ian bikers. Ian bikers draws Ross County level. Paul

Lawson to deliver the corner kick. Back out to Lawson again. Just

behind for a goal kick in the end. Some uncertainty in the Celtic

defence. It is not going to camp though, the assistant on the far

side has his flag raised. -- it is not going to count. Fraser decides

to flick that around the post, he is taking no chances on this dodgy

surface. Derek Adams is perhaps surprisingly not among the

nominations for Manager of the Year. Ambrose claims the goal. It remains

level. Richard Brittain was the man on the line. The man who won the

match the last time the sides met here should have put Ross County in

front. That is a lovely ball. He could not quite get there. Another

chance goes begging for Ross County. A point may not be enough to help

them reach that European spot. A deep corner kick. Stokes just dumps

it clear. It is picked up by Lawson. He sets his sights on goal.

That was not too far away. If that had hit the back of the net, 20 of

had hit the back of the net, 20 of them behind that. Ross County are

still unbeaten against the champions. Ian bikers is out of

contract now. Her next? There will be a lot of odds -- a lot of clubs

looking at him. He is a talented player with a lovely left foot.

There is not much wrong with his right! He is at talented player.

seems have grown into the Scottish Premier League. He is so cultured.

This was his best goal and I saw him set up a goal against Dundee and

took Ivan Sproule just to knock it into the post. He is growing as a

player and will he still be there? He is out of contract so he could be

another one that they lose at the end of the season. They might have

been out of the reckoning completely in Europe. This was a prior decision

from the linesman. It is a perfect gold. Neil Lennon will be furious

with that decision. -- it would assist in. There was a tragic

incident at Rugby Park which led to the match there being abandoned.

Camargue season-ticket holder was taken to hospital with a suspected

heart attack and sadly been used in night is that he has died. Football

has become an irrelevance within the greater scheme of things and our

thoughts are his family tonight. We wrap up the awards ceremony tonight

and the manager award went to Allan Johnston of Queen of the South.

Young layer of the year is Hebburn Ian Snipe -- striker Lee Griffiths.

-- Hebburn Ian striker. He is a top player and deserves it. He was in

the frame for the main award. Michael Higdon is a very intelligent

player and he is pivotal to the way that Motherwell played. I would not

mind seeing them as a partnership, the two of them. They have one

respected Player of the Year spot both of them are candidates... Sorry

Griffiths, was a candidate or both and was unlucky not to win both.

main award tonight or about scoring goals and it is unusual, when you

look at the Scottish Premier League scoring charts, to see no Celtic or

Rangers players. Gary Hooper has not made it into the top four. It is

testament to the quality of play this year. There has been a lot of

entertainment and that shows you. You will go back a long way before

you see that again. We had a go at Niall McGinn for his goal

celebration today but he deserves a big pat on the back. It just shows

you the consistency of the strikers this year, to get as many goals as

they have done and the way they go about it. The strikes from Mackay

and Griffiths. Higdon's game awareness has come on as well. It

could have been any one of them. It is unusual not to see a Celtic or

Rangers players there. Let us have a look at the Premier League before we

go. Inverness are front runners for that third spot. Dundee's resistance

at the bottom has been broken. They will make a return trip to the first

division on this is restructuring during the summer. These are the