06/04/2014 Sportscene

The championship's is Celtic's for the third successive season. What a

terrific shot that is. A great goal. What the chance. Terry Butcher

cannot believe it. Good evening and welcome to Sportscene with me

Jonathan Sutherland. Tonight, we give thanks to the play-off spot,

which is making the bottom half of the Premiership an exciting an

uncertain place. And it looks like going down to the wire. Plus it

gives our pundits, Michael Stewart and Billy Dodds, plenty to talk

about. Not that they normally need much help on that front. This had

the makings of a decisive weekend in the Premiership story. Could Hearts

stave off relegation once again? For that to happen, second bottom St

Mirren needed to lose to Motherwell while Hearts had to beat Partick

Thistle at Firhill. Paterson heads it down. Caddick

cannot get there. It could be a chance for Kris Doolan. A fine

finish. Kris Doolan, that to back calls for him. Scorers after five

minutes. It is a cracking finish. The pace of Kris Doolan did what was

needed. The great ball through from Higginbotham. Hearts again and the

two centre half is struggling. Nice corner. Robinson. A good save from

Paul Gallacher. What a terrific header. That is a great save for the

goalkeeper. Stevenson, Caddick, King has made a run. Billy King. Trying

to move away and it is wide. Mellon was tracking him back. Good

acceleration from Billy King but dragged it wide. That is it back

again. Billy King turns. Beaten away by Paul Gallacher and knocked away

by Taylor-Sinclair. Pushing for an equaliser here. A long throw into

the ball. Head tennis going on. Caddick got it down, what's he

bumped? The referee says no. One minute until half-time. Jamie Hamill

sends it forward. It could be a chance for Billy King. Up against

the ruling. There is the equaliser! It has come from Dale Carrick. Billy

King setting him up. It is 1-1. Hearts would need to get the win to

survive and they needed St Mirren to lose to Motherwell.

Kenny McLean's corner. A big chance. Saved by the Nielsen. It was a good

one. No-one could do anything on the rebound. Early pressure from the

home team and what an opportunity this was for McGregor to score.

Lansley under pressure. The long ball from McManus. And Mirren caught

out, no offside flag. It is 1-0. A switch off at the back from St

Mirren and they are badly caught out here. The goalkeeper came charging

of of his line which made up the mind of Lionel Ainsworth. He just

knocked the ball into the middle and Anier scored again. In those

Goodwin. It is pinball. No Anier. Steven Hammell. John Sutton scorers

and it is the 2-0 lead. Inside 27 minutes in Paisley. Not the start St

Mirren were looking for. Motherwell are two goals up. It is John

Sutton's 20th goal of the season and few have been easier. In from

McLean. Kept alive by McGregor. Steven Thompson has seems back in

the Game three minutes before half-time. -- St Mirren back in the

game. It is relief among the warm support that they can indeed get

something from this game. You could see the effort that Gary Locke wants

from his team. Stevenson hits off of Caddick, onto Billy King. A great

goal from Billy King. Hearts are ahead. They need to win today. Paul

Gallacher with no chance. Concern for Alan Archibald. It came with the

corner. Stevenson's header. Hearts are ahead. He had not scored since

November. A great glancing header. Hearts are leading here by 3-1. In

it goes. Stevenson! Hearts are four - one ahead. It is a double for

Stevenson. Robinson across, a great little spin and turn and he popped

it in the corner. The substitutes are combining. Jordan McMillan.

Running forward and he has got the chance. That is his first Artic

Thistle goal. He does not really stop to celebrate. With two minutes

to play Jordan McMillan pulls one goal back for Partick Thistle. A

lovely move. The substitutes involved. Hearts will still take all

three points you would suspect. They have been impressive having gone one

goal down. Back it came onto Steven Lawless. The substitute came in,

so, too, James Craigen. Plenty of venom in that short. A good save

from the keeper. Hearts would have gone to relegation. The referee

picked up an injury. He was replaced by the fourth official. McLean did

well to get that in. Thompson with a diving header. They played so well

to get the cross in. Goodwin. Josh Magennis. Jason Naismith. Working

the 1-2 with Goodwin. Gets himself in and around. Skill from the

goalkeeper. Thompson could not quite get to that rebound. McLean

delivers. Thompson gets turned and the shot on goal is kept away by the

goalkeeper. Trying to angle that towards the far corner. It is left

for Lionel aims worth. A good strike and tipped over the top by the

goalkeeper. It might just be game over here. They are giving it

everything, St Mirren, to try to get something. There is Thompson with

the knocked down. It came off of Stephen McManus and the referee says

handball and penalty. He looks to have got that badly wrong. It has

come off of the face of McManus. Kenny McLean to square the game

which he does. Four minutes from time it is two goals each and the

coolest man on the pitch was Kenny McLean.

The Stephen Thomson has scored! From behind, Saint Mirren are now 3-2 in

front. What an incredible much, and this could be a hugely significant

result. And that is how it finished, a dramatic win for Saint Mirren, and

despite Hearts' victory at Partick diesel, the Tyneside side were

relegated on an afternoon of high emotion.

After the sloppy goal in the first 50 minutes, probably our best

performance of the season. I thought we caused Partick all sorts of

problems. For 20 minutes we dominated and were creating chance

after chance. Something tripped a switch and they stopped doing so

well and Hearts got into the game. I have tried to remain as positive as

I can be. We have had knocks but I am positive we will get this deal

done and Hearts of Midlothian will be back at the top of the table. We

will have to pick up towards the end of the season by shoving our

character. There are only a few points separating five teams and I

concede is going all the way to the wire. It hit him full in the face.

The linesman was looking and did not give it. The referee gave it from 30

yards away on the other side. It was an importing -- appalling decision.

We need to start with that pivotal handball decision from the referee

on Stephen McManus in the Saint Mirren -Motherwell match. The

referee's position does not help. I can understand why he thought it was

a penalty. He is miles away at the wrong angle. It hits his face. It is

never a penalty. Anyone watching this, rewinding and having a look,

every bit of the footage that week showed, the referee is standing to

the left side of the penalty area. He is miles away. Exactly the same.

There is one clip where you notice he points to his ear as if to say he

has been told, but his position was not right at all. Stephen Thomson,

friend of Sportscene, at the double. Is this the end of the season --

highlight of the season so far for Saint Mirren?

It was a massive result for Saint Mirren. Very similar, almost to the

last season, where they were getting chased down and started to panic a

bit. They have managed to get the result there. It was inevitable

Hearts would get relegated but they are looking further ahead and trying

to drag the other teams into the play-off spot. I was at Saint Mirren

yesterday and it was a deafening roar when the goal went in at the

end. So many people had pencilled in Saint Mirren for the second bottom

slot. Yes, we have said that, we could not see how they were going to

get out of it that they were capable of a win. -- but they were capable

of a win. Hearts are of course now relegated. This was the first time

they had scored four goals in one game this season, ironically.

How would you sum up the manager's season? It has been disappointing on

so many fronts. The pressure has been taken of the young players'

shoulders. PC Billy King 's -- you see Billy King setting one up and

scoring another one. I was at the game in the week against Aberdeen

and credit to Gary Locke, he made a tactical change at half-time and it

made a big difference, but over the course of the season, too many

repetitive mistakes. It has been difficult all mine for

everyone at the club. I would have to say until you get a shot and a

fair chance as a manager by getting your own players and better tools to

work with, no disrespect to the young boys, I think you should be

judged on that and I know first hand he is a top coat and a modern coach.

He is passionate and until he gets a fair crack at it... -- he is a top

coach. The administrators meet to discuss Hearts in Lithuania

tomorrow. How worried should Hearts fans bitter night? It is just the

same situation as it has been all season. There is a lot of

brinkmanship going on at the moment. They are trying to force the hand of

the day the radiance to hurry up and get the deal done. Worrying times

but if things will happen... You can hear Gary Locke being positive about

it and when that happens, the people who care about the club in Scotland

can build the future for it. Tomorrow is a pivotal day.

Absolutely, the fans have been tortured enough. They would like a

good result out of this tomorrow. I think it will be good news. I hope I

do not get egg on my face but for the sake of Scottish football, we

need the big clubs safe and secure. Of all the sides in the play-off

mix, Kilmarnock looked the healthiest going into this weekend.

Last Saturday they'd beaten Motherwell with a late goal from

Craig Slater. The midfielder was in the starting line-up again. And of

course they had Kris Boyd up front. 19 goals and counting for the

season. St Johnstone the visitors at Rugby Park, already sure of their

top-six place. They went with almost the same side that drew 1-1 with

Partick Thistle last weekend. Just the one change - David Wotherspoon

starting in place of Michael O'Halloran.

Kris Boyd got the shaft and Alan Manus got the Parry. 18-year-old

Muirhead with just his second Killie. St Johnstone are made of

stern stuff but they are not immune to mistakes. James done with the

errant header, Eremenko with a typically audacious effort. Not far

away from 2-0, what a difference that might have made because just

after the half hour mark, St Johnstone equalised.

Frazer Wright got a bullet header at the near post. And just before

half-time, it was 2-1. Frazer Wright's central defensive partner

Anderson with a goal off a superbly executed backheel. St John's and

deservedly in front. Tommy Wright's side rarely phone in their

performances. In the second half, Frazer Wright's looping header

almost found a way in at the back post with Stevie me lurking. --

Stevie me. And after their decent start, Killie went backwards in

this. David Wotherspoon would get his chance to try from 20 yards.

Just wide of the post. Frazer Wright's crunching but fair tackle

was the catalyst as St Johnstone mounted yet another attack. David

Wotherspoon once again with the opportunity. In the end, this was

the perfect way for St Johnstone to limber up for their Scottish Cup

semifinal. Wotherspoon assessment ball into the box almost found

McLean. But St Johnstone deserving of all three points.

We started brightly but then to lose a goal from a corner, really

disappointing. Then they scored another goal from a corner. Two

quality balls in and two great runs and Frazer really showed

determination. Pleased for them two and pleased for the lads as well

because that shows how far we can get up the top six.

A fantastic away win from St Johnstone, both goals from corners.

Neither of you is enamoured by the Kilmarnock and in? -- defending?

It is a bit confusing. Kris Boyd was standing on the six yard box. I do

not know what his role was. You heard Allan Johnston they're saying

they did not look a threat from set pieces yet they have conceded two

themselves as well. Set pieces are a big thing these days and their own

looked confusing. I have seen Marvin Andrews do that Kris Boyd role for

Rangers. He used to... If he comes in that area and you are in the

middle of the six yard box, you go and attack it. That does not say

much for Killie have Kris Boyd as your main header off the ball. One

thing I think we should point out is, if this was Neymar scoring the

goal as Steven Anderson does... It is a backheel. If it had gone

YouTube it would have gone viral by now. It was not an easy chance to

take but if there was someone on the front post there, they would have

easily not wrapped away. Could Dundee United still crash the

party for second place in the Premiership?

They faced a tall order taking anything against the champions,

Celtic. At Tannadice for us was Liam Macleod.

The Tangerines are looking to improve on a miserable record

against their visitors. Samaras' first start since the beginning of

the February. Kris Commons will take this free kick for Celtic.

Samaras! That is brilliant. Back in the team and back in the goals. Is

the Greece International... His first strike for the club since the

consolation goal in Barcelona and it was expertly taken. Just two wins in

57 for Dundee United against Celtic, a dreadful record. Not bad.

On his wrong foot, which did not help the cause. Four goals this

season, cunning. No Griffiths in the starting line-up, Neil Lennon saying

before the game that he is resting a slight knock. Magnificent from

Celtic. The build-up play, the finish as well. A little 1-2 between

Commons and Stokes in the age of the box. A fantastic goal for Celtic.

They are two to the good after the first quarter. John Rankin. So

crucial that Dundee United scored the next goal in the game.

He is over but he certainly has plenty behind the right foot shot

there. Frustrated with himself. United were denied the famous

victory at Celtic Park early in the season. Dow is offside. It is not

going to count. No doubt be half-time introduction of Gary Mckay

Stephen has made a difference to the hosts.

There is the former Celtic Blake in the stands. He looks after a Dundee

United Tracker. -- striker. It is wide from Watson. Might have

done better, Keith Watson here, teed up nicely. Just tried to guide it

into the far post. Samaras got things started for Celtic very early

on, with the fifth minute opener. An awkward one for Dylan and he missed

judged it. Unlucky. Good save. Unlucky. I think he claims he took a

touch. Lee Griffiths has made the headlines all week, trying to make

headlines of a different kind there. A good 1-to that between the centre

half and Stokes. He cannot finish it.

One defeat for Celtic this season in the lead. They are heading for

another victory but Dundee United might yet have something to say.

Mckay Stephen's effort saved well by Forster. Reasonably harmless and it

was originally it I Mckay Stephen. Not decisive. Hoisted away. Then

hoisted back in. Ambrose heads clear. United fans wanted a free

kick for a push there. Forster is called into action once again as it

is busted towards goal by Armstrong. I thought our second-half play was

very good. I thought we got nervous, a bit at times. The second half we

were better with more energy and had a few chances which was pleasing. I

just thought it was a bit too late will stop Billy, you were impressed

by the interplay upfront? They did what Dundee United have been doing

two teams all season. Interchanging. You see Kris Commons here on the

left. Their move meant was absolutely excellent. Samaras. All

fees and they have been excellent. You see Stokes again, he is the one

who drops, this time Kris Commons comes in. The finishing and the pace

was excellent. They did that all game. They were comfortable. The

Celtic story has moved on today with the SFA, the police and Celtic

themselves investigating footage of Leigh Griffiths apparently singing

offensive songs about the former hearts midfielder Rudi Scutt shall.

Neil Lennon has said in the past that any player involved in this

kind of behaviour would be sacked. -- Rudi Satchel. I do not see the

club sacking him. Neil Lennon has been put in an horrendous edition by

the actions of Leigh Griffiths. I think people deserve a second chance

but I would be making sure he realises this sort of behaviour is

not acceptable. They could even suspend him to the end of the

season. They have won the league, they are not in the cup, they could

do something like that to put a strong message out there but I do

not see them sacking him. This player has put him in an impossible

situation. It is almost impossible but I am sure they can come up with

something. They could put him on the transfer list, I do not think they

will sack him, I think they will try to spin it another way because he is

doing so well but they cannot be seen to be doing things like that.

Neil Lennon is in a difficult situation. It will be difficult to

see how he handles the situation. OK. Always plenty riding on the

Highland derby. Ross County in need of points to escape the play-off

place scramble. Tremarco. He miss controlled and

then followed through. The referee comes over. This is going to be a

yellow card. He led with the leg and did not get it down, that could have

been read. Here is Greg Tanzi. 20 of power on that. Back onto Aaron

Doran. The wonderful goal! The goalkeeper could do nothing about

this. Trying to move away from Raven. He steps inside. A nice

little ball across. It is then! An overhead kick. Caley Thistle players

think his boot is a little high. This man will be credited with the

equaliser. It is driven in. A good blog from Boyd. An opportunity

moving forward. That is the shout for a penalty. It is a strong one,

too. Here they come again. The header. That seemed to get played

into the head. Liam Shinnie is going to get a yellow card. If you have

given a foul inside the box it is a penalty. Inverness Caley Thistle.

Tremarco. Back onto Aaron Doran. Billy McKay is available again. It

breaks again. Billy McKay is the man again for Caley Thistle. It has been

hard-fought. It continues to be hard-fought. Billy McKay trying to

get away from Boyd. It is delightful. For the crossbar. What a

finish that would have been to the game for Billy McKay. What skill. It

keeps as on the shirt tails of Dundee United. I think there were

two sendings-off in the game. Tremarco and Shinnie. There should

also have been a penalty in the game. I feel really hard done to

tonight. Let's have a look at those incidents. Tremarco with the first

one. I think in the modern game when you go like that and the studs are

going I think you are running the risk of a red card. For this one,

there is no contact on that. He is rolling about there but it is not

the booking for me because there was no contact. This one is the bizarre

situation all around. It is clearly inside the box but you can see here,

he kicks the ball. His book is high. The head is down. Anywhere else you

would get a free kick but it is not a booking so it should have been a

penalty. I have never seen a ball being played like that. Because the

referee thinks it is a foul. I am not sure of the distance at the

should have given the penalty but I do not think it was a penalty

because the guy had his head low. I just cannot believe that. I am just

confused about this. John Hughes did not make much of this. I suppose his

side won the game in the end. When you look at this and you see this

year. Meetings with the head bandage. I think that could have

easily been a free kick. Penalty? No chance. There is not enough contact.

I think a little short talk is not a lot of contact but it is enough to

put you off balance. There is no momentum, or contact to pull him

down, he could have stayed on his feet. If that was me and that big

centre half was in there I am going to go down. You were not impressed

by some of the formations use from Ross County. I have not been

impressed. Now he plays a diamond and all night long Inverness had

freedom in wide areas. John Robertson and I were talking about

it. You see it played wide. Look at the room they have. It is the

strange formation to set up against Inverness. If you have not got any

white men supporting the fullbacks it will cause trouble. It is a great

goal, do not get me wrong. He is in a wide area. It was evident all

night long and he did stick it we well. He had the freedom of the

pitch. Now let as look at the premiership table as it stands. St

Mirren cannot be caught so it looks like the championship next season

for hearts. Partick Thistle now in the second bottom spot. Kilmarnock a

point behind Hibernian and Hibernian take on Aberdeen tomorrow night at

Easter Road. Hibernian are in a terrible run of form. One win in

their last 13 matches. Billy, can you see them getting anything from

Aberdeen? You need a result from somewhere. They need inspiration.

They are in by far the poor run of form out of any of the bottom four

or five teams. Looking at current form I do not see them winning, they

will have to play a lot better than what they have been doing. And after

tomorrow night, Michael, there is a break next weekend because of the

Scottish cup but the next league game is against St Mirren and St

Mirren have just got to win. Their confidence will be high. They have

got to find something from somewhere. We have been saying there

are plenty of teams all them but if they do not win games they are in

trouble of getting pulled into that play-off spot. Rangers were

favourites up against Easter Ross. Rangers with a better chance.

Frustrations were taken out on the post. The post was then hit by this

short but it would be 0-0 after 90 minutes. Towards the end the expense

managed to get the chance for Raith Rovers. The Raith Rovers fans went

wild. The winners of the Ramsden's cup. Delhi, you were at this team as

well. Where Raith Rovers deserved winners? -- Willie. Yes, take

nothing away from Raith Rovers, we have to get them all the

compliments. I did not think Rangers fans could be tortured any more this

season. That was one of the worst performances I have seen. The really

proud moment for these players and for Kirkcaldy as a whole as they

went to collect the trophy. A fantastic evening for the players

and the supporters of Raith Rovers made all the more special for

beating a club the size of Rangers. They will be celebrating big time.

How surprised were you, Billy, that Rangers did not win it? I did not

think they would be pushovers. I was surprised however. Great stuff. And

so, a busy weekend of Scottish Cup action next weekend on Sportscene.

We've got highlights of the first semifinal between Rangers and Dundee

United on Saturday night. We have talked about how Rangers were today.

Then the United certainly have much better players and no disrespect to

Raith Rovers. It is not a good game. The gap has been bridged because of

the Rangers fans at Ibrox, the warm venue. It will be a good game but

Rangers have to play a lot better or Dundee United will wipe the floor

with them. Let's talk about that first semifinal first. You think

that the United are favourites going in against Rangers? I think they

probably are. The controversy around the tickets and the stadium, being

at Ibrox, I think when you see a poor performance from Rangers like

that and Dundee United being beaten against Celtic, Dundee United will

go in with the belief that they will get something out of it. They are

playing against Rangers from the third flight and if Rangers play

anything like they did today Dundee United will punish them. St

Johnstone yet to win any major silverware. And then on Sunday we're

live at Ibrox as St Johnstone take on Aberdeen. That will be a tight

one. The momentum behind Aberdeen this season, they have had such a

great year so far. The tips for manager of the year, still not sure

if they will finish second, still potentially fighting of Motherwell.

Does he need to do more to seal the deal in terms of manager of the

year? No, but I think they are favourites for the double. They have

got the monkey off of their backed by getting the cup final win against

Inverness. It will be closer than you think because St Johnstone

played better than what the score line suggested in the 4-0 game. They

would be due one but you have to fancy Aberdeen to go on and get

through to the final once more. Who is in the final for you? I think it

will be an Aberdeen versus Dundee United final. The focus next

weekend, the Scottish Cup. Thank you. The focus this weekend, the

relegation of Hearts after 31 years in the top flight of Scottish

football. From all of us here, goodnight.