16/09/2012 Sportscene


16/09/2012

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Well, I think we have probably agonised enough about Scotland over

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the last couple of weeks. Let's switch the spotlight to the SPL on

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the back of the international break. A quick reminder of the story so

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That's a brilliant finish! For a The SPL are back in business is

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again. Stephen Craigan and Pat Bonner will put some words to the

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pictures, starting in Perth, where Celtic, head of their Champions'

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League opener against Benfica, faced St Johnstone.

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A flu hit St Johnstone have had their training plans disrupted. But

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there was still able to field the same starting 11 as against Dundee

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United. Scott Brown was back after in the Champions' League. They have

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to give full focus to this at the moment. Kris Commons, a dream start

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for the champions! They are ahead inside three minutes. A 4th goal of

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the season for Kris Commons. He is enough to this. 1-0. Not the start

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that Steve Lomas wanted. Dave Mackay, with a free kick. A really

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good effort. It had to be tipped finding a hole in the middle of the

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Celtic defence. Well, on 18 minutes, he square as the game. He was set

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up by Rowan Vine. A really good turn and finish, into the corner,

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that. Down goes Kris Commons. The referee looks at it and says, no

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penalty. He didn't make contact with the ball. This could have been

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Venezuelan striker. Didn't look totally convincing, from just

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Johnstone ahead, right on half-time. He's had a really good first 45,

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and he struck it really well. He doesn't tend to need a second

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invitation, Commons, from just about any range. Looking a little

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bit concerned, the Celtic manager, keeper, flops onto the loose ball.

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That could so easily have ended up behind him. Mulgrew carved out the

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opening. Cooper had the double didn't seem to be expecting that.

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the shot. The Celtic captain's side-foot effort was not a great

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the game goes on. The substitute, What a goal! A brilliant finish by

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Rowan Vine! Will that be the goal that gives St Johnstone their first

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win of the season? It was curling and dipping away from Fraser

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Forster. Into the corner of the net. We were both at the game, St

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Johnstone needed that and they deserved it as well? It was hard to

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say, they certainly didn't deserve to lose. On the reflection of play,

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Celtic certain had -- certainly had their chances to win the game. They

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have been on such a bad run of form, going a goal down against Celtic,

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it is easy to capitulate. They didn't, maybe on a balance of play

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they just nicked it. They found flaws in the Celtic defence? Well,

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wide open. Scott Brown, he's here. He's getting himself into the full-

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back position. That huge hole is where he should be. Too big a gap

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between him and Charlie Mulgrew. He's trying to read the pass and he

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That they -- is a feature of herself a's play, there are huge

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gaps. That is an area that you can exploit. On that footage, you can

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see it easily exploited. Bad defending by Charlie. He didn't get

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close to the big guy at all. He allowed a simple shot on goal.

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much would you have been screaming at Bath defence in front of you?

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wouldn't have allowed them to get forward that much, especially when

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the ball is down the right-hand side. We are always taught that the

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full-back on the opposite side should stay. There was too much of

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a gap, you are right. But that is discipline. That is where an

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experienced central defender should be asking the full-back to come

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round and stay as a three. He ran with it, they were never dominated

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a game, you felt like they could go and get a second goal. Suddenly

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they found themselves exposed and St Johnstone capitalised. They

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could have had that second goal that they had been given a penalty

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for this by Anderson? A terrible mistake in the first place. He half

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panicked. He could have stayed on his feet. He could maybe have used

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his body better. Once you go to ground and you do not make contact

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with the ball, for me, that's a penalty. A clear-cut penalty. How

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he didn't give it, I don't know. I don't think Neil Lennon was too

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happy. He panicked. As a defender, you try to make up for your own

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error, he's in a great position. He's trying to lunch in and get the

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ball. Kris Commons is clever, he puts his body in front of the ball.

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No doubt, penalty kick. You could have been sent off, because if it's

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a penalty, it's a sending off, and a second goal for Celtic. We can

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pick holes in both goals conceded, but from Rowan Vine and St

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Johnstone's point of view, the winner was special? A special goal

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by that young man. A simple throw- in. He just made a substitution, he

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took Brown off. There was a huge gap in front of the back four. A

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lovely goal, bent around the goalkeeper. If you look at the

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defender, he goes around him with his right foot, should he have been

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trying to block his left foot? A great finish, goalkeeper had no

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chance. I looked at the St Johnstone team, the guys that were

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not playing, the guys that came off the bench, this to be a platform

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for them to take Goff? It has to do. Yesterday was their 15th game, one

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win in 15 including last season. A lot of pressure, going into that.

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That is when you look at your players for a response. Kevin Moran,

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David Robertson, they were not in the squad. They have huge strength

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and depth. To go to the next level they have to start winning games.

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Neil Lennon was raging about too many Celtic players not turning up,

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as he put it. How much significance is there in yesterday, and as we

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look towards Benfica? Of course, he was saying he did not want to hear

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the words Champions' League or he would scream. But that is part and

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parcel when you play for Celtic. You are better in the Champions'

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League than qualifying, you've got to get in focus for the league, the

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Champions' League, it all comes quick and fast. You've got to go

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from the league game and straight into the Champions' League. I think

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Wednesday night will be different. They will throw away that game now,

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the guys will be focused. It depends on the team he put out.

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you optimistic? At home, of course. Celtic have a good record at home

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in European competitions. It would be good to see if they could follow

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one from the Europa Cup, the runs that they had last year. It's a big

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night for some of those players, almost making their debut in the

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group stage. There be goalscorer has been tremendous in Europe, I

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would like to see him progress and use that as a platform to get into

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the English team. A big night for him. Benfica will be a quality team.

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They have strong players up front, they can play the diamond in the

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middle of the picture on Celtic will have to be strong in that area.

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I expect Brown to be back in there. It depends on how he deploys his

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players. It will be a great night, great atmosphere. The crowd will be

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a big positive for Celtic as well. I was there when they qualified for

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the group stage, it was a great night and the atmosphere was

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tremendous. I expect to see them on Wednesday night, it's great to be

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in the Champions' League. Dundee got their first win of the season a

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fortnight ago. They are building up the experience in their squad with

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the recent recruitment of the likes of Colin Nish. Would that be enough

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against top of the league as league leaders, looking to

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preserve that position. Fraser Kerr, Garrio then that got in the way of

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McAllister got right in the way of that. He felt the full force of

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didn't catch hold of it. Randall had to make the save, none the less.

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The Irish keeper would have been relieved that he didn't really

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catch this one as he would have trademark header from the big

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striker. A lovely ball enough. He given. Motherwell will have a free

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equaliser. Still, Motherwell try to press. Typical of him. Douglas was

:15:21.:15:31.
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claims for a penalty but they might It was not behind for a corner. A

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Dundee are looking to put the game beyond Motherwell. Colin Nish

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Apology for the loss of subtitles for 58 seconds

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out. Michael Higdon forced it over What a header from Higdon. Surely

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now the points are sealed for the visitors, that will keep them top

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of the Scottish Premier League. It is the 6th goal of the season for

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Top of the league. It is a great start. Eight goals in August, to

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have the international break, to recover, after going 1-0 doubt.

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That was the problem last season, when we went behind. The boys did a

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huge lift from yesterday afternoon. Dundee got themselves ahead at

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Colin Nish is giving them something first half, then to lose the game.

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This was a superb header, across the goalkeeper exactly way you want

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to head it. You can ask questions of the defender. You can't gamble

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in the box. You have to hold your ground. Adams took a step and it

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killed him. There has pace. Nish is a target man. It is a good balance.

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They did not know if they were in the Premiership or the First

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Division, they are trying to get the team together. It will take

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them time, I am sure. They had Michael Kerr and Colin Nish, they

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will do a turn at. I take it they are like him? It is a shame for

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Michael, he does not get the credit he deserves. He had 15 goals last

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season for us. Six for Motherwell. It is a style of play at times. He

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looks lazy but you put the ball in the box, as we have seen, he will

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guy. Don't ask him to rent out wide. He is dangerous. The only way you

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can defend his to keep him out of the box, or get a goalkeeper to

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punch him for crosses. It is two goal yesterday, six in the last

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three games. If you have the right players around Michael Higdon, he

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will flourish? The manager has always been speaking to the players,

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saying if you put the balls in the right area, he will get on the end

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of it. He has scored with his head, his left foot, this is his right

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foot. He came through the Academy and he worked on it could have --

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If you put the ball in the box, he will put it in the net. Stuart

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McCall is not reinventing the wheel with what he does in terms of

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coaching at Motherwell, but he has something special, hasn't he?

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Resources have been stretched in the last few weeks? They have.

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Every time he does something, people say he can't do it again, he

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has to bring other players in. But he continues to do it. The players

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enjoyed working with him. He has a good mentality. They respond.

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eyes down for Terry Butcher and Craig Brown, your attention. Both

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managers took decision-making in the most SPL goals this season

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against one who has been solid at the back so far but back then, on

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loan from Celtic and making his Inverness debut, almost got the

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better of the defence. It was all Jones who set up the chance for

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Blackman, but the Welshman would not be on the pitch from its longer

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as Fraser was sent on his way. Tudur-Jones stopped in his tracks.

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It looked a heavy challenge and the Inverness player was shown his

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second red of the season. After the match, Terry Butcher said he felt

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the referee got it wrong. But Inverness were down to ten men.

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There were more contentious issues as there was a lovely ball through

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to Sutherland. Anderson was at the centre of this one. The referee was

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right up with played when he showed a red card to the Dons' defender,

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the first of his senior career. The Dons's manager was not convinced

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and the club is considering an appeal. Foran stepped up to take

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the penalty. It was well taken. Were Inverness on their way to

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their first SPL win of the season? No sooner had Foran celebrated his

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goal, then he was in the referee's book. Another crunching tackle on

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18-year-old Fraser. It was a yellow card for the Inverness player.

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Foran was not put off after his booking. This was a lovely ball to

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Durham, only for Reynolds to save the day for Aberdeen. Again, the

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referee was well placed to spot any infringement. Again, the Inverness

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manager was not in agreement with his decision. He felt it should

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have been a penalty. Butcher's annoyance was compounded as

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Aberdeen fought back. There was some neat play. The Dons levelled

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with six minutes left. A great ball in from Hayes and Cameron Smith had

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the header, his first senior goal Terry Butcher should have been

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raging about the switch off at the end that allowed the equaliser but

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what he was raging about publicly was the red card for Tudur-Jones.

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The referee was in a good position. Maybe he can get away with the

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yellow card. Great play by Fraser. This is the one. It is below his

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knee. It is a dangerous tackle. He comes in at the front, he is off

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the ground. Maybe Terry will replicate his challenges, nowadays

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:24:07.:24:09.

you can't get away with that. That It was a dangerous tackle. He put

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Fraser in danger. It is a red card. There is a distinct difference

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between the challenge of Tudur- Jones, which got red, and this one

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side, he is trying to get low for the ball and he has mistimed it.

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That is my reading of it. If he got It is a tribute to Fraser that he

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is being targeted for treatment? has been excellent. It is the time

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in history that young players will get more chances than ever and they

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have to shine. He is one that can play on the right come on the left,

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and he is fearless. Two tackles, he got on with it. I agree, it is an

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opportunity in Scottish football for young players to get the

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opportunity to play. It is up to them thereafter. Now, you can see

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some of the teams and the young players are getting in. We did not

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see that a number of years ago. There were too many mediocre

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foreign players, no disrespect to them. Now the young Scottish

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players will have a chance. That is what happened in our day, if we did

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not get a chance we would not have progressed. There is an opportunity.

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If everybody allows the players to develop. Young players have to step

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up to the mark and dedicate themselves to the top, professional

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players. Can we expect an Aberdeen appeal against the red card showed

:25:38.:25:48.
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first sending off. There is a coming together, no doubt. He

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eventually gets there, a good touch. He plays the ball. He gets a touch.

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It is low down, he poked the ball. A bad decision by the referee. He

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was in a good position. Are you happening -- happy with the

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positioning? Every decision, it is decision-making, they are fit this

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is fine, the position, that is the bit we sometimes question. The

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decision-making, it is wrong. difficult for managers and coaches,

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they are on the sideline and see something going against them,

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they're thinking about their job. It is great for us guys when we are

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out of it and we can make up our mind but that is the nature. Some

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go for you, some don't. The referee balanced it beautifully. He gave

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the penalty which looked as though it was not and he did not give this

:26:42.:26:52.
:26:52.:26:55.

good position. I think it was a bad decision by Durham. He moves the

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ball left. That is why he is getting angry. That is more of a

:27:00.:27:04.

penalty than the first one. Unfortunately it does not always

:27:04.:27:12.

For Hibs fans, the end of last season and the beginning of this

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one have been scarily similar. Let's see what happened at

:27:16.:27:26.
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a clean sheet against Ross County and keeps Leigh Griffiths at bay

:27:42.:27:52.
:27:52.:27:53.

goalkeeper and it is in! 14 minutes gone, Leigh Griffiths scores from

:27:53.:28:03.
:28:03.:28:19.

his time. What on earth was he waiting for? He seemed to want all

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day and more. Sheridan had a dummy, a great run from the striker. He

:28:26.:28:36.
:28:36.:29:05.

looked left and right and took far lovely finish. 32 minutes gone.

:29:05.:29:11.

Then Williams came for it, was unconvincing at Dunny Ritchie, his

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first goal since the Second of January, a lovely finish -- Danny

:29:15.:29:25.
:29:25.:29:40.

player is furious. Kenny took a touch away, the defender tried to

:29:40.:29:45.

check and seemed to catch him on the ankle. Kilmarnock think he died.

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He may have gone down early, but there was contact. He Leigh

:29:51.:29:55.

Griffiths, a great penalty. In stoppage time, Leigh Griffiths,

:29:55.:30:01.

five for the season. The keeper had no chance and Hibs lead at half-

:30:01.:30:11.
:30:11.:30:36.

that was for the equaliser. They have drawn both SPL matches on

:30:36.:30:46.
:30:46.:30:55.

their travels this season. That was it will not count. The celebrations

:30:55.:31:02.

are cut short. Just seemed to be in advance... Yes, that's the correct

:31:02.:31:12.
:31:12.:31:29.

We should probably have a meeting of the dubious goals panel and

:31:29.:31:33.

maybe their dubious goalkeeping panel as well? This was a bad

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mistake. Certainly, his timing. When you look at it, there wasn't

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really anybody on him. It was a bad, bad mistake. He made up for it

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later, he made some excellent saves. This is one he would not want to

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see again. Leigh Griffiths goal, or own goal? If I think it is an own-

:31:52.:31:54.

goal. An own-goal specialists! somebody who holds the record of

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own goals in the SPL, I think it is an own-goal. It hits him on the

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back of the head. Leigh Griffiths is a strike and he will try to

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claim it. They weren't happy about the penalty award. Maybe from his

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distance away, he did see him going down pretty easily? He went down

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early, from this angle it looks like a diver. But from here, it

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looks like he put his leg in and took him. You always feel hard done

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by as a defender. He feels that. The man on form, the SPL player of

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the month, he putted away. How much did you fear for Hibernian in the

:32:35.:32:40.

opening weekend? What sort of recovery have they made? Incredible.

:32:40.:32:45.

Leigh Griffiths hitting form has been crucial. Also getting in at

:32:45.:32:50.

Jim Clancy, the experienced players. Their home form, getting that right,

:32:50.:32:54.

they only won two home games last season. That is the difference.

:32:54.:32:57.

horrendous end of the season for them. The first game was not great,

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but they did really well to get it together. He's used to being at the

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top of the league, he doesn't like being down there. He never was

:33:05.:33:09.

during his managerial career. He will be much more happy now. He's

:33:09.:33:13.

got used to getting into the premier division, saying how it is

:33:13.:33:16.

going, getting used to the players. St Mirren were hoping for third

:33:16.:33:20.

time lucky in their quest for a first home win of the season. In

:33:20.:33:30.
:33:30.:33:40.

MacGowan. In goes Jim Goodwin. Free-kick given against the St

:33:40.:33:50.
:33:50.:33:57.

Mirren skipper. Murray is reaching Patterson, with a chance. A good

:33:57.:34:04.

effort from the youngster. Well, it was a strong right hand from Craig

:34:04.:34:10.

Samson to make the save. Danny Lennon, hoping his team can get

:34:10.:34:20.
:34:20.:34:35.

using his strength and know-how. He can make something happen. He's

:34:35.:34:45.
:34:45.:35:12.

What a Trans. He's wondering what youngster, in the right place,

:35:12.:35:22.
:35:22.:35:59.

the corner of the net until the fully 40 yards! I think Jamie

:35:59.:36:03.

McDonald was unsighted. There was certainly lots of movement on the

:36:03.:36:13.
:36:13.:36:38.

ball, which ended up in the back of after half-time. St Merryn have a

:36:38.:36:44.

two goal lead. -- St Mirren. The challenge was less than impressive

:36:44.:36:54.
:36:54.:36:55.

from Hearts. Thomson put it on a efforts to stop Thomson. That could

:36:55.:37:05.
:37:05.:37:07.

had a great chance to get one back. He ends up in the back of the net.

:37:08.:37:17.
:37:18.:37:25.

That is where he intended to put did! It looks very much as if St

:37:25.:37:34.

Mirren are going to win this and Your fellow countryman, Jim Goodwin,

:37:34.:37:38.

had no right to be shooting from that distance? He's done it before

:37:38.:37:41.

in the past. When I saw this goal, I thought that the goalkeeper must

:37:41.:37:46.

be at fault. But when you see it from a different angle, the

:37:46.:37:49.

goalkeeper was unsighted, but not just that, the movement of the ball

:37:50.:37:53.

was quite incredible. That is what you see with long shots. You can

:37:53.:37:58.

see the movement of the ball. It is right in the corner. He has a

:37:59.:38:06.

history, in fact? I cleared the ball out for him here. Sometimes

:38:06.:38:10.

you go, go on, hit it. It's the old theory, if you don't shoot, you

:38:10.:38:14.

won't score. He's got a good strike from the edge of the box. They look

:38:14.:38:18.

like they are getting a good squad together. I watched them quite a

:38:18.:38:23.

few times last year. They have a nice ground, Danny Lennon, they

:38:23.:38:27.

want to play football, they get it down and pass it. Sometimes they

:38:27.:38:30.

are a little bit open. They pass the ball really well, but left

:38:30.:38:36.

themselves wide open at Celtic. They are a good team, they have

:38:36.:38:40.

some good players. Young Paul MacGowan in the middle of the pitch,

:38:40.:38:43.

excellent little player. He was at Celtic and moved on, refreshed his

:38:43.:38:49.

career. John McGlynn was in the studio about a month ago. Do you

:38:49.:38:55.

worry for him in terms of what he has got in his squad? John Sutton

:38:55.:38:58.

will on the bench, Patterson played up front, they have scored a goal

:38:58.:39:03.

in their last three league games? Such a good start the season,

:39:03.:39:06.

bidets in Johnstone, everybody thought they could roll on and be

:39:06.:39:08.

the second best team in Scotland. It's gone slightly downhill since

:39:08.:39:13.

then. They don't have enough of a goal threat. On the bench, John

:39:13.:39:17.

Sutton, Scott Robinson, apart from that they are very thin. I do

:39:17.:39:21.

slightly worried for John. He's under a little bit of pressure. You

:39:21.:39:26.

know the history of the chairman at Hearts. You need some results quick.

:39:26.:39:29.

Friday night football at Tannadice, Dundee United trying to give Ross

:39:29.:39:39.

County a rare taste of league impressive unbeaten league record,

:39:39.:39:43.

almost took the lead early on at Tannadice. Colin McMenamin with a

:39:43.:39:48.

second bite of the cherry. A good effort, with the keeper routed to

:39:48.:39:53.

the spot. But the header was kept out by the woodworker. And the

:39:53.:39:56.

striker pounced again minutes later, all thanks to a badly controlled

:39:56.:40:02.

back-pass. The keeper was the guilty party, Colin McMenamin tried

:40:03.:40:07.

to capitalise. After those early chances, Dundee United and Johnny

:40:07.:40:11.

Russell tried to give the home fans something to cheer. A wonderful run,

:40:11.:40:17.

showing great strength. Michael Fraser's left foot did quite a job.

:40:17.:40:23.

Side-netting. Fraser was tested by a former team-mate. He couldn't get

:40:23.:40:28.

the better of the Ross County keeper. Chances continued for both

:40:28.:40:32.

teams. This long punt, aimed at Colin McMenamin. The keeper tried

:40:32.:40:36.

to get to the danger but, instead, offered Gary Glen a terrific

:40:36.:40:41.

opportunity. At the other end, Johnny Russell was proving a

:40:41.:40:45.

handful. More delightful play from him. This was a lovely ball for

:40:45.:40:53.

Ryan Dow. Just watch Ross topless's reaction. Was he worried? Well, he

:40:53.:40:59.

needn't have been. The referee said he got the ball. A bit of a 50-51,

:40:59.:41:08.

this. No real arguments from either side. Both sides have drawn 0-0 in

:41:08.:41:13.

the previous games before the international break. Russell seemed

:41:13.:41:16.

determined to provide the breakthrough. His ball was dealt

:41:16.:41:22.

with, of sorts, by Fitzpatrick. But it fell to Ryan Dow, who was

:41:22.:41:29.

unfortunate with his clever trip. - - chip. Good vision. He was unlucky

:41:29.:41:39.
:41:39.:41:40.

as the ball hits the bar. The home side came close again. This time,

:41:40.:41:43.

defender Gavin Gurning with a downward header. Post and

:41:43.:41:49.

goalkeeper kept it out. 0-0 it finished. A remarkable 14 games

:41:49.:41:59.
:41:59.:42:05.

It is remarkable. Celtic, 14 league games unbeaten? To get up there was

:42:05.:42:08.

the goal, but to get stable, keep them without getting into that

:42:08.:42:12.

relegation zone, that is going to be a big challenge for them. But

:42:12.:42:16.

they are well organised, good manager and fantastic. Fantastic

:42:16.:42:20.

story. They haven't scored from open play yes. That's not a

:42:20.:42:23.

criticism of the team, but a slight worry over the coming weeks might

:42:23.:42:28.

be that they haven't scored enough goals. If they go behind, they

:42:28.:42:32.

might be asked questions. They have only conceded one SPL goal,

:42:32.:42:35.

defensively they are great, so it's finding the balance of getting the

:42:35.:42:40.

goals but still remaining defensively solid. They seem to

:42:40.:42:45.

miss Jon Daley. He's been around for a long time. Even though he is

:42:45.:42:50.

an Irish lad and he has done really well, it's a bit like you were

:42:50.:42:54.

saying about Samaras. Celtic, they cannot play the ball long, they

:42:54.:42:57.

know that if you hit it up to, he is the same. They are missing him

:42:57.:43:02.

and they want to get him back as quickly as possible. It's almost

:43:02.:43:05.

the other side of the coin, the up a weekend at Tannadice. Everybody

:43:05.:43:13.

was worried about Hibs, everybody was concerned about Derby united --

:43:13.:43:18.

Dundee United? Well, everybody was thinking, this is the second best

:43:18.:43:23.

team in Scotland. At that time they were. Apart from that spell at

:43:23.:43:28.

Kilmarnock, defensively they have done well. It's up to the team to

:43:28.:43:32.

chip in some goals. I think, over the peace, we can say they are the

:43:32.:43:35.

best side. Let's have a look at the Clydesdale Bank Premier League

:43:36.:43:45.
:43:46.:44:07.

table before we go. Eight points All of that action for you next

:44:08.:44:13.

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