18/12/2011 Sportscene

The big day is just one week away and we have some top festive

football fare for you in the next 45 minutes and some big talking

points. Was it a punch or a penalty? Should it have been a red

card? Answers from injured St Johnstone striker Killian Sheridan.

His current club tackled his own team in person today. Celtic trying

to keep their title challenge on track. But St Johnstone 1 at Celtic

track. But St Johnstone 1 at Celtic Park for months ago. -- St

Johnstone won. At the back of the net!

For the rematch, Steve Lomas made two changes to his team. Callum

Davidson was ill and Sam Parkin was on the bench. Kevin Moon and David

Robertson started. Celtic were without Anthony Stokes but Neil

Lennon was happy to say same again to the team which performed so well

in Italy on Thursday night. The save. It was a decent hit by

Samaras. Enckelman, guarding his McCracken takes the action over his

crossbar. It was a great ball through. Hooper could not directed.

-- direct it. Six straight wins in the SPL coming into today. Looking

floor. Trying to work past stayed down. That was a sore one

for David Robertson to take. There is concern here. David Robertson

got dumped to the ground. Majstorovic and casualty. He really

got thumped here. It must have felt Enckelman. Gary Hooper cannot

believe it. He thought he was opening the scoring. It was a miss

got the winner when they met earlier this season. Back To Black

wins again Celtic for the first time since 1998 for St Johnstone. -

- back to back. Another fine save from Peter Enckelman. Hooper met

the cross well. Enckelman denied Celtic are ahead. He has been

denied by the goalkeeper on several occasions. Peter Enckelman could do

little. Gary Hooper was the first to react. Wanyama tried to get

their head around it. Not a fun have taken this game. -- two goals

in four minutes. Samaras played it on to Forest. It was class C and

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

clinical and typical Celtic. -- Just one goal this season for

Georgios Samaras. He thought they should have been a corner. He just

should have been a corner. He just seemed to write of steam. Obviously,

frustrated to not be playing today. Jasper run out of steam. Did you

think they would get something. result was a better chance of us

getting something, but the corners killed us. We came out too much for

a free kick. Seven straight wins for Celtic. You played with Neil

Lennon and you are managed by him as well for a spell. Obviously,

this is important for him at the moment, because he was teetering

with bad results. Those bad results, and then another bad result after

all of that could have really put pressure on him. But he responded

and the team responded as he would have expected. He does not like

losing. Definitely not! No manager does. Or should. I have been on the

end of a few of his discussions. And Steve Lomas will not have liked

being on the end of those set pieces. All was a killer to lose a

corner. -- always. They are always easy to prevent. The free kick here,

maybe he committed too much for word. They did well keeping the

ball in with the back leg but if he had left it and let it run out,...

At this point, you are stretched. Especially with the pace. Samaras

Especially with the pace. Samaras and then Ki Sung Yeung. I would not

have been surprised at the goalkeeper kept it out, the way he

had been playing. But they are strong on the counter-attack.

strong on the counter-attack. Samaras, heavily involved. Celtic

fans love to hate him but he is in good form. Definitely. All strikers,

when you are playing with confidence, you feel untouchable.

And then if you go a few bad games, and the fans get on your back, it

can get into her head. I think he has proven what a good player he

can be. -- get into your head. were at a comfort break when Daniel

Majstorovic got himself injured. It sounds like a fractured cheekbone.

There is a sad irony that at the moment, he has been settling into a

solid game. He went through a shaky patch. Defence has been so crucial

in this could run. He will be disappointed, to get a nasty injury

like that. St Johnstone were minus key players today, Jody Morris,

Frazer Wright, yourself. It is a frustration because you got off to

frustration because you got off to such a great start. There were a

few games where we were flying, and then we had the international break

and I got injured and he got injured. It has disrupted it a bit.

When we were not playing and there were boys waiting to come in, I

think the lads could definitely do a job. Three finishes there from

here. But occasionally, you do pass the ball,! We are saying that we

the ball,! We are saying that we need to pass more before scoring.

He is trying to take the credit after that Pep crop -- pep talk.

When the thing he will be playing again? I do not know. I would say

between four and six weeks, so maybe another two or three. I will

have to see where I am at. And you are alone at St Johnstone is coming

to an end so there are question marks. You were on loan from

Bulgaria, what would you like to have happened? Are the in the

winter break? Their own the Christmas break. I should be on

holiday. -- they are all on the Christmas break. It is all in the

air. We will see what happens between now and January. Get fit

and get playing, basically? priority is to get training. To be

ready for January. Motherwell find it easier to win on the road. They

were looking for their first Fir were looking for their first Fir

Park victory against St Mirren Jennings. A booking for the

Motherwell man. I think he thought he was fouled himself there.

Frustration creeping in. Rightly booked. I think he was booked for

that as well. There is a punch in the stomach as well. I'm not sure

changed his mind or at least the assistants have changed it for him.

I think he awarded the penalty but Tessa la has been judged to be

Brilliant work from Jamie Murphy. He might have taken it on himself,

but selfishly passes to Higdon, who It has been an intriguing match. --

thumped off the line by Jim Goodwin. What a good try by Randolph. St

Mirren pushing forward. What an Motherwell have the breakthrough.

It is the former St Mirren man, Michael had done. Great work to

manage to dig out the cross. -- Michael Higdon. He came out

victorious, putting Motherwell in front. St Mirren will feel hard

done by to be behind. Jim Goodwin caught that be double A. It is an

equaliser for St Mirren! -- Court that beautifully. Darren Randolph

flew to his right but there is just no stopping an absolute rocket like

could not hit the target. He got around the goalkeeper, and that was

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

The sometimes seek retrospective action. Good though be in trouble

for the puncture on Steve Jennings? I think so. I think he is lucky

that Jennings has not gone down. He could have tried to make it worse.

I think there are a few naughty tackle fear that all built up to

one. Jennings got fouled. He got angry and the first person he saw.

It has been building up for something to happen. Motherwell

will look back at it and think to ended when could well have been

red-carded there and would have been off the pitch and would not

have scored that wonder goal later on. He was perfect. Any keeper is

going to save that. In the top corner. It is one of those. He

caught it full-on, perfect. Mirren could look back as well and

see the change of decision from Calum Murray. He gives the penalty

and then he gets the word in his ear that it is off side. What do

you think? Looking at the replay. It looked like his shoulder or

something. He was taken out, there is no doubt about that. When we

look at it here it is not conclusive but he does not look

like he is in line. I do not think it was in line. Not that you are

biased or anything? Totally biased! I think the linesman has got to get

something for that tackle. They tend to go to defenders more now.

You were on loan to Motherwell, are you impressed with what they have

done this season? Yeah, now they have been flying. We played them

away. They are eight points clear of us now. They have been brilliant.

Goal of the season contender in that game and there is another one

in the short lived in this one, Kilmarnock against Dundee United at

Rugby Park. The Kilmarnock goalkeeper was the star of this

match. First he had to keep out this slightly deflected shot from

John Rankin. There would be plenty more to keep the bell ringing early

doors. Then the United boss, Peter Houston, would later claim no one

could have complained if they had been for her-0 up after 15 minutes.

Best header was touched under the crossbar. It was a frustrating day.

The United captain felt it was four games without a goal. The alarm

bells ringing again early on. Kilmarnock finally got moving down

the other end. This man went down like a sack of spuds are under

tackle. Before you could say it was not fair, the crossbar came close.

They almost made the most of the chance. Then it was made in with

this play. But an unlucky final touch. The Kilmarnock No. 13th did

not finish. Then the tangerines took the lead in terms of the

number of times they had struck the woodwork! The United skipper has

got 12 goals so far this season but his luck was just not in with best

shot going wide. -- with this shot going wide. When it is not your day,

it is not your day! Dixon with the cross, the lay with the finish, it

should have been 1-0. There was proof that John Daly himself

absolutely knew that. After a few close calls in the first have how

about the real thing from James Peden? A definite contender for

goal of the season from be 23-year- old Englishman. The goal was later

described by the manager as world class. No one disagreed. That goal

came in the 31st minute. Just in time up popped Dixon to make it 1-1

and in terms of the number of chances made it was a. That and the

United at least deserved. Dundee United dominated in the first half.

It may have been a combination of bad luck and bad finishing for them.

You would have expected them to have a hefty lead after this? By a

absolutely. They had a lot of good chances. This was a good save. He

had a few. I think that was obviously be hard won. They were

really unlucky. John Daly would expect to score with that and maybe

this one as well, wouldn't he? I think so. Strikers have the days

where it just does not seem to happen yet on another day he could

have scored all three. I know what it is like. You will appreciate

this left peg effort which is an early contender for goal lobby

season, do you reckon? Definitely. It was the angle. You cannot really

get much more into the top corner. It was perfect. Is that one better

than this one? I am going to say yes because it is a left foot. I am

just going to be biased towards left-footers. What about this one

from two seasons ago? I think that one there is afloat. Certainly the

most so of the three. -- a fluke. And now Tuesday night in Perth.

From 55 yards! He scores! Hibernian are up against from Aberdeen.

Aberdeen have managed to get ahead of Hibernian in de SPL just in the

last couple of games. This will put some daylight between them. That is

a great ball. A fantastic pass from Galbraith. Heaslip did it through

four or corner. -- he slithered it through. That was for O'Connor.

They earn and got between beekeeper and the ball. -- there are none got

between the goalkeeper and the ball. -- Vernon got between. It is true

the poor defending from Stevens, you have got to see. Now Michael

Hart. To Fallon. Fallon could not find the target. Right at the back

post with Scott. Jason Brown was equal to it but Jason Scott did not

find the space at the back end of the Aberdeen penalty area. He is

appealing for a free-kick but he is not getting it. That is a good turn.

Penalty! Spiral with a challenge. - - Sproul. This has been deemed a

penalty kick. He scores! Hibernian are unhappy with the award of the

penalty. There was a booking for it as well. Aberdeen goal in front in

what is a crucial game. Was Stephenson caught by Paul? It may

be worse than that for the Aberdeen youngster. It is a red car. It is a

straight red for this young man. We could see why perhaps this Red Ed

had come out if he had made contact. Here it is. It seems harsh on the

face of it. 10 men are having to defend here. That is a corner, and

that his wife. We are looking at the space here that the Aberdeen

players have left. They have got more players in the park where they

are needed. That man should have scored. It should be 1-1. It is not.

He out muscled Foster. It was a good turn but the finish was not

there. Scott. When he is in there. Galbraith. That might be it. Head

in hands for Danny Galbraith. Loads of space. The incident which

decided the game was the penalty decision awarded. What do you

think? I would come back to that and say it is nowhere near a

penalty. From the other end you can see a dive. It was a pretty bleak

then dive and we should say. We need a compliance officer. That

displays it pretty clearly, doesn't it? I think so. Given what has

happened. I think there will be a lot of pressure for him to be

pulled up. Garry O'Connor got off because that one looked to be a

blatant dive as well. There was a two-match ban for this. You would

imagine there has to be a consistency about this. Was the

other died any less blatant than this one? I think both of them have

led to crucial penalties. I think that man will be watching and

hoping that his opponent gets pulled up as well. They do need

that consistency. It is a little bit inconsistent. We will have to

wait and see what happens. I wonder if the first man will be pulled off

for the died in the penalty but let off for the red card he got for his

challenge on Louis Stevenson. Was he not, when you look at the angle,

trying to block the ball? I think so. He was just trying to block the

ball. It had happened already earlier on in these season. With St

Mirren someone had tried to close down the ball. The manager was

telling his players to do this. This was a yellow for the challenge

on Christopher Clarke which seemed fair enough. Was that, was the

other challenge any worse than that one? I do not think so. I think it

was not a challenge, it was him trying to block the ball. I think

the two have done maybe, yellow cards, I think even the yellow card

was harsh. He was trying to block the ball, the clearance. It is just

Six points out of six for Aberdeen over five days. Do you expect them

to find a comfortable mid-table position? I think they will be

expecting than now. Two wins in a row will give them a massive boost.

I think they will be going into games with more confidence, looking

to get up the table. The latest sideshow at Hearts, where late

wages are the norm and the for sale sign has gone up his winner Andy

Driver's refusal to play. -- is winger. Can they cope with a new

winger. Can they cope with a new distraction?

There was drama before kick-off with Andy Driver dropped from the

hard squad. There when there is no longer winning -- willing to play

under Paulo Sergio. Despite this, Hart's caught off to the perfect

start. Stephen Elliott bringing festive cheer within the first two

minutes. Not that he was showing it. And despite the off-field turmoil,

Hearts looked surprisingly sure- footed at Tynecastle. David

Templeton Woods the Dunfermline defence to purposeful fact. --

worried the Dunfermline defence. Better work from Brian McGowan down

the left-hand side, turning the dumb Furman defenders inside out.

Before setting up the midfielder who put Hearts into a two goal lead.

Great play from a gallon. And the shot deceived the keeper. --

Magellan. Jim MacIntyre with plenty to think about. There was a

threatening header from Andy Barrowman, and in the second half

Marian Kello had to look pretty lively in the Hearts goal to keep

out Liam Buchanan. Overall, Hearts were playing like they did not have

a care in the world. Stephen Elliott rattled the side netting.

And David Templeton thumped in another effort that was palmed away

by Gallagher. The rumblings from the players are becoming

increasingly loud with an official complaint fouled with the SPL.

Despite that, temples and rubble and a thunderous strike to make it

3-0. -- Tim Bolton rumbled a thunderous strike. Hearts, with

troubles off the field, certainly in harmony on the street -- on the

field. Dunfermline look increasingly vulnerable at the

moment. By the end of the match, Hearts were pinging the ball with

swagger. Ryan Stevenson thumping goalwards. Paul Gallacher got

clobbered in the process. Nothing like a win to help lift the

Tynecastle gloom. Worrying times Tynecastle gloom. Worrying times

for Dunfermline. You probably have an ability to

understand more than most of us what is happening at Hearts. You

have played some football and Bulgaria and you will know about

ownership of a football club and what that means of it there. Owners

make all the decisions and sometimes they just pay players

when they fancy it. That's right. It is just the culture, the

mentality in Eastern Europe. You see it in Russian teams, it is

definitely unsettling. For it to happen here, I was pretty shocked.

For -- you never hear about that in the UK. It is pretty unbelievable.

What do you think about Andy Driver's disclosure that he does

not want to play for Hearts in a more. Presumably disillusioned not

just by a delayed wages, but by the way the club is going. I think he

is probably looking to make a stand, is probably looking to make a stand,

to tell the owners that they cannot just treat the players like this.

The players are training every day, and they expect to be paid. The

contract should be honoured. contract should be honoured.

Obviously, he has his reasons. it is a waste of a special talent,

as we conceived. He is a good player for them. Inverness have a

good recent record of making life good recent record of making life

difficult for Rangers. Let us see how they fare on Terry Butcher's

latest return trip. The leaders made two changes to the

team which won at Hibernian. Kyle Lafferty was on the bench alongside

Lee McCulloch, Sasa Papac and Alejandro Bedoya.

Andrew Shinnie is among the sobs for Inverness. Graham Shinnie

started. -- among the subs. Fresh-air from Jelavic. What a

Jelavic, with the arm. That is a great through-ball for Willie

Mackay. Bartley things he was being Bocanegra. The second half has

Thistle are upset. They feel this may well have come off Jelavic's

arm. In a stuffy match, Rangers Polish -- apologetic. This is

ominous for the Highlanders. Papac! Smacks the crossbar. Papac was not

even focusing on that. He was focusing on the goal. Saw for

Jelavic. Graham Shinnie with the the referee's call. The Rangers

fans are not happy that Inverness are playing on. This will be

controversial. It is 11! Andrew Shinnie against his old team. -- it

is one to one. Inverness take full advantage. Nikita Jelavic was on

the deck. Inverness, as is their right to do so, played on, and have

found the net. It is Won-Hee Cho. - This is Lafferty. Blocked, blocked.

He had a bet of a charmed life. He had the second of the

intermittent's here will stop the shot from Lafferty was blocked.

What an open second half it has been. They are in again. It is

Mackay. Wrong side of the post. Rangers are walking. Believe me

carry. MacGregor. -- Billy McKay. Lee Wallace. Where did he come

from? That goal would surely end. It did not go over the line. Lee

Wallace saves Rangers'. An incredible spectacle in this second

35. This is grade by Rangers. Lafferty. Out of jail! They are out

of jail big time, Rangers. Inverness could potentially have

been 3-1 up. At the end of the season that is the sort of game

which might count big time for Rangers. Definitely. They want to

get tighter between now and the end of the season. The definitely want

those kind of games. You can look at them and thing you have been a

little bit lucky, but if you want to win titles those are the kind of

games that you win. As you say, I do not think Rangers have been at

their best for a wee while but sometimes it is just about grinding

out wins. Absolutely. I believe that. Sometimes in championships it

is just about playing badly rather than being able to win. I think

Inverness felt that some of the decisions went against them in the

game. Do you think they could have had a penalty for handball against

Jelavic? I think that would have been kind of harsh. It was in kind

of an awkward area. Is this a better shout? I think so, yeah.

Maybe the fact he has not gone down or anything. I think it was amazing

just to stop in the box. He must have got a little bit put off.

this was Richie Foran heading in the free-kick from Andrew Findlay.

As we three's it here, I think it was just marginally off? I think it

was just the shoulder, slightly off side but it could have been the

benefit which clearly should have been given. The Rangers fans were

not too happy about the build up to the equaliser because Jelavic had

been down injured. I think as we had showed in the highlights,

Rangers could have knocked the ball out as well. I think they did have

that chance. It was a good cut back with a good finish from that man.

Following that, in good chances. You do not normally get too many of

those at Ibrox. Billy Mackay around the goalkeeper stumbled slightly.

Yes, it was a good run. He was just a little bit of balance. He was

definitely a little bit unlucky. And this man was just again a

little bit of balance, don't you think? Yes, I think so, he

connected well with the ball. It was cleared of the line. You can

only talk so long about being in a false position for it to mean

anything but Inverness do not look like a team who should be in their

position? Definitely. The definitely should have got

something from the game. They created chances. To lose the game

after playing so well to an Old Firm team is a little hard to take.

I think having had so many chances in the match it was maybe obvious

what was coming next, the killer punch at 83 minutes, Kyle Lafferty

and Rangers' won the game. Yes. Jelavic was brilliant. A good

finish from Lafferty. Terry Butcher would not be too happy about this

man charging out of the back line and leaving a hole? That's right.

He should have stayed and held the line. Jelavic is a little bit

smarter than him and quicker into the box. Is it heading for a photo

finish again do you think, between the Old Firm? I think it is looking

like that now, it was not a few weeks ago. Rangers dropped a few

points. I think it is heading that way again bill. Thank you for

coming in and weeding your Christmas jumper as well!

problem. Motherwell are eight ahead of St Johnstone. They are within

one point of the Perth team, that is Hearts. Aberdeen are now six

points off the bottom after a few wins. Christmas Eve matches look

like this. A variety of kick-offs. It is Hearts macro against

Motherwell. St Mirren against Rangers. -- Hearts against