20/04/2014 Sportscene

Hello, strap yourselves in, this could be the most controversial

programme of the season so far, the first week after the split, and life

has just got very interesting indeed. I am joined by Pat Nevin and

Steven Thompson. We start with Saint Mirren against Hibernian. Not much

you can say about the form of Hibernian, other than it has been

awful. Saint Mirren have not played much better but a 3-2 victory last

week gave them a boost coming into this.

The same Saint Mirren starting 11 is defeated Motherwell. Looking for a

change in form, Terry Butcher makes for changes to their Hibernian side.

-- four. Saint Mirren will kick off. Looking for back-to-back fig trees

for the first time since November last year. -- victories. McGinn.

Thompson. Kenny Maclean! What a start! Only 13 seconds played.

Hibernian and never got a touch. The highball from McGinn was well set up

by Thompson, Maclean dispatched it beyond Williams for a six goal of

the season. What a start for Danny Lennon. The fastest goal in the

Premiership. Goodwin gets it to Maclean. McGavin. On the left

foot... 2-0 in front! Only 14 minutes played! Hibernian causing

their own problems. A lovely pass, McGowan slotted it in. A fourth of

the campaign. Maclean. Thomson. That was close to number three. The

striker getting in the head of the defenders. Harris. Play on, says the

referee. Stanton. Good strike, parried by the goalkeeper. Reacted

quickly after spilling it initially. Stanton has been a shining light for

Hibernian in recent weeks. Thompson. Goodwin. What a challenge that was.

A decision for the referee. It is a red card, forging Goodwin, the

captain. -- for Jim Goodwin. Saint Mirren, down to ten men. McGowan.

Robbed by the combination of Harris and Thompson. Kevin Thompson, toward

Stanton... You expected the net to bulge. He got right underneath it.

Good linkup play. Sean Kelly. Being direct... Not too far away! Positive

play from the full-back. The free kick, breaking for Newton... A fine

volley. But it was straight at N Williams. -- Ben. Jason Cummings.

It's just will not go for Hibernian this afternoon. Already some of

their supporters heading home. Thompson. Nelson. It drops for Jason

Cummings. Hibernian are getting closer. But not close enough.

It was a monumental performance. They played for that wonderful

support. It hurts so much. But we need to

bounce back, show resilience and toughness. There was not enough

fight today. Abysmal from the Burnie on. We will

get to them in a moment. But first, how big a result was that forcing

Mirren? A real shift for us. It has given us

a massive boost. The fastest goal in the Premiership this season, Stephen

was at the heart of things. Absolutely. Terry Butcher will have

told his team, start as fast as you possibly can. Then this happens.

First of all, a mistake. Look at Maclean go past Thompson. A great

run. He makes my job easy. The timing of the run was perfect, ideal

for me. A nice tackle. This is a lovely pass. Outside of the foot.

Soft and supple. Absolutely brilliant. He is a wonderful

talent, a very cultured left foot, one of the best in the game.

We do not talk enough about Jim Goodwin! Certainly not when I am on!

Did it merit a red card? When you see the referees angle, that is

important. It looks quite reckless. That is what it is about, is it

reckless? But I think there are two or three players between him. This

is the giveaway. That is not reckless, just hopeless! Not a very

good tackle at all. His trailing leg catches Kevin Thompson. Certainly

not a red card. I would be surprised if it is not rescinded. You think

Saint Mirren will appeal it? Definitely we will.

And it is the Edinburgh derby next week.

That alone will lift you if nothing else will. But it has been a long

run for them now. Possibly the worst run of anyone. Worrying times.

Two other sites also in the play-off mix met yesterday, Partick Thistle

and Kilmarnock. Kris Boyd hoping to put clear blue water between

Kilmarnock and the rest of the play-off contenders.

Two changes for Kilmarnock. Craig Slater and Robbie Muirhead dropping

out. James Craig and is in for Partick Thistle.

Free kick, James Kraken, thumping it off the crossbar! That was close!

Chris Dolan, lining up the short, on target. But just helped over the top

by Craig Samson. The mayor is in trouble. -- Lee Mayer. Kris Boyd, a

missed opportunity, he did not catch that at all. The header by Lee

Ashcroft. Now, Robbie McKenzie. Jackson Irvine with the shot at

goal, but from the young Australian, it was pretty much straight at Paul

Gallacher. Up goes Ashcroft... And Maximenko scores a first goal for

command. On the loan from Brighton, squeezing this one in. 1-0. Erskine.

He was caught. Play is brought back for the foul. Just outside the

penalty box. It is calm Higginbotham... 1-1! The reaction

tells you how important that goal is. Side footed by the midfielder,

placed to perfection through a rock of players, past Craig Samson.

Meikle guideline. Back off the bar, balancing on the line, Claude away

by Gallic! Was that over the line? That is the question. That looks

inconclusive. Hunting down a winning goal. Barber! Of the line! This was

heading in from barber. Taylor Sinclair. And again. Gardyne Full in

goes Boyd, the top goal-scorer for Kilmarnock looking to turn one point

23. Jordan Mick Millen. Higginbotham. A good ball in, and

Taylor Sinclair strikes! Five minutes from time, only his second

goal of the season. That could be of huge significance. 2-1, Partick

Thistle. They are trying to get themselves out of second bottom

spot. Barber! Paul Gallacher makes the save.

Extremely disappointed. There was not much in the game. The big

moments did not go our way. We played better in the first-half,

chances wise. We showed character, summed up by our full-back scoring

the winner. Fantastic win for Partick Thistle yesterday. Let's

clean up this confusion. I do not think that was over the line, that

was on the line. There was a second bounce. I will show you this other

angle. The entirety of the circumference of the ball is not

over the line. Well done the officials, they have called it

right. You are not able to give the goal unless you are sure it is over

the line. A massive win for Partick Thistle yesterday. Players like

Kallum Higginbotham to the fore. Yes, he has been impressive. This

all into the box was so inviting. Taylor-Sinclair's desire to get into

the box in the last couple of minutes of the game as a full-back

is really breathtaking. He again has impressed me this season. All the

teams in the bottom six are all capable of beating each other, they

are all very similar, in my opinion. And on Friday night Partick Thistle

at home to yourselves. What should we expect? Firstly it will be a

great atmosphere. I think the atmosphere will be great, new teams

giving their absolute maximum and hopefully a St Mirren win.

Hopefully, from your point of view! The point you made about the

atmosphere at Partick Thistle. They have jumped out at me those fans

when I have been there this season. It should be a great match on Friday

night. Hearts are already down there but they should have a massive stage

-- say in who finishes second bottom. The club should exit

administration very soon avoiding the threat of liquidation. Ross

County went into this match with their R ship future very much in

doubt. This would be a hugely controversial march. Brian

McLauchlan was there for us. It was a first-half of very few

chances. No way beyond McDonald. Into the second half and a booking

for Jamie Hamill after this barge into the back of Michael Pitzer. The

yellow card was to prove crucial later. Teenagers came and Nicholson

combined, a fantastic challenge denied Hearts the opener. Then the

turning point after 65 minutes. McHattie bundle down inside the box

by Graham Carey. A penalty kick said the referee. Soft it may have been

but Jamie Hamill made no mistake from the spot. He put Hearts one up

much to the delight of the home fans. Hamill refused to hand the

ball back to Yan song good. A push from the County defender and then a

barge into the County boss Derek Adams. Both song do and Hamill were

booked for their part leading to a red card for the Hearts captain. But

the ten men kept pushing forward and Scott Robinson had a great chance to

make it to but Brown saved with his beat. There was almost an equaliser.

The header was wide of the mark. With four minutes of stoppage time

on the clock, Hearts broken clear. Real character fired the boil high

into the roof of the net, his fifth of the season -- the real character.

-- Dale Carick. They made things difficult for us but I thought we

thoroughly deserved the three points. We had chances, we did not

take the chances but we have to show more hunger than we did today. It

has been a good week for everybody connected with the football club.

Normally one place we can possibly start after that game. The Jamie

Hamill barge on Derek Adams. What did you make of it? I think the

referee got the penalty right. It seems mild from there but they got

the other angle and the referee is in exactly the right position. There

is no argument. This is the last good thing I can say about Jamie

Hamill, a good penalty. Superb. You can get a yellow card for running

away with the ball. He starts winding up the other players with it

and then throws the ball. Maybe he can is down now, or maybe not. I am

absolutely and utterly stunned by it. Derek does not react which is

amazing. I mac it is completely disrespectful from Hamill in a

moment of madness. It is ridiculous. From what we understand at the

moment that might be his orderly punishment. That red card. Because

the referee dealt with it at the time I understand it but that is

just madness. We got Jim Goodwin off with it earlier but I do not think

we can like Hamill off with that one. Let's not forget the fact it

was a fantastic result for Hearts and the brilliant crowd. That is

fantastic. The fact Hearts look like they will be exiting

administration, great times for the club in that respect. They will not

be in the championship next season but it is great that they can

continue as a going concern next season. You have to give audits to

the supporters. 14,000 has been an average gate. It is phenomenal. They

have supported them knowing they are getting relegated. Next weekend it

is the Edinburgh derby and we all heard about lax sabbath a few weeks

ago, Hearts can drag Hibernian further into the play-off. If you

look at the way the Hibernian fans are in a real downer at the moment,

Hearts, the strange way we are the same really up at the moment

although they are going down. Whatever team goes down from the SPE

ill it will be a stunning division. It is a next road very situation and

quite funny. Time now for a look at the top half of the Premiership.

Commentary from Liam McLeod. Motherwell have won two of their

last three at home against Celtic. John Sutton is in in the early

stages here and Forster cannot keep it out. What a start! Poor defending

from Ambrose and Sutton took full advantage of low Forster will feel

he should have done better. That is 20 now for the season from John

Sutton. Celtic trying to get themselves going. That is a lovely

little backheel from your hands and four strokes. He goes down and that

is a penalty. Iain Vigurs with the barge on stalks. Kris Commons has

not missed from the spot this season. He has no! That is all down

to Gunnar Nielsen. It is not the worst penalty you will ever see but

that was a terrific save. That preserves the Motherwell lead.

The-0, 5-0 and 2-0 have been the reverse is for Motherwell this

season. And it is a goal! It is too! The second for Motherwell right on

half-time and second place firmly in their sights. Great play from Anier

and good -- poor defending from Celtic. Virgil van Dijk. Brown gives

it back to stalks. Stokes goes for ball and that is tremendous. Genius

from Anthony Stokes. He will claim he meant that and if he has, that is

superb. Neil Lennon would have had a very different team talk at

half-time thanks to that stalks goal at half-time. What a good game this

is. -- Stokes. Long from Commons. This is awkward for Motherwell and

Samaras tucks it home. It is 2-2. Once again Motherwell have tossed

away the 2-0 lead, as they did at St Mirren a fortnight ago and as they

did at Easter Road against Hibernian. Motherwell having to show

real character to throw away a two goal lead again and they have thrown

away possession here. Gunnar Nielsen is the hero once again for

Motherwell. He saves from Brown. He will be much happier with the

second-half showing from his team, will be Celtic manager. Forster had

to just scoop that away. Fraser Kerr tried to attack this at the near

post. I do not think it hit anyone on the way through. Samaras will

level things up. Commons has stalks in a wonderful area. Kris Commons.

Terrific defending from Hamill. It really was. Sliding in to deny

Celtic's top scorer. It is all Celtic right now. Griffiths is in.

And Leigh Griffiths writes some headlines again this weekend but BR

for the correct reasons! The Motherwell defence stopped, did not

bargain on this, and Celtic have come from 2-0 down to lead 3-2.

Celtic desperate to hit that 103 point mark. They need to win all

their games to do so. Samaras goes down. Motherwell get it away.

Samaras wants a decision here, he is wanting a penalty. Into stoppage

time. Celtic scored in first-half stoppage time, Motherwell tried to

do the same here. Sutton. A massive goal! A huge call for Motherwell! In

the race for Europe, well onside. It was all about the run of games worth

and Sutton bangs home his 21st of the season. If you lose gold with

minutes to go it was heartbreaking for the lads because they put so

much into it. I think it was a deserved point and one that fills me

with so much pride about the group of players today. I thought

defensively in the first half we were very poor and gifted Motherwell

two goals. Our second-half performance was excellent. We

switched off sort of last-minute. I can take a lot out of the

second-half performance. Neil Lennon thought his players had gone on

their summer holiday already. To an extent have Celtic switched off in

places? It is understandable some players do that. And is right on top

of them. Firstly it is a great game, let's not forget that, but Neil

Lennon is the one who mentioned it. This all has come a long, long way

and he has got underneath it, Ambrose, on that occasion and I do

not think he reacts particularly well either. Van Dyck, who I huge

fan of, what shame, kind of just jogged out of it. The players are

better than that and don't usually defend like that. But exactly the

right reaction, they came out, got the three goals. There is talk of a

zero tolerance policy for discriminatory chants and so forth.

But Leigh Griffiths remains a Celtic player. Are they right to stand by

him? I don't want to be flippant. But he is a great player and has a

great effect on Celtic when he comes on. He only needs half a yard and he

makes it. A great sniffer of goals. Celtic have turned off a little bit,

and again, this year is just not like them. -- this here. That is a

great ball, do not forget. But I can understand the disappointment of

Neil Lennon. They are not going easy on it, not taking it easy, and very

important for teams around them that they give it in every single game.

Kris Boyd was nominated for player of the year, scored fewer goals than

John Sutton. Are Motherwell overlooked generally? Possibly there

is a case. He has had a tremendous season. The consistency levels of

Motherwell in the three years I have been back in Scottish football and

tremendous. They are such an attacking team. I love the way they

play. They always score goals and are really entertaining.

St Johnstone and Dundee United squared up just one week after both

had their place in the Scottish cup final.

It will be Dundee United against Saint Johnstone on May 17. The

Scottish Cup final live on sports scene. But who would get the upper

hand in the dress rehearsal? A warmer welcome for the home side.

One change from their semifinal, Chris Miller misses out, Paddy Craig

returns. Dundee United, their cup final opponents, one change for

them, Keith Watson replaces Marc Wilson. James Dunn. To Stephen

Anderson. Lots of room. Tries the shot. Really tested the goalkeeper.

Reacted well. Wetherspoon. A tricky one for the goalkeeper. Tips it over

the top to be safe. United have drawn against Aberdeen and lost

against Celtic in their last two league matches. They need to get

back to winning ways. A chance for Gauld. Just was not expecting that.

Gary Mackay Stephen got it, a decent effort in the end from Ryan Gauld.

Wetherspoon. Nice play, goes past Watson, they did not look much in

that, but a free kick has been given. Watson proclaiming his

innocence. Not too much in it. Wetherspoon will take it. Anderson

has got free, Stephen Anderson scores! His fine goal-scoring run

continues. Keith Watson was marking him but got sucked into the middle.

Clever play from the centre half. A simple header, 1-0. Robertson, nods

it away from his team-mate, it is Stevie May, May, just missing the

finish. Set himself up perfectly. That might fall into the path of

Stevie May again, of the post-excavation

a good snapshot. That is a great ball. Mackay Stephen. Breaks back to

Ryan Gauld. Great ball from Paul Payton. Quick thinking from the

keeper. Payton again. The unsung hero for Dundee United so often this

season. That was brilliant, to get away from Eastern. Rules it back,

and it needed a finish to complement the fine skill. Simply sublime, you

could watch that all day. Saints again. Unbeaten in their last

five. O Halloran. Wetherspoon, chants, comes off the inside of the

post-excavation mark unlucky, David Wetherspoon. Great

ball onto Maclean. Stevie May making a fantastic run through the middle,

for 2-0, off target. Almost the perfect construction of a goal. He

continued his run, let down by the finish. Mackay. Wetherspoon,

influential, back to Mackay, all in, Watson, and he cannot deny

Stevie May! His fifth goal against Dundee United this season.

Wetherspoon on to Mackay, Keith Watson thought he had done enough,

but it broke back to Stevie May. Saint Mirren are two ahead. -- St

Johnstone. Robertson. Looking forward, Armstrong, the cross, that

is a great all, Graham, McManus with the save. The striker did very

little wrong. He got up well and headed it down with power. A good

reaction save from Alan Manas. We deserved to win.

We played extremely well. We got a good goal from a set piece. We hit

the post twice. We controlled large part of the game. We are really

pleased with the performance. Disappointed obviously. We came

trying to get three points to keep our challenge on the teams above us

alive. Have not got it so obviously disappointed. Did not start the game

particularly well. These types of games, the first goal is important.

26 goals for the season for Stevie May, a St Johnstone record. Should

he be young player of the year? I think he will be. He has all the

attributes to go far in the game. He is quick and his goals are not the

only thing about him. His movement is tremendous, bringing others into

play, working hard for the team, ace insulation this season. What worries

me is whether he is quick enough to go on to another level. Look at

this. He has not touched the ball, look at their vision, he is already

looking up. And what a great pass. Look at that, in the middle, he has

made up 50 yards. Absolutely phenomenal. There was a dip for part

of the season but that is natural. He is very young. Another great

move. Dave Mackay. And Stevie May gets across the defender, gets the

break. But get people like Anderson, good at set pieces. I know St

Johnstone supporters a bit of an apology. Wrote them off too easily

for the Scottish cup. They have been absolutely superb.

The songs seemed to bring out the best in Gary Mackay Steven.

Sublime bit of skill. If you do this in any league on the planet you will

get, wow! You could watch that all day long. He has got the final

product. It is not just for effect. Somebody needs to phone brain

Eastern a taxi to get back from that one! -- Brian Easton. A repeat of

the League Cup final now. Inverness still hunting a European spot. But

the last time these teams met in the Highland capital, it finished 4-3 to

Aberdeen. This was the fifth meeting between

the sides this season. Some industrious work from David Raven

helped set Inverness on their way to a first site that goal. Watkins

setting up Mackay, Langfield to the rescue. Russell Anderson with a talk

on what can's shirt, Derek McInnes looking for his Aberdeen side to

bounce back from Scottish cup semifinal disappointment. They

almost did from Logan's free kick, courtesy of a header from Inverness

defender, Josh Meekings, who was grateful for his own goalkeeper.

Aberdeen missed Peter Pawlet in the League Cup final and his surging run

gave them a great chance to take the lead. Niall McGinn, off the

crossbar. Four goals in his last four games, but no joy here.

Inverness are all about the passing game and John Hughes, but could they

pass through Aberdeen defence? They could, but when they did, Langfield

was there to deny Mackay again. A fantastic through ball from Doran,

Langfield continuing his impressive form. It was almost Inverness who

found a way through courtesy of a corner, Ross Draper rising highest.

The ball rising over the bar. As the match wore on, Inverness continued

their search for the three points which could be so valuable come the

end of the season. Good work from Watkins continued, creating a

chance, Billy Mackay was denied. Dave and drastic fingertip save by

Langfield onto the crossbar. Come the end, Aberdeen and mustard last

push to seal all three points. Willo Flood doing well to dig out the

cross, but a combination of goalkeeper and defender denying

Aberdeen once again as the match finished 0-0.

Over the piece we had the better chances. We rode our luck but we

still had good chances. Just a matter of taking them. We could have

won this, but it is a point. Are we to Inverness. It shows you how far

we have come that we have disappointment in the dressing

room, I told them it is a decent point for us.

Do you still see them finishing second? I do. A good point at a

difficult venue. Finishing second recap off their best season in

decades. Since of the passing game from Inverness, chasing a European

spot. It is hard to predict anything Scottish all. You look at Aberdeen,

Motherwell, year after year, absolutely phenomenal, they are

having a phenomenal season. You would not complain if they got it.

Arguably what has happened at the bottom is even more exciting. Not so

for you, big man. That is what I am looking forward to, after the most

important thing, phoning Derek Adams and apologising for winding him up!

They look at the table, Aberdeen and 64 points. 25 behind Celtic. A fight

for fourth place. The bottom six looks like being thrilling. Just

three points in it between Hibernian and Ross County. It looks like going

all the way to the wire. That is it. Time for us to split. Enjoy what

remains of your Easter weekend. Good night.