24/11/2013 Sportscene

Snodgrass fancies it. Tim Howard is equal to it. Just one Scottish

Premiership game at the weekend saw St Mirren beat Ross County by 2-1.

Scotland finds the net totally against the run of play! Very good

opposition. What a week it has been and what a weekend. Tonight, we

bring you the essence of football. The agony, the ecstasy and the

teenage sensation lighting up Scottish football right now. Billy

Dodds and Michael Stewart join me in the studio. Aberdeen had lost their

last 16 week matches in Glasgow's East End. At Celtic Park for us was

the McLeod. Commons and Samaras are back. Kris Commons has scored three

against the Dons. Aberdeen are without the injured Flood and

suspended Thomson. Hector moves into midfield.

The Irish man is back in the Aberdeen team today. He did not know

too much about that. Ambrose is dominating the situation. A good run

from him. Very good, he just did not have the finish to match. Forgiven

for getting a nose bleed then. Right into the Aberdeen penalty area.

Izaguirre, Samaras. Celtic working to preserve their unbeaten record.

Langfield makes a save in unorthodox fashion. He scooped it away. Since

their last league win here, Aberdeen, it is 16 games and 16

defeats against Celtic. Not their favourite fixture. Commons turns it

into the net! It is a cheap call from an Aberdeen point of view but

Kris Commons scores yet again against Aberdeen. They are his

favourite opposition. Nine minutes from the interval, it is the

champions who strike first. Cons are dying, Zola. It is turned in. Begin!

-- Niall McGinn in first-half stoppage time draws Aberdeen level.

Forster did not get the, Naill McGinn did. Celtic have started the

second half very well. They are bright. Ledley goes down. He wants a

penalty but he is not getting one. Izaguirre appealed one in the first

half. Good backflip from Kris Commons. The Dons have been so well

organised to date. Lately! -- lately. -- Ledley. Samaras goes all

the way through. The goalkeeper was beaten but the Celtic Park would

work denies Celtic going in front. Kris Commons. It is a terrific save

from Langfield. He has been on the receiving end so often at Celtic

Park. He has won here before but that was with Dundee. That is the

tremendous piece of goalkeeping. Izaguirre. McGinn. What a save from

Forster that was. Right at the end of the match here. Naill McGinn must

have thought he had won it for Aberdeen. Forster bought the

slightest touch onto it. The Charlie Mulgrew corner kick. Derek

Boerrigter has turned it in and has surely won the game for Celtic. The

Dutch man with his first goal for the club. It is a devastated

Aberdeen now. Samaras. Celtic looking for another one just to put

icing on the cake. The Aberdeen fans dotted up the other side of the

ground. -- batted. Celtic could have lost this game but in 93 minutes

they have put in a third goal. The unbeaten run continues. Kris

Commons. We did very well. We dominated the game in PDF 's. We had

a good response in the second half. Over all I think we thoroughly

deserved our win against the very resolute Aberdeen team. It was

nothing against the players. It was not quality that undone us. It was

determination that defeated us today. We have to make sure it is

our team who win the game. I could Neil Lennon was talking about his

goalkeeper. I think he was culpable here. It is a ball he cannot win.

This is something Fraser Forster struggles with at times. That was a

wonder save. It is a great save, is it not? That is world-class. It is

amazing how somebody of his height struggles sometimes. He does not

handle cross balls or high balls. He is six foot four, he is world-class

at stopping it. Yesterday they could have gone 2-1 down. He is still a

great goalkeeper but has to get better at the cross balls. There

have been some nightmare situations at Celtic Park. There were a lot of

good moments. This man is good, he clears the area. This is the first

goal where he comes. He clears the box. He could have reacted quicker

they are. With this strike, quite a few good few moments in the game.

This one with Kris Commons through on goal. He gets a good touch on

that. This one, I am just not sure. He has put it into the middle of

goal in injury time. He good maybe get it further away. The game is

already finished. I think we are talking about them because of the

high standards this is in. They have been excellent, the two of them.

There were great saves yesterday but some sloppiness as well. Obviously

Aberdeen are looking at the long-term project. We are talking

about the stability and balance to the playing side. They are having a

good season. A couple of dodgy results in the past couple of weeks

but overall the Aberdeen situation is in a much better place. Because

that will feel sore, he could have got something out of that. Celtic

are still unbeaten in the league. That is impressive in itself. Very

impressive. It is difficult to continue to get yourself up for

these games. Champions' League games deal with themselves but to be at

this situation in the league is impressive. In the United and

Partick Thistle have been this season's intervenors. -- Dundee

United. That is wonderful! Dundee United are

unchanged from the impressive win at Motherwell. Thistle lost 3-0 against

St Mirren. The first start for Jordan McMillan.

The chance of an opening goal. Inside two minutes, Dundee United

are ahead! A wonderful move. The finish was clinical. Gary

Mackay-Steven taking this well and drilling it back past Scott Fox.

Jeff G, Osborne ahead of him. -- Cifci. That is heavy from Balatoni.

He is getting a yellow card. He was late with his tackle. Armstrong. It

is a great ball through. Gary Mackay-Steven for the second. He

chipped setup. Clears it off the line. Excellent defending. Great

play by Partick Thistle. Onto Forbes. Forbes brilliantly away from

Wilson. That is a good call by the referee. He tried to block it and

his arm came up. You can see the arm out. Thistle have a chance equalise.

Muirhead. That is a calmly struck penalty from Aaron Muirhead. Gold.

What a finish from Andrew Robertson. Dundee United back ahead. He

hammered it across the goalkeeper. What a finish. Armstrong. Knocked

away. Down to John Rankin. Off the base of the post. What a great shot.

Balatoni has to be careful. He has taken him down. He is off. Gary

Mackay-Steven one way and then the other. Intercepted. Gary

Mackay-Steven, this 43-1. It is another good finish for Gary

Mackay-Steven. Then the United with another classy goal. Thistle are

beaten. This could be perfect for Brian Graham on his birthday. His

first Dundee United goal is his present to himself. All four than

the United goals have been set up by the youngster. They have taken

advantage of Thistle being down to ten men. They finished top class.

That was a bad tackle. Stuart Bannigan is refusing to go to the

referee, that will not help his cause. The referee takes a look, it

is a red card. And the referee decided that was a red card.

Are you concerned you were only one up at the break? Yes, that gives us

a lift in the match. The 20 minute they came into it, they get a

penalty which was disappointed. They had -- they had our tails up, but we

showed good character to come back and to get a win we fully deserved.

You mentioned in the press this week you have free-flowing football and

another debuts in four goals, what do you have to do? We are working on

the back four every day and we will keep working away.

I would watch Dundee United over Barcelona any day of the week. How

was that from the wunderkind? The nominal. The watching the highlights

and you cannot eulogise about the guy enough -- you are watching.

Close control, awareness, for somebody so young, it is

frightening. And he is always in space coming he knows how to get

away from players. And now when he gets on the ball, he is attracting

so many opposition players that it is opening up space for the

opposition and for his team-mates. Through balls, creating goals,

creating and scoring, great player. He has a special ability to see

things before anyone else. It is natural and I would not like to be

playing against Dundee United at the moment. Gary Mackay-Steven,

Armstrong, and we do talk about those things because we would love

to what them. It is the other side. -- to watch them. They struggled

early in the season but since they put Rankin in, other players have

struggled. Rankin has helped free the boys up and they are taking

teams to the cleaners. How difficult is it to handle this kind of talent

as a manager? He was not binding pockets where there were plenty of

space -- bases available. -- spaces. Do you nurture that talent and make

sure he does not play too many games? United are so strong in that

forward area that they can afford to pull him out of games. He might

beginning a rest. The swagger is summed up by this moment from

Souter, such a highly rated defender and this says everything. Confidence

is blowing and it is great to see. You enjoyed these things. --

blowing. Dundee are 18 supporters will love to watch. -- ATEAM.

The time for talking was over as Terry Butcher began in earnest as

the manager of Hibs. More from Terry Butcher later, but

all is not lost yet for Hearts. Victory at Aberdeen before the

international rake keeping alive the hope that relegation can be avoided.

-- the international rake. On the field, Callum Paterson and Ryan

Stevenson their best chance to get goals. Ross County looking for a

win, on a run of three straight defeats.

It was a vital game for both clubs as they strive towards premiership

survival. It was a 330 mile round trip and everybody inside Tynecastle

had their moneys worth. -- money 's with. County did not win in the

league since beating Aberdeen at the tawdry and they were gifted a goal

in the first half. This perfect pass to Graham Carey. He could scarcely

believe his good fortune and took all advantage with a clinical

finish. -- all advantage. The lead lasted five minutes, this corner

eventually falling to Callum Paterson. A fine finish by the young

striker allowed space and time for this volley. Jamie Walker was

proving to be a thorn in the Ross County defence. On this occasion,

the captain Richard Brittain wrestled him to the ground, getting

a yellow card to have consequences later in the game. Chances again for

Ross County, it to refit effort from Quinn. -- a great effort. Ball was

clearly not crossing the goal line. Then another effort, the Dutch

striker given an opportunity here. Jamie McDonald saved the day. One

final chance in the opening period for Ross County. Gary Glen setting

up Quinn, but Hearts County -- but the Hearts keeper came out on top.

They found their way out on top early in the second-half will stop

Glen set up his team-mate. But Melvin De Leeuw fired the ball home

from 16 yards. Nine defenders around the 18 yard box for Hearts but still

De Leeuw had time to control the ball before firing home. Then a

pivotal moment, eight challenge on Walker by Richard Brittain. -- a

challenge. And a second yellow card and an early bath. Little doubt in

the mind of the referee about the decision. And with three minutes

left, Hearts made an extra man pay off. This had from Danny Wilson

ended up in the back of the net. -- header. Ryan Stevenson and Brian

Maclean challenged for the ball that went in off the post. Another chance

for Hearts in stoppage time, Callum Paterson with the header, which came

off the crossbar and this shot was wide of target. So close to a winner

at one point it -- but one point each after an alternating afternoon

at Tynecastle. -- and exciting afternoon. It has

been a difficult season but if we can eradicate our past couple of

games, we have a chance because they did not have to work too hard today.

Our best performance of the season so far, offensively and defensively

we were good, because Hearts put a lot of balls into the box like they

do. Overall, it horrific -- a great afternoon for Scottish book all.

It seems Hearts are making problems for themselves that they do not

need. Making defensive mistakes that have been punished throughout the

season. We have highlighted this, the first goal, terrible mistake.

Plenty of time and space, no opposition. They have options. He

tries to play it to the right back and he passes it straight to the

Ross County player. The second goal, defensively, nine players around the

box. They do not clear it, they are not mocking anybody. It is not good

defensive work and they are getting punished. -- marking. It is a great

finish, take nothing away from Ross County, but poor defending when you

have nine in the box. And there is this incident, why does he not play

it back to the centre half rather than the goalkeeper? That was more

fortunate. It has happened throughout the season for Hearts

that they have been punished with. We see this with Saint Mirren,

nobody! These are against teams they have been competing with at the

bottom of the table. To get out of trouble, they have to make sure they

are defeating teams. At Kilmarnock, simple straight ball up the pitch

should and Kris Boyd does the damage. -- up the pitch. Hearts were

better going forward and created opportunities, 20 of goalmouth

action, and a what of positives. -- plenty. Surely they need to be doing

something special to be getting the points rather than what they are

doing and making mistakes? After watching the game, I am more

confident they have the possibility to get out of trouble. Offensively,

they looked a lot better. At the start of the season, you wondered

whether goals would come from without a street -- without a

strike. I think they have a chance. You want offensive and defensive and

if they can sort it out at the back, they will score goals. They have got

it down to 12 points now and four wins and that has not been the case

for a lot of the season, so they are hanging in. Christmas comes early

next weekend with a fourth round of the Scottish cup. We will be keeping

you abreast of Abe breathless Saturday afternoon -- a breathless.

And on Saturday night, a round-up of the highlights of the day 's action.

And it gets even better on Sunday afternoon. We live at Tynecastle as

Celtic faced 2012 winners Hearts. And we are back again on Sunday

night with more highlights to round off the weekend.

Hibs finally got their man, would we see a different game with Terry

Butcher in charge? After a two match ban, he took his place in the dugout

away to St Mirren. A 10th manager in 16 years for Hibs.

Terry Butcher is the new man at the helm. Just one change. St Mirren

skipper missing and replaced in midfield. The first Hibs selection

for Terry Butcher sees a couple of players dropped.

Four straight defeats for Hibs. They need an improvement and quickly.

Kenny McLean. Steven Thomson! What a chance after 2.5 minutes to open the

scoring. And he cannot quite believe that he has not taken this chance.

He took a couple of touches but he took too long.

A bit of room for handling. Back after a long absence. A flashing

header from Collins, an early replacement. And that is progress

for Hibs, and effort on target. -- and effort. -- an effort.

The cross is deflected. Collins! Down goes Collins, looking for a

penalty. And no joy. The referee turns down the appeal. Was their

contact? It certainly looks like it. -- was their contact. This is a good

shout for a penalty, not given. Kenny McLean 's corner. And it goes

off the line. Not good defensively from Hibs. Maclean is prompting.

That is a good all in. -- ball. That is a good strong left hand from Ben

Williams. The initial threat was dealt with. And the goalkeeper

wrapped the ball that time. -- wrapped. Still goalless in Paisley.

That was tenacious stuff. Deflection. And straight in to the

gloves of Williams. He tries to turn away from Foster.

That was a great strike! And the head in hands held you everything

from the St Mirren midfielder. It was close.

Early in the season, those games we would not have come away with any

point so that is important, and it takes is the six out of seven

undefeated. So that is very good momentum. For me, they all he heroes

because they are under massive pressure having lost four and coming

to a team that has won five out of six. -- they all heroes. There is a

lot of pressure and everybody is expecting miracles so it is not

revolution as evolution. I think it is fair to say that under

Pat Fenlon Hibernian where a bit flaky at times. What do you think of

Terry Butcher? Yes, they have to build confidence. You can see

throughout the first half they were not sure. Every single one of them,

they improved by second half. Hibernian were the second -- the

better team in the second half. They took the game to St Mirren. The work

ethic was the and that is where Terry Butcher is starting. It is

slow progress but the confidence will come and then the results will

come. You were never convinced by Pat Fenlon, is Terry Butcher the man

for you? If he does what he did that Inverness the fans will not be

complaining. He is going to make them hard to beat and getting things

right off the ball, as time progresses they will get things

right on the ball. I thought with this, the sun was in my eyes, I was

at the other end, but I received a text from a BBC colleague who said

it was never a penalty. That was Richard Gordon. It was never given.

I think that was a penalty. Regardless of weight it is on the

pitch you have to give a free kick Audie penalty. -- weighed it is. And

that Rugby Park. Things have been difficult for the Kilmarnock

manager. With Darren Barr and Jackson Irvin suspended, youngsters

Johnstone and Slater, then. -- come in. Paul Lawson and McFadden

returned to midfield for Motherwell. All are getting into a fine goal. It

is Moors and an early chance beer for Motherwell. Kilmarnock just not

able to clear the lines. Moo unable to punish them. This man has done

well. It is a good all in. So is Moors. You are looking for the

striker to hit the target. Lawson. Moore is in again. Craig Moore is

finding the openings in the Kilmarnock rearguard. There is the

header. There is care. Sutton. A great save from Sampson. To deny

John Sutton. Concerning times for Alan Johnson at the moment. Can dine

linking well with Boyd. Still Boyd. That shot is tidied away by Nielsen.

Cleared away by McManus. That is a good delivery. Aims worth is looking

for support in the centre. Good delivery back in by bikers and

Sutton opens the scoring for Motherwell. Ten minutes into the

second half. It is the goal of the season and Kilmarnock are exposed

again. Great counter attack by the visitors. A lovely shimmy of the

feet and into wards Boyd. Parried by Nielsen. Tess Salah and it still

will not go for Allan Johnston's side. A touch by Michael Gardyne.

Here is Boyd. That should have been the equaliser. Kris Boyd knows he

should have done better. Eagle leading myths from the Scotland

striker. -- E bleeding mess. -- a glaring miss. And that ties up the

win for Motherwell with two wins remaining. Everybody is really

frustrated because once again it is the same problems. In the second

half we have got to defend better. There is not the lot in this

division. If you defend well and are properly organised we have the team

who can create goals. We are pleased with a really good the's work. A

good day for Motherwell. We were talking about the frailties of

Kilmarnock. They are a club who have suffered this season defensively.

When you make the -- mistakes like they are you will get punished.

Young Johnson is highlighted, picking up Sutton, that is a

mismatch. Seeing that they live someone near, it is not where he

wants to be. Roles reversed. I am the same. We are having a go at

defenders tonight. We do not want to be harsh on young or harder but he

has got to learn quickly. He did not have his best they. He has come into

the team that are not performing. These are elementary mistakes you do

not want to see anybody making. It is difficult to step in to a team

that is not performing well. Here is a nice beach. With experience you

know how to handle that situation better. Every week we talk here

about exasperation and here being ruled out in terms of defensive

problems this team has got, what do you think? He works hard. He has

gone the year to a club that is in a bit of turmoil. It is hard to get

results. If he does not get results the punters turn on him. He should

be given time. He has proven he is a good manager. He will get it right

if he is given time. The punters are giving him a hard time but it is not

all his fault. Speaking of Kenny Shiels, we continue managerless at

Inverness. Yesterday it was Duncan Shearer who took the side for the

visit of St Johnstone. St Johnstone would be a tough nut to crack. The

Perth side on a format running when. -- four match running win. The first

proper match of the post-butcher either. It was pretty much business

as usual. A goal for Inverness. His 10th Premiership strike of the

season. Good work here with the cross and Mackay doing what he does

best. Perhaps that full-time job would not be so bad after all. Aaron

Doran the next to try his luck. As force in Johnstone, after the recent

run of stunning form, Hasselbank and may at the best. Nothing wrong with

the cutting-edge of Billy McKay. He got a shot on target but Alan

McManus made the save. A well rounded performance from Inverness,

by no means a classic but they were the better side. This chance was

squandered to make it 2-0. As for Inverness, not bad for a rudderless

ship. The win might have been more comfortable but three points

nonetheless and Inverness Caledonian Thistle stay within sight of league

leaders Celtic. That man again, Billy McKay, he's caused when he

wants but I wish he would score more! We were hanging on at 1-0 to

be fair to St Johnstone. They put us under pressure. If we can restrict

teams like St Johnstone from getting balls into the box we have done

something with our style of play. It was not poor effort or attitude just

that we lacked a little bit of attitude today. -- lacked quality.

Kenny Shiels is the hot tip for the Inverness manager hot seat. You are

right, he does not want the pressure. He has been the before. In

terms of managerial, who knows, it is being kept under wraps. I think

they have gone about it in the right way in terms of not letting anything

leaked out. I think the club have handled it well and they will get

the right manager. It is a difficult one to call. It is unusual in

football, it has been kept quiet. If he keeps winning they will meet

Duncan Shearer keep the job or do you think it is Kenny Shiels? It is

difficult to say because it has been kept quiet. The chairman is the only

one who will know. Is Kenny Shiels the perfect fit? There are loads out

there. Kenny Shiels you could see, Craig Levein has the right stature.

Kenny Shiels knows all be players. There are positives for a few

candidates. I think Kenny Cameron has done it exactly right, take your

time and get the right man. And as we can see from the Scottish

Premiership table Inverness Caley Thistle stay five points behind

Celtic. Aberdeen slip to fifth place. Hearts are now 12 points

behind Kilmarnock at the bottom. Time now for a quickly at the back

pages tomorrow. Toiling Milan on brink of crisis ahead of Celtic game

says the Scotsman. They drew 1-1 with Genoa on Tuesday night.

Balotelli not looking very happy about things. When is he ever? He

missed the penalty, that is why he is unhappy. I do not think Celtic

have anything to fear. Celtic have handled themselves better this

season. The results have not been as good but they deserve to be at this

stage now. I am confident they will get a win. Here is an expectation

now that Celtic will go out and perhaps beat Milan? We know what can

happen at Parkhead. They have to, it is the only chance to go and beat

Milan. Take it to the last game. We have said all along it would be a

tight group, Barcelona against everybody really. Celtic have got

every chance to go and win it. Thank you very much. That is your lot this

week. The Scottish Premiership takes a winter nap next weekend which

means we get a double dollop of Sportscene highlights on Saturday

and Sunday night. Join us for all of that. Good night.