27/12/2013 Sportscene


27/12/2013

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# I wish it could be Christmas every day.

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# When the kids start singing and the band begin to play.

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# I wish it could Christmas every day.

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# Let the bells ring out for Christmas.

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Good evening and a Merry Christmas from Sportscene. It is the day after

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Boxing Day, whatever that is called. We have plenty of surprise packages.

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In four of the games we have wins for the away side and the only home

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victory is of the unexpected variety. Billy Dodds and Stuart

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Lovell are the guests. Some great goals, a few of which were scored in

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Paisley. Dundee United, looking for their seventh straight win in the

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row. St Mirren were hoping for better after a 3-0 defeat at

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Motherwell. Two changes to the St Mirren team.

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McCausland and McGinn come in. Now ditch if GE -- Nadir Ciftci is back

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in the Dundee United line-up. Dundee United are six games unbeaten.

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Stuart Armstrong was stopped by Goodwin and he seems to have taken a

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blow in the face, the Dundee United midfielder. Goodwin is lucky to get

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away with that. Jason Naismith! Tenacity from the

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full-back and it was close. Paul McGowan. A great touch by Steven

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Thompson! And the opening goal! 12 minutes gone. St Mirren are ahead.

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It is top scorer Steven Thompson. Angling that shot away from Radoslaw

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Cierzniak. Stuart Armstrong should have scored!

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Right in front of goal, he knows it. Either side of the goalkeeper and

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that was in. In went Goodwin and that is going to

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be a yellow card for the St Mirren skipper. The booking administered.

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It puts him in a very difficult position with a yellow already

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against his name. A lovely touch, twisting away, back

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for Ciftci and the shot was straight at Marian Kello. Not a chance for

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United. John McGinn is away and that is a

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really cool finish. St Mirren are two goals ahead, ten minutes from

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half-time. Composer inside the penalty box from the youngster --

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composure. It is 2-0. It is Ciftci... And it is a goal

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back for Dundee United. A lovely pass to get the ball back

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to Ciftci. And then it was about making sure he forced it over the

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line. Dundee United are back in this game.

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Jim Goodwin is being withdrawn, I think for his own benefit, having

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been booked already. It is John Randall King lining up

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the shot. It was a piledriver -- John Rankin. Marian Kello was

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solidly behind this. Keith Watson, a bad touch, and he is

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late on Kelly, and it is a red card. Dundee United are reduced to ten

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men. The ball got away from him. And he was out of control.

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Lovely turn from McGinn, he is in great form. That is for Naismith, it

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finds its way through and Jason Naismith scores St Mirren's third

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goal. Robinson had a great chance to cut this out. Naismith wanted it

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more. And he toe poked the ball home for a two goal cushion.

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I think Marian Kello must have seen that late. He got there just in

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time. Steven Thompson! And that round

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things off. Two minutes from time. His 10th goal of the season. It is

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for-1 to St Mirren. Delighted to say we have a crop of

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youngsters coming through. A couple of them had a great impact. John

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McGinn scoring the second goal, securing great composure -- showing

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great composure. Naismith showing great desire to run from one end of

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the pitched to the other. Jim Goodwin got taken off a minute

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before half-time, I felt he could have been from the referee. He had a

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good number of files before he got booked. I wasn't too happy with

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that. Only one place to start. Every

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Christmas show needs a pantomime villain. Sportscene has Jim Goodwin

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this evening. He was substituted just before half-time, should he

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have been off the pitch before them? I am working there on Sunday so I am

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fearing before on smash. I can't defend him and I am sure him

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watching at home, if you start doing things like that, you know you're in

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trouble. That one could have been a straight red but he shouldn't have

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got that far. He takes off and he's vindicated because they go on to win

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the game. He is a nice guy of the bridge, is he a dirty player on the

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pitch? -- nice guy off the pitch. I believe you judge every challenge on

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its merits. For me the worst challenge was the one after five

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minutes. It was blatant and reckless and bury dangerous. It could have

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done serious damage. The second challenge is a most irrelevant

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because he should have been sent off within five minutes and it is

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amazing to think the referee managed to spot a red card challenge by

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Keith Watson in the second half but he missed that one. We talk a lot

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about the great youngsters at Dundee United but at St Mirren John McGinn

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stood out. He is a top player, knee can certainly play, knee has

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technical ability. -- he can certainly play. He has technical

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ability. Talking about Dundee United youngsters, you have Naismith coming

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through, McGinn, Kelly, McLean. They have done unruly well. Great

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troubling ability and weight of pass. Not the best defending by

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Dundee United but they have a really good crop of youngsters. Danny

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Lennon and St Mirren were struggling to three months ago, they have stuck

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with him, the policy of bringing through young players has paid off.

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with him, the policy of bringing through young I think the board

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deserve a lot of credit. Dundee United are on a run of six straight

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wins. You should point out that this was a blip, a poor result. I am sure

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they will be back on the winning trail before long. After all the

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talk of flags and banners, plenty of talk about Celtic going through the

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league season unbeaten. Despite struggling at times, they have been

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notorious on the home front. Speculation abounds about his future

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but some ask is back in the Celtic starting line-up, -- Samaras is

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back. Scott Brown has been talking about trying to extend Celtic's

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unbeaten run for the remainder of the season. Kris Commons with the

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early site. -- van Dijk likes Toomer roared

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forward, he is still going. Fabulous from the Dutchman. Just superb. He

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is so comfortable on the ball. Helped by some pretty poor

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defending. And a lovely finish for his third goal of the season. And a

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fifth minute lead for the defending champions. He looks so composed as

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he comes forward. And Celtic, in charge at McDiarmid Park.

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St Johnstone haven't got going. Brown finds Kris Commons. Stokes is

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in the middle. It won't count. Brown judged offside. Commons found his

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run, it was so close. Fisher, a need ball, Stokes has the

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pace to get there, was he dragged back? A touch too many from

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summarise. And eventually behind. -- too many from Samaras.

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Tommy Wright has plenty to ponder, his team are a goal down and not

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really looking like being able to do much about it. Stokes has got the

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better of the defender again, he is past the goalkeeper.

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It was a ferocious effort from Stokes, it could have been so much

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better for Celtic. The defender, not covering himself in glory. It would

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not come down early enough. And eventually St Johnstone get back in

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numbers. He feeds it for Stevie May. He tried

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to catch out Fraser Forster. Such a tight angle. Would have been better

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trying to cut it back for a couple of team-mates. Hasselbaink, Davis

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and once more. He claims he was hauled to the ground.

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St Johnstone have been brighter in the second half. Van Dijk with a

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crucial interception. He was rolled by Hasselbaink, he had enough pace

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to get back and block the effort of Eastern.

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He powered that at goal, Forster was able to push it away.

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Terrific save from Mannus, he keeps the deficit at one goal. It is a

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really good stop. I think we created enough chances to

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get something out of the game and we are disappointed in the manner of

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how we conceded. Some of our players have played 35 games already and we

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are not out of December. The performances have been fantastic. We

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want to preserve our unbeaten record for as long as we can. It has taken

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physical and mental strength. A lot of has been made of the Celtic

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summer signings. The jewel van Dijk looks like the real deal, what a

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goal yesterday. When he gets there, the defender

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could do a little better. This guy looks as if he has beaten and

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experienced central defender, we forget he is only 22. He looks the

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real deal. He has a great combination of power and composure.

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A very graceful player considering he is such a big guy. His positional

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sense is very good and he knows he is the stronger player. This one was

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good, he senses he has to cover ground quickly and he does well,

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otherwise Hasselbaink has an opportunity to score. It is

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excellent awareness and athleticism. Was he denying a clear goal-scoring

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opportunity in this incident? I don't think he had to do anything.

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When you are in the penalty area and you lift your hands, why does it

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have to come up? I had a debate about handball if your hand is up, I

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think you are taking a chance. I don't understand why he is raising

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his arm at that level. If he has his arm by the waste to try to ease the

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player out, we wouldn't be talking about this. -- by his waist. A good

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goal from van Dijk. A meaty prospect at Pittodrie, two of the sides with

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real aspirations of finishing second net. -- met.

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McGinn doing well. He beats him again, a great ball. Johnny Hayes

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with a header, and it should have been 1-0. He wonders why he is not

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celebrating. We should have scored. Nile McGinn. The goalkeeper was

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relieved to see the ball go wide. Lionel Ainsworth scored last time

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out against St Mirren. He whips the ball across. Leslie away from Flood.

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Down the throat of Jamie Langfield. Lawson hit it well enough but to

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straight. A lovely ball inside, Flood plains

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it through, McGinn goes wide. -- plays it through. A real chance for

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Aberdeen. A clever ball, Flood's pass looked perfect. The first touch

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was too heavy. a simple goal and a lovely football

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from Motherwell, taking advantage of the Aberdeen area. Willo Flood into

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Jack. Johnny Hayes wasn't sure what to do. If he passes it by you, that

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is one thing. He didn't come out close enough and it was a simple

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task to set up Ainsworth. The ball played through, a battle

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for it. The referee was well-placed to see the players coming together.

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He didn't think this was a penalty. He got himself up quickly when he

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realised the spot kick was not coming.

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A great delivery, headed away. Shaughnessy. Kept it down early

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well. Aberdeen, continuing to press. It was hit well and it just

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deflected wide. Barry Robson, a good all in a chance

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for McGinn, it should have been Number ten. Nine goals this season.

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Aberdeen continue to be urged forward.

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It is a horrible finish from Peter Pollitt, good advantage played by

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Clancy. It is pull with the goal at his mercy.

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You post match interviews from Pittodrie. -- unfortunately we are

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not able to bring you post match interviews. How disappointed will

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they be with the goal that they lost? I would credit the forwards.

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Willo Flood's header comes off Jackson. Johnny Hayes is left in a

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difficult situation. The forwards split and leave a big gap so that

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Johnny Hayes finds it really hard to make up the gap. He delays his pass

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to the last minute and it is a simple task. He becomes dangerous

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and that is when Hayes had to go for him. I think you have to credit the

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Motherwell players. He times the weight of the pass, the timing of

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the pass was excellent. Johnny Hayes was left in no man's land. You only

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go to him when it becomes really dangerous. He is ready unlucky. A

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fantastic three points for Motherwell, it transformed their

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position in the table. They went from fifth to second. Three wins

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together and what a difference it has made. Looking at those defeats,

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with Albion Rovers thrown in, Motherwell fans were calling for the

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head of Stuart McCall, I could not believe it. What else T1 from

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Motherwell, with the budget they are on -- what else do you want from

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Motherwell? Bewildering why the fans want is Stuart McCall out of the

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door. -- wanted. What did you make of this penalty claim? There is

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contact and he is trying to ease him out. He is trying to redeem his

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reputation. Peter Pollitt has suffered from being and sent off for

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simulation. He is trying like a bear to stay on his feet. He is almost

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too honest if you can say that. I don't think Motherwell could have

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any complaints. They could easily have had a penalty. Fraser Kerr is

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lucky but he has got away with it. It is the season to overindulge and

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we have a veritable feast of Sportscenes coming up on the next

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week or so. Next we are in Glasgow and a side

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who just can't win at home. Partick Thistle have not won in two months,

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they have not won in the league all season. Their top scorer captained

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the side. They are up against Inverness, looking to bounce back

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after a seven goal thriller ended in defeat to Aberdeen last weekend. The

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result saw them lose their grip on second place in the Premiership.

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Richie Foran missed out, Graeme Shinnie took the armband.

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The problem for Partick Thistle is not making chances but taking them.

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With the likes of Calum Higginbotham, there is plenty of

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inventive forward play, just a lack of goals. Dean Brill with a good

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save. There has also been the odd defensive lapse. Conrad Balatoni

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with a careless backpass, always a danger when Billy Mackay is on the

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scene. The goalkeeper did enough to deny the top scorer in the

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Premiership. We focused on Partick Thistle passing up chances last week

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and they almost turned it into an art form with this one. Chris

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Doolan, the only player to score for Partick from open play in two

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months, missed this chance. In the second half it was more of the same.

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Lawless with the off target header. second half it was more of the same.

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Lawless with the off At times it almost seemed like the Inverness

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goal had a force field protecting it. This shot glanced off the

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crossbar. And the Partick Thistle frustration was clear to see. Graeme

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Shinnie captained Caledonian Thistle. The curse of the missed

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chances appeared to be catching. The only problem to missed chances

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is to keep trying. -- the only solution. Ross Forbes has never been

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right -- afraid of a shot at goal. Zero to zero is how the match ended.

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We need to be a little more adventurous in the final third. It

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is my job to help them along. First and foremost, it is keeping a clean

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sheet and a solid shape, which we did today. If you do that, you are

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not going to lose. We had chances last week similar to today, which we

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need to start taking. It has happened too often. You were there

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yesterday. I am sure it is not funny to Partick Thistle, but some of the

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misses yesterday, it was almost comedy level, the fact that the ball

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would not go in. They must be sick of us analysing it and the same

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thing is happening. For how good Chris Dillon is in the air, he has

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to score there. That was a glorious chance, just hide it on target. The

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chances they are creating our excellent, incredible chances, and

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they are missing. A great touch from Higginbotham, and somehow he put it

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over the crossbar. It is becoming a mental problem for Partick Thistle.

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Only Dillon has scored a goal from open play in the last couple of

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months and the rest cannot get it in the back of the net. At some point

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in the next few weeks, they will take 4-macro or five off someone.

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They will click and they will finish every opportunity they get. They are

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playing great football, but that was a gilt-edged opportunity to get a

:30:17.:30:18.

win yesterday, and they will be feeling sick. There were a few

:30:19.:30:22.

Inverness chances and Partick Thistle were culpable of their own

:30:23.:30:32.

downfall with the first. He got away with a poor defensive backpass. This

:30:33.:30:37.

was a bad mess. It was a great ball in and he was only four yards out.

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Guided past the keeper and that would have maybe given an

:30:43.:30:45.

opportunity to take three points, because Partick were definitely the

:30:46.:30:49.

better team. A tricky moment for John Hughes at the moment. They lost

:30:50.:30:57.

to Aberdeen last weekend. Richie Foran is out as well. That will be a

:30:58.:31:03.

big blow. They lost last week. They have done OK since he has come in.

:31:04.:31:09.

They have picked up a few points. At Aberdeen they did well, nearly

:31:10.:31:13.

pulled off an incredible comeback. Still going along nicely. No

:31:14.:31:18.

problem. Not too bad for Inverness, but a miserable few months for Ross

:31:19.:31:21.

County, losing seven out of their last eight. The manager has 20 of

:31:22.:31:26.

work to do, as he locked horns once more with his old adversary, Terry

:31:27.:31:39.

Butcher. The Hibernian bus actually broke down and they had to wait at

:31:40.:31:42.

services for a replacement to turn up. Not the ideal start with Terry

:31:43.:31:46.

Butcher looking for his first league winners manager. His side managed a

:31:47.:31:50.

victory last month in the Scottish cup.

:31:51.:31:56.

A moment of reflection before kick-off, as both sets of players

:31:57.:32:01.

paid tribute to David Paul, who passed away at the weekend.

:32:02.:32:14.

Scoring goals has been a real problem for county in recent weeks.

:32:15.:32:24.

Top scorers Ulu this time well wide of the target. Set pieces were to

:32:25.:32:29.

prove crucial throughout the afternoon. And Hibs took the lead

:32:30.:32:35.

after a well worked corner. Cairney with the cross, Nelson with the

:32:36.:32:36.

header. A goal straight from the training

:32:37.:32:46.

ground, pinscher like movement, before Nelson found the space to nod

:32:47.:32:51.

home. They have collected just one point from their last seven

:32:52.:33:00.

matches. Cairney was next to try his shot on goal. It found the outside

:33:01.:33:09.

of the post. The second came again from a set piece. This time it was

:33:10.:33:15.

Jordan Foster with a diving header, to put Hibs two up. Good movement

:33:16.:33:24.

from Foster, but questions surely asked about the home defending. Not

:33:25.:33:29.

much festive cheer for Derek Adams! Again, no look for Graham Carey.

:33:30.:33:35.

This time of 35 yarder that crashed off the crossbar before the Hibs

:33:36.:33:42.

defence were able to clear. Just one win in 11 for county. Hibs continued

:33:43.:33:50.

to progress under Terry Butcher. The two set pieces won the game. It

:33:51.:33:54.

wasn't the greatest game in the world, we put Hibs under pressure in

:33:55.:33:57.

the second-half but other than that, both goalkeepers didn't have

:33:58.:34:05.

anything do. We weren't putting on a good performance because of what has

:34:06.:34:09.

happened this week. Full credit to the players for getting over that

:34:10.:34:12.

and committing themselves to playing well on the pitch. We want to have a

:34:13.:34:20.

good season this season, a good second half. It is for David that we

:34:21.:34:21.

want to finish as hard as we can. Set pieces are the undoing for Ross

:34:22.:34:34.

County. Was this a Terry Butcher master plan of the training ground?

:34:35.:34:38.

Daily I think they focused on the fact that Ross County are conceding

:34:39.:34:45.

far too many goals from set pieces. They would have far more chance of

:34:46.:34:50.

defending it and clearing the danger. The delivery is good but it

:34:51.:34:56.

into the same area for both goals. Billy said it is just that the Hibs

:34:57.:35:00.

player wants it more. Nelson on the first one, Forster on the second.

:35:01.:35:06.

Ross County clearly aren't able to defend man for man. Sometimes you

:35:07.:35:09.

get blocks and all of that going on and you get freed up that way. The

:35:10.:35:13.

two goals, the Ross County players were still with their man. For me,

:35:14.:35:19.

it's a desire and willingness to get there. Derek Adams has big problems

:35:20.:35:24.

if they can't sort that out. Big problems for Derek Adams at the

:35:25.:35:43.

moment, just can't get a win at all. He says they need to strengthen the

:35:44.:35:46.

squad, so it looks like it might be a busy January for them. Two tough

:35:47.:35:49.

games away from home coming up, Aberdeen and Inverness. They are

:35:50.:35:51.

second bottom at the moment, they must look like favourites for that

:35:52.:35:54.

play-off spot. It's a new dynamic, something we haven't been used to

:35:55.:35:56.

for many years. But they've got to start worrying about it because they

:35:57.:35:59.

are relevant, four points adrift of Thistle as things stand. They need

:36:00.:36:01.

to start getting points on the board quickly because the confidence

:36:02.:36:03.

levels can't be great. I don't know whether Derek Adams will be looking

:36:04.:36:06.

to rejig things in January, but something needs to change. Do you

:36:07.:36:12.

think there will be big additions come January? I think there will be.

:36:13.:36:15.

He threatened it early in the season. I think they were will need

:36:16.:36:21.

change. They need a starting point, they need to get a win to breed

:36:22.:36:25.

confidence. It doesn't look like it right now. After a dismal season up

:36:26.:36:31.

to now, there's been signs of life recently at Kilmarnock. Two wins

:36:32.:36:34.

from their last three games, and they are now scoring goals, thanks

:36:35.:36:38.

in the main to Kris Boyd and young Number Ten, Chris Johnston. Hearts'

:36:39.:36:44.

tenure in the top flight of Scottish football looks to be coming to a

:36:45.:36:47.

close. They started the day 14 points adrift at the bottom of the

:36:48.:36:48.

table. Gary Locke doesn't have many options

:36:49.:36:55.

to freshen up his side. Kilmarnock manager Alan Johnson

:36:56.:37:05.

makes one change to his side. Prior to this match, a minute's

:37:06.:37:23.

applause to celebrate the life of the youth player Jamie Skinner, who

:37:24.:37:24.

passed away last week. There is Kris Boyd. In the 13th

:37:25.:37:42.

minute. Unlucky for Hearts. Kris Boyd on the scoresheet for the 10th

:37:43.:37:48.

time this season. It was created by one Chris and scored by another.

:37:49.:37:52.

Irvine. Excellent stop by Jamie MacDonald.

:37:53.:38:02.

Good skills from the big striker. McKenzie is teasing, doing well with

:38:03.:38:30.

the shot. Craig Samson looked as though he saw it late as it arrived

:38:31.:38:31.

in his area. What a bowl that is from the

:38:32.:38:51.

youngster! To refit curling effort from Chris Johnson. He left Hearts

:38:52.:38:59.

players in his wake and left Jamie MacDonald with not a hope from that

:39:00.:39:01.

effort. Kris Boyd! He makes it 3-C -- 3-0 to

:39:02.:39:09.

Kilmarnock. He was dreaming of the hat-trick

:39:10.:39:26.

there. 11 goals so far this season, that

:39:27.:39:36.

should have been 12. A neat flick from Kris Boyd. He's

:39:37.:39:52.

desperate to get the match ball, but it has not materialised so far.

:39:53.:40:11.

A bit of good Fortune for Kilmarnock defensively there. Good, creative

:40:12.:40:18.

play from Walker. The corner, terrific striking there

:40:19.:40:43.

from Rory Mackenzie. That ties it up for the Rugby Park side. An

:40:44.:40:48.

excellent strike. His first of the season.

:40:49.:40:53.

I'm not going to make excuses because we can compete better than

:40:54.:41:00.

we did today. It doesn't matter if you have experienced players out

:41:01.:41:03.

there, you've got to do better, especially in the first half. We

:41:04.:41:08.

didn't do enough today. To be fair, the boys played great today. We've

:41:09.:41:12.

seen really good movement, I thought we controlled the game. Someone with

:41:13.:41:16.

the quality of Kris Boyd upfront, you are always likely to score

:41:17.:41:21.

goals. A great performance from Chris Johnston, but the renaissance

:41:22.:41:25.

of Kris Boyd continues. Yesterday they could have had about five goals

:41:26.:41:31.

in the end, couldn't they? With his standards, he will be disappointed

:41:32.:41:34.

he didn't go home with the match ball. He's a master at finding space

:41:35.:41:38.

in the box. We seem to be talking about the same two players every

:41:39.:41:44.

week, and Johnston. Boyd knows exactly where to get the ball. He's

:41:45.:41:49.

a very clever player. That was a great save, hits the target there.

:41:50.:41:54.

This one, he will be particularly frustrated with because it's on a

:41:55.:42:07.

plate for him. I thought he would have side footed it. I was really

:42:08.:42:11.

surprised. Statistics really starting to add up for Kris Boyd as

:42:12.:42:12.

well this season. A real rejuvenation for Kris Boyd.

:42:13.:42:32.

Are you surprised he's come back to Scotland and hit this rich streak of

:42:33.:42:37.

form once again? No. He's a top player, but with his experience he

:42:38.:42:41.

has got better. He is working hard. It's not just about his goals. He

:42:42.:42:47.

scores most weeks now, but he brings so much more to the team.

:42:48.:42:54.

You are looking at teams like Hibs and Aberdeen, who have struggled for

:42:55.:43:02.

top-quality striker. I think he is at the end of the season, you could

:43:03.:43:06.

go precontract. But he likes it at Kilmarnock, it's not far from his

:43:07.:43:10.

home. He's got a dilemma because he's at the top of his game. A few

:43:11.:43:14.

other performance this season, Billy McKay attracted a lot of interest.

:43:15.:43:19.

Could be seen much movement in January? I hope for Cole Marnoch's

:43:20.:43:24.

sake that Kris Boyd stays where he is. Those two players are crucial. I

:43:25.:43:30.

would like to see them stay put at least until the end of the season.

:43:31.:43:36.

How does all that leave the Scottish Premiership table looking? The big

:43:37.:43:46.

winners on Boxing Day were Motherwell. They're away win over

:43:47.:43:50.

Aberdeen meant they shot up from fifth place to second. They are at

:43:51.:43:55.

the bottom end of the table, Partick Thistle now four points ahead of

:43:56.:43:59.

Ross County, who themselves remain 14 points clear of rock bottom

:44:00.:44:00.

Hearts. This is the Scotsman, the picture is

:44:01.:44:13.

of Malky Mackay. He has eventually been sacked. This is Jim Goodwin, he

:44:14.:44:22.

could be in trouble with the SFA compliance.

:44:23.:44:26.

And that is it for tonight. If Santa wasn't good to you, I hope your team

:44:27.:44:33.

was on Boxing Day. The next round of fixtures is here again in just two

:44:34.:44:36.

days time, and Weir back with highlights on Monday. And just in

:44:37.:44:40.

case you're in any doubt, today is Friday. From all of us here,

:44:41.:44:42.

goodnight.

:44:43.:44:44.

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