30/12/2012 Sportscene

We have seen the last of the SPL for 2012. We will have these two

Gary Robson! That is a superb free But what does save from Jamie

Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield is here. First Easter Road, Hibs

have only won one game in seven, and Celtic are almost six game-

seven SPL games. Looking through reaction against the SPL leaders.

Griffiths. Their goal drought is over for him. His 14th of the

season. Celtic claimed he was offside. Emilio Izaguirre seemed to

kick from Leigh Griffiths. Hibernian have not beaten Celtic in

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 44 seconds

more than four years here. They are going 10 points clear at the top of

the league with a victory here. scuff it. Another big chance for

Hibernian. Celtic have had more possession but Hibernian have had

Hibernian have defended superbly in this game. They looked a different

animal from the one they lost to with the left foot. He has scored

several Celtic goals from outside the penalty area. That was a really

taking anything from this game disappeared over the crossbar with

good save by Ben Williams. Brilliant save. This took a

horrible deflection off James McPake. Ben Williams somehow clawed

it is safety. One goal did it for Hibernian. It takes Leigh Griffiths

back to the top of the scoring chart alongside Billy Mackay. Niall

McGinn is just behind him. That was a classy finish. Unbelievable

a classy finish. Unbelievable finish. You see his first touch,

not the best defending from Celtic. Great finish. That angle is never

easy. He put a bit of pace on it as well. He is right-back in the goals

with that. Fantastic finish. The Hibernian fans are obviously

desperate he stays beyond January. Our Hibernian under pressure to

keep him? You would think so. His goal ratio has been incredible this

year. He is a handful to play against. 14 goals, is it? That is

great. The Hibernian will be desperate to keep him, but

hopefully they cannot for the other teams in the SPL. You say he's a

handful to play against, is one problem that he is liable to shoot

from anywhere? That is a problem you have got with him. The minute

he get half a yard on a defender he will put it. He can get the ball to

move all over the place. It is that such a hard thing to deal with as a

goalkeeper. Is he as clean striker of the ball in the SPL as there is?

He is. That is why his goals ratio has been great this year. If he

stayed at Hibernian it would be great for them. Disappointing

results for Celtic but they are still six clear at the top. You

played for Celtic in the Champions League last 16, how big an

achievement is that? An amazing achievement, you need to give

credit to kneel, he rebuilt the side. He has built a very good side.

-- credit to Neil Lennon. To get to the last 16, the way they did it,

beating Barcelona, is amazing. The one thing that is affecting them is

missing Rangers in the league. The mindset has creaked then now that

Rangers are not there. There must be a different intensity. It is,

you come back off the back of a Champions League game, the next

game three days later after that is hard. You come from that to a

Premier League game. Now that the Champions League is a month away,

it has creaked into them that they can relax, get away with it. Neil

Lennon will stand back into them. Credit to Hibernian, they had some

clear cut chances and could have scored a few more goals. Seven

points in November for Dundee but only one in December. They had a

the ground after finding themselves at the bottom of the SPL. That was

a good chance. Kevin McBride. He one. Play will be stopped. The

referee is allowing Andrew Considine to be attended to. He

just takes there. That does not look good for Andrew Considine.

Colin Nish lining up a free kick. That was not far away at all from

attack. That was well cut out by Rab Douglas. Good effort from the

winner. Barry Smith trying to work out how to make the breakthrough

but it is Aberdeen! Guess who? Niall McGinn. Once again, his 11th

goal of the season for Aberdeen. He will not score many easier goals.

leaving Gallagher in his wake. This is a chance for Aberdeen. It was

Scott Vernon who got on the end of it. A lovely counter-attack from

the and visitors -- from the that. Joe Shaughnessy fancied his

Second goal for Niall McGinn. A second for Aberdeen. Lovely flick

from the striker. He puts his side Dundee have a lifeline eight

minutes from time. Jamie Langfield could not keep it out and the

substitute, Mark Stewart, gets on the scoresheet. All to play for now.

Niall McGinn bundles in a hat- trick! That is the victory secured.

Dreadful defending by Dundee. Rab Douglas's goalkeeping, it was a

good save in fairness but he did not cover himself in glory there.

Niall McGinn taking full advantage. He secured victory for Aberdeen.

When you look at where Aberdeen are halfway through the season, it

seems pretty decent, but I sense you are disappointed with results

you are disappointed with results overall? We know the results we had

at home could have been a lot more or points, but given the injury

list, the last couple months, we have fallen away a pet. We lost our

midfielders and we have had boys like Scott Vernon filling in at

midfield, if you take the midfield out of any team in the SPL you miss

it. The people that have come and have done well, and Saturday was a

great result away to Dundee after the game against Motherwell, when

we were disappointed. To go there and score goals, all this we were

disappointed to lose one but it was The sad part was the broken leg for

Considine. It was horrible. Everyone in the ground heard the

noise. We were all praying it was his shin pad that snapped. But

we're hearing that it was his tib ya and he will be in plaster for 12

weeks ch I think he was getting an operation today to get pins in it.

But he's at a great club and his team mates will rally around him

and the club will rally around him and hopefully he comes back

stronger. Last year, he was the Player of the Year and he started

to do the same this season. good news for Aberdeen was another

starring role from Niall McGinn. Barry, when you were at Celtic, he

was on the fringes of the team and he played in a wide position.

Through middle, he can't stop scoring. When I was at Celtic, Tony

Mowbray liked him and played him a Mowbray liked him and played him a

bit wide. I looked at him and thought he was a wide player, but

maybe Craig Brown has seen something in him. But he is flying

and things are falling for him. He needs to keep on scoring and if he

keeps on he could ends up the top scorer in the division. He looks

confident and he is fit and agile and quick. You see there is the

confidence, relaxed finishing. That is what top strikers have got and

he could do well. At this rate he could be heading for 25 goals.

and that would be great for a team like ourselfs to a striker getting

25 goals a season. He has taken his chances and get - o' getting into

positions, where he was a winger, but he looks like an out and out

striker. He is always there when the ball is getting knocked down to

put it in the goal. He has done well for us for the first half of

the season. Hopefully we /- he can carry on. Duncan shearer or Billy

Dodds is the last one. It is great for Aberdeen. So they have a real

chance of climbing the table. hard to believe it was 18 month ago

that you suffered that brain seizure and a really worrying

moment. What has it done to your football. Does it change your

perspective? Yes, it's made me have a different outlook. I'm thoroughly

enjoying it. I don't let things beat me up as much and try not get

down if we get beat or I have made a mistake, as you do. But I'm

enjoying myself at Aberdeen and I'm at a great club that look after me

and has looked after me through my illness. I'm just enjoying it and

I'm glad to be back playing. A word about Dundee, your former team,

they still have a place in your heart, are they doomed? No, I

wouldn't say so. I know parry Smith well. -- Barry Smith. There were in

a predarious position at the start of season, coming into the league

with two weeks' notice. And it was haar for them. They're not in the

best position now, but you never know what can happen. It is such a

congested league and you could go on a run and pick up points as

easily as any other team. They hopefully for the like of Barry

Smith they can do that. It could be European football for Inverness if

nay maintain momentum. They ended the year in Perth against St

Johnstone at the match was Paul the Billy MacKay. Flashes the ball

wide. Inside two minutes, Inverness, who have scored in every game this

season, create their first chance. Fraser Wright seemed to commit.

MacKay hurtled over him, steadied himself on to the favoured right

with the save. Again Caley Thistle through MacKay caused problems down

this left hand side. Shinnie got away from Craig, but the advancing

keeper proved too much for him. Reguero fists this away. Good call

from the keeper. Craig with the corner, Tade is up. He couldn't

connect with the ball. Four goals this season, Tade, and this is a

chance that has passed him by. Got up well, but missed it. McCracken -

off the line from Tudur-Jones. Craig falls down, that could be a

yellow card for simulation. David Raven certainly was far from happy.

Well the header off the line came from Tudur-Jones. McCracken away.

He took up a good position at the edge of the box. He came to meet

him and the dive was clear. Doran with the chance for the opener.

Mannus was strong and clipped away. Good play from Paddy Craig. Caley

Thistle again finding joy on the left. Shinnie, lovely touch from

MacKay, into the path of Doran, just one goal this term. Almost two,

Davidson clipped it in. Tade, lovely shimmy, moved away from

Warren, got away from Shinnie, Reguero did his job. It is a great

block from Warren and slightly acrobatic by Warren and 9.8 for

technical merit as Craig swung it Mannus out again. Good play from

the keeper. So shock, horror, Inverness fail to score. Some of

the credit goes to Alan Mannus. How good is he? Yes, this season he has

been brilliant. As you see yesterday, he has had a couple of

great saves again. And I remember watching him last week against us

and the game he had, he played against Niall McGinn by himself at

Pittodrie. Some of his saves were brilliant. He stopped it from being

a rout. He has done well and the standard of goalkeeping in the SPL

has been good and he has been one of them. I don't think he arrived

with a big reputation, but he is doing just that. What a save that

was with a deflection off the wall. Doran was in a paper making a noise

about a penalty claim. Barry, what do you reckon? When he sees this

back, I don't think there is much in that. I don't see where he is

coming from. Craig has put his arm out, but for me it has never ban

personality. I have been known to go down easily in the box myself, I

don't think he will claim that. I think he has got that wrong. That

is not a personality. He is maybe thinking that because Craig put his

arm across. But he is never getting that. You were an Inverness player,

what have you made of their performance this season, second in

the SPL, top goal scorers, maybe heading for Europe? Hen you see

what Terry Butcher has den, he broke up that team and because they

were getting older and produced this young team from nowhere. It is

people that one has heard of. To get players up to Inverness where

that is not that much money and you're way up in the north, it is

an unbelievable job. And to get players that score goals, that is

the hardst thing to do. It must be great for the fans. Sometimes if

you're going to be free-flowing the back door is not always shut. But

the fans will love the entertain. You have to give credit to Terry.

He has done a terrific job. Have they surprised you? Yes, they score

goals for fun. McKay's flying. He is scoring, I think he has got 12

in seven games. He is flying. didn't score yesterday though.

it is 12 in eight. But he is flying. Obviously, they're creating goals

all over the pitch. One of the most important players is Ritchie Foran.

He gives everything for them. They surprised me a lot this year. But

what Terry Butcher produces doesn't surprise me. That has killed the

theiry that goalkeepers can't count. Kilmarnock want consistency. Two

wins and a draw was as good as it God for them. Could they keep it

this match and a minute's applause as a mark of respect on the fifth

anniversary of the death of the Motherwell captain, Phil O'Donnell.

Humphrey cutting it back for Higdon and Cammy Bell well positioned

there. That almost topped off the blistering strike that was from the

Spanish striker. And Kilmarnock in front. The break of the ball coming

off Hutchison. Perez with the finish which will please his

Jamie Murphy with the follow up after Higdon's effort had been

blocked. Murphy with plenty of scouts in the stands keeping an eye

on him. So much speculation over his future. Motherwell starting

this match in third position. Kilmarnock, well they are in sixth.

Heffernan! And blocked by Randolf and away by Hutchison. Heffernan so

close to putting Killie 2-0 in front, but excellent defending by

Hutchinson. That will please Stuart McCall. Hately's corner. A good

ball from Murphy. It was cleared by Perez this time. The striker

turning that away. Sheridan had the opportunity there when he was clean

through to add to Killie's tally. A good stop by Randolph, but Paul

Heffernan is there ready to pounce. It was well won at the front post,

Randolf did well to get a touch on it. But Heffernan playing the

poacher's roles it 2-0 to Kilmarnock just beyond the hour

back in the game. Jamie Murphy. McHugh with the initial shot and

Murphy only a yard out turning it home for his 11th goal of the

season. It's his fifth in his last terrific coal as well from the

Estonian international. The Kilmarnock keeper hadn't an earthly

with that one. Terrific curling effort. Assisted by the left

upright. And Motherwell back level at 2-2. Motherwell keen for the

Nelson. Appeals it came off his arm. Nelson. Appeals it came off his arm.

The referee says corner kick. The highlight of the game was that

tribute five years on, from the death of Phil O'Donnell. It mu

bring it pack for you, you were on the pitch the day he died. Yes,

it's terrible and it's great everyone remembers him and he was a

terrific player. He did great at Celtic. And he would probably have

been in management in Scotland, or coaching, he was very well thought

of in this country and he is a big miss. It is a shame for his family

and everyone in Scottish football. It is a sad loss when you get

players that have done so well and they're not with us any more. It is

Two great goals in the game. There has been some great football in the

SPL, and this was a great finish. Yes, it is a great finish. The

goalkeeper was not stopping that. He came in and settled into the way

Kilmarnock play. He looks like a great signing for Kenny Shiels.

This is the young Estonian, this is some goal. It he beat two players

then takes it in, put it in the far post. What a finish that is. He

looks a real talent. Managers are doing a great job are unearthing

talent, then every transfer window it is then going. It would be great

to build the game up. But it looks like they might lose these players,

Jamie Murphy as well. What a terrific finish it was. You could

watch it all day. This was Jamie Murphy scoring what might be his

last goal for Motherwell. It suggests that he will be away. This

was a tap-in for him. Scored a lot of goals recently. Interesting to

examine the body language after the match. Does this suggest he is off?

Possibly he is just saying goodbye to 2012. I'm not so sure. The the

Motherwell fans will be gutted because he is doing well. There has

been lots of speculation for him. He will be delighted if he's got a

move lined up, and if not, he will be delighted to stay. There was a

penalty claim for Motherwell. They could have won the game if they got

a penalty here. What did you think? The we've got the opportunity to

see it again and again but it comes through at some pace and he was

trying to get his hand out of the way. We the ball was on target.

is hard to get your hand out of the way, but the letter of the law says

it is a handball. The goalkeeper could have been work. Where does it

stop? It means people will be jumping about the 18-yard box with

their hands behind their backs. I don't think it's a penalty.

Mirren were third in the League in September and one point off bottom.

They have rallied and against Dundee United they were looking to

slips, low ball across, the visitors have the lead! Great ball

from Gary Teale. St Mirren have had trouble scoring in the opening 20

man who scored the winner when these sides met in October gets his

first sight of goal and drags it knocked away. That was a push on

Watson goes to the byline and sense in the cross. The goalkeeper was

impeded and it will not count. Johnny Russell was in the way. Jon

Daly with the finish. The referee it was a push on Jon Daly and it is

a penalty. Dundee United have the chance to respond. Great ball

played in by Barry Douglas. The file was obvious and the penalty

for the shot and it has gone! Dundee United have turned the first

half around. They are ahead with two late goals, but Craig Samson

will think he should have saved Dundee in August. That is a poor

ball by Keith Watson, chance for Steven Thompson... He takes it!

Dundee United were the architects of their own downfall, and Steven

Gary Teale knock it down, Mark McAusland! St Mirren are ahead.

Mark McAusland is the scorer. Jon and the referee rushes over. It is

a red card! Straight red card for Bryan MacLean. Dundee United's

afternoon is getting worse. It did not look malicious but the referee

deemed it to be a straight red card. No shortage of incident or

first and it is in! Nobody is more surprised than David van Zanten.

The ball was left and the goalkeeper could not react in time.

David van Zanten gets on the scoresheet. Chance for Dundee

United from the free kick, and Barry Douglas caused! Probably too

late for Dundee United to find a 4th goal but Barry Douglas will

Another of year-old teams. Are you surprised to see them in the bottom

half? Yes, but there is a long way to go. They are strong defensively

and as the season goes on they will score more goals than they concede.

They look like they're struggling a bit at the back. They will always

score goals so if they tighten up they will be all right. They will

get up near the top three. assistant manager was raging about

the defending. Maybe the manager could not trust himself. When you

look back on the goals you can see where he's coming from. Barry

Douglas lead but it still came across the six-yard box. That is

what happens. The defender needs to do better there. This one is

disappointing. There is four Dundee United players around one St Mirren

player. This one has gone straight through and it is horrible for a

goalkeeper. It is that the goalkeeper's union? It is horrible

because the defender leaves it, and it is a horrible ball to deal with.

To score three goals at home and lose again, no wonder the manager

is pulling his hair out. They have lost 20 goals this season, they

have only won twice. This is changed days. They will be all

right. They have lots of experience. They are good going forward, and

Peter Fewston will have them working on it throughout the next

period. -- Peter Houston. They will come good. St Mirren were much

better at the back, they have had problems at the back, Lee Mair was

on the bench and he is a good player. They will Mehdi be looking

at getting him back. The red card, what do we think? The when we sit

here, and it is slowed down, it looks unfair, but in real time, it

is possibly a red card. It is so hard to call. The referee has a

We are struggling in here to tell. I think it was mistimed. He was

trying to get out of the way, but it is the way the referee sees it

and he sees that he went in Hyde. We have been sitting here looking

at it and we cannot make up our mind. Wanly five matches this

weekend because in Dingwall, Ross County versus Hearts was called off.

This was the ground staff trying their best, but the referee decided

less than one hour before kick-off that it could not go ahead. That

inconvenience to a lot of people, There was always a baker who had

naturally when again is cancelled late on. It is a good touch from

the owner, but a Hearts fans will get a good night out in Inverness.

Look on the bright side. It is frustrating but what can you do?

Sometimes the game can be playable, then the rain flies down, the

picture becomes unplayable within an hour. The referee needs to make

a decision. The players do not want to be in danger. It is difficult.

It is good that the owner did that. We have not had a Vancouver

Whitecaps player on the programme for rages and suddenly we have two

in four days. How do you like it? It is different, very different,

but it has been good. I thought I would try something different. I

still feel fed and flying and fresh, and I've got a lot of games to play

over there, Kenny Miller is enjoying it is well and we're

having a good time. We are enjoying it. The passion and the emotion of

the game here, you hear the crowds, the opposition is totally different.

Sometimes you miss that. It is a different experience. It is one

that I am relishing. The let's look at the Premier League before we go.

Celtic's lead has been cut but they are still six points ahead.

are still six points ahead. Inverness and Motherwell are second.

Hearts are in 9th. St Mirren have moved away from the bottom. The