:00:45. > :01:05.that is an absolutely stunning goal. Brilliant! Stevenson! Unbelievable!
:01:06. > :01:09.That is terrific from Billy Mackay. And welcome to Sportscene, an
:01:10. > :01:12.incredible weekend in Scottish football with two thrilling league
:01:13. > :01:16.cup semifinals and three Premier League matches. He had to make sense
:01:17. > :01:20.of it, Michael Stewart and the Aberdeen manager Derek McInnis, who
:01:21. > :01:28.has only just stopped smiling for the first time in 24 hours -- Derek
:01:29. > :01:37.McInnes. Hartson Inverness Caledonian Thistle -- Hearts and
:01:38. > :01:41.carry Thistle face each other in the semifinal. Last season, Hart made it
:01:42. > :01:46.through to the final. Could it happen again? Gary Locke has stuck
:01:47. > :01:56.with the team that beat St Mirren. It is not often he has had a
:01:57. > :01:59.selection dilemma this season. Ross Draper start for carry Thistle
:02:00. > :02:04.for the first time since New Year. Also starting is the returning Greg
:02:05. > :02:11.Tansey. Billy McKay has scored 18 this campaign, but like Warren and
:02:12. > :02:14.Draper and raven, they are a booking away from missing the file. --
:02:15. > :02:24.final. That is a yellow card for Gary
:02:25. > :02:31.Warren. And if Inverness make the final, he will not play.
:02:32. > :02:38.What a save that is. It was point-blank. It was great movement
:02:39. > :02:48.from Billy McKay, what a fine stop that is.
:02:49. > :03:00.Vincent lays it back to him. And a big shout for a penalty. Nothing
:03:01. > :03:03.doing once more. Hanging the ball up. It is theatrical, you have to
:03:04. > :03:18.say, looking at that again. Tansey couldn't resist it, and
:03:19. > :03:24.little wonder, when you can do that! A wonderful strike. Hearts go
:03:25. > :03:30.to the referee because they want a free kick for handball. But carry
:03:31. > :03:35.Thistle don't care about bad. Greg Tansey with a thunderbolt that could
:03:36. > :03:44.take them through to their first major cup final. What a goal! You
:03:45. > :03:48.just don't strike them better. It reminds me of the Ryan Stevenson
:03:49. > :03:49.goal against Hibs. Same sort of shot, power, pace and precision all
:03:50. > :04:09.in one. It comes to Callum Paterson. Great
:04:10. > :04:17.save by Cammy Bell. Raven in the right place. The Inverness players
:04:18. > :04:28.clash, and it comes to him, one on one, and Brill stands up so well.
:04:29. > :04:37.A free kick right on the edge of the box. The card is out as well. It is
:04:38. > :04:43.a second yellow for Warren. Cali Thistle are down to ten men. A shot
:04:44. > :04:44.in the arm for Hearts, who have a wonderful free kick opportunity as
:04:45. > :05:00.well. It comes to Hammell, it is deflected
:05:01. > :05:03.and in! -- Jamie Hamill. The free kick works and Jamie Hamill levels
:05:04. > :05:08.this league cup semifinal. 1-1, Gaymon.
:05:09. > :05:25.It is beginning to unravel for the Highlanders.
:05:26. > :05:34.Jamie Hamill takes the free kick again and he has scored again! What
:05:35. > :05:40.a turnaround at Easter Road! Inverness's dream is slipping away
:05:41. > :05:47.from them and Hearts heading back to the cup final.
:05:48. > :05:50.Unbelievable save by Jamie MacDonald, this time to deny
:05:51. > :06:14.Meekings. It is a bullet header. A frustrated Meekings could find
:06:15. > :06:16.himself... Off! I thought he was going to that top pocket again. It
:06:17. > :06:27.was cynical from Meekings. Gary Locke was delighted to lead his
:06:28. > :06:38.beloved Hearts out at hand in last season... Ross is there! It has gone
:06:39. > :06:42.in! It is incredible! On their knees, Inverness Caledonian
:06:43. > :06:49.Thistle, two men down have equalised in second-half stoppage time! Quite
:06:50. > :07:02.incredible scenes at Easter Road. The Highlanders are back in this.
:07:03. > :07:06.That was the chance. Brilliant from Jamie Hamill. All he has got to do
:07:07. > :07:16.is keep it down and he can't. How is your nerves? Graeme Shinnie
:07:17. > :07:19.first. It is saved and advantageous Hearts. Paul McCallum has the chance
:07:20. > :07:49.to press home the initiative. Nick Ross, the man who took us here.
:07:50. > :07:54.Scores. Great penalty. Brill saves. It is advantageous Cali
:07:55. > :08:07.Thistle. Tansey thumped the ball into the
:08:08. > :08:08.net. Wonderful spot kick again, and it is massive pressure on Scott
:08:09. > :08:23.Robinson of Hearts. We continue.
:08:24. > :08:26.They are going to the final! Ross Draper has sensationally sent nine
:08:27. > :08:34.man Caley Thistle into the Scottish League Cup final with one of the
:08:35. > :08:38.coolest penalties you will ever, ever see. Delighted, absolutely
:08:39. > :08:42.delighted. I felt we were up against it and the boys showed spirit and
:08:43. > :08:46.character. I said before the game, if there's anyone who deserves it,
:08:47. > :08:49.it is this football club, so I am absolutely delighted for everyone
:08:50. > :08:56.concerned, from the chairman right down to the man. Very cruel but we
:08:57. > :09:00.have only got ourselves to blame. We get a corner, a minute on the clock
:09:01. > :09:07.to go and instead of just keeping it in the corner, we are trying to hit
:09:08. > :09:12.it off the land. They go up the park and score. It is a sore one to take,
:09:13. > :09:16.because we should have seen it out. A slightly boring first half, it has
:09:17. > :09:19.to be said, but after that, compulsive viewing.
:09:20. > :09:25.You were there today, you have Hearts connections, but did you
:09:26. > :09:30.enjoy it? You are right, the first half was a nonevent, and after that,
:09:31. > :09:31.it certainly came to life. Lots of incidents, lots of refereeing
:09:32. > :09:33.mistakes, it certainly came to life. Lots of
:09:34. > :09:40.incidents, lots of refereeing but it was a game that Hearts could have
:09:41. > :09:46.and should have seen out and won. Derek, a few moments, as Michael
:09:47. > :09:48.alludes to, refereeing decisions that come under the microscope.
:09:49. > :09:50.Inverness end up with that come under the microscope.
:09:51. > :09:56.Inverness end up nine men on the pitch. What was your view of the
:09:57. > :10:00.decisions? This was the yellow card. You have seen that being deemed a
:10:01. > :10:03.yellow card, the defender hasn't done a lot wrong and in this
:10:04. > :10:08.instance, I don't think he has done anything. And obviously, Hearts goal
:10:09. > :10:16.in school, so it is a double whammy. I don't think Warren has done any
:10:17. > :10:20.thing wrong -- go on and score. Josh Meekings, he has stopped a promising
:10:21. > :10:23.attack, which the referee would normally deem as a yellow card
:10:24. > :10:27.offence. To see it as a red card offence, you would have to say it is
:10:28. > :10:30.higher in the tackle. It is a blatant trip, he knew what he was
:10:31. > :10:35.doing but no more than a yellow card for me, so I think in both
:10:36. > :10:41.instances, Inverness have been harshly treated. Yes, questionable
:10:42. > :10:48.decisions. Inverness down to nine men, they get a last-gasp equaliser
:10:49. > :10:52.incredibly, 2-2, but Hearts, with a two-man advantage, they should be
:10:53. > :10:56.seeing it at? It is not a prerequisite that if you have more
:10:57. > :11:01.mentally you will win game, but when it went into extra time... You can
:11:02. > :11:07.see the clips, you can help without having a back four in place against
:11:08. > :11:10.one striker. This is from set plays. The game has changed, Inverness are
:11:11. > :11:17.down to nine men, yet Hearts are still playing as if it is 11. Is it
:11:18. > :11:25.tactical naivete? To a certain extent. Billy McKay is on the left
:11:26. > :11:28.back, the fullbacks are not doing anything, get them further up the
:11:29. > :11:31.pitch and get behind the Inverness back for that they had in place.
:11:32. > :11:37.They didn't do that, they had the two full-backs deep and as I say, it
:11:38. > :11:41.is not a prerequisite that you are going to win if you do that but you
:11:42. > :11:46.give yourself a better chance. Derek, Hearts couldn't hold on?
:11:47. > :11:50.Obviously, the onus is on them in extra time to make that advantage
:11:51. > :11:55.count. There are two different scenarios, Inverness, in their extra
:11:56. > :12:00.time, all about being resolute, tight and compact and expecting a
:12:01. > :12:05.bit more from the goalkeeper. Hearts are looking to stretch the game, ask
:12:06. > :12:08.more questions and Hearts will be kicking themselves. It is not a
:12:09. > :12:13.situation you come up against a lot, playing nine men, it is a real
:12:14. > :12:17.opportunity missed. Brilliant for Inverness, their first major final.
:12:18. > :12:23.By the time it began, we had only just caught our breath after the
:12:24. > :12:29.first semifinal. Fans of both teams arrived, St Johnstone on the Trail
:12:30. > :12:35.of their first piece of see the -- silverware. Derek McInnes looking to
:12:36. > :12:38.deliver Aberdeen's first piece of silverware for ten years. Derek
:12:39. > :12:42.McInnes is forced to make two changes to the side that started
:12:43. > :12:47.against Motherwell. Debut at right back the Logan,
:12:48. > :12:52.signed this week from Brentford, and a starting place in for Peter
:12:53. > :12:54.Pawlett. The St Johnstone, Steve Banks continues in goal in place of
:12:55. > :13:26.the suspended Alan McManus. In those Rooney! And Steve Banks
:13:27. > :13:33.gets an important glove to it. -- in goes Rooney. A dangerous ball into
:13:34. > :13:42.the near post from Robson, Rooney did well to get a shot away.
:13:43. > :13:51.Not the best kick, Adam Rooney could be in here. The defender leaves it
:13:52. > :14:02.and Aberdeen are in front! And it is Johnny Hays! And Tynecastle is
:14:03. > :14:07.rocking to the sound of Aberdeenshire is. The ball was left
:14:08. > :14:11.by Anderson and McKay and there was Johnny Hays -- Johnny Hayes to
:14:12. > :14:23.stroke it home. Here is Lee Croft. Is it the
:14:24. > :14:28.equaliser? Brilliant save. What a chance that was. And what a save by
:14:29. > :14:34.the Aberdeen keeper. He got a stroke of luck, and the goalkeeper earned
:14:35. > :14:50.his luck by touching it onto the post. Peter Pawlett. And he has gone
:14:51. > :14:59.all the way! And Aberdeen have doubled their lead. It was a swift
:15:00. > :15:04.counterattack, Peter Pawlett went past the defender, and it was a
:15:05. > :15:09.brilliant finish under the body of Steve Banks. Well, Aberdeen have
:15:10. > :15:21.been under the cosh, but they are two goals up. Fired into the box by
:15:22. > :15:27.Croft. So unlucky! Must be for St Johnstone! But they could not turn
:15:28. > :15:35.it in. It was Gary McDonald, and eventually, Fraser Wright whose
:15:36. > :15:46.effort came off the crossbar. Just helped behind by Reynolds.
:15:47. > :15:55.McKay in space, closed down quickly. This could be a counterattacking
:15:56. > :16:00.opportunity. Is it three? It is. And surely now, Aberdeen are into the
:16:01. > :16:17.final of the League Cup. Fantastic counterattacking football. St
:16:18. > :16:21.Johnstone, caught on the back foot. And from nothing, Aberdeen have gone
:16:22. > :16:27.three up, and it is Adam Rooney, with two goals in two games for
:16:28. > :16:37.Aberdeen. And they can start thinking about the League Cup Final
:16:38. > :16:45.now. Clinical finishing. There is the face of a man who knows his side
:16:46. > :16:48.are beaten. Aberdeen have a chance to add a fourth now. Considine
:16:49. > :17:00.rattles the woodwork! McGinn, a lovely ball in, and so
:17:01. > :17:03.unfortunate to see that come back off the crossbar, with Steve Banks
:17:04. > :17:22.rooted to the spot. Here come Aberdeen again, with Jonny
:17:23. > :17:28.Hayes. On the left foot! That is wonderful from Jonny Hayes! And it
:17:29. > :17:38.is turning into around for Aberdeen. -- into a rout. Bear fans jubilant,
:17:39. > :17:46.the players know they have booked their place in a League Cup Final.
:17:47. > :17:53.-- their fans are jubilant. Jonny Hayes has his second, a fourth for
:17:54. > :17:58.Aberdeen. It is despair for St Johnstone and delight for those in
:17:59. > :18:04.red. It is hard to describe, the first cup final for us for a few
:18:05. > :18:08.years. A first big cup final for myself personally. I felt like we
:18:09. > :18:12.owed the fans, we did not have a great season last year. They have
:18:13. > :18:16.been brilliant to us all season. We were pressing to get back into the
:18:17. > :18:21.game at 2-0. I have got to commend the players for that. I thought we
:18:22. > :18:28.created a few problems for Aberdeen. But they were clinical when it came
:18:29. > :18:31.to the crunch, and we weren't. Derek, Diane Pretty sure you enjoy
:18:32. > :18:38.those highlights. It must be massive, did you imagine that in
:18:39. > :18:44.your first season at Aberdeen, you would reach a cup final? You always
:18:45. > :18:48.hope for that. We always felt we could be successful. We put a squad
:18:49. > :18:55.together in the summer which we felt could improve the situation. The cup
:18:56. > :19:03.gives us that opportunity to be successful. We have got some tough
:19:04. > :19:08.matches in this cup run, and a St Johnstone were equally tough.
:19:09. > :19:15.Semifinals are normally tighter than that. But we were clinical. We took
:19:16. > :19:20.our opportunities well. We had to dig deep at times and see off a lot
:19:21. > :19:25.of their threat, defensively. But we have got pace in the team, and with
:19:26. > :19:30.the players we have got, I always feel we will score goals. And what a
:19:31. > :19:33.great time to be clinical, in a semifinal. Yes, it was a
:19:34. > :19:37.scintillating performance, and as you mentioned, fast,
:19:38. > :19:41.counterattacking play through the likes of Peter Pawlett and Jonny
:19:42. > :19:45.Hayes. Peter Pawlett, he has become a massive player for you, hasn't
:19:46. > :19:53.he? Yes, he really has. Ellie he has played a lot of his career in wider
:19:54. > :19:58.areas, but we play him at the top of a midfield two. He has to create
:19:59. > :20:05.goals and score himself. We always feel when he can get into these
:20:06. > :20:10.areas, it can do this. Once he gets the other side of the midfield, he
:20:11. > :20:15.is very positive. I would rather he tried that and just play it safe.
:20:16. > :20:20.Again, he has already had a look, before the ball was played into him.
:20:21. > :20:26.Again, he could play it out wide here, but his first touch is
:20:27. > :20:30.forward, and he forces the save from the goalkeeper. And this is where he
:20:31. > :20:33.has been excellent this season, showing responsibility in the
:20:34. > :20:41.midfield role to do his defensive work. That was a beautiful pass in
:20:42. > :20:45.for Adam to score his goal. He had a big influence on the game yesterday.
:20:46. > :20:53.He is a big influence on the team this season. It was slightly marred
:20:54. > :20:58.by an incident involving the Celtic manager Neil Lennon, who was at
:20:59. > :21:03.Tynecastle, watching the game. He had abuse directed at him by some
:21:04. > :21:06.fans, and he had his say on the incident today. It is very difficult
:21:07. > :21:10.to apportion any kind of blame to anyone. You cannot legislate for a
:21:11. > :21:15.couple of mindless people who have on behalf of our too much to drink,
:21:16. > :21:20.who want to single you out for that kind of abuse. Was it of a sectarian
:21:21. > :21:25.nature? No, it was not, I have to say, thankfully. That does not make
:21:26. > :21:29.it any easier. There is no blame apportioned to Aberdeen as a club. I
:21:30. > :21:35.do not want to spoil what was a great day for them. But you cannot
:21:36. > :21:40.legislate for that. A really depressing incident. It must have
:21:41. > :21:52.been irritating for you, Derek, following such a fantastic result.
:21:53. > :21:55.Yes, it is disappointing. Obviously, we took a huge support to Tynecastle
:21:56. > :22:00.yesterday, and like Neil Lennon said, the vast majority were
:22:01. > :22:04.fantastic, went with the intention of getting behind their team and to
:22:05. > :22:08.try and enjoy themselves. But obviously, one or two of them, if it
:22:09. > :22:13.is that, have made it difficult for Neil Lennon to do his job. There it
:22:14. > :22:17.quite right to be angry and disappointed, having had to leave
:22:18. > :22:21.the game early. Was there to watch us because they are playing as next
:22:22. > :22:25.week. And because of them he has had to leave. Hopefully they can be
:22:26. > :22:32.identified, because they are no use to anybody. It does not take the
:22:33. > :22:36.shine off us. We have got a good relationship with Celtic. On
:22:37. > :22:42.balance, it was a good day for our club. That wraps up the League Cup
:22:43. > :22:46.action, so we can now shift the focus to the Premiership. Later in
:22:47. > :22:50.the show we will have the action from Firhill, as Partick Thistle
:22:51. > :22:51.took on Dundee United, led by the former boss of Partick Thistle,
:22:52. > :23:03.Jackie McNamara. But we start the Premiership action
:23:04. > :23:07.at Celtic Park, with the champions aiming to extend their unbeaten
:23:08. > :23:11.record this season to 24 games. Also, goalkeeper Fraser Forster
:23:12. > :23:22.hoping for a club record 11th clean sheet in a row. St Mirren 's -- St
:23:23. > :23:27.Mirren hoping to stop all of that. Stefan Johansen makes his first
:23:28. > :23:30.start. Anthony Starks returns from suspension. Joe Ledley has left the
:23:31. > :23:44.club. St Mirren are in their third kit, the yellow kit.
:23:45. > :23:54.Scott Brown is available in the middle. He plays it on Commons.
:23:55. > :23:57.Tries the shot! And scores! It is a familiar sight this season, Kris
:23:58. > :24:03.Commons, finding the back of the net. St Mirren will wonder if Marian
:24:04. > :24:08.Kello should have done better. He got a hand to it but could not keep
:24:09. > :24:14.it out, and after just six minutes, Celtic are ahead.
:24:15. > :24:21.Again, battling for it, van Dijk is strong. He moves away from Jim
:24:22. > :24:23.Goodwin as well. Might play from the centre half, releases Anthony
:24:24. > :24:45.Stokes... Mulgrew linking with Brown. Nicely
:24:46. > :24:51.done, into the feet of Anthony Stokes... Good play again from
:24:52. > :24:53.Anthony Stokes. He last scored against St Mirren back on the 5th of
:24:54. > :25:15.January. Again it is picked up by the Celtic
:25:16. > :25:29.midfield. Here is a chance for Forrest. Celtic just trying to find
:25:30. > :25:34.their way through. Celtic have conceded just two goals in 12 league
:25:35. > :25:42.matches, coming forward again. Anthony Stokes! Close to extending
:25:43. > :25:55.the lead there. Just off target. Lovely play, working the one-two
:25:56. > :26:05.with Charlie Mulgrew. Goodwin has to come and help out. Lays the ball
:26:06. > :26:11.off, onto Naismith. That is looking for Steven Thompson. McInnes, denied
:26:12. > :26:25.by Fraser Forster, who has not had too much to do. Wide again for
:26:26. > :26:36.Celtic. -- Magennis. That came off Marc McAusland! Marian Kello had to
:26:37. > :26:41.gather it off his own defender. Mulgrew again, Celtic finding a lot
:26:42. > :26:46.of room on this left-hand side. McGregor was strong up against
:26:47. > :26:55.Izaguirre, and the referee saw nothing wrong with it. Chance for
:26:56. > :27:01.Magennis. Save, Fraser Forster, very strong indeed. That was a real
:27:02. > :27:02.opportunity for St Mirren, but Magennis could not beat the
:27:03. > :27:21.goalkeeper. Stokes, sets up Forrest, but just
:27:22. > :27:26.wide! Half a dozen goals this season, he was set up well by
:27:27. > :27:32.Anthony Stokes, but he was squeezed by the defender. Celtic dealing with
:27:33. > :27:41.the corner once again. Kelly, under pressure, that is a
:27:42. > :27:50.mistake from Kelly! This should be number two for Celtic! Anthony
:27:51. > :27:54.Stokes has been forced wide! Well, he went the hard way rather than the
:27:55. > :28:00.simple way. There was a tap-in waiting for the Dutchman, after the
:28:01. > :28:08.error by Sean Kelly. But Stokes went for it himself, and it was the wrong
:28:09. > :28:14.decision in the end. I thought our football was very,
:28:15. > :28:18.very good, we had 19 attempts at goal and only four on target. That
:28:19. > :28:24.is the only criticism you could have. It was a very good all-round
:28:25. > :28:28.footballing performance. It was a disappointing start to the game for
:28:29. > :28:33.us, to lose one as early as we did, and as cheaply, in the first couple
:28:34. > :28:37.of minutes. But the players stuck to it. Coming here, Celtic are always
:28:38. > :28:45.going to get the lions share of possession. But we did a good
:28:46. > :28:51.account of ourselves. Celtic are obviously dominant on the domestic
:28:52. > :28:54.front at the moment. Aberdeen, the last team to score against them in
:28:55. > :28:59.domestic football, which was back in November, which tells its own story.
:29:00. > :29:04.The fact that you have made it to a cup final, can that give you a boost
:29:05. > :29:07.ahead of what will be a massive game next weekend? It can only help.
:29:08. > :29:13.Yesterday was a big day for us. Obviously, the Celtic game got drawn
:29:14. > :29:17.out, that was always going to be tough for us. But it is also an
:29:18. > :29:21.opportunity. We should relish it. Normally, if you are going to be
:29:22. > :29:25.successful in the cups, you have to beat good teams, and Celtic showed
:29:26. > :29:31.they are just that. They were totally dominant. Somehow it was
:29:32. > :29:38.only 1-0. But for all of their good play and dominance, they have only
:29:39. > :29:43.worked the goalkeeper for times. And the time they did actually score,
:29:44. > :29:47.Marian Kello will be disappointed. But it was a good performance from
:29:48. > :29:51.them. We will need to play well if we want to get through. Another
:29:52. > :29:55.clean sheet for Fraser Forster, who was in spectacular form last weekend
:29:56. > :30:02.against Hibs, can you see Celtic holding onto him past the summer? it
:30:03. > :30:07.starts to get a bit difficult with him having two years left on his
:30:08. > :30:11.contract. I can see it getting past the summer but when it gets to
:30:12. > :30:16.January next season, it can be difficult, with only 18 months left.
:30:17. > :30:21.More premiership action coming up shortly. Next weekend, a series of
:30:22. > :30:56.spectaculars await. A triple bill of Scottish Cup
:30:57. > :30:59.Sportscenes next week. The best bit of business kill Marnoch could have
:31:00. > :31:09.done on the final day of the transfer window was hang onto Kris
:31:10. > :31:12.Boyd and they managed it -- kill Kilmarnock. He has been their main
:31:13. > :31:18.source of goals and despite speculation, he did stay put and
:31:19. > :31:22.started the game yesterday. Ross County had never beaten Kilmarnock.
:31:23. > :31:27.They had lost twice to them already but Derek Adams brought in plenty of
:31:28. > :31:36.new faces in the January window, two of which started up front.
:31:37. > :31:43.Kill Marnoch started the livelier and Rory McKenzie in particular
:31:44. > :31:53.looked lively down the right. Only the legs of Michael Fraser kicking
:31:54. > :32:01.him at bay. -- Kilmarnock. And there was similar from another talented
:32:02. > :32:10.Kilmarnock youngster afterwards, just wide of the post after another
:32:11. > :32:21.good run. But after a slow start, Ross County grew into the match.
:32:22. > :32:28.First, Slew tried his luck. And then Kiss cleared up Arquin on the edge
:32:29. > :32:36.of the box and county were 1-0 in front. The goal were came on the
:32:37. > :32:43.half hour mark and county were in the ascendancy.
:32:44. > :32:51.After the deaths tester flicks, Ross County were looking good for their
:32:52. > :33:03.first-ever win over Kilmarnock. -- def test of flicks. If Filip -- Kiss
:33:04. > :33:06.would go into the book before half-time for this foul on Irving.
:33:07. > :33:11.In the pouring rain after the restart, Kilmarnock had a corner and
:33:12. > :33:13.Kris Boyd pulled a goal back. The ball certainly struck his arm, but
:33:14. > :33:24.no whistle and the goal stood. Despite an increasingly sticky
:33:25. > :33:27.pitch, Kilmarnock suddenly had their tails up. Rory McKenzie a game going
:33:28. > :33:34.even closer than he had in the first half. And County's chances to
:33:35. > :33:41.holding on for all three points became harder, Kiss given a second
:33:42. > :33:45.yellow, this time for persistent fouling. Could County kiss goodbye
:33:46. > :33:57.to all three points? In actual fact, they almost made it 3-1, but
:33:58. > :34:01.the cutback was stuck in the mud. One final ball was lunged into the
:34:02. > :34:06.area and who else but Kris Boyd got his head on the end of it. A
:34:07. > :34:12.dramatic stoppage time equaliser but County were unhappy, claiming Kris
:34:13. > :34:16.Boyd at manhandled his marker. -- had. Tremendous character, we came
:34:17. > :34:20.back and had a mountain to climb and even in the first half, we had the
:34:21. > :34:25.majority of the game but they broke away and scored. But the way we came
:34:26. > :34:31.back showed character. The two goals with a major talking points. The
:34:32. > :34:36.first goal is across into the box, and Kris Boyd has handled the ball.
:34:37. > :34:39.The second one, he has two hands on my defender going for the ball, it
:34:40. > :34:43.doesn't allow my defender to get off the ground because of that. That
:34:44. > :34:49.counts as foul. A few juicy talking points, we will
:34:50. > :34:55.get to the goals, but first, the Kiss sending-off. Was it harsh? We
:34:56. > :34:58.have seen a few harsh sendings off and this falls into that category.
:34:59. > :35:05.That is a yellow card, no doubt about it, very similar to what we
:35:06. > :35:11.were talking about with the Inverness game. But that is just
:35:12. > :35:16.baffling. I know he said it was persistent fouling, there is an
:35:17. > :35:21.argument that isn't even a foul. It is a physical, contact sport, there
:35:22. > :35:25.will be contacted at times. That was definitely not another yellow card
:35:26. > :35:33.and getting the red card was harsh. Not on the referee's side. Derek,
:35:34. > :35:37.where you on Derek Adams's side in terms of the goals, he thought it
:35:38. > :35:45.was handball from Kris Boyd on the first one. It does hit his arm,
:35:46. > :35:49.there is no doubt about that. Is it intentional? I don't think so, he
:35:50. > :35:55.has his back turned but he cushions it down with his arm. It couldn't
:35:56. > :35:58.have felt him any nicer. It is a foul, especially without ending up
:35:59. > :36:02.in the back of the net, so he has every right to be disappointed,
:36:03. > :36:08.Derek. Kris Boyd reacts like all good strikers and put it in the net.
:36:09. > :36:12.This one, there is a case for Derek Adams, whether it is a foul, but I
:36:13. > :36:17.would be more disappointed with my centre back. He has to go and see
:36:18. > :36:22.that off, be more dominant. Kris Boyd has a lot to do to score from
:36:23. > :36:26.that distance. I think he has every right to go for that, I think there
:36:27. > :36:30.are ROMs in his back possibly. Whether it is a push, I would have
:36:31. > :36:35.doubts, the centre back should do better. Briefly, Michael, great for
:36:36. > :36:41.Kilmarnock to keep a hold of Kris Boyd, with the goals are strictly
:36:42. > :36:46.legal or not. -- weather. He is a talisman and hopefully they will try
:36:47. > :36:52.and get him linking up front with a successful partnership. Dundee
:36:53. > :36:55.United met Partick Thistle, three points was or was going to be tricky
:36:56. > :36:59.for either side, Partick Thistle without a win at home in a legal
:37:00. > :37:05.season and Dundee United without a win in six games. -- at home all
:37:06. > :37:13.season. Partick Thistle make changes in the
:37:14. > :37:16.midfield. Gary Fraser is back in. Jackie McNamara makes five changes
:37:17. > :37:23.as he tries to find a winning formula. Chris can expect a good
:37:24. > :37:29.comes into central defence. Stuart Armstrong returns. -- Chris Good
:37:30. > :38:01.comes into central defence. He bumped into Jordan McMillan and
:38:02. > :38:09.Armstrong is incensed, he felt it was worthy of a penalty. The referee
:38:10. > :38:17.says no. Something to ponder for Jackie McNamara.
:38:18. > :38:23.He wasn't too far away from getting the opener for Thistle. Still
:38:24. > :38:43.looking for this home league win in the premiership. Offer post. It took
:38:44. > :38:44.a little deflection Ofgem Rankin -- off John Rankin, and it stayed it
:38:45. > :39:02.onto the upright. A good stop by Paul Gallagher. Good
:39:03. > :39:11.play by Robertson, he always likes to have a pop at goal.
:39:12. > :39:21.Robertson away from McMillan. He has set it up for El Alagui! And United
:39:22. > :39:28.have the lead. Farid El Alagui giving the credit for the assistant
:39:29. > :39:30.Andy Robertson, but it is the big striker's first goal for United,
:39:31. > :39:55.created by the full-back. A neat flick. El Alagui, good stop
:39:56. > :40:10.by Gallagher. Solid defending! Rankin! Potshots all over the place,
:40:11. > :40:11.but Gaelic is withstanding them. -- Gallacher. A couple of excellent
:40:12. > :40:23.stops. Taylor! That should have been the
:40:24. > :40:29.equaliser, and he knows it. Terrific, positive play and Lyle
:40:30. > :40:35.Taylor, you would expect him to add to his tally there.
:40:36. > :41:05.Gary Mackay-Steven has found Armstrong with the pass. The captain
:41:06. > :41:10.for the day just could not get the ball past Paul Gallacher, who is
:41:11. > :41:23.having a great afternoon for Thistle.
:41:24. > :41:43.The substitute Ghulam going close -- Doolan going close.
:41:44. > :41:50.Armstrong slips, cannot get the touch but Gary Fraser can! Thistle
:41:51. > :41:57.get the equaliser after 75 minutes. It is Gary Fraser's first goal for
:41:58. > :41:59.the club. A little deflection off Rankin, and that stated into the far
:42:00. > :42:22.corner of the net. -- steered it. Graham so close to winning it for
:42:23. > :42:26.United. Off the woodwork. I thought it was a good performance,
:42:27. > :42:30.especially the second half. I thought it was much more like us,
:42:31. > :42:35.pushing right until the end and probably deserved to nick it. I
:42:36. > :42:37.thought we were too deep at times, we stopped passing the ball and
:42:38. > :42:43.credit to Thistle, they came out as per disappointed not to get three
:42:44. > :42:54.points. I suppose a draw was always the likeliest outcome, should this
:42:55. > :42:59.have been a penalty against Jordan McMillan?
:43:00. > :43:05.It feels like we are referee bashing but I think that it's a penalty. He
:43:06. > :43:11.has put his momentum into the block, a motion forward to stop him and it
:43:12. > :43:15.is in the box. It is a penalty kick. Every week, we talk about Partick
:43:16. > :43:18.Thistle failing to win at home. How much of a psychological hurdle is it
:43:19. > :43:24.for them and can you see them overcoming it before it is too late?
:43:25. > :43:28.There is no doubt it has become a psychological issue for them because
:43:29. > :43:31.it has gone on for so long. We are into February now and they have
:43:32. > :43:36.still not got a home win and it is so ironic, when you look at the home
:43:37. > :43:42.record they had last year. They have had a number of occasions this
:43:43. > :43:44.season when they have been leading going into injury time and not
:43:45. > :43:47.managed to get the victory. So there is no doubt it is a psychological
:43:48. > :43:53.issue and it has grown arms and legs, the sooner they get it, the
:43:54. > :43:56.better. Alan Archibald will be hoping it happens pronto. Michael
:43:57. > :44:03.and Derek, thank you very much. All that leaves the Scottish Premiership
:44:04. > :44:08.table looked like this. Celtic are 21 points ahead of Aberdeen. In the
:44:09. > :44:18.bottom half of the table, not a huge amount of movement.
:44:19. > :44:25.Hearts at the bottom and 17 points off the place. And that is it for
:44:26. > :44:30.this evening. The Scottish game has endured some testing times but on
:44:31. > :44:34.weekends like this, a to feel good about. Aberdeen and Caley with a cup
:44:35. > :44:40.final to look forward to next month. We are Baxter next weekend Friday,
:44:41. > :44:46.Saturday and Sunday -- back next weekend. The focus turns to the
:44:47. > :44:48.Scottish Cup. From all of us at the Sportscene team, good night.