04/02/2017 Sportscene

Good afternoon and welcome to the results show. Every bit as exciting

as the six Nations. Plenty of reports, results. Craig Paterson and

Gemma Fay will be adding lots of value to our reporters around the

ground and giving us bang up to date. I will tell you the latest

scores and indeed one full-time result. In the Scottish Premiership,

hearts were 3-0 winners away to Motherwell in the lunchtime

kick-off. Aberdeen are 1-0 ahead against Partick Thistle. Dundee are

2-1 ahead at Inverness. In the championship, it is Dumbarton 1-2

behind against St Mirren. Falkirk are one goal against Dunfermline

athletic. Hibernian are a goal down against a united. Time for the full

story of today's lunchtime kick-off and as I told you, a resounding 3-0

win for Hearts. What a good week for Hearts. Their

victory over Rangers was backed to her. It was a poor first 45 minutes,

although the visitors got the best of it. A red card made it that much

more difficult for the steel men. McHugh was sent off. Mark McGhee

later described the decision as an embarrassment. From there, Hearts

took control. Tziolis scored his first goal for the club. Tavares

Cruz da Silva broke his duck as well. How quickly things can turn

around. And we have very quickly turned

around some manager interviews after the match.

Mark, what was your view of the sending-off? I was disappointed. We

put on good pressure at times and good areas for goals. It was a

magnificent effort. way the game has gone, we had some

control in the first half. There was a couple of changes at half-time. We

started to be a little bit more threatening. There's only one place

to start, the Redcar decision. It cost them the game, according to

Mark McGhee. Do you agree with him? It may well have cost them the game.

Recently Motherwell down to ten men against Hamilton. And then down to

ten men against Rangers when they were in a good position. And the

same today and getting no points at home. Was it a red card? I think it

was. There was a few last week. It's not about whether or not he intended

to do it, the fact is it happened. If you make contact with the player.

And from a Hearts point of view, another 3-goal victory margin today.

The manager said in meat that the fans would get a glimpse of what is

in store. It was a huge boost, the win against Rangers. It was really

scrappy today but Hearts are back defending well and not conceding

goals. Two players have come on for their debuts and they have both got

goals. Speaking of Rangers, before we hear from our reporters around

the country, I can tell you how they are faring at home against Ross

County and Rangers are now a goal behind. Schalk scoring Ross County's

first-ever goal at Ibrox. But Wallace has equalised for Rangers so

it is 1-1. Our first report on duty this afternoon is at Pittodrie. He's

watching Aberdeen against Partick Thistle.

After 72 minutes, stock to do with it -- after 52 minutes, -- after 72

minutes, Stockley with his first goal of the season. Partick Thistle

have given as good as they have got but they have been let down in terms

of finishing. The inevitable has happened at the other end. With just

three at the back, having taken off two defenders, Stockley came on and

was the man who made the breakthrough. Stockley unmarked to

head into the net. Partick Thistle, having defended so diligently and

creating the more clear-cut opportunities are left again ruing

the fact they can't put the ball in the back of the net. With just two

minutes left to play, Aberdeen have the lead.

And now we head to Inverness against Dundee.

It is a goal for Inverness. Greg Tansey has just slotted home. He put

it in the corner. It has been some game here. Inverness started very

well. They hit the post. Dundee, a great delivery right onto Haber's

head. It went 2-1, O'Dea with the header. Questionable defending

there. Inverness have pegged them back again. Mckay scored from the

spot. That brought Inverness back into the game. They are going

forward again. And that is another chance for Inverness! They are

desperate for the win. But right now it is 2-2.

Good to see him kept on his toes there. Hamilton against Oman.

You can't separate the teams. 1-1 at the moment with ten minutes to go.

Two very similar goals. Brophy on 43 minutes. Longstaff opened the

scoring for command after seven minutes. Less than ten minutes to

go. Anybody's game. Let's find out how league leaders

are doing at home in the Championship.

It is relief all round at Easter Road. Cummings managed to get his

head onto a cross for an equaliser. But in truth it has been a goal that

has been a long time coming. A united took the lead through

Crawford after four minutes. The shot bundled beneath the hands of

Laidlaw in the Hibs goal. Since then it has been all Hibs, they have had

a lot of the ball. Keating has managed to capital his own player on

the edge of the penalty area, it has been that kind of day for Hibs. But

they are back in it now. The goals have been flying in. Let's

start at Inverness. They were two goals down against Dundee. But they

have turned it around. I saw them in midweek lose against the

Academicals. The manager slaughtered them after the game and was looking

for something today. They go two goals down and I thought, they are

going to fold. But they get two goals back. They came out fighting

and they have missed a penalty. Billy Mackay right in the thick of

things. He scores the first penalty, takes the second one the same way

and the goalkeeper saves it. If I am the goalkeeper, I am loving it. You

saw McGovern their screaming at the defender. It is a stupid penalty to

give away. The goalkeeper is coming out to clear the corner. But

Inverness, the last three games he was looking to take a point. He has

been talking about it is not a relegation battle yet but I think if

they don't take all three points from this they start to lose touch.

Derek McInnes at Aberdeen will be claiming a moment of tactical

genius. People say he doesn't make positive substitutions. But Aberdeen

have been going well but that result against Celtic. They have been

struggling for goals so he brings on Ryan Christie and Stockley and his

sub scores. Not such a great week for Mark Warburton. It was looking

even worse until Wallace got on the scoresheet. I think he was claiming

the last time he lost to Hearts... Rangers have had costly draws and

Ross County was one of those costly draws. They have scored 31 goals

this season and that is the lowest out of the top four. When they have

a difficult time against Hearts, they were just slap, every single

one was preventable. He is looking for a response now and unless they

win, I am not sure that is the response they need. And the fact

Aberdeen are head puts more pressure on. Philippe Senderos gaming today,

Jason Hogg, Gardner came back, so he has mixed the pack, he had to come

out fighting. Ross County... They have made it difficult for Rangers.

But the problem is, as the game with have made it difficult for Rangers.

on and they are coming down to the last ten minutes, they can't afford

to go and sit in front of goal. Two of your former clubs in action. I've

looked at this fixture and the last seven league matches between them,

six away wins and one draw. The home team never win this fixture. If

Kilmartin went ahead, I think it is going to be more of the same, but

the Academicals have come back into it and it is anybody's game. It was

tight at Easter Road as well. Maybe that was the surprise of the day,

United, but Hibs have come back into it and it seems that things are wee

bit chaotic. It takes me back. That is a surprise. The fact they are

struggling to beat the United team. Everything was going for Hibs. They

have won the last four. They have got a cup tie against Hearts coming

up next week. But you want to keep the pot boiling. You played poorly

today, you can play yourself out of the side. I would expect Hibs

against United, who are 12 without a win, I thought they would be quite

comfortable this afternoon. But there is a good crowd at Easter Road

and they will be getting behind them now. Let's hear from our reporters

around the country again. What is happening at Ibrox. No change in the

scoreline still. Still 1-1. Wallace is calling for Rangers, equalising

after Schalk but the visitors ahead. Let's go to Pittodrie and Scott

Davies, who is watching Aberdeen against Partick Thistle. Still be

Stockley goal separating the sides, coming in the 72nd minute, the

substitute coming off the bench as Aberdeen went for broke, given the

situation at Ibrox. If it stayed the same there and here, Aberdeen will

move a while -- move about Mark Warburton's side into second place

on goal difference. Partick, it has been so frustrating for them again

because they passed up three excellent chances, the most recent

one coming in the 78th minute from substitute Adebayo Azeez, who was

the route but he put the ball past Joe Lewis but past the upright as

well. It has been that kind of season four Partick Thistle, a fine

performance together at the moment, another fine but futile performance,

it seems as they trailed 1-0. Let's go to Inverness for an update on

Caley Thistle against Dundee from Martin. Still all square? It is and

I frankly can't down a bit and so has the action. Picking up on what

Gemma said, the point is, Inverness need more than a point today and you

wonder if they will throw everything at it in the last few minutes and

whether Dundee might capitalise? I should mention Derby have had some

chances to get a bird, Paul McGowan hit a post, blazed over when clean

through and they are countering quite effectively. Inverness with a

missed penalty as well. A special mention for Scott Bain in the Dundee

goal. He has been absolutely excellent today. Still a few minutes

to go, and Richie Foran is pointing his troops forward. Still 2-0. --

Tim Whiteman two. Jollies watching Hamilton against Kilmarnock, still

level there? Yes but both teams going for the win, Conor Sammon has

come on for Kilmarnock replacing Kris Boyd but has not really had an

opportunity to get on the end of any crosses yet. What we did have was a

good corner from Daniel Redmond that nearly sneaked in. The Kilmarnock

defence and goalkeeper did all they nearly sneaked in. The Kilmarnock

could to keep it out. Just into five minutes left and it is still 1-1.

Back to the Championship and Richard Wilson at Easter Road, Hibs against

Ayr, still 1-1? Yes, and having equalised in the 71st minute, Hibs

desperately searching for the winner. Jason Cummings. At a 20 yard

shot put up -- pushed away and Grant Holt met a cross into the area with

a header which was met on the line. Hibs still out of sorts and it was

not that long ago that Brian Graham Jason Cummings were arguing after

they got in each other's way on the edge of the area. Hibs trying

everything they can to score but Ayr hanging on at the moment. They are

tackling each other, are with each other, what is going on? Ryder that

is how keen they are to play against Hearts next weekend! Aberdeen have

just scored so we will go to Pittodrie to get an update on that

one from Martin. Ryan Christie has scored for Aberdeen, his second

appearance as a substitute, could not play against his parent club in

midweek but in stoppage time, here, it is really rubbing it in after a

great performance by Partick Thistle. Stockley, the other

substitute, hooked it into the six yard box and there was Ryan Christie

to knock it into the back of the net yard box and there was Ryan Christie

and make sure that Aberdeen see this through, to get three precious

points in their bid to finish second through, to get three precious

in the league this season. They lead through, to get three precious

2-0 now. Ryan Christie's first Aberdeen goal? Fantastic, Derek

McInnes will be loving it. Looks as though he could be a valuable

acquisition for the Dons. I would think so, you are adding quality,

you know he can play but he can't get a regular game at Celtic and

learns nothing playing in the U21s so you move on and get playing and

if you can get into the Aberdeen team, he's playing in a battle for

second place, high profile pictures every week, good for his development

and Aberdeen and he goes back to sell a better player. Another player

returning to his old stomping ground, Conor Sammon back at

Kilmarnock having scored 18 bearing one season, half of that for the

rest of the season would do then wonders, wouldn't it? Yes,

especially with Coulibaly, gone, who scored half of their goals this

season. Not quite the same player, though. He has different attributes,

put it that way! To be fair, this game at nuclear -- New Douglas Park

looks like a cracker, both teams going for it. Kilmarnock have been

unbeaten in the last five visits and they are pressing and pressing. But

if Conor Sammon hit the ground running, that would be fantastic,

he's not been in the goals that Hearts but Kilmarnock need it.

Thinking, talking about how Inverness need a win but if they get

a point today, the fans will be going home with a bit of a spring in

their step. The way the point was won, having gone 2-2 -- two goals

down and then you shown the right spirit and come back into the game,

both sides have had chances and it's always a good game for Inverness.

Dundee have never won a league game at Inverness in ten attempts, 60

feet and four draws. It would be a good result for them. It is full at

Pittodrie in a match between Aberdeen and Partick. -- full-time.

It has finished 2-0, not for those Partick Thistle players but for

Aberdeen, let's if Scott Davie. Derek McInnes really went for broke

knowing what the situation was at Ibrox and how important it was that

Aberdeen saw the game through to get the three points against a very

stubborn resistance defensively and a side that created some of the

better chances in the game in Partick Thistle. He took of tee

defenders and put on Ryan Christie, the on loan midfielder from Celtic

and Jayden Stockley upfront and the substitutes did the business as

Aberdeen switched to a three-man backline. Stockley headed home his

fifth goal of the season on 72 minutes from a Niall McGinn swerving

free kick from the left-hand side and then in stoppage time, at the

end, there was Christie, to score his first goal during his loan

spell, in only his second appearance for the club. Stockley put it on a

plate for him inside the six yard box and a former Caley Thistle

player knocked into the back of the net to complete a miserable what if

afternoon for Partick Thistle who have now gone 406 minutes without

scoring a league goal and have taken four points from 12 matches against

teams in the top five places in the Premiership and the reason is, they

can't finish the chances they have created. Christie Elliot in the

first half, Edwards and substitute Adebayo Azeez in the second, all

with wonderful opportunities to score but they failed to take them

and it is the same story for Partick, losing 2-0. Full-time

whistle sounding around the country. Next up, Inverness against Dundee.

It is over, finishing 2-2, Martin? Greg Tansey's late equaliser getting

a vital point in the home side after they trailed by two goals in a

fabulous match. Inverness started very well and hit the post, had a

goal chalked off but done the lead when Marcus Haber nodded home,

compounded when Darren O'Dea nodded vaguely's corner in and Billy

McKay's penalty brought out, McGowan threatened a third for Dundee when

he hit the post and then blazed over went through on goal. Inverness

pushed and got a second spot kick, the Dundee defence daft to concede

for holding. Billy McKay stepped up but the superb Scott Bain stopped

it, but then when he blocked another rapid, Greg Tansey kept his head and

slotted into the corner. A welcome point for the home side given

circumstances but when the dust settles, you wonder whether it will

be enough? At full-time, 2-2. And the match has come and gone at

Hamilton, Accies against Kilmarnock this afternoon. Charlie, another

draw? Another draw and a good game as well, 1-1, a point apiece, just

about right on the way the has gone in 90 minutes. Both teams won last

time out so the form was good coming into this one and certainly in the

first half, they both went about their business in an excellent

fashion. Kilmarnock took the lead on seven minutes, both goals very

similar, Kilmarnock took the lead with Sean Long staff, 20 yards out,

good, low shot past the goalkeeper into the back of the net. Eamon

Brophy had come on as a substitute for Accies on 15 minutes and two

minutes before the interval, he equalised. It was a great goal,

taking it on his chest, turning, 20 yards out, low shot past the

goalkeeper. Both of them went for it in the second half, not as many

chances as there was in the first, Danny Redmond had a corner that

almost sneaked in and then write in the dying embers, Rory McKenzie with

a header, a diving header in the box, might have done better but the

goalkeeper, Gary Woods, picked it up. A point apiece pretty fair on

the way this one went. Into the Championship now and we had to the

the way this one went. Into the Falkirk Stadium where we join Tam

McManus on his trusty mobile to tell us what happened when the bairns met

the piles of Dunfermline. It finished Falkirk 2-0 Dunfermline, a

dominant full cup performance from start to finish. They went 1-0 up in

the 33rd minute, Hayley Millar knocked down headed home by Baird

from a couple of yards out, Michael Moffat had a rare chance on

half-time but shot wide the Dunfermline, and the second of it

was all for Kirk again, would-be killer second goal, bed's strike,

sensational save, but the rebound fell kindly for Lee Miller, who

rifled them to make it 2-0 and game over. Falkirk see the gay Matt

Toomua three points behind Dundee United but the path' promotion dream

looks all but buried. Add full-time, 2-0. Let's find out how it finished

at Easter Road, the match between Hibs and second bottom Ayr was

watched by Richard Wilson. David, it finished in a drawer and Hibs needed

a late goal to rescue that, Jason Cummings with a header in the 75th

minute but in truth, the league leaders will see this as two points

dropped against Ayr, who are second bottom of the Championship. The

visitors took the lead after four minutes, Robbie Crawford picking up

the ball outside the area, jinking inside, past three challenges to get

past Laidlaw. After that, it was all Hibs but they were out of sorts,

created little, did not manage to get behind the Ayr defence often

enough and even in the second half when Grant Holt and Brian Graham

were on, the crosses led to nothing until Jason Cummings came off the

bench to score. At the death, Grant Holt had a header cleared off the

line. Ayr hung on for the point and it finished 1-1. It also finished

1-1 between Rangers, who started the day in second place in the

Premiership, against Ross County. County going ahead through Alex

Schalk in the 19th minute, and it took a Lea Wallace equaliser in the

72nd minute to make sure Rangers got at least a point out of that one.

Probably the best news for Rangers today, the attendance, just under

50,000. Perhaps the surprise of the day in the Championship came in

Dumfries at Palmerston Park where Queen of the South were at home to

Morton so let's you about that from Sandra Brown. Big result for Queen

of the South, David, as they beat Morton 3-0. For long spells, the

game hung in a balanced as both sides were evenly matched. It took

until the 75th minute before we got the breakthrough is that came after

some good play by Scott Merson on the right, who set up Thomas, who

played the ball into the box for Derek Lyle, who had his back to goal

but managed to do a head on it and the ball was over the top of the

goalkeeper. They almost doubled their lead two minutes later when

Stephen Dobbie capitalised on a rare mistake at the goalkeeper came out

to save and then Lyle knocked the rebound past the post. They did find

a second, eight minutes from time, when it was a strike that was fit to

win any game, Kyle Jacobs, 25 yards from goal, unleashing a right foot

shot that flew past Gaston into the top corner but he was outdone by Joe

Thompson who ran the full length of the park before slotting the ball

past Gaston in injury time to make it three. Let's go to Dumbarton and

find out what happened when the sun is met the bodies, Dumbarton against

St Mirren. Robert McClain is there. Not the result you are looking for,

as you were at the bottom of the Championship, St Mirren still seven

behind Ayr, 11 behind today's opponents, Dumbarton, they got the

opening goal, Saints, ten minutes from half-time, David Clarkson after

good work from Cammy Smith, prodding in and it was 1-0 at half-time,

early second-half equaliser, St Mirren suspect at corners all day

long, Christian Aid heading in from Andy Stirling's delivery, Saints

ahead again, though, Harry Davis on debut on loan from Crewe Alexandra,

the central defender, heading in Stephen McGinn's free kick off the

underside of the bar but it was all square again, ten minutes from time,

Robert Thomson, the top score of the Dumbarton, his seventh of the

season, Christian Aid with the knock-down and he rattled in from

close range and the teams had to settle for a share of the points.

What do you think the biggest story of the day is, Aberdeen's whenever

Partick Thistle, Rangers dropping points Achanta Ross County? Is it a

combination of the two? Probably the big headline will be Rangers

dropping points at home against Ross County, they have dropped against

Hamilton, St Johnstone, twice against Ross County at home, home

form has not been bad but that is a lot of points that have drifted

away, losing two points every time you draw and that is what Hearts and

Aberdeen took advantage with the wins, going into second place with a

game in hand. It is a battle and it might go to the wire but I think a

lot of people expected Rangers to be fired up and be too strong for

County today, great result for Drew McIntyre's team but not so good for

County today, great result for Drew Rangers. The Hearts performance was

described by Mark Warburton as an acceptable. How do you think this

rates on that scale? Going on the score, it must be completely

unacceptable. The worst result of the weekend? In terms of the

performance against Trott, that was completely unacceptable as well as

the result but I think it is the fact that you have had that and

there has been no reaction. You have gone behind and it has taken until

the 71st minute and then you have come away, you have not found the

ability to dig in and find that kind of extra bit of something to get a

victory, even if you are playing terribly or well, you force the win

and teams that go on and be successful find a way to do that.

That will be disappointing for him. Will you be under severe pressure

now, Mark Warburton? He lives under pressure, he's the Rangers manager,

it's a weekly thing, Celtic are miles away and they are going to win

the title, they have a ready won wake up and the Scottish Cup is

still to play for but the Rangers fans are hoping they would be closer

than that. Celtic spent the most money and they will be number one

and Rangers next best and they should be number two but at the

moment, Aberdeen, who don't budget, are ahead of them, and then Hearts,

the fourth biggest spenders are fourth, so it is almost in line but

Aberdeen have jumped above Rangers and Derek McInnes will be the first

to tell you his budget does not match Mark Warburton's sub of course

the Rangers manager after every poor result has to come out and make an

excuse and tell the fans how you is going to solve it. It is time to put

me under severe pressure because it is time for the classified results

round-up. One championship match is still to

kick-off. It's between two teams who have been struggling for winds of

late. Dundee United at home against Raith Rovers. Let's get a flavour of

the atmosphere at Tannadice. Two draws in two meetings this

season but a draw would not be a good result tonight. Dundee United

looking to win for the first time in five league matches. Raith Rovers

without a win in their last ten league matches. And they were beaten

heavily last weekend at home despite taking the lead against Dumbarton.

Simon Murray replaces Willo Flood for Dundee United. Gary Locke is

seeking to find an evasive winning formula. With Hibs being held at

home today, a big chance for United to gain some ground and I expect

they will do so. A bold prediction from Paul

Mitchell. Dundee United have the incentive. If they win, they narrow

the gap at the top points and while it did look like the title race was

over, it could rekindle. United need to get back to their top form. Raith

Rovers cannot get a victory at all. A lot of people see this as a Dundee

United win but what with Rovers have done during the campaign is that

they have played the big matches. They have drawn twice with United

and twice with Hibs. That doesn't sound like a resounding endorsement

for Paul Mitchell's view. If you look at the two teams and the squads

and the runs they are wrong, you have got to go Dundee United, but

Raith Rovers on their day can cause problems. Gary Locke, the problem

is, they are ten matches without a win, you wonder where the next

victory is going to come from. I expect Raith Rovers to fight tooth

and nail. They are in freefall, Raith Rovers. And the teams at the

bottom are picking up points. Raith Rovers are being sucked into maybe

not the automatic relegation but the play-off spot. It has got to stop

somewhere and this would be a great place for it to stop. It's not like

Dundee United have been winning, winning, winning. I agreed and

United have got that extra bit of quality but Gary Locke's teams know

how to make it difficult and even a point here would be a fantastic

result. They have got to get three points on

the board regular but Dumbarton at home, they beat United twice, they

beat Falkirk, it is not an easy place to go. Neither is Stamford

Bridge and that is where we are going to start our English round-up

today. Chelsea were at home to Arsenal in a lunchtime London derby.

There are days in late winter, early spring, when you see the blossoming

of title winners. This was one. Chelsea will take some stopping now.

Arsenal certainly couldn't do it. From the moment Diego Costa hit the

bar and Alonso headed in the rebound, the game was lost long

before Chelsea's second. Eden Hazard dribbling from halfway, leaving a

trail of bodies behind him. It was a sublime Chelsea moment. And then to

cap it all, Cesc Fabregas came off the bench, within 90 seconds, he

scored the third. Olivier Giroud pulled one back with a late header.

scored the third. Olivier Giroud Arsenal were always second best.

Chelsea have seen off their challenge and in this form will see

off the rest too. 3-1. Liverpool were second best way

against Hull City this afternoon. After dry January, Liverpool remain

firmly on the wagon. Still no win in 2017 in the Premier League. Both

goals from Hull City showing up their defensive frailties. The first

from N'Diaye on his debut. The second was Route one. With Man City

in action tomorrow, Liverpool could slip out of the top four come the

end of the weekend. But for Hull City, the great escape is on.

A big win there for struggling Hull City. An even bigger win for David

Moyes' Sunderland. They were away at Crystal Palace this afternoon. Let's

get the story. A humiliating day for Sam Allardyce

and the Palace supporters are pointing fingers at the players as

they go down the tunnel. The stewards are having to fight them

off such is the embarrassment and anger towards the performance. They

lacked character, they lack now up upfront and everything you need to

pick up even a point. Such an important football match. Seven

points here from a possible 36. The important football match. Seven

goal came from Kone early on. Larsson was let off a second yellow

card and then three goals in five minutes before the break for Ndong

and then two from Jermain Defoe. Palace never recovered. An awful day

for them. Only a second away win of the season for Sunderland.

Jackie Oakley with a tale of goals galore. There were even more at

Goodison Park in the game between Everton and Bournemouth.

What an afternoon at Goodison Park. The faithful loving 2017. Seven

games unbeaten and since Christmas they have scored three, four and six

in their three matches here. The writing was on the wall when Lukaku

smashing home his first. McCarthy scored the second. Bournemouth made

changes at half-time and King scored two. And Goodison faithful started

to get nervous but then Lukaku added his hat-trick and then another to

make him the top scorer in the Premier League as things stand now.

Harry Arter pulled another one back for Bournemouth. Nine goals but

Everton get six. Plenty of goals at Southampton. The

Saints were entertaining West Ham this afternoon.

Slaven Bilic individually high-fiving all his players in the

tunnel as they disappear back to the dressing room and this as

comfortable and away win as he will see in the Premier League. West Ham

defensively secure, they attacked with more intent, and Southampton's

troubles there for all to see. The script looked like it was going to

have a different narrative earlier on when Gabbiadini, on his debut,

cracked home his first goal for the home side but West Ham were level

within two minutes through Carroll's goal. Obiang scored his first for

the club and they extended their advantage shortly after the break

through Noble. The Hammers were in control. It is six defeats in seven

now for Southampton and there will be a few Saints fans who will be

analysing that Premier League table and little more over the weekend.

Let's head to Vicarage Road where they were to mid-table teams in

action. Watford against Burnley. They have hung on for a deserved

victory over the balance of play. Ten man Burnley pushed them late on

victory over the balance of play. but the penalty was just a

consolation. Captain Troy Deeney and the very impressive by Deanne. The

red card left Burnley with a mountain to climb and Sean Dyche's

return to Watford is a miserable one. Just one point on the road for

them all season. Now to the Hawthorns and Ivan

Gaskell who has news of a Scottish international on the scoresheet in

the match between West Brom and Stoke. Seems a lifetime ago since

James Morrison steered the lone shot past Lee Grant to give West Brom the

lead. They made the fans sweat. Berahino came off the bench but had

little impact and his old club had the final, well, let's say the end

of the sorry story and they had the last laugh in it. The trouble is

still going on and it is being quelled, I will keep an eye on it

but it finished 1-0. Jonathan Pearce at Stamford Bridge said he detected

the blossoming of title winners. It certainly looks that way. Not that

long ago, Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-0. That was in September. What a

turnaround. The thing for Arsenal is Christmas has happened and that

tends to be the thing! If you're an Arsenal fan and I'm not, you just

think, "Same old Arsenal, they always look full of promise and then

they just drift off". But Chelsea have been quietly going... Everyone

has been talking about Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte has said, "That is

fine". They are in the clear. They will be hard to catch and they got

strength in depth and if they lose a player, they can bring in one of

senior quality, they have got a lead, Arsenal have lost the last

couple, Liverpool have no wins in five, everyone else is going

backwards and Chelsea are cruising to the championship. The wheels are

well and truly off the Liverpool wagon. Arsenal have had a poor start

to the year but what about Liverpool? Klopp's hop crisis. He is

the man that Liverpool want but I don't know how much more you can

defend what is happening right now. It is not just losing, it is against

teams that they were absolutely annihilating in the first half of

the season. Have they run out of steam? Possibly. Not much strength

in depth. Not compare to the really big spenders but the fact is, they

are losing to Hull, getting knocked out of the cup by Southampton, and

then by Wolves, you have to criticise the manager for that.

These are games they should be winning. If you are losing to

Manchester City, United and Chelsea, you can live with that but they are

losing to teams that, in their position, you have to be winning.

One Premiership match still to be played this weekend, the Sunday

special between St Johnstone and Celtic in Perth. You will be able to

listen to it live tomorrow afternoon. The show starts at midday

on FM, medium wave, digital and online. I don't think I've missed

anything there! The home team chasing a third successive win

having beaten Partick on Tuesday. This will bring joy to your heart,

Gemma, to see this again. Not to Partick Thistle hearts, a terrible

goal to concede but thinking back to the game against Hamilton and this

game, where actually, I think Hamilton and Partick had the better

of the chances in the first off, they played us off the park but

there's a bit of resilience, Susanna Clarke has been doing excellent in

goal for us and we've managed to come away with the wins. What Tommy

Wright does with the budget he has, which is minimal at best, is the

ability to do this every year, to have us up there and we are on 34

points, ten clear of the closest rival. It is great. The last team to

beat Celtic in a domestic game was St Johnstone, 2-1 at Fir Park in May

of last year. I think Celtic looked like they were in second gear

against Aberdeen, only 1-0, so there's a chance! If you think St

Johnstone's recent form is impressive, what about league

leaders Celtic? Base recorded their 18th successive league win on

Thursday with a narrow win over third placed Aberdeen. There is no

stopping them. They have the quality and the momentum. Boyata comes back

in the team against the winner against St Johnstone, he gets the

winner there, I watched them against Hearts and Hearts defended well and

made the work but Celtic always find the answer, winning lots of games by

the odd goal, teams test them but they find a way to win. Can you see

a way for St Johnstone to win this match? It is possible. Gemma might

be in sight -- Gemma will be having Celtic are in second gear. You need

that to happen and St Johnstone to be right at it but you still have to

play well on the day, Ian McDiarmid gives them a chance, looking at

Celtic you ask if they can go to the season undefeated and of course they

can't but the difficulty is, games at Pittodrie and Tynecastle, at

Ibrox, and I think McDermott it -- McDiarmid Park is the next most

difficult. St Johnstone can always nick a goal will stop take

absolutely anything because it will take something special to beat

Celtic just now the way they are going. Continuing with our

Premiership chat, now we can hear from one of the managers, whose team

was in action this afternoon, Hamilton's Martin Canning after the

1-1 draw with Kilmarnock. He spoke to Charlie Mann. I think so, I said

that to the other reporter, I don't think we did enough to win the game

or to lose the game, I think the point was a fair result. I thought

the first 25 minutes, Kilmarnock started better. I thought we changed

it, went 4-3- three and got a foothold, had a couple of good

opportunities to equalise before we did. Then we get it back to 1-1 and

I was pleased at half-time because it could have been worse, given the

way the game had started but in the second half, I thought we were the

better team. Second-half -- first off, I thought we were the better,

and second-half I did not think there was much in it, a couple of

headers past the post and we did not make the most of it. Had we nicked

it, you could have argued it, had they nicked it, probably not so a

point was probably a fair result. they nicked it, probably not so a

The second half, when you were better, was it because you got

closer to kill Mamdouh Abou Ebaid, did you give them too much space in

the first? I think so and you can see that they have had a week to

prepare for the game and we had a big midweek game which has taken a

lot out of us emotionally, mentally and physically. You could see that

from the start. They are coming off the back of a good result last week

against Ross County. Both teams were on a high but they were a bit

fresher than us given we had a game in the week. You could see that and

the longer the game went, we got into it and I thought we tired a bit

in the middle of the park in the last ten minutes of each. We will a

point and it is four out of six, two big games, we would have liked to

have taken six out of six but I said to the boys in there, we have gained

a point, if you like three points off the top -- of the top six, some

point better off than where we started. I think I got all of that!

In an ever-changing word, some things you can rely on, Hamilton

getting a draw is one of them. -- ever-changing world. Is that well

for the season? Dundee had 15 losses and so it looks like they will catch

them but the good news is, they came from behind, rather than taking the

lead and losing it again. Martin Canning mentioned they are three

points off the bottom six but they are also three points off the bottom

of the table, it is so tight but take the positives. 12 games without

of the table, it is so tight but a win, high pressure in midweek

against Inverness and they won it. Do follow that up with a draw

against Kilmarnock side you have a really good record at New Douglas

Park is a good day 's work. Martin Canning's glass is clearly half full

so let's find out where the liquid is in that belonging to Lee Clark

who also spoke to Charlie after the game. Probably in the end, what is

frustrating for us because I thought we were outstanding in about half an

hour, Stowe dominant, bit of a strange one because I've been in

football a long time, I've experienced going from being that

impressive in the first half an hour to call you know, ending up having

to scrap for the result in the last 16. We did not do particularly badly

in the last 60 minutes but we stopped doing the good things,

stopped playing the game simply and quickly. That created those chances.

In the end, we are frustrated because, you know, those extra two

points would have pushed us clear in sixth with a game next week, the

only game going on next weekend. Frustrated, really. Is it another

example of just how tight it is between the teams in the lower half

of the division? Absolutely, we had four games against Hamilton this

season and they've all been extremely tight. We won the league

game here with two late goals, 2-1, they beat us in the cup with a late

penalty and we have had two draws, 0-0 and today. Everyone is scrapping

and fighting. We are well aware of the situation. It is tight. These

are the games where you have to take points and we are disappointed we

did not take three but we will move on and go again. He's not quite as

positive on the outcome of that one as his counterpart at Hamilton. I

think that kill Mamdouh Abou Ebaid probably edged it, for me, with the

chances that they had. -- kill Marnoch edged that with the chances

they had. The amount of players they bought in, the different formations

they have played, he said they were sublime in the first 30 minutes and

then having to scrap for a point in the last 60 minutes. If you don't

have a fluent formation in your team, that will happen. They kind of

need to accept that, the Marnoch because they don't have a lot of

money. They have to rely on loan signings, they are trying to find

what they're best team is with what they have got. They have got

opportunities to bring youth into the club. It is kind of this like

rolling ball of stuff that is happening. But it is working for

them in the sense that they are in a better position. Does that make

sense? A rolling ball of stuff, there you go, you can't buy that

kind of chat. Time to hear from a winning manager, Derek McInnes, who

spoke to Scott Davie after Aberdeen's whenever Partick Thistle.

Yeah, I thought at times it was a tough afternoon. I think you have to

credit Partick Thistle, they came here with a game plan and I thought

they restricted the service in the wide areas, as we thought they would

come and we try to get Jonny Hayes a bit more play central to start with.

We struggled to get any real with a more momentum. We missed a good few

chances in the first half. -- any real rhythm or momentum. If we had

taken one of those chances, it might have been disciplined but we asked

the questions of Partick Thistle. They've a good size and good

organisation about them. We had to try to find a way to win but I'm

delighted that the lads did it. The players deserve a lot of credit for

finding that victory, especially after the game at on Wednesday night

at Parkhead, it was important the substitutes came on to help us win

the game and see it out. It's either very windy at Pittodrie or Scott

Davie has a serious problem with heavy breathing! Apologies for the

sound quality. Derek McInnes showed his tactical prowess in that one

today, Craig, as we mentioned. Yeah, he knew it was an opportunity with

what was happening at Ibrox only through on the quality players. If

you have people like Stockley on the bench and Ryan Christie, get them on

and see if they can produce a bit of magic in the final third. They got

the goals and they went on to another very important victory

because Rangers are struggling just now, the win against Motherwell, the

only one in the last five and that is five wins out of six for Aberdeen

so they have the momentum just now. Partick, you have to feel sorry for

them, Scott mentioned in his report that they are creating chances, the

story of their season, creating chances but not converting them. And

it is happening every week. That is the big problem for them. Unbeaten

against the teams who were in the bottom half at the start of today

and have not taken anything off Celtic and they have not taken

anything off Rangers and they haven't taken anything off Aberdeen.

That is the problem. The high-profile fixtures, the ones

where they want to go and prove themselves, at the moment, they are

struggling. I'm afraid that is just about it for us today but we can

still sneak another sneaky peek at today's results in the top two

divisions, why not? Here they come, starting with the Premiership.

Aberdeen's result is good enough to take them into second place. All

square at Hamilton, Accies drawing 1-1 with Kilmarnock, and all square

at Inverness, 2-2 with Dundee. The biggest Premiership win of the day

for Hearts, 3-0 away to Motherwell and a disappointing result for

Rangers, 1-1 at home to Ross County, and as we mentioned, St Johnstone

play Celtic tomorrow. In the Championship, one or two surprises,

Hibs, the league leaders, drawing with second bottom Ayr United, and

Queen of the South upsetting one of the form teams, Morton, 3-0. A good

win for Falkirk against Dunfermline. Dundee United against Raith Rovers

is underway, goalless at the moment, as you can see it and the bottom

club St Mirren getting a 2-2 draw away to Dumbarton. Now, you can

catch highlights of all the weekend's Premiership matches

tomorrow evening at 6pm on BBC Two. Please note, no repeat this week on

BBC One because of the Super Bowl, whatever that is? And there's live

action next Saturday. Did against Inverness in the fifth round of the

Scottish Cup. Tune in from midday and stick around for the results

later. And if you tune into Radio Scotland, you'll catch Off The Ball,

later. And if you tune into Radio and if you're watching, Tam, get

well soon. Thanks to Craig and Gemma for their wit and wisdom today. We

will see you soon. The 2015 Scottish Cup winners

Inverness Caledonian Thistle... Sensational!

The stuff that dreams are made of.