:00:25. > :00:34.Good afternoon. So it begins again! Welcome to the new league season.
:00:35. > :00:38.Hope you have missed us as much as we have missed you. We will have all
:00:39. > :00:42.the scores as usual plus the benefit of the wit and wisdom of our guests.
:00:43. > :00:45.Trust me, they might not look good but they are just as excited as I
:00:46. > :00:50.am! The premiership season kicked off at lunchtime, Rangers's first
:00:51. > :00:53.match in the top flight for four years, at home to Hamilton and would
:00:54. > :01:03.you believe, it finished in a 1-1 draw. Martin Canning and Mark
:01:04. > :01:07.Warburton, the managers. Hamilton took the lead, Crawford put them
:01:08. > :01:12.ahead 30 minutes into the match with a curling shot from inside the
:01:13. > :01:18.guilty area. Rangers equalised through Waghorn in the 63rd minute.
:01:19. > :01:27.Joey Barton was awarded man of the match. Back on equalised in the 63rd
:01:28. > :01:33.minute, Forrester set him up towards the end of the game, he suffered an
:01:34. > :01:37.injury and had to leave the field. A point apiece for Rangers and
:01:38. > :01:45.Hamilton in the opening game of the season. Perhaps not the outcome one
:01:46. > :01:50.would have expected? Definitely not but take nothing away from Hamilton,
:01:51. > :01:57.they came with a game plan and execute it to a T. Rangers were poor
:01:58. > :02:01.in my opinion, failed to imprint their style on the game, Joey Barton
:02:02. > :02:05.was tidy enough and is range of passing was excellent but no Rangers
:02:06. > :02:10.player can take man of the match today, think it has to be a Hamilton
:02:11. > :02:18.player, they looked fit, organised, I would've given to Ali Crawford. A
:02:19. > :02:21.sense of anti-climax for Rangers? I guess the expectation would be that
:02:22. > :02:25.they would get off to a flyer, there was some talk of them winning their
:02:26. > :02:30.first four games because of some relatively kind starts to the
:02:31. > :02:34.season, before the old firm game, but that's a stumble straightaway.
:02:35. > :02:39.There are going to be a few of these for the teams, Celtic for me the
:02:40. > :02:44.clear favourites for the league but they will stumble and drop points as
:02:45. > :02:47.well. For Hamilton, who we would expect to be in a relegation battle,
:02:48. > :02:52.that is a point that you possibly didn't expect to get. Told you not
:02:53. > :02:59.to mention the relegation fight other title race yet! The consensus
:03:00. > :03:03.from both managers was, as you mentioned, Hamilton had a game plan,
:03:04. > :03:08.they went there and executed it and that credit to the team and to their
:03:09. > :03:13.manager. Especially the Martin Canning, because Hamilton are the
:03:14. > :03:16.team with the smallest budget in the league, a relatively young playing
:03:17. > :03:21.squad, to go to Ibrox on the day when they are unfurling the flag and
:03:22. > :03:26.the fans are poignant, the expectation that they are going to
:03:27. > :03:29.wipe the floor with Hamilton today, I thought Rangers would win
:03:30. > :03:32.convincingly full stop this started brightly but Hamilton came into the
:03:33. > :03:36.game and thoroughly deserved their point today. Some because
:03:37. > :03:44.appointments for Rangers, the Waghorn injury, looked like a
:03:45. > :03:49.hamstring tear, and Kranjcar was nowhere near the level he needs to
:03:50. > :03:56.be at Davey is going to be an asset. Time for our first belt around the
:03:57. > :04:04.grounds of the season, with the start at the monarch. I am enjoying
:04:05. > :04:09.it! An impressive victory away for Motherwell, Unsworth and Johnson
:04:10. > :04:18.have scored, the major moment of drama for, not if their manager, Lee
:04:19. > :04:29.Clark, sent to the stands. -- for Kilmarnock. Ross County at home to
:04:30. > :04:33.Dundee this afternoon. It may be game over already, an impressive
:04:34. > :04:39.start for Paul Hartley's side, classic counterfeited visitors,
:04:40. > :04:44.McGowan, he beat Fox just as they ball trundled home, that was number
:04:45. > :04:50.three. A Rory Loy double has put Dundee very much in command. Ohio
:04:51. > :04:59.won the second penalty, appeared to be held in the box, Rory Loy fired
:05:00. > :05:02.at home just before half-time. Let's find out how the other Highland
:05:03. > :05:10.representatives are faring, I waited Partick Thistle. Partick Thistle are
:05:11. > :05:13.leading 2-0, there hasn't been on between the two sides but crucially,
:05:14. > :05:17.Partick Thistle have taken advantage of the few chances they have created
:05:18. > :05:24.the stop Caley Thistle haven't really threatened. The goals came in
:05:25. > :05:29.the first half from lawless finding the returning hero, chrysalis going,
:05:30. > :05:38.and a few moments later, and that the final touch to give Partick
:05:39. > :05:45.Thistle 2-0 lead. Dundee United, freshly relegated, at home to Queen
:05:46. > :05:48.of the South. Mark Miller didn't score a single goal in two years as
:05:49. > :05:53.a Dundee United player but as so often happens, he has scored against
:05:54. > :05:58.them to give Queen of the South the half-time lead. But Vandevelde and
:05:59. > :06:08.has levelled for the Tannadice team who are playing with a pace and
:06:09. > :06:12.intensity which was lacking earlier. For Kirk and Hibernian, finished
:06:13. > :06:19.second and third last season. -- for Kirk. At the moment, Jason Cummins,
:06:20. > :06:25.who was wanted by Peterborough United, has twice given then
:06:26. > :06:33.visitors the lead. A fantastic strike gave for Kirk the lead but
:06:34. > :06:46.Hibs have the advantage. -- Falcao. There has been a goal at Ross
:06:47. > :06:50.County. Straight after bench, Coleman, very close range, tapped it
:06:51. > :06:55.home. There was always goals in this fixture, they might be a few more.
:06:56. > :07:02.Just after he said he thought that game was all over! Let's have a
:07:03. > :07:08.moment or two to reflect - lines as they develop. My mind is immediately
:07:09. > :07:13.to Rugby Park, where Motherwell are 2-0 up. Seems to be a bit of deja vu
:07:14. > :07:20.from last season, they lost their opening game - zero. Really bad home
:07:21. > :07:25.record. There was a lot of chat before the match about the pitch,
:07:26. > :07:33.they have done that. Does that symbolise... It makes you think they
:07:34. > :07:37.will play a narrow long ball game. If I was over in for Kilmarnock, I
:07:38. > :07:43.would be worried. But the two players who have scored four
:07:44. > :07:47.Motherwell are the wide players, Ainsworth with an outrageous chip
:07:48. > :07:53.and Johnson with a powerful header. They have dominated the match. The
:07:54. > :07:58.worthy of the 2-goal lead. Caps with the departure of Hemmings, the
:07:59. > :08:06.modern world where their goals were coming from but they are 3-1 up.
:08:07. > :08:13.Probably expect him to leave Dundee, last season, they had Hemmings, Rory
:08:14. > :08:20.Loy and Stuart upfront and the other to conduct overshadowed Rory Loy a
:08:21. > :08:24.bit. Without them, he has come to the fore a bit today and has got a
:08:25. > :08:30.couple. If they see that out, it's a great start to the season for them.
:08:31. > :08:33.Partick Thistle are 2-0 up at Firhill, it would be a great start
:08:34. > :08:38.for them, they are notoriously slow starters. It would be an excellent
:08:39. > :08:47.start. They have recruited well in the summer, bringing chrysalis going
:08:48. > :08:51.back, -- Chris Erskine. I think Partick Thistle finished last season
:08:52. > :08:55.reasonably well, I would expect them to be up and about the middle of the
:08:56. > :09:00.table. Time to flesh out the bones from the headlines earlier. We will
:09:01. > :09:05.be John Jensen Sutherland, watching Kilmarnock against Motherwell.
:09:06. > :09:09.Kilmarnock can never the pitch or the like but some things never
:09:10. > :09:16.change for them, they are struggling again. -- narrow the pitch. Their
:09:17. > :09:19.manager Lee Clark was leaving his technical area, the fourth official
:09:20. > :09:23.said something to him, it seems he said something back to the fourth
:09:24. > :09:27.official which is not to his liking, and he was sent to the stands.
:09:28. > :09:32.Interesting to see what is about that after the match. After that,
:09:33. > :09:38.Motherwell took control of the match, some sublime skill from
:09:39. > :09:42.Ainsworth, his lobbed effort over McDonald is a sight to behold and
:09:43. > :09:47.you can see it tomorrow night at 7:30pm, in the highlights. In the
:09:48. > :09:55.second half, Marvin Johnson made it 2-0, with a header. Motherwell took
:09:56. > :09:58.control of this match. Kilmarnock tried to respond by putting Kris
:09:59. > :10:03.Boyd onto the pitch, he almost immediately pulled a goal back but
:10:04. > :10:06.it was saved and ever since then it has been something of a stalemate,
:10:07. > :10:13.Ainsworth should have made it 3-0 comments upon the offside trap but
:10:14. > :10:16.his shot was poor. It is turned into a bit of a tussle in the second-half
:10:17. > :10:24.but Motherwell are on course for all points. More now from Ross County
:10:25. > :10:33.against Dundee. Currently Ross County one, Dundee three, Rory Loy
:10:34. > :10:38.has stepped into the breach, two first-half goals have really set
:10:39. > :10:41.Dundee on way, both assisted by Mark O Hara, who did well on the
:10:42. > :10:45.right-hand side, picked a lovely cross out, found Rory Loy busting
:10:46. > :10:54.into the box and he slammed the ball home from close range. County had a
:10:55. > :10:57.number of long effort but the referee, not for the first time this
:10:58. > :11:05.season, clamped down on some holding in the box, he had warned couple of
:11:06. > :11:08.players before corner came in and then punished McInally for holding
:11:09. > :11:15.on Hara, he was booked and didn't complain. The third was a classic
:11:16. > :11:21.counter with Dundee sitting, Co tried to get round them, McGowan was
:11:22. > :11:25.clean through, his shot squirmed home for a third you thought it was
:11:26. > :11:33.all over at that point but it wasn't quite, has hit a shot in and day was
:11:34. > :11:36.Craig Curran to tap home. Greg Stuart, out of the squad altogether,
:11:37. > :11:41.that got a few tongues are wagging here. Apparently that is due to
:11:42. > :11:50.injury and not any impending transfer. Time to go back to
:11:51. > :11:55.Firhill. Partick Thistle, looking good for the three points, Steven
:11:56. > :12:04.Lawless fires a shot inches right of the far post. The two goals they
:12:05. > :12:06.have scored, the first one came ten minutes before the interval, Canon
:12:07. > :12:16.booth running down the left-hand side, slipped it to Steven Lawless,
:12:17. > :12:24.who got the path to chrysalis Chris Erskine. That was the only touch of
:12:25. > :12:29.class in a poor first half. The second half has been better, Caley
:12:30. > :12:33.Thistle have raised the tempo as they sought an equaliser but they
:12:34. > :12:39.were undone when a Sean Worth free kick was headed back across goal,
:12:40. > :12:43.they were unable to clear and I think it was David Amoo got there
:12:44. > :12:50.before they could clear to make it 2-0. Inverness Caley Thistle hasn't
:12:51. > :12:53.been bad but haven't been able to trouble the Partick Thistle
:12:54. > :12:59.doorkeeper. That could be a worry for their new manager. Let's reflect
:13:00. > :13:07.a rebate on the premiership matches now. Lee Clark, sent to the stands.
:13:08. > :13:12.The pitch, shortened, doesn't bode well for the rest of the season!
:13:13. > :13:18.It's a club that seems to have a cloud hanging over it just now.
:13:19. > :13:22.There is unrest at board level, the fans aren't happy, they are down in
:13:23. > :13:29.the first game of the season, it seems a bit doom and gloom for
:13:30. > :13:33.Kilmarnock. In contrast, Ross County ended the season on a high, they won
:13:34. > :13:37.the League Cup, made it into the top six, started badly and it seems as
:13:38. > :13:42.if it will continue into the premiership. I think they will be
:13:43. > :13:49.fine, they are well-run club, a talented manager, they have lost a
:13:50. > :13:52.big influence for them but I wouldn't have thought that would
:13:53. > :13:57.send them into any kind of tailspin. But as you say, going out of the
:13:58. > :14:06.League Cup September the really was... It sets the tone. -- League
:14:07. > :14:07.Cup so tamely. They are probably looking to get three points today,
:14:08. > :14:19.it puts them up against it. Partick Thistle on course for their
:14:20. > :14:22.first three points of the season, it looks pretty comfortable. Yes, they
:14:23. > :14:26.haven't been threatened very often and it looks like a comfortable win.
:14:27. > :14:37.More now from the Championship. Scott Davie has been watching Dundee
:14:38. > :14:42.United against Queen of the South. 1-1, a rather flat and insipid
:14:43. > :14:47.performance from Dundee United, Queen of the South keeping a lot of
:14:48. > :14:51.the possession, neither side creating many goal-scoring
:14:52. > :14:59.opportunities. The best chance falling for United with a Vandevelde
:15:00. > :15:01.and free kick. A -- free header but straight to the goalkeeper. Mark
:15:02. > :15:12.Miller breaking the deadlock with five minutes to the interval, a well
:15:13. > :15:14.worked move, the Australian midfielder Lyndon dykes causing
:15:15. > :15:20.problems for the United defence, borrowing his way into the penalty
:15:21. > :15:25.area. It was parried to grand Anderson and who build it back, and
:15:26. > :15:30.Mark Miller scored, sweeping the ball in from about 12 yards, giving
:15:31. > :15:36.Queen of the South deserved lead at that stage, but United came out and
:15:37. > :15:47.it took a wonderful equalising goal on 57 minutes from Vandevelde and to
:15:48. > :15:52.really spark them into life. Terrific control in the penalty
:15:53. > :15:55.area, he flicked the ball not only over the head of one Queen of the
:15:56. > :16:03.South defender but over another one, guided it into the net and from
:16:04. > :16:18.there on in United have played with patients that had been seared --
:16:19. > :16:25.severely lacking up to that point. Cammy Smith, on loan from Aberdeen,
:16:26. > :16:31.had a shot from 18 yards that forced Robinson into a save. Stephen Dobbie
:16:32. > :16:34.is back for his second spell with Queen of the South that he hasn't
:16:35. > :16:43.had much in the way of service, having come on as a substitute.
:16:44. > :16:47.Falkirk against Hibs, still 2-1 to the Bicester 's? It is, and over the
:16:48. > :16:53.last couple of seasons we have learned that Stephen Cummins likes
:16:54. > :17:04.being in the spotlight. -- to the visitors. There was a ?1.2 million
:17:05. > :17:09.bid by Hibs for his services, that was rejected. He pounced from six
:17:10. > :17:17.yards to tap in an easy goal after a shot had been palmed away by Danny
:17:18. > :17:24.Rogers. It fell to Cummings and he put it in the back of the net. The
:17:25. > :17:30.Hibs lead only lasted seven minutes because a brilliant strike from 25
:17:31. > :17:34.yards, Craig Seybold, his 200th appearance for Falkirk, blasted high
:17:35. > :17:40.into the top right corner, brilliant strike which restored parity until
:17:41. > :17:47.half-time. Just after the break, guess who popped up again, Jason
:17:48. > :17:52.Cummings, along with all forward by VX Norwich striker, he put it high
:17:53. > :17:57.in the top corner to make it 2-1. -- the former Norwich. Falkirk went
:17:58. > :18:04.close again just as I finished off but it is still Falkirk 1-2
:18:05. > :18:11.Hibernian. Cummings very much the man of the
:18:12. > :18:24.moment. I didn't guess, I knew who it was a! The transfer window is
:18:25. > :18:28.still open. 1.2 million, rising to maybe 1.7 depending on appearances
:18:29. > :18:37.and all the rest of it. They don't want to sell him but... How much
:18:38. > :18:40.more could they get? Edging towards ?2 million? English clubs don't tend
:18:41. > :18:46.to bid high for Scottish players because they know that Scottish
:18:47. > :18:51.clubs tend to be forced to sell. Good on Hibs for resisting as long
:18:52. > :18:57.as they can. I read about how much work they put in over the summer to
:18:58. > :19:02.get him to extend his contract, and then immediately to sell him... If
:19:03. > :19:07.an offer comes in that they can't reject... He is a huge player for
:19:08. > :19:14.them and they are desperate to get out of that league. Dunfermline sold
:19:15. > :19:19.their star striker to Dundee. 4-1 up the newcomers are at home to
:19:20. > :19:22.Dumbarton. Great score, I watched them against Inverness and they
:19:23. > :19:29.started very brightly, looking like a real threat going forward, but
:19:30. > :19:37.then Inverness got a foothold in the game and it ended up 5-1. But that
:19:38. > :19:42.is a very good opening day school. As you would expect, the return of
:19:43. > :19:50.the SPFL means the return of sports scene highlights. It will be an
:19:51. > :20:08.earlier time slot tomorrow night, this should get you in the mood.
:20:09. > :20:17.One of the finest goals you will see! He has scored! What an
:20:18. > :20:27.absolutely wonderful strike into the top left! See all the action from
:20:28. > :20:33.this weekend's Scottish Premiership matches on Sportscene.
:20:34. > :20:37.Don't miss it and if you do don't worry, it will be on the iPlayer. We
:20:38. > :20:42.are desperate to hear your thoughts on how the season will pan out. Who
:20:43. > :20:46.do you fancied to win the Premiership? While you are thinking
:20:47. > :20:51.about that let's hear who the manager of the reigning champions
:20:52. > :20:56.could challenge his team. It will be tied, probably the usual
:20:57. > :21:03.suspects, teams who have been doing well recently as well. The likes of
:21:04. > :21:08.Aberdeen have been doing well and they are out of the cup, which will
:21:09. > :21:11.give them more training time. Hearts have been about it and have a strong
:21:12. > :21:15.squad, Rangers coming into the league will fancy they can do well.
:21:16. > :21:24.Other teams will make it very difficult for you. I am really
:21:25. > :21:30.looking forward to it. A lot of the games are my first time to the
:21:31. > :21:35.stadiums so we shall prepare well. There has been a goal at the Cale
:21:36. > :21:50.Marnoch versus Motherwell match. What happened? -- kill Marnoch. Kill
:21:51. > :21:56.Marnoch have got one back. It will be a nervous finish for Motherwell.
:21:57. > :22:00.With Kris Boyd on the pitch now they will really be pushing to get this
:22:01. > :22:04.equaliser. They looked dead and buried a couple of minutes ago but
:22:05. > :22:10.this has breathe some life into them. I know you have been desperate
:22:11. > :22:16.to get this off your chest, you unburden yourself earlier before we
:22:17. > :22:25.were ready. Title challenge, you are going for Celtic? Yes, I think if
:22:26. > :22:29.you look at it they have... You can argue all of this but I think they
:22:30. > :22:35.have the best goalkeeper, defence, goal-scorer, squad, deepest
:22:36. > :22:39.resources to be able to add to the squad in the transfer windows, and
:22:40. > :22:46.they arguably have the best manager. That is a lot of advantages! You are
:22:47. > :22:50.making a good case! They won by 15 points last season and haven't lost
:22:51. > :22:57.anybody and we expect them to be stronger under Brendan Rodgers. Tell
:22:58. > :23:03.us more about the goal. Grandstand finish at Rugby Park,
:23:04. > :23:09.Kilmarnock have a goal, Martin Smith came off the bench. Taylor's cross
:23:10. > :23:15.found Smith. Kilmarnock pile on the pressure. Kilmarnock got a corner
:23:16. > :23:23.but now the onus is on Kilmarnock to try to find an equaliser with seven
:23:24. > :23:30.minutes left in this game. John Sutton has equalised. I don't
:23:31. > :23:35.think we have lost to them in a competitive game in about 18 years
:23:36. > :23:42.so we don't want to lose that. I was worried at 1-0 down but I will take
:23:43. > :23:50.this. Stephen, let's talk about your tip for the Premiership title. You
:23:51. > :23:58.are nodding your head, you are going for Celtic. -- you were nodding.
:23:59. > :24:07.Yes, everything he said is true. It is a frightening prospect of having
:24:08. > :24:16.Roberts and Griffiths. Both going for Celtic to win, who will run them
:24:17. > :24:21.closest? Michael. Aberdeen. I think they will edge it from Rangers. But
:24:22. > :24:27.Rangers are really hard to predict because they have made so many
:24:28. > :24:31.changes over the summer. Today's match perhaps not indicative of... I
:24:32. > :24:35.don't take too much from them dropping points. All of the teams
:24:36. > :24:43.will drop points but Rangers have added so many players and we need to
:24:44. > :24:48.see how they dropped in. When Kirkhill is sharper and fitter he
:24:49. > :24:54.may show the class he has. Others could have done more today as well.
:24:55. > :25:00.They are perfect club, Rangers, we don't know how many players they
:25:01. > :25:03.will add. I think Aberdeen have been very consistent over two or three
:25:04. > :25:08.seasons in the league, they haven't lost anybody yet, they still have
:25:09. > :25:13.Hayes, McGinn, Rooney, they have added to three who might make big
:25:14. > :25:19.contributions. It wouldn't be surprising if I do of Aberdeen or
:25:20. > :25:29.Rangers finish second. Would you like a more succinct answer? No. I
:25:30. > :25:33.think Rangers -- I thought Rangers would be putting down the market
:25:34. > :25:38.today. I tipped them to finish second on the BBC website. They were
:25:39. > :25:41.so poor today and it wasn't until Harry Forrester came on that they
:25:42. > :25:46.started to get a foothold in the game, he made a real impact as a
:25:47. > :25:52.substitute for Crenshaw, who had no impact. I would say that they will
:25:53. > :25:58.sign a couple more players. Where do they need to strengthen? Everybody
:25:59. > :26:04.says centre-half but if the hamstring is bad, we will find out,
:26:05. > :26:07.they might need another striker. I will go over Rangers at second but I
:26:08. > :26:11.agree with Michael that Aberdeen have been a model of consistency for
:26:12. > :26:16.a couple of years and they will push Rangers for the second spot. Other
:26:17. > :26:26.places in the top six, nobody has alighted upon Hearts. They top four
:26:27. > :26:30.material? I think so. We have heard rumblings that there has been unrest
:26:31. > :26:35.or supporters are unhappy about... It is hard to call it a lack of
:26:36. > :26:41.regrets because the club has progressed hugely in the last two or
:26:42. > :26:47.three years on the field and off but there seems to be a bit of
:26:48. > :26:55.discontent. Are expectations too high? I think the fans expectations
:26:56. > :27:02.are so high that that will be the problem. When they lost to Hibs it
:27:03. > :27:08.hurt them, losing to the Maltese team hurt them as well. There is a
:27:09. > :27:14.feeling that Hearts are stagnant at on the pitch. Will they make the top
:27:15. > :27:21.six? I think they will be fought. St Johnstone, we always say they punch
:27:22. > :27:26.above their weight. But by now we expect them to do well and be there.
:27:27. > :27:30.They know how to do it, they have a fantastic manager who sets his teams
:27:31. > :27:34.are very well, they have not tinkered with the squad very much
:27:35. > :27:37.and they have added a couple of good players. Midfield seems to be the
:27:38. > :27:41.area they have strengthened and I fully expect them to be top six
:27:42. > :27:46.again, they are top six Masters if you like, they know how to do it
:27:47. > :27:53.every year. In my ropey arithmetic that leaves one place. I would have
:27:54. > :28:02.said Ross County. You can't read too much into the opening games. But
:28:03. > :28:08.they remind me of St Johnstone, it they are well run, they have
:28:09. > :28:16.arguably got better resources than St Johnstone, thanks to Rory
:28:17. > :28:21.McGregor's largesse. I can see them being the last of the top six clubs.
:28:22. > :28:24.I think I will go for Motherwell. The way they finished the season
:28:25. > :28:32.last year was mightily impressive and I think the front three on their
:28:33. > :28:36.day are as good as there is in the league, especially in wide areas,
:28:37. > :28:44.the pace and directness they have, and Donald upfront and I have added
:28:45. > :28:47.a good centre-half in Henning. This applies to a whole lot of clubs we
:28:48. > :28:53.are discussing right through the league, that Rangers and Celtic
:28:54. > :28:57.might have a big couple of names, Martin Johnston and other players
:28:58. > :29:00.could be lost, and it changes the whole banner of the club. -- the
:29:01. > :29:12.whole dynamic. It was a difficult season for Dundee
:29:13. > :29:15.couple of seasons ago, they were inconsistent, too many draws, not
:29:16. > :29:21.enough wins, they rip be pushing for a top six spot this year. It looks
:29:22. > :29:29.like they're going to win today quite comfortably, that's an
:29:30. > :29:34.impressive start. Not everyone likes for the SPL split into groups of six
:29:35. > :29:39.bit gives managers and groups of fans something to aim for. In the
:29:40. > :29:45.old days finishing sixth or seventh, it didn't make much difference
:29:46. > :29:49.but... If your team aren't going to challenge for the title, gives you
:29:50. > :29:53.something to aim for. Your finishing the season with bigger games, making
:29:54. > :29:58.the money through the gate, Partick Thistle are also capable of nudging
:29:59. > :30:04.into the top six, the caption themselves as a Premier League club.
:30:05. > :30:10.To the part of the script discussion where you will say would be pinned
:30:11. > :30:15.up on dressing rooms! Who will be fighting for the dreaded drop...
:30:16. > :30:23.Festival, we can bring you our first full-time reports. It's full-time,
:30:24. > :30:32.one win from one game for Hibs in the Ludik, three points in his first
:30:33. > :30:37.league match for Neil Lennon. A brilliant performance by Hibs,
:30:38. > :30:42.highlighted by two goals from Jason Cummings, the first test after two
:30:43. > :30:49.minutes when he pounced on a mistake by the Falkirk keeper, then after
:30:50. > :30:55.the break, he step down a long ball and fired it into the top corner to
:30:56. > :31:00.make it 2-1. They then unleashed a brilliant shot, his 200th
:31:01. > :31:08.appearance, made it 1-1, but Jason Cummings after the break up the
:31:09. > :31:11.winner. Neil Lennon said that he would drive him all the way to
:31:12. > :31:15.Peterborough United in the didn't play well, because they want to buy
:31:16. > :31:21.him, that bid was rejected, I think there might be a few more beds
:31:22. > :31:26.coming in after this performance. Great start for Neil Lennon in his
:31:27. > :31:33.tenure as Hibs manager in the championship. I love this, Stuart
:31:34. > :31:36.Cosgrove, our friend refers to the champion ship as Alcatraz because
:31:37. > :31:45.it's so difficult to get out of. This is the third season. Every
:31:46. > :31:49.season you are down, it is costing the club a lot of money. The
:31:50. > :31:56.turnover of the club is reduced, the clip. They posted losses of ?800,000
:31:57. > :32:01.by being out of the Premier League, that is three seasons now, minimum,
:32:02. > :32:06.as a lower league club. I do think they will get back up this season,
:32:07. > :32:10.but it's the same point, if you use Jason Cummings, you lose an awful
:32:11. > :32:15.lot of goals from your side, he is a big game player as well, but he also
:32:16. > :32:20.raising over the course of a season, 20 minimum. His partnership upfront
:32:21. > :32:24.with Grant scheme to be interesting, I think he has lacked a partner that
:32:25. > :32:31.he clicks with. I think this could be the one that works together as a
:32:32. > :32:34.front pairing. Falkirk did remarkably well last season,
:32:35. > :32:38.finishing second, just losing out in the play-offs, lost to Kilmarnock,
:32:39. > :32:44.the target this year is making the play-offs. They have lost a couple
:32:45. > :32:51.are big players over the summer with folks leaving, they're not quite the
:32:52. > :32:56.unit they were. They always seem to cope. They have a good manager. I
:32:57. > :33:01.think we all thought they might be a Premier League team now because of
:33:02. > :33:05.the way they took care of Hibs in the play-offs but then to our
:33:06. > :33:11.surprise, they were taken over by Kilmarnock. Full-time at Ross
:33:12. > :33:21.County. We can hand you over for our full-time report. A fantastic start
:33:22. > :33:26.to the premiership for Paul Hartley's side, Rory Loy stepped up
:33:27. > :33:33.to take on the goal-scoring responsibility, no Stuart today
:33:34. > :33:37.through injury but it didn't matter, Ohio surged down the right and found
:33:38. > :33:42.the striker, then he appeared to be found by McEvedy in the box, it was
:33:43. > :33:48.confidently dispatched before half-time. The decision to award the
:33:49. > :33:51.spot kick might be one for us to see tomorrow night but it did look like
:33:52. > :33:57.it was consistent with one or two other once he has awarded this
:33:58. > :34:04.season. Duffy's weight of past was spot on for McGovern to slot under
:34:05. > :34:10.Fox, Ross County got one back when Craig Curran started in from close
:34:11. > :34:16.range, therefore stretching stuck to the season continues, however. --
:34:17. > :34:25.their frustrating start to the season. Dundee United at home to
:34:26. > :34:30.Queen of the South this afternoon. In the programme this afternoon,
:34:31. > :34:34.prior to kick-off, I was reading how MacKinnon, the new Tannadice manager
:34:35. > :34:38.was saying that in his experience, with Rangers last season, that in
:34:39. > :34:50.this after competitive league, every point has to be earned. A very
:34:51. > :34:54.lacklustre opening 45 minutes, Queen of the South dominated in terms of
:34:55. > :34:57.possession but little in the way of penetration from either side
:34:58. > :35:02.although that did change in the 40th minute. A great bit of play by the
:35:03. > :35:07.Australian midfielder down the left-hand side, getting his way into
:35:08. > :35:14.the penalty area, the shot was parried and it bubbled back to
:35:15. > :35:23.Anderson who wrote it to Millar, who guided it into the far corner of the
:35:24. > :35:26.net. The second half, a similar story, we didn't get much service
:35:27. > :35:32.until late in the game, a shot towards the back post was saved by
:35:33. > :35:40.Battle with about five minutes to go but from the 57th minute it was
:35:41. > :35:46.mostly Dundee United, inspired by Nick van der Velden, who came from
:35:47. > :35:51.AZ Alkmaar, a wonderful goal,", to get to the edge of the box, flipped
:35:52. > :35:57.it over the first challenge and the second had the presence of mind to
:35:58. > :36:06.Stuart into the corner of the net. Robinson very much keeping Queen of
:36:07. > :36:09.the South in the game. There was a shot deflected later on and Robinson
:36:10. > :36:14.reacted well to turn it on to the post, seconds later Smith made space
:36:15. > :36:17.at the edge of the key and at the end, the former Ranger dilly
:36:18. > :36:26.buckaroo Rangers goalkeeper turned it round for a corner. Then they
:36:27. > :36:28.deflected shot past the near post but for all the United pressure,
:36:29. > :36:36.they were nearly caught at the other end. McKinnon at the end, given the
:36:37. > :36:41.second half performance, will feel frustrated that it ended 1-1. Off we
:36:42. > :36:51.go to Firhill. Partick Thistle against in the daily Alli Inverness
:36:52. > :36:56.couldn't do so. Partick, beginning a new league season in positive
:36:57. > :37:04.fashion, spoiling the first promotion match in charge for which
:37:05. > :37:11.Foran. The opening goal, picking up the ball inside the box and firing
:37:12. > :37:17.past the keeper, a fine finish from Chris Erskine. Then David Amoo
:37:18. > :37:22.doubled the lead, after Caley Thistle failed to clear from a Sean
:37:23. > :37:26.Welsh set piece. That was all it was in terms of goal-scoring, Caley
:37:27. > :37:31.Thistle unable to threaten the home goalkeeper for the duration of the
:37:32. > :37:35.90 minutes and given that this group 12 goals in the previous two League
:37:36. > :37:40.Cup games, disappointing for them. They could have had another couple,
:37:41. > :37:48.Lawless and then it was comfortable for the home side. Game over at
:37:49. > :37:54.Kilmarnock. A winning start to the new season for the visitors.
:37:55. > :38:02.Arousing and Tremadog afternoon. -- dramatic. Fort Worth the licence fee
:38:03. > :38:08.to watch the highlights, that is the shore. Come on at manager Lee Clark
:38:09. > :38:15.was sent to the stands, presumably for something he said to the fourth
:38:16. > :38:21.officials -- command manager. I will find out more about that shortly. A
:38:22. > :38:30.great finish over McDonald to make it 1-0, just after half-time,
:38:31. > :38:33.Johnson made it 2-0. With a header. Immediately Kris Boyd was prised
:38:34. > :38:37.from the bench and immediately had a chance well saved, as Kilmarnock
:38:38. > :38:44.tried to find their way back into the match. They struggled to create
:38:45. > :38:48.chances, eventually they got one, it was the substitute Martin Smith,
:38:49. > :38:51.released by Sunderland and picked up by Lee Clark, his flashing header
:38:52. > :38:56.gave Kilmarnock hope with seven minutes to go, it looked like they
:38:57. > :39:01.might rally, Coulibaly looked like he might have a penalty but the
:39:02. > :39:04.referee gave the decision against him, that incensed the Kilmarnock
:39:05. > :39:08.fans but they are giving the players a rousing reception, they have seen
:39:09. > :39:20.a lot of effort and once again they have seen another Kilmarnock defeat.
:39:21. > :39:25.Plaid results show relentlessly! Time to extol the virtues of
:39:26. > :39:30.Championship football. Watching Dunfermline against Dumbarton. If
:39:31. > :39:36.you want entertainment with your football this season, then east end
:39:37. > :39:40.park may be the place to be. Seven goals, a hat-trick, three penalties,
:39:41. > :39:44.an ordering off, where do you start? Dumbarton took the lead on 80
:39:45. > :39:49.minutes, Robert Thomson was the scorer but Stanley came after Moffat
:39:50. > :39:58.had hit the post for Dunfermline. -- it only came. Two goals in two
:39:59. > :40:01.minutes by Cardinal gave the past the lead at half-time and then a
:40:02. > :40:07.mistake by Frazer Wright in the Dumbarton defence gave them the
:40:08. > :40:14.chance for the first hat-trick of the season. Dunfermline then got
:40:15. > :40:19.their fourth and we thought the game is over but then, two penalties in
:40:20. > :40:25.added time from Mark Doherty for Dumbarton made the score 4-3 of the
:40:26. > :40:31.second one, the referee sent off Lee Ashcroft phase foul on Robert
:40:32. > :40:37.Thomson. A great way to start the season, more of this, please. More
:40:38. > :40:44.reports to follow from the Championship. St Mirren against
:40:45. > :40:51.Morton. A share of the points in this derby, the screwing up and up
:40:52. > :41:00.to 17 minutes, Forbes had pledged in a great free kick and the ball was
:41:01. > :41:03.passed by Lingfield. They deserve to be in front, it was the same story
:41:04. > :41:12.into the second half, Morton should have made it 2-0, Miss kick went
:41:13. > :41:17.well wide of the target. Allegri change things around, and it seemed
:41:18. > :41:21.to work, with seven minutes to go. Morgan found space, swung the ball
:41:22. > :41:25.into the box and John Sutton was there to head home. A banner was
:41:26. > :41:28.unfurled by the Saints fans, targeting the Morton supporters,
:41:29. > :41:40.saying simply, forever in our shadow. Not quite today. In no way
:41:41. > :41:49.is McManus in Connie vote shadow! It finished here, 2-0, Raith Rovers
:41:50. > :42:00.took the lead, it was the oppressive Bobby Bahu crossed for the goal. A
:42:01. > :42:04.superb start, McManus then hit the post but by half-time, it was 1-0.
:42:05. > :42:13.Raith Rovers looked dangerous and scored again, it was a very
:42:14. > :42:21.comfortable win for them to stop a United need to get players in and
:42:22. > :42:23.improve quickly. The summary from Somerset Texas nicely to the first
:42:24. > :45:53.classified results round-up of the season. -- takes us nicely.
:45:54. > :46:02.That is today's classified results. Michael, what did you make of that
:46:03. > :46:08.Yeovil Town score? I know you had nodded off by that stage! Back to
:46:09. > :46:17.the Premiership. What is the most significant result of the day? Well,
:46:18. > :46:21.people will look at what happened at Ibrox with a great deal of surprise
:46:22. > :46:27.and give Hamilton credit for that and people will probably read too
:46:28. > :46:32.much of it in terms of Rangers' failures and limitations. Rangers
:46:33. > :46:35.will still be very strong and as we said earlier you still expect them
:46:36. > :46:43.to sign a couple of players and really strengthened. We never got
:46:44. > :46:48.round to discussing who you think will struggle at the bottom end of
:46:49. > :46:55.the Premiership. Hamilton was a team that most people were thinking of.
:46:56. > :47:00.After today would you change that? They looked very good and organised
:47:01. > :47:11.today but against Rangers players raise their levels. You are not
:47:12. > :47:18.going to change your mind today? I feel that Kilmarnock have signed a
:47:19. > :47:22.number of young players from down south who are generally untested at
:47:23. > :47:27.this level of Scottish football Dummett they were so poor last year
:47:28. > :47:33.and I feel there is a malaise in the club. -- football, they were. They
:47:34. > :47:37.have been fighting relegation for the last few seasons and Lee Clark
:47:38. > :47:43.did well to lift them away from trouble. It took a huge gamble with
:47:44. > :47:47.wholesale changes. It was and we are talking in the dark because we don't
:47:48. > :47:53.know how good the players he has brought in are but they are all
:47:54. > :47:57.young, the oldest is 22. Either his faith is vindicated in these guys
:47:58. > :48:02.and they form the backbone of a squad that can keep them up or it
:48:03. > :48:08.goes the other way. I have a bad feeling about Kilmarnock, I have to
:48:09. > :48:16.say. Is that your tip for the drop? I think so. Tomorrow St Johnstone
:48:17. > :48:20.are against Aberdeen and hearts are at home to Celtic. You will be able
:48:21. > :48:34.to listen to live commentary... Michael, as a Dons fan you have
:48:35. > :48:39.suffered and off this week, the cruel exit from Europe at the hands
:48:40. > :48:48.of the referee. If you can bear it, let's have a look at their most
:48:49. > :48:54.recent trip to Perth. You said I had suffered enough and then you... Very
:48:55. > :48:59.hard to find any encouraging result from St Johnstone recently because
:49:00. > :49:07.their record has been quite poor. There was the 5-1 game at Pittodrie
:49:08. > :49:13.but also the 3-0 at McDermott. They seem to have a hex on, Aberdeen Sea
:49:14. > :49:22.to be able to stop them playing. -- seem to be. Aberdeen, they tried to
:49:23. > :49:26.lift the supporters by having the Rooney contract extension. Maybe
:49:27. > :49:32.that was going to be a second boost if they got through, or more of a
:49:33. > :49:35.pick me up after they got beaten, and that is what it turned out to
:49:36. > :49:46.be. What are your feelings on St Johnstone against Aberdeen? 20 goals
:49:47. > :49:53.in their four meetings last season. It shows you that it is open
:49:54. > :50:03.matches, they seem to be a bug bear team for Aberdeen. They need to
:50:04. > :50:07.shake off this European exit. They were probably the better team in
:50:08. > :50:12.Europe over the two legs but they need to shake off the hard story
:50:13. > :50:17.because this is the start of the league. It is an opportunity for
:50:18. > :50:23.them to shake that defeat out of their season. It is quite a new big
:50:24. > :50:33.day is coming up because they have the tie against United. They need to
:50:34. > :50:46.steady things. They did in Europe up until... Talk about your bogey team
:50:47. > :50:50.or hex team, nobody beats marrow bore. They have a poor record
:50:51. > :50:55.against St Johnstone, if they are going to lay down a challenge to
:50:56. > :50:59.Celtic and Rangers, this is when they have to do it. Hearts finished
:51:00. > :51:09.third last season against Celtic, they have one the league in each of
:51:10. > :51:16.the five seasons. Do you remember this one, 3-1 to Celtic? Griffiths
:51:17. > :51:21.scores an excellent goal. It is a great opening day fixture. It is
:51:22. > :51:26.hard to Celtic because it is a difficult place to go and win, one
:51:27. > :51:32.of the best atmospheres in Scottish football. You are just so close to
:51:33. > :51:40.the pitch. The supporters are within spitting distance from you! Not
:51:41. > :51:48.literally! Sometimes, but it is quite compacted and be hearts fans
:51:49. > :51:52.are magnificent. It is a tough one for Celtic and it will be
:51:53. > :52:03.interesting to see how Hearts are shaping up after the disappointed of
:52:04. > :52:06.Europe. Absolutely spot on, we know how intimidating Tynecastle is, it
:52:07. > :52:12.is one of the big away games for every club, but Celtic seem to be
:52:13. > :52:21.managing it, they score a lot of goals there, Leigh Griffiths is a
:52:22. > :52:29.hate figure for... Leigh Griffiths is one of the best players of his
:52:30. > :52:34.type in the country. Brendan Rodgers was talking him up, saying if he had
:52:35. > :52:50.a Latin name he would be worth ?15 million. Ross McCullough just went
:52:51. > :52:53.for 12. He is certainly very talented. He is a terrific
:52:54. > :52:59.talismanic and I think nothing will change this year, he will be the top
:53:00. > :53:07.scorer. You can find out how tomorrow's matches pan out by
:53:08. > :53:23.listening to Sportsound. We have Paul Hartley, the victorious
:53:24. > :53:29.done the manager, who spoke to Martin Dowden.
:53:30. > :53:33.You can't ask for a better performance or result I imagine. It
:53:34. > :53:39.is always a difficult place to come, we have struggled over the last few
:53:40. > :53:44.years but overall it was a terrific team performance. I thought our
:53:45. > :53:48.organisation was great today and the work ethic was terrific. We took our
:53:49. > :53:51.chances when they came along and I am delighted for this group of
:53:52. > :53:56.players because they have worked really hard in pre-season. The man
:53:57. > :53:59.who took the chances was Rory Loy, stepping up really well, everybody
:54:00. > :54:07.is looking at the absence of Kane Hemmings. Rory started the season
:54:08. > :54:11.last season in the same fashion, two goals and then he picked up an
:54:12. > :54:15.injury and it was hard thing to get back in. I thought he was excellent
:54:16. > :54:20.in terms of his work rate today and he took his goals when they came. A
:54:21. > :54:24.hard place to come as well so you will be satisfied with three points.
:54:25. > :54:29.This is a difficult 64 us, they put a lot of pressure on us but I
:54:30. > :54:37.thought we'd coped with it, a lot of balls into the box. You were talking
:54:38. > :54:42.about Greg Stewart not playing, people put two and two together, can
:54:43. > :54:45.you clear that up? He was injured in training but he will hopefully be
:54:46. > :54:52.back Monday or Tuesday. Has there been any movement in terms of goods?
:54:53. > :54:57.Just the couple of bits we have had from Birmingham on we rejected. Will
:54:58. > :55:06.they come back in, I don't know. Will you put a figure on what you
:55:07. > :55:10.expect. He has a year left on his contract, it's not for me to come up
:55:11. > :55:24.with figures, I want to keep Greg Stewart but it won't be easy. I
:55:25. > :55:28.guess you expect that the play you recruited recently can step up to
:55:29. > :55:38.the level? Yes, hopefully when he gets his opportunity, but it was
:55:39. > :55:42.important to get gametime today. Interesting to hear him talking
:55:43. > :55:55.about all back to the, he is somebody I am really looking forward
:55:56. > :56:05.to watching. -- -- Faisal El Bakhtaoui. I think he will be a good
:56:06. > :56:13.addition to the league. Who is your one to watch for the season in the
:56:14. > :56:16.Premiership? Jake Marini from QPR. He was outstanding, his pace was
:56:17. > :56:35.frightening, so he could cause a lot of defences problems. Let's talk
:56:36. > :56:40.about... Hibernian will be very strong, Dundee United. They will be
:56:41. > :56:46.wanting to get into the play-off but it will be extremely competitive.
:56:47. > :56:50.Having played in the Championship the competitive team is frightening.
:56:51. > :56:56.Does it look any tougher this season? I think it does. Hamilton
:56:57. > :57:02.might be a surprise package, Raith Rovers should be good. There is very
:57:03. > :57:07.little between the teams, Hibernian have the biggest budget, Dundee
:57:08. > :57:11.United behind them, Falkirk if they repeat what they did last year they
:57:12. > :57:19.can be up there as well. It is tough but hopefully they can make the
:57:20. > :57:24.play-offs. Well, ladies and gents, that's just about it for the first
:57:25. > :57:28.show of the new season. Before we go, I can reappraise you of the
:57:29. > :57:46.results in the top two divisions in Scotland.
:57:47. > :58:13.Just a reminder, you will see highlights of all the Premiership
:58:14. > :58:18.action in Sportscene tomorrow earlier than it was last week.
:58:19. > :58:19.Steven Thompson is one of Jonathan's guests, I will keep the other one
:58:20. > :58:38.secret. Michael Grant is on the Off The Ball
:58:39. > :58:43.Saturday Supplement. While you are fumbling for your mobile I will did
:58:44. > :58:47.you a good night and thank Stephen Thompson and Michael Grant for their
:58:48. > :58:52.contribution. Thank you very much, gentlemen, thank you for watching
:58:53. > :58:57.and we will see use. -- see you soon.