:00:13. > :00:14.Good afternoon and welcome to another bumper edition
:00:15. > :00:19.Forget the Grand National, we're all about title
:00:20. > :00:22.races, relegation battles and play off places.
:00:23. > :00:25.And we might even find out which teams have made it
:00:26. > :00:30.Our studio guests are under starters orders, thoroughbreds that they are.
:00:31. > :00:37.Pat Bonner, Craig Paterson and Tom English.
:00:38. > :00:41.We'll start with news of today's lunchtime match.
:00:42. > :00:44.After Aberdeen's defeat to Hearts on Friday, Celtic had the chance
:00:45. > :00:47.to stretch their lead over Aberdeen at the top of the Premiership
:00:48. > :00:51.To do that, they'd need to beat Motherwell at Fir Park.
:00:52. > :01:00.Liam McLeod will tell us what happened.
:01:01. > :01:06.The Premiership title ship appears to have sailed into the horizon,
:01:07. > :01:10.with Aberdeen left in the harbour after the Celtic victory lifted them
:01:11. > :01:14.eight points clear at the top with just five league games to go. Leigh
:01:15. > :01:19.Griffiths scored both either side of the interval, taking his tally to an
:01:20. > :01:23.incredible 37 for the season. He should and would have had more had
:01:24. > :01:27.he not missed a first half penalty and encountered a superb goalkeeping
:01:28. > :01:33.performance from Connor Ripley. Sadly for Ripley, his mistake gave
:01:34. > :01:38.Griffiths his second. They were well on top in the first half in
:01:39. > :01:44.particular, and thoroughly deserved this victory, which has them on the
:01:45. > :01:48.cusp of five in a row. It also means Motherwell are currently sweating on
:01:49. > :01:50.their top six place, with three out of six sides vying for it. Celtic
:01:51. > :01:55.can relax with the title all but in of six sides vying for it. Celtic
:01:56. > :01:58.the bag and can concentrate on the Scottish Cup semifinal next weekend
:01:59. > :02:05.against Championship champions Rangers.
:02:06. > :02:10.You were at Fir Park today, Pat. A narrow win for Celtic, they should
:02:11. > :02:17.have won much more convincingly? It was surprisingly upbeat did not win
:02:18. > :02:21.by five or six. After the first ten minutes, both teams were giving away
:02:22. > :02:28.the ball, then suddenly Celtic took control. Tom was there also, Connor
:02:29. > :02:33.Ripley had unbelievable saves. Saves you would expect, but he really
:02:34. > :02:38.performed well. He made about seven or eight states, he had a great save
:02:39. > :02:42.with his feet. Then in the second-half, Mark McGhee had
:02:43. > :02:46.obviously had a word at half-time, no doubt, change the formation,
:02:47. > :02:51.pushed an extra up front. Got at Celtic a bit, then they scored, they
:02:52. > :02:57.had a goal chalked off. Controversial, he said it was a
:02:58. > :03:01.shocking decision, he is not happy? It was right on the line. If you
:03:02. > :03:09.raise Celtic supporter you would say oxide, if you are not... What if you
:03:10. > :03:13.were a former Motherwell player?! The goal that was chalked off, he
:03:14. > :03:19.was dead level when the ball came in, but because he was on the move,
:03:20. > :03:24.you looks a yard off, the flag went up, but it was impossible for the
:03:25. > :03:29.linesman to get that right. Is that the title race done and dusted? To
:03:30. > :03:33.be honest, I think even of Celtic lost today it was done, I don't
:03:34. > :03:34.be honest, I think even of Celtic think Aberdeen can put together the
:03:35. > :03:39.run of victories that they would need. Celtic got the job done, they
:03:40. > :03:44.were deserving winners, they had a chance is in the first half, seven
:03:45. > :03:49.shots on target, the one that missed the target was the penalty. If Leigh
:03:50. > :03:53.Griffiths could take a penalty, he has missed several this season, he
:03:54. > :03:59.would have 40 goals! He was down on himself in the mouth chair, -- in
:04:00. > :04:04.the match, missed an easy penalty under goal, but he cannot be put
:04:05. > :04:08.down. We will return to Motherwell against Celtic later and hopefully
:04:09. > :04:12.will be for here from both managerial teams. There are top six
:04:13. > :04:16.will be for here from both places to be run and Premiership
:04:17. > :04:21.security to be secured, so let's start at Victoria Park, where Ross
:04:22. > :04:27.County and Partick Thistle are in action, Martin, what is happening?
:04:28. > :04:29.Ross County are ahead 1-0, Jim McIntyre could not have written a
:04:30. > :04:36.better script. An excellent early Alec Schalk goal settling the notes,
:04:37. > :04:43.further settled by news from Hamilton. County are seemingly in
:04:44. > :04:47.command. But, and it is a big but, a Thistle equaliser might change
:04:48. > :04:52.things, and they have started on the front of it. We are up to New
:04:53. > :04:57.Douglas Park, Hamilton, where Dundee are in the running for a top six
:04:58. > :05:08.place, or they were before today, Kenny? Hamilton two, didn't e-mail.
:05:09. > :05:19.Crawford struck on the halfway mark before a penalty from Tena put the
:05:20. > :05:26.hosts two up. Dundee's top six hopes might be dashed. Let's hear from
:05:27. > :05:29.Jonathan. They are not doing any favours, Kris Boyd with an
:05:30. > :05:35.all-important goal for Kilmarnock, only his fourth this season, they
:05:36. > :05:40.should be more than 1-0 ahead. Kris Boyd hit the post, Higginbotham
:05:41. > :05:44.missed, there was a great save by MacDonald. Come on exile playing
:05:45. > :05:48.some pretty good stuff. Bottom club Dundee United are at
:05:49. > :05:56.home to Inverness, Alistair Lamont is there. Inverness lead 1-0. Dundee
:05:57. > :06:01.have shown little appetite for the battle to avoid relegation. Miles
:06:02. > :06:12.Storey has scored the only goal of the game so far. Let's hope the
:06:13. > :06:16.manager can give them a good talk. Rangers are playing in the cup
:06:17. > :06:21.tomorrow, but second place in the Championship Falkirk are at home to
:06:22. > :06:29.St Mirren, Brian? Falkirk one, St Mirren nil. Lee
:06:30. > :06:35.Miller with the goal. It is his ninth goal of the season. It could
:06:36. > :06:41.be a crucial one in the attempt to get the second place. Hibs are away
:06:42. > :06:45.to already relegated Alloa, it is being watched by Connie MacLachlan.
:06:46. > :06:51.It looks like they are throwing it away at the moment, Allah will lead
:06:52. > :06:58.1-0 after a late first half strike from Michael Duffy. It hit the bar
:06:59. > :07:05.and bounced out but the goal was deemed to have crossed the line.
:07:06. > :07:09.Chaps, back to the Premiership. It is complicated, three teams
:07:10. > :07:14.confirmed in the top six, Celtic, Aberdeen and Hearts, as for the
:07:15. > :07:18.other places, it is up in the hour. Motherwell, despite losing to Celtic
:07:19. > :07:23.in the lunchtime match, are in with a chance, the way that scores are
:07:24. > :07:27.panning out? It is a great chance because Dundee and Partick have to
:07:28. > :07:31.win to go above them on goal difference, both are losing, so I
:07:32. > :07:35.think they will be settling. But until it is done, they had to sit
:07:36. > :07:38.and hope for the best, anything can happen, people are fighting for
:07:39. > :07:46.their lives, but Motherwell are in a really good position. It will all be
:07:47. > :07:51.in the last ten minutes, I will tell you. It is as exciting as it was
:07:52. > :07:54.last week in the Championship match between Raith Rovers and Rangers. St
:07:55. > :08:01.Johnstone need a point to guarantee top six, they are losing 1-0 away to
:08:02. > :08:09.kill mana? And going down to kill mana gives never easy on that
:08:10. > :08:16.surface. -- Kilmarnock. We were giving them plaudits early in the
:08:17. > :08:21.season, they went into an awful run, they have jumped back, but this is a
:08:22. > :08:26.big one for them. They need to get something out of the game, but
:08:27. > :08:30.Kilmarnock are fighting. Tommy Wright said that finishing in the
:08:31. > :08:38.top six this season would be a bigger achievement than previously?
:08:39. > :08:41.In fairness, he is always fighting budgets, they don't have a lot of
:08:42. > :08:47.money, top six would be an achievement. Kris Boyd, God bless
:08:48. > :08:51.them, his fantastic head of hair, his first goal since December. The
:08:52. > :08:55.goal was a soft goal, the goalkeeper should have done a whole deal
:08:56. > :09:01.better. We are watching pictures coming in. But what a win that would
:09:02. > :09:08.be if they were to see a tout, and Hamilton, as well. Doomsday for
:09:09. > :09:12.Dundee United. They have got 45 minutes, unless they make something
:09:13. > :09:19.happen or get luck elsewhere, I think they are gone. They were
:09:20. > :09:26.toothless in the first half, I am surprised. As they stand, eight
:09:27. > :09:31.points adrift at the moment. We will take another spin around the
:09:32. > :09:35.grounds, but before we do, the top six as it stands, Motherwell, St
:09:36. > :09:40.Johnstone and Ross County in fourth, fifth and sixth, let's check on the
:09:41. > :09:44.team currently in sixth position, Ross County against Partick Thistle,
:09:45. > :09:50.any updates, Martin? Not in terms of scoreline. You just get the sense
:09:51. > :09:54.that Thistle will chuck everything at this. They have had a couple of
:09:55. > :10:01.chances already in the second half, Pogba with a header palmed away by
:10:02. > :10:06.Fox for a corner. Brian Edwards throwing himself the diving header.
:10:07. > :10:11.He could not get it on target. They look like they are facing an early
:10:12. > :10:14.second-half, Liam Boyce is just about to come on. Alex Schalk got
:10:15. > :10:19.the early goal, adding to the League Cup final winner he got last month.
:10:20. > :10:23.This could be another crucial one for his side. As things stand, if
:10:24. > :10:27.they get this win, they will be in the top six, just one goal for
:10:28. > :10:33.Thistle and they could leapfrog them. It is very tense. Dundee,
:10:34. > :10:39.currently in seventh, are away to Hamilton. They were 2-0 down in the
:10:40. > :10:44.last we heard from Kenny, still the same situation? Yes, into the 51st
:10:45. > :10:49.minute and it is still 2-0. When the half-time whistle went, Dundee fans
:10:50. > :10:53.booed loudly, even though they have had a fairly good season they are
:10:54. > :10:57.not happy that they are training here, probably because Hamilton's
:10:58. > :11:03.home form is terrible, they have not won here since September, it looks
:11:04. > :11:07.like they will do that at the moment thanks to goals from Crawford and
:11:08. > :11:12.Tena. Those goals have come about much thanks to the industry of young
:11:13. > :11:19.forward Eamon Brophy, who was brilliant at setting up Crawford 's
:11:20. > :11:25.goal. Crawford drilled it brilliantly into the bottom corner.
:11:26. > :11:29.It was his run which invited a challenge by a player already on a
:11:30. > :11:34.yellow card, you was not booked for conceding the penalty so Dundee are
:11:35. > :11:40.maybe still fortunate to have 11 men on the pitch. Tena drilled in the
:11:41. > :11:44.penalty to make a 2-0, we're now into the 52nd minute. Jonathan
:11:45. > :11:51.Sutherland is a shrug and Park, where second bottom Kilmarnock car
:11:52. > :12:00.at home to St Johnstone, still 1-0? Yes, axes are doing St Johnstone's
:12:01. > :12:05.top six credentials a favour. Kilmarnock cab started well, Kris
:12:06. > :12:09.Boyd, who has not had much luck in front of goal this season hits the
:12:10. > :12:15.post in the 23rd minute after a cross from Josh Magennis, but two
:12:16. > :12:19.minutes later he came good, just as fourth goal of the season, a free
:12:20. > :12:26.kick from 20 yards low into the fauna of the net. -- corner of the
:12:27. > :12:30.net. Jamie MacDonald in the coal mana goal made a brilliant soul. But
:12:31. > :12:38.Carl Kagan bottom placed to Kris Boyd. Higginbotham had the ball in
:12:39. > :12:42.the back of the net, it was ruled for outside. And Josh Magennis with
:12:43. > :12:48.a near post header just before half-time was almost in the back of
:12:49. > :12:54.the night. They could have been three or four Gold Cup. At the
:12:55. > :12:59.moment, it is still any body's game, St Johnstone just need to get their
:13:00. > :13:05.act together. Alasdair Lamont is as Dundee against Inverness. Deeply
:13:06. > :13:07.unimpressive from Dundee United, you would not think they were scrapping
:13:08. > :13:13.for their Premiership lives the way they have performed so far. They
:13:14. > :13:18.trailed 1-0, Miles Storey scoring early in the first half. He beat the
:13:19. > :13:23.offside trap only for the goalkeeper to save well. But he did not heed
:13:24. > :13:28.the guard -- but indeed did not heed the warnings. Draper squared the
:13:29. > :13:34.ball again for Miles Storey, on that occasion he beat the goalkeeper,
:13:35. > :13:38.that is the goal that has made the difference thus far. And it has just
:13:39. > :13:48.been doubled, the lead by Inverness Caley Thistle, and Ian Fry goes has
:13:49. > :13:56.one leading from 25 yards to add to Dundee's misery. Caley Thistle have
:13:57. > :14:02.just doubled their lead, United are really staring Championship football
:14:03. > :14:06.in the face. We are staring chubby tune football in the face, we will
:14:07. > :14:08.hear from Ryan McLaughlin watching Falkirk in second spot in that
:14:09. > :14:17.hear from Ryan McLaughlin watching division at home to St Mirren? It is
:14:18. > :14:26.still 1-0 to Falkirk, veteran, if you can be called a veteran 32, Lee
:14:27. > :14:33.Miller scoring with the header. Lee Miller nodded home the opening goal.
:14:34. > :14:38.St Mirren started better, Quinn went through and it was only a terrific
:14:39. > :14:42.challenge by the centre-half that denied them what would have been an
:14:43. > :14:46.opening goal. In the second half it a little St Mirren, Shankland
:14:47. > :14:51.heading just over and eight horrific shot. In fact, that is an equaliser
:14:52. > :14:59.coming in from St Mirren! A free kick from 25 yards, the ball curled
:15:00. > :15:01.around the wall behind Danny Rogers. They have been on top and they are
:15:02. > :15:17.now deservedly on level terms. I wonder if there will be a goal
:15:18. > :15:25.against Hebburn Ian? Al OS still lead 1-0. A poor first half was
:15:26. > :15:30.jolted into life as Michael Duffy's strike was deemed to have crossed
:15:31. > :15:35.the line. It hit the underside of the bar and came back out and most
:15:36. > :15:39.people thought it hadn't been given. But the rhetoric had some
:15:40. > :15:45.discussions with his assistant. They awarded the goal and play continued.
:15:46. > :15:52.Before that, James Keating, with a couple of half chances. I had a
:15:53. > :15:58.going over the bar. And a header from Anthony Stokes going wide. In
:15:59. > :16:00.the second half, it has been all Alloa although Hibernian have a
:16:01. > :16:14.corner at the moment. I love how Connie always ends with a
:16:15. > :16:20.question. With your deep knowledge of Hibernian, would you expect them
:16:21. > :16:26.to come back and get something out of that match? If you'd ever asked
:16:27. > :16:31.me two months ago I would have been super confident. Right now, I can't
:16:32. > :16:34.be. If they go to Alloa today, they could be relegated. They haven't won
:16:35. > :16:42.a home game all season. Struggling for goals. I always think the team
:16:43. > :16:45.who are playing the something, Hibs and Falkirk, desperate not to have
:16:46. > :16:49.the first play-off match, you have got to finish in second place and
:16:50. > :16:56.they have time to turn it around but Hibs have lost this bat. Tom
:16:57. > :17:01.English, has consigned them to the championship next season, do you
:17:02. > :17:08.share his pessimistic prognosis for them? Yes. 2-0 down now and going
:17:09. > :17:15.into the last half an hour, really difficult. The interesting thing is,
:17:16. > :17:21.the play-off spot, if Hamilton one and Kilmarnock won and who are the
:17:22. > :17:26.other two were going into those last five games, they will be playing for
:17:27. > :17:34.that play-off. To avoid the play-off spot, I should say. Can they get in
:17:35. > :17:37.the top six, because everybody else will not be involved. Everybody else
:17:38. > :17:42.looks like they will be involved until the final day. That could be
:17:43. > :17:46.Lee Clark's first win in charge. Tommy Wright are making the mistake
:17:47. > :17:51.of picking up his old pal from Newcastle. I didn't see it coming. I
:17:52. > :17:58.didn't see where Kilmarnock were going to get a win, the way they
:17:59. > :18:05.have been playing. But that is going to be, if it turns out a victory,
:18:06. > :18:08.that is a season saver. It means, in all probability, they are not going
:18:09. > :18:13.down automatically, they have given themselves a chance. And also given
:18:14. > :18:18.themselves a chance to get up to ten. I should point out, you are not
:18:19. > :18:23.a qualified member of the medical profession. Just in case. This was
:18:24. > :18:25.the week in which a stomach bug ran rampant through the heart stressing
:18:26. > :18:28.room. How come it's Aberdeen
:18:29. > :18:30.who're suffering a real Well, Kheredine Idessane talks us
:18:31. > :18:45.through their meeting Such an anticipated match with third
:18:46. > :18:48.hosting second. Hearts come forward will stop Sam Nicholson within a
:18:49. > :18:54.whisker of giving Hearts and early lead. The defence didn't deal with
:18:55. > :19:03.the danger particularly well. But they survived. Might be in here.
:19:04. > :19:13.Chances for Aberdeen. Church! It is a dream start. Simon Church with his
:19:14. > :19:18.sixth goal of the season. What's up treasures want it could turn out to
:19:19. > :19:23.be in the context of the season. Nice football from Aberdeen. Perfect
:19:24. > :19:29.cross. Churches onside, and no problem with the finish as they go
:19:30. > :19:39.ahead at Tynecastle. Really good spell from Aberdeen. Great chance
:19:40. > :19:47.for Nile McGinn. He knows it should be 2-0. What a chance this is. Great
:19:48. > :19:53.delivery. Still Aberdeen have been doing all of the pressing. Almost
:19:54. > :20:01.turned into his own net by Rossi. Great delivery from Hayes. Good
:20:02. > :20:06.goalkeeping from Neil Alexander. A few things for Robbie Neilson to
:20:07. > :20:12.change. Hearts trying to get themselves back on level terms. Real
:20:13. > :20:14.chance here will stop bogus steam's header cannot just squeeze over the
:20:15. > :20:32.line. -- August team. This was the initial chance. Real
:20:33. > :20:41.chance. Walker, just about finds his feet. Hearts will come forward,
:20:42. > :20:52.looking for this equaliser. Is stuck with the shot. -- as Turk. Hearts
:20:53. > :20:59.are level after 33 minutes. Aberdeen won't be happy with the space
:21:00. > :21:11.allowed. Not great goalkeeping. That is one apiece. Corner. Again, chance
:21:12. > :21:23.for Hearts. Aberdeen struggling to get the ball out of their own area
:21:24. > :21:33.at the moment. Walker. Rossi. What a fine effort from Rossi! Good play
:21:34. > :21:41.here, as he turns away. That is a fine effort.
:21:42. > :21:52.Some defending for Hearts to do. Everyone switched off, the ball is
:21:53. > :21:56.still in play. Logan's delivery is deflected. Another great chance for
:21:57. > :22:02.Nile McGinn goes begging. He could and should have had a couple. This
:22:03. > :22:04.is a wonderful chance and that header should we finding the back of
:22:05. > :22:26.the net. Aberdeen have just gifted that back
:22:27. > :22:32.to Hearts. Hearts tried to set Jamie Walker free. Great cross. Great
:22:33. > :22:38.header and a great goal for Hearts as they come from behind to take a
:22:39. > :22:45.2-1 lead. An ecstatic Tynecastle. Aberdeen will be furious with
:22:46. > :22:49.themselves. Poor defending, but nothing wrong with a header from
:22:50. > :23:03.Jamie Walker. Hearts are ahead. Now McGinn is their! And another
:23:04. > :23:12.night, Nile McGinn could have had a hat-trick. Hearts should be able to
:23:13. > :23:18.see this out now. The dying seconds. There goes the final whistle. The
:23:19. > :23:23.Aberdeen manager deflated, defeated. His title bid damage now by a 2-1
:23:24. > :23:35.defeat at Tynecastle. We will hear from Derek McInnis
:23:36. > :23:42.shortly, but our reporters will tell us about the goals. Kilmarnock fans
:23:43. > :23:46.can barely believe their eyes. Two goals from their side this
:23:47. > :23:52.afternoon, Calum Higginbotham has given his side the lead. What a
:23:53. > :24:01.vital three points this could be for Kilmarnock in the grand equation.
:24:02. > :24:11.2-0 up against St Johnstone. A goal from Dundee? Yes, Gary Hawkins has
:24:12. > :24:16.got one back. It was a great finish. He came on as a half-time
:24:17. > :24:22.substitute, ran through the middle. It was a defence splitting pass.
:24:23. > :24:28.Then it was chipped over Michael McGovern. 2-1 to Hamilton Accies. We
:24:29. > :24:34.can now hear from Derek McInnis and also Robbie Neilson, their comments
:24:35. > :24:39.made after last night's match. It is a huge result, if we didn't win
:24:40. > :24:44.today, it would be over. Getting the result gives us a chance to try to
:24:45. > :24:49.catch Aberdeen, who are having a great season. It would be great for
:24:50. > :24:54.us if we can do that. They will be trying to catch Celtic, so they will
:24:55. > :24:59.be gunning hard. Where does that leave things now in terms of the
:25:00. > :25:04.title? It has gone for us now, I would imagine. We have got to make
:25:05. > :25:07.sure we get back to basics and CEO of the threat from Hearts, first and
:25:08. > :25:11.foremost. Hopefully we can get back to winning games. But in terms of
:25:12. > :25:22.five games to go, at this stage of the season, Celtic can only throw it
:25:23. > :25:28.away. I wouldn't expect them to now. The title has gone for us now, I
:25:29. > :25:31.would imagine? They have had a lot of chances, got within touching
:25:32. > :25:37.distance of Celtic and then they have fallen back. It has happened
:25:38. > :25:39.again this week. Aberdeen had to step up and take three points. They
:25:40. > :25:44.did win at Tynecastle earlier in the step up and take three points. They
:25:45. > :25:46.season. It is not an easy venue. Chances either end of the winning
:25:47. > :25:51.goal some ring up will stop they Chances either end of the winning
:25:52. > :25:55.need to win the games. They have taken a quick free kick, given
:25:56. > :26:06.Hearts possession and a wonderful break. He had cramp. I don't
:26:07. > :26:12.remember having cramp. It was a wonderful goal from Hearts, but
:26:13. > :26:17.Aberdeen will see it as that. Deep down did you ever think Aberdeen
:26:18. > :26:21.have the right stuff to push Celtic? I have always said Celtic will win
:26:22. > :26:25.the championship. Celtic have given them so many opportunities this
:26:26. > :26:33.year. They have done OK, they will end up with more points than last
:26:34. > :26:38.year, but when it comes to a crucial moments, they have always fallen
:26:39. > :26:42.away and they have lost that crucial game. Down to resources? I think
:26:43. > :26:47.Aberdeen have made strides over the last number of seasons, but they are
:26:48. > :26:51.not good enough, in terms of title winners. They are not good enough at
:26:52. > :26:54.centre-half, too small in the midfield. The goalkeeper last night
:26:55. > :26:59.was poor. Adam Rooney has been a loss. But in midfield they are too
:27:00. > :27:03.small. Hearts team are dominated, apart from the first 15 minute when
:27:04. > :27:06.Aberdeen had a great edge. They didn't take their chances. They went
:27:07. > :27:11.1-0 up. Hearts came back into it and didn't take their chances. They went
:27:12. > :27:16.physically, they took a grip on the game. They have physically big
:27:17. > :27:20.players. Aberdeen don't have that. They need a footballing bruiser in
:27:21. > :27:28.the middle of the park, and they don't have one. Speaking of
:27:29. > :27:32.footballing bruiser 's... Do you agree with Tom, Aberdeen didn't have
:27:33. > :27:37.the resources and the quality to match Celtic? Not quite, when
:27:38. > :27:40.the resources and the quality to Aberdeen were flying, when Hayes,
:27:41. > :27:45.now McGinn and Adam Rooney were flying in tandem, you thought about
:27:46. > :27:50.it. Simon Church scores goals, but certain players have gone off the
:27:51. > :27:59.boil at times. Can Hearts catch Aberdeen? It is unlikely. What is
:28:00. > :28:05.disappointing for Aberdeen, they are three points behind where they were
:28:06. > :28:10.less time last season. Even if they take away the title challenge, they
:28:11. > :28:19.are not as good as last season and that will be disappointing. After
:28:20. > :28:24.Celtic won the league, which they will do in the next couple of weeks,
:28:25. > :28:27.they might throw it in. That will give Hearts a chance to catch them.
:28:28. > :28:31.There has been a goal between Hearts give Hearts a chance to catch them.
:28:32. > :28:37.and St Mirren. Falkirk back in front. Will Foulkes had just tip the
:28:38. > :28:41.post. The cross came in again and up the back was the substitute, Barrie
:28:42. > :28:48.McKay you, who nodded the ball beyond Jimmy Lange field and into
:28:49. > :28:53.the back of the net. Could be a big day for the Burns in the race for
:28:54. > :28:57.second spot in the championship, but it was a big night to Scotland's
:28:58. > :28:58.women last night in their campaign to qualify for the European
:28:59. > :29:01.Championships. They had four wins from four matches
:29:02. > :29:04.going into their match against Slovenia in Paisley Now it's
:29:05. > :29:06.five wins from five, Anna Signuel's team topping
:29:07. > :29:11.the table.and looking good for a place in the finals
:29:12. > :29:20.in the Netherlands. They are looking good for a place in
:29:21. > :29:24.the finals. A Scottish team qualifying for a major tournament?
:29:25. > :29:32.On the crest of doing something special. They will want to go
:29:33. > :29:36.through as champions. The six best teams will go through, the other's
:29:37. > :29:42.play-off against each other. Scotland won't want to do that, they
:29:43. > :29:53.will want to qualify as champions. We will start now in the pram in
:29:54. > :29:58.ship -- Premiership. I cannot take my eyes off this. Fingernails well
:29:59. > :30:03.and truly being trimmed. County sitting in the top six, but Eric
:30:04. > :30:07.Schalke's early goal allowing that advantage. But Partick Thistle
:30:08. > :30:13.knocking on the door. If they brought a kitchen thing, they are
:30:14. > :30:19.about to throw it. They are bringing on Aidan Nesbitt. They have had a
:30:20. > :30:22.few chances in this second half. Close range shot just touched away.
:30:23. > :30:28.Thistle are coming closer and they no one goal might put them into the
:30:29. > :30:30.top six, depending on what happens in Hamilton. I am sure you will be
:30:31. > :30:41.updated. As Martin has pointed us in the
:30:42. > :30:49.direction of Hamilton, let's had there. They are at home to Dundee.
:30:50. > :30:54.70 minutes gone, 2-1 to Hamilton. Thomas Conrad almost equalised for
:30:55. > :31:01.Dundee but his header was well saved. Crawford has got his fifth of
:31:02. > :31:05.the season and Tena got a penalty. But the second half Dundee
:31:06. > :31:10.substitute Danny Harkins neatly flicked one past McGovern in front
:31:11. > :31:14.of the visiting fans, which has got them nice and loud. Jonathan is
:31:15. > :31:19.watching Kilmarnock against St Johnstone. Arithmetic has never been
:31:20. > :31:22.my strong point that I can just about make out that St Johnstone are
:31:23. > :31:29.hanging onto their top six or dench old by the skin of their teeth. They
:31:30. > :31:32.are losing 2-0, Kilmarnock deservedly in French, Kris Boyd with
:31:33. > :31:37.the first half goal and Calum Higginbotham making it 2-0 midway
:31:38. > :31:41.through the second-half. Sustained St Johnstone pressure, Craig just
:31:42. > :31:49.had header ruled out after a push, and their Bulgarian defender playing
:31:50. > :31:53.for St Johnstone today had a diving header saved by the ever reliable
:31:54. > :31:58.Jamie MacDonald. At the moment, this looks like being a vital first win
:31:59. > :32:04.for the Kilmarnock can manager, Lee Clark. Alistair Lamont is next,
:32:05. > :32:09.keeping an eye on Dundee United, Inverness. It looks like they will
:32:10. > :32:13.move eight 's clear of Dundee United, with Dundee trailing 2-0 at
:32:14. > :32:19.Tannadice, Miles Storey with the opening goal for Inverness Caley
:32:20. > :32:27.Thistle and Ian Fry goes volleying to doubled their advantage. -- and
:32:28. > :32:35.Iain Vigurs. There was a superb save, but that is
:32:36. > :32:40.all that Dundee United have had to offer.
:32:41. > :32:44.Time to hear once again from Ryan McLaughlin watching Falkirk, second
:32:45. > :32:52.placed on the Championship, against St Mirren. Still 2-1, Liam Miller
:32:53. > :32:56.giving the home side the lead. Steve Mallon equalised 11 minutes into the
:32:57. > :33:01.second period, a terrific free kick which gave Danny Rogers no chance.
:33:02. > :33:12.Falkirk back in front thanks to super substitute Bob McCue -- Bob
:33:13. > :33:20.McHugh. Over to Connie MacLachlan, Hibs back in the game? The ad says
:33:21. > :33:28.no. It is still 1-0 but they trailed to Alloa. Anthony Stokes had a good
:33:29. > :33:36.chance, but it was saved well by the substitute goalkeeper. Them the best
:33:37. > :33:39.chance, Jason Cummings setup David Gray. He was five yards out and just
:33:40. > :33:44.chance, Jason Cummings setup David had to get a touch, he could not
:33:45. > :33:48.manage to connect. So Alloa still lead 1-0. Why don't we choose a more
:33:49. > :33:55.Championship fat? -- Well, folks, why don't we chew some
:33:56. > :33:57.Championship fat for a while? Because the title race
:33:58. > :33:59.there is officially done and dusted. Rangers are the league winners,
:34:00. > :34:02.wrapping up the title and a return to the top division
:34:03. > :34:04.with four games to spare. This James Tavernier goal
:34:05. > :34:10.against Dumbarton taking them out you have an issue with the
:34:11. > :34:16.positioning? At centre forward position, I don't think I would want
:34:17. > :34:20.my full up there, that anybody who has watched Rangers, James Tavernier
:34:21. > :34:23.and Lee Wallace have been fantastic, chipping in with goals week after
:34:24. > :34:28.week after week. Worthy champions, they have won by a good distance,
:34:29. > :34:35.they give very little away, I think only Morton took anything away from
:34:36. > :34:43.Ibrox in the league, great job. Tom, remember when Rangers lost to
:34:44. > :34:48.Falkirk? You questioned... You questioned whether they had the
:34:49. > :34:52.stomach? I did, they had drawn a couple of games before that, then
:34:53. > :34:55.Falkirk deservedly beat them at Falkirk, I thought they were
:34:56. > :35:00.wobbling, they did not seem to have much bite that day. But they proved
:35:01. > :35:05.me completely wrong. They went on a big winning run at about, started
:35:06. > :35:09.brushing teams aside. Worthy winners, they have played some
:35:10. > :35:13.excellent football. I think they will have to change their team, you
:35:14. > :35:19.look at what Hearts did, they were runaway winners of the league last
:35:20. > :35:24.season, but for the Premiership they have bought 11 players since winning
:35:25. > :35:28.the Championship, so a Championship winning team, even if it is a
:35:29. > :35:30.decisive win, does not mean you will cut it in the Premiership?
:35:31. > :35:36.decisive win, does not mean you will for your effort, boys, but cheerio!
:35:37. > :35:42.There is an element about, the Hearts team is very different to the
:35:43. > :35:47.one which won the championship. They have been more direct, stronger and
:35:48. > :35:51.more physical. They played football last year. Rangers play football at
:35:52. > :35:54.the moment, but will he had to change his philosophy and become
:35:55. > :36:02.better balanced and play more directly? He needs players in the
:36:03. > :36:07.middle of the pitch. Rangers are not overspending, they are spending what
:36:08. > :36:09.they need to spend to get out of the division, in the first couple of
:36:10. > :36:16.years they were scatter-gun, buying players all over the face and paying
:36:17. > :36:21.them and the manager too much. What is needed at Ibrox next season,
:36:22. > :36:27.maybe not to challenge Celtic... Or maybe it is to challenge Celtic?
:36:28. > :36:32.Fans will expect Rangers to do what Hearts has done, to go in compete.
:36:33. > :36:38.The manager will learn a lot, he has a cup final he is expected to win,
:36:39. > :36:41.then the semifinal against Celtic. To build up against the team that
:36:42. > :36:47.will win the Championship and show what they can do, can they force the
:36:48. > :36:51.passing game onto Celtic, will they struggle at the back against the
:36:52. > :36:55.likes of Leigh Griffiths? Lots questions, he might be more clear
:36:56. > :37:02.after that on what he needs to do to get a team into the Premiership and
:37:03. > :37:10.go toe to toe? Did you mention that cup final? It will be covered by the
:37:11. > :37:15.BBC. You can listen to it or you can watch it on BBC Alba at high noon
:37:16. > :37:21.tomorrow, Rangers against Peterhead. Mark Warburton, Pat says, will treat
:37:22. > :37:26.this as a warm up for the game at Hampden a week on Sunday against
:37:27. > :37:30.Celtic? It will be a different game! No question. He is expected to win
:37:31. > :37:34.tomorrow, I am sure he will probably No question. He is expected to win
:37:35. > :37:38.win. Peterhead have done well to get there, it will be a big occasion for
:37:39. > :37:43.them, but next week is completely different. The challenges of a
:37:44. > :37:49.them, but next week is completely different magnitude? A different
:37:50. > :37:52.type of game. You are laughing! Peterhead, Celtic, one is lukewarm
:37:53. > :37:59.to tap it, the other is red-hot to scalding. Slightly different! He
:38:00. > :38:06.says he is treating it as a warm up, is that tone in cheek? It is a must
:38:07. > :38:12.win game, back at Hampton, they are going to hand to play Celtic, so it
:38:13. > :38:17.is a warm up to that extent, but in terms of games of football, polar
:38:18. > :38:23.opposites. Do you think Rangers fans will believe they can beat Celtic? I
:38:24. > :38:28.think there is more belief than last season. It was one-sided, they have
:38:29. > :38:31.enjoyed the style, they have enjoyed winning the Championship, now they
:38:32. > :38:37.will get the chance to see what their team can do. When the draw was
:38:38. > :38:43.made, Celtic went through a rough patch, have they come out of that
:38:44. > :38:47.now? They have played Dundee in the last couple of weeks and did not get
:38:48. > :38:55.a goal against them. Celtic are up and down, you do not know where they
:38:56. > :39:00.are at. I still think they are ahead of Rangers, it will be interesting
:39:01. > :39:05.that Rangers have moved forward. When they have played Celtic in the
:39:06. > :39:11.League Cup semifinal, they were in a dark place. I did not see that and
:39:12. > :39:20.the game, I saw them against Hearts, Celtic paid differently because they
:39:21. > :39:25.were pressed. Celtic played well and they should have scored a lot more.
:39:26. > :39:28.It depends how Rangers play. It is the title race and be Championship
:39:29. > :39:31.over. So it's now between Hibs
:39:32. > :39:33.and Falkirk for second place. Important because the runners up
:39:34. > :39:39.face one less play off tie. Hibs ending a five-game winless
:39:40. > :39:41.streak at home to Livingston on the same night
:39:42. > :39:54.Rangers won the title. Craig, do you remember this? One of
:39:55. > :39:58.those games that they had to win, dominate possession, dominate
:39:59. > :40:03.chancers, Livingston then got a really good goal through Jordan
:40:04. > :40:06.White, no Chancellor goalkeeper. The fans were starting to grumble and
:40:07. > :40:11.the team had to try to dig back in. With 15 minutes to go, Hibs are
:40:12. > :40:18.still wondering, you are looking for somebody to produce the goods,
:40:19. > :40:23.Anthony Stokes. Hibs are looking for something special. Can we get a
:40:24. > :40:25.winning goal? If you're looking the something special, just wait, Martin
:40:26. > :40:32.Boyle will never score a better goal. He hates this, it is still on
:40:33. > :40:34.the way up, when it hits the back of the neck it was a magnificent stroke
:40:35. > :40:40.which look like they might be back the neck it was a magnificent stroke
:40:41. > :40:47.on track -- back of the net. They are winning any match. Good news for
:40:48. > :40:52.Hibs fans, we have a goal to report, it is for St Mirren, away to second
:40:53. > :40:56.place Falkirk. It has come from the guy who scored
:40:57. > :41:03.the first, Stephen Mallan. It came in from the left hand side, Mallon
:41:04. > :41:08.drilled the ball beyond Danny Rogers, a real talent. You can see
:41:09. > :41:14.why clubs like Dundee are keen to sign him for next season. It is 2-2
:41:15. > :41:18.with eight minutes remaining. We will return to Championship chat
:41:19. > :41:22.later, the trike now we will hear from the management teams after the
:41:23. > :41:27.lunchtime match in the Premiership, Celtic winning 2-1 away to
:41:28. > :41:29.Motherwell, let's hear what their representatives said to our
:41:30. > :41:34.reporter? Celtic deserved to win. By
:41:35. > :41:41.half-time, we could have been out of it. But we could have got something
:41:42. > :41:45.out of it. I have looked at the disallowed goal, for me it is level.
:41:46. > :41:51.I think it was a bad decision and should stand as a goal, but apart
:41:52. > :41:55.from the second half performance when we did much, much better, got
:41:56. > :41:59.closer to them and grated those chances.
:42:00. > :42:03.It was always going to be tough. The most important thing is three
:42:04. > :42:06.points. We had to hang on for a spell in the second half, in the
:42:07. > :42:12.first half we had plenty of chances that we did not quite take. When it
:42:13. > :42:18.is 1-0 it is always uncomfortable. We could not get a second goal and
:42:19. > :42:22.see the game out. Eight points clear with five league games to go, we are
:42:23. > :42:29.in a good position, but we do not take our foot off the Gas, we try to
:42:30. > :42:34.extend the lead. No Celtic manager, he did not speak to the media
:42:35. > :42:40.representatives, he must have brought himself hoarse? He did two
:42:41. > :42:48.or three, maybe he is all roared out? And Mark McGhee initially
:42:49. > :42:54.refused to shake hands with the Celtic manager. He later told our
:42:55. > :43:00.reporter that he thought he had blanked him before the match. It is
:43:01. > :43:09.the hissy fit world of football management, passions run high. He
:43:10. > :43:16.was a bit annoyed. He was trying to appear as if he was not annoyed. On
:43:17. > :43:23.the radio interview he was very annoyed. He is sweating on a top six
:43:24. > :43:26.finish. If you look at what Mark McGhee has -- Mark McGhee has done,
:43:27. > :43:34.you deserves credit restaurant it was a good run, then they hit the
:43:35. > :43:39.skids, then you win six out of seven, getting a good position, once
:43:40. > :43:44.you are in the top six you know what kind of is coming in, you look at
:43:45. > :43:46.budgets etc, so it is easier once that is settled, but I think he
:43:47. > :43:52.would have liked a point this that is settled, but I think he
:43:53. > :43:58.afternoon, but Celtic were better. We gave him so many plaudits, he
:43:59. > :44:01.deserved it. After that, they did not win for five or six weeks,
:44:02. > :44:11.incredible. But he bounced back well. There is a bit of a lesson to
:44:12. > :44:17.the fans and the leadership to stick with somebody for a while, give them
:44:18. > :44:23.an opportunity. Mark is experienced, he has shown really good leadership.
:44:24. > :44:30.Motherwell and Mark McGhee? Google compared to this time last year --
:44:31. > :44:35.compared to this time last year, they had to survive through the
:44:36. > :44:39.play-offs, it was nervous and sweaty, now they are looking up in
:44:40. > :44:43.the world. Mark McGhee is a man of stature, physically and footballing
:44:44. > :44:47.wise. I think he has instilled a lot of confidence and organisation. I
:44:48. > :44:52.was disappointed with them today in the first half, they did not turn
:44:53. > :44:57.up. Their use of the ball was poor, I expected more. They are guilty
:44:58. > :45:05.enough, Motherwell, they are hard to eat. He was capable of changing, I
:45:06. > :45:10.thought that the first half tactics were wrong, they gave Celtic total
:45:11. > :45:15.possession and Celtic created chances. In the second half they put
:45:16. > :45:16.on more pressure and created, they had the disallowed goal which went
:45:17. > :45:31.in. That was interesting. That looked
:45:32. > :45:35.level. If it finished in a drawer, it would have been a travesty to
:45:36. > :45:41.Celtic. We are breaking off and going to rub the park. There is a
:45:42. > :45:50.penalty between Killy and St Johnstone. Penalty for Kilmarnock.
:45:51. > :45:55.Shaughnessy bringing a player down. It will be Kris Boyd, who opened the
:45:56. > :46:01.scoring, who will attempt to put this way to seal all three points
:46:02. > :46:06.for Kilmarnock. And he does so. 3-0 to Kilmarnock will stop Kris Boyd
:46:07. > :46:10.puts the ball into the corner of the net. Three vital points for
:46:11. > :46:16.Kilmarnock as they try to ease any relegation fears. But day for St
:46:17. > :46:20.Johnstone. After we go to find out what is happening in the game
:46:21. > :46:26.between Ross County and Partick Thistle. You just think Partick
:46:27. > :46:30.Thistle are going to throw everything at Ross County, who to be
:46:31. > :46:39.fair are managing this pretty well. Not too many efforts directly at the
:46:40. > :46:44.goalkeeper. There will be four minutes of injury time. Shot going
:46:45. > :46:48.in from Chris Dillon. And I am what is happening in Hamilton and what is
:46:49. > :46:54.happening in front of them as Ross County still looked on course to
:46:55. > :47:00.finish in the top six place. Kenny Crawford, at the game between
:47:01. > :47:07.Hamilton and Dundee. Still 2-1 to Hamilton Accies? Yes, but it is very
:47:08. > :47:11.nervy. Hamilton Accies are not used to preserving leads but they have
:47:12. > :47:17.come close to losing it. A few minutes to go. The goals for them
:47:18. > :47:21.seem a long time ago, both in the first half, Crawford's low drive
:47:22. > :47:30.into the corner and a penalty but them 2-0 up at the break before Gary
:47:31. > :47:33.Harkins made it 2-1. I want to flag up a couple of things. Hamilton
:47:34. > :47:40.Accies are deep, clearing everything at every opportunity, which I'm
:47:41. > :47:45.worried about. Also I am worried for Dougie Emery, who has been books. He
:47:46. > :47:50.is so up for this and there is a lot of bad blood between Hamilton Accies
:47:51. > :47:56.and Dundee. He has already exchanged a few words with the Dundee manager
:47:57. > :47:59.at the side. Don't worry, it will be fine. Don't think it will be
:48:00. > :48:09.at the side. Don't worry, it will be the Dundee United. There is
:48:10. > :48:14.absolutely no sign of a dramatic comeback. Almost as if they are
:48:15. > :48:19.resigned to their fate at the foot of the Premiership table. If anyone
:48:20. > :48:33.looks likely to score it looks like Inverness Caley Thistle. Otherwise,
:48:34. > :48:40.Inverness Caley Thistle are the superior side. Let's hear from Brian
:48:41. > :48:46.watching Falkirk against St Mirren in the championship. It is a goal
:48:47. > :48:55.for Falkirk. Lee Miller has scored with seconds left. Ten seconds left.
:48:56. > :49:03.It is now 3-2, to Falkirk. They led twice. Stevie Mallon twice equalised
:49:04. > :49:09.for the visitors, but with injury time looming, it is now 3-2 to
:49:10. > :49:17.Falkirk. I knew we shouldn't have gone there. Carney, can you match
:49:18. > :49:19.that folate drama Alloa Hibs? Hibs are banging on the door. Same story
:49:20. > :49:24.for the last few weeks, hips, they are banging on the door. Same story
:49:25. > :49:31.don't start playing until they are a goal down. There were lucky not to
:49:32. > :49:39.be two goals down. The initial goal should have killed the game. It is a
:49:40. > :49:48.scrappy affair. We are into stoppage time. Our Hibs handing over the
:49:49. > :49:53.second place in the championship? She has done it again, ended with a
:49:54. > :49:57.question. Think she is after this job. Peter Houston was on the show
:49:58. > :50:03.and he was adamant they have secured their play-off spot, but he wanted
:50:04. > :50:08.the second spot. This could go a long way securing that the them?
:50:09. > :50:14.They could end the day six points clear of Hibs. They meet on Tuesday
:50:15. > :50:19.at Easter Road, so it is a huge game. But avoiding the play-off
:50:20. > :50:25.game, they beat Queen of the South, Rangers. They beat Hibs, played home
:50:26. > :50:27.and away. The two game against Motherwell, Motherwell looked
:50:28. > :50:31.sharper. If you miss one of those games, it is a big plus. Hibs have a
:50:32. > :50:40.sharper. If you miss one of those lot of fixtures, congestion? Hibs
:50:41. > :50:46.have lost the plot. They lost one game in six months, now they are
:50:47. > :50:54.losing games left, right and centre. It is set up perfectly for them to
:50:55. > :51:01.win the Scottish Cup, Craig? Full-time at Ross County? Yes,
:51:02. > :51:07.County who, barring something unbelievable, and it is Alec Schalke
:51:08. > :51:13.at the decisive goal. Strip the winner in the League Cup final last
:51:14. > :51:22.month. They have achieved the top six finish. The show was low past
:51:23. > :51:26.the goalkeeper. Thistle tried everything in the second half to get
:51:27. > :51:34.level, which might have earned them the top six spot. Despite having a
:51:35. > :51:42.lot of the they didn't threaten Scott Fox too often. What is a
:51:43. > :51:46.season to remember the Jim McIntyre. Thistle, no realistic threat of
:51:47. > :51:53.relegation, Mike be a consolation after coming close to a top half
:51:54. > :51:57.finish themselves. Full-time at Kilmarnock against St
:51:58. > :52:03.Johnstone. Finally come good for Kilmarnock manager Lee Clark. Five
:52:04. > :52:07.games out of six they failed to score. Today they manage three
:52:08. > :52:09.against St Johnstone. After a slow start to the match, Kilmarnock
:52:10. > :52:13.deservedly took the lead in the start to the match, Kilmarnock
:52:14. > :52:18.first half. Kris Boyd with a free kick from 20 yards, fired it into
:52:19. > :52:28.the bottom corner. Come Monarch should have scored more goals. They
:52:29. > :52:35.had a goal disallowed for offside. Kilmarnock made it 2-0 in the second
:52:36. > :52:39.half. Callan Higginbotham, whose downward header made it 2-0 as
:52:40. > :52:46.Kilmarnock took control. St Johnstone tried to take chances. The
:52:47. > :52:50.Buchel Monarch goalkeeper was in inspired form and made several great
:52:51. > :52:59.saves. St Johnstone made sure of the victory. A header was ruled out for
:53:00. > :53:05.pushing and Kilmarnock made sure of all three points. McKenzie fouled in
:53:06. > :53:11.the box and there was Kris Boyd, who has been much maligned this season
:53:12. > :53:17.for his lack of goals. He may two today stop and a vital three points
:53:18. > :53:28.for Kilmarnock this afternoon. Time to hear from Carney, is it all over
:53:29. > :53:34.Alloa, Hibs? Yes, finished 1-0 and a serious blow to Hibs' chances to
:53:35. > :53:39.finishing second. Duffy's only goal of the match causing confusion as to
:53:40. > :53:43.whether it crossed the line or not. The referee had a brief discussion
:53:44. > :53:47.with his assistant and awarded the goal. Into the second half, Alloa
:53:48. > :53:54.look determined to hold onto their lead. They contained Hibs well and
:53:55. > :53:56.force them to try shots from distance. Anthony Stokes came
:53:57. > :54:00.closest with an excellent drive from the edge of the box, forcing a
:54:01. > :54:08.decent save from the substitute goalkeeper, David Crawford. Then
:54:09. > :54:13.David Gray couldn't connect, when he should have had it in the back of
:54:14. > :54:17.the net. Five minutes later, Duffy should have killed the game Alloa
:54:18. > :54:27.and doubled their lead. The keeper managed to save. Mob. The Hibs, they
:54:28. > :54:31.stay behind Falkirk. Back to the Premiership, it is full-time at New
:54:32. > :54:40.Douglas Park. Hamilton against Dundee. Hamilton Accies have
:54:41. > :54:47.121-macro. Hamilton gets their first home win in over six months. They
:54:48. > :54:54.also preserve the gap between them and Kilmarnock. There are scenes of
:54:55. > :55:09.relief amongst the fans, who aren't used to seeing wins here. Joyous
:55:10. > :55:17.scenes. Ali Crawford's goal put them 1-0 ahead. That was double bank
:55:18. > :55:22.still a penalty. Dundee got one back in the second half. Despite more
:55:23. > :55:27.pressure, they couldn't get the second to blow Dundee United down.
:55:28. > :55:33.So that was unfortunate for Dundee, but it was a great win for Hamilton
:55:34. > :55:39.Accies. Back to the championship, Falkirk against St Mirren and it is
:55:40. > :55:49.full-time? Thriller here in front of 4331. 3-2 for Falkirk. Miller popped
:55:50. > :55:56.up with his ninth goal of the season. Stevie Mallon equalised. A
:55:57. > :56:02.terrific curling free kick, only for Bob McCue to the Falkirk back in
:56:03. > :56:07.front. Just a few minutes after coming on. Stevie Mallon again,
:56:08. > :56:14.equalised just eight minutes from time after a cup back from Jim
:56:15. > :56:19.Goodman. Looked as if it was going to be a point apiece, but Blair
:56:20. > :56:24.Olsson thought otherwise. In the final minute, he struck from six
:56:25. > :56:28.yards, hammered the ball beyond Jamie Langley, to secure what could
:56:29. > :56:34.be a vital three points for Falkirk in the battle for second top spot.
:56:35. > :56:40.They play Hibs on Tuesday night at Easter Road. Staying in the
:56:41. > :56:44.championship, clean up the South were at home to Raith Rovers this
:56:45. > :56:50.afternoon. Let's say hello to Sandra. Raith Rovers confirmed their
:56:51. > :57:00.place in the top four with a 2-1 win in Dumfries. Robbie Thomson saved
:57:01. > :57:08.and effort. For most of the first half, Raith Rovers come to be dealt
:57:09. > :57:13.with Queen's attack. Kyle Hutton with a long ball forward the Dale
:57:14. > :57:18.Hulse and his smash them ball past the goalkeeper. Raith Rovers
:57:19. > :57:24.restored the advantage just after the hour mark. Queens pushed to take
:57:25. > :57:32.something from the game. Raith have Cuthbert to thank, he said shots
:57:33. > :57:39.from Wilson. But despite their efforts, Queens couldn't muster an
:57:40. > :57:49.equaliser. Back to the Premiership, Dundee United against Inverness. It
:57:50. > :57:59.finished 2-0. United lurching closer to the drop. Toothless display will
:58:00. > :58:09.stop Inverness Caley Thistle's second win in eight matches. The
:58:10. > :58:18.first goal was a tap in and the second was an impressive bowling. It
:58:19. > :58:24.means Dundee have two win a minimum of three of the remaining five
:58:25. > :58:27.games. That is just to avoid automatic relegation and the
:58:28. > :58:29.evidence of this match, it is an improbable sequence of results and
:58:30. > :58:35.evidence of this match, it is an the full-time mission greeted by
:58:36. > :58:37.doing by most of the United fans who had remained inside Tannadice. Not a
:58:38. > :58:46.doing by most of the United fans who good day for Dundee United. We were
:58:47. > :58:52.conferring during that. We have now got the top six. We will start in
:58:53. > :58:56.reverse order. Ross County, I cannot believe they are in there, three
:58:57. > :59:02.wins in ten games. On a terrible run, but they have done it? They
:59:03. > :59:09.have been on a poor run since the League Cup. Even before that. But
:59:10. > :59:15.that is a huge win for them today. It just kind of validates the
:59:16. > :59:21.coupling, but it means they will be downturn at the end of the season.
:59:22. > :59:27.It is all positive for Ross County, they have one cup, in the top six,
:59:28. > :59:30.it is a fantastic season. St Johnstone in fifth, upon behind
:59:31. > :59:36.Motherwell. Intriguing battle for third spot sorry for the spot with a
:59:37. > :59:42.potential European place of the grabs? They can all now enjoy
:59:43. > :59:46.themselves. That horrible pressure of being down, fighting against the
:59:47. > :59:51.play-off situation, that has gone for them. If they do get into
:59:52. > :59:55.Europe, any of those teams, Motherwell, Ross County, St
:59:56. > :00:00.Johnstone, Europe would be a huge bonus. Go and enjoy the games. Now
:00:01. > :03:21.we can go to the classified results round-up.
:03:22. > :03:22.had the disallowed goal which went in.
:03:23. > :03:55.Defeat for Dundee coupled by a windfall, Nick leaves the gap
:03:56. > :04:00.between them at eight points. -- coupled by a win for Kilmarnock.
:04:01. > :04:09.Rangers are confirmed champions, the graduations to them. Raith Rovers,
:04:10. > :04:18.congratulations, their place in the play-off places is confirmed. Alloa
:04:19. > :04:25.were relegated last week. Dunfermline are the champions in
:04:26. > :04:30.League 1. Peterhead and a United are confirmed in play-off spots,
:04:31. > :04:50.Stranraer are not quite over the line yet.
:04:51. > :04:59.East Stirlingshire 's defeat today means they will face a pyramid
:05:00. > :05:08.play-off. Leicester and Tottenham played tomorrow.
:05:09. > :05:17.A familiar look about the bottom of the table. Aston Villa are clinging
:05:18. > :05:51.on, only by mathematical possibility, one would have to say.
:05:52. > :05:56.Let's get some details of the matches in the English Premier
:05:57. > :05:59.Let's get some details of the League this afternoon, starting with
:06:00. > :06:04.the London derby, West Ham United against Arsenal. Jonathan Pearce has
:06:05. > :06:11.details. West Ham three, Arsenal three. West Ham had the ball in the
:06:12. > :06:15.net first only for Lanzini to be ruled offside, especially cruel when
:06:16. > :06:19.Mesut Ozil was judged marginally on-site. And when Sanchez finished
:06:20. > :06:26.off a lovely move for 2-0, Arsenal were well in command. But a header
:06:27. > :06:31.and a deflected blast, two in two minutes from Andy Carroll, Rod them
:06:32. > :06:35.level. Arsenal thought that the battering ram centre forward Andy
:06:36. > :06:41.Carroll should have been sent off, but after 52 minutes he was there to
:06:42. > :06:45.head in his hat-trick, only for the win to be denied by Kush Elneny's
:06:46. > :06:52.close range equaliser 19 minutes from time. Restless and wonderful,
:06:53. > :06:57.like the whole season. Jonathan also sent breathless! Jacqui Oatley has
:06:58. > :07:04.details of Crystal Palace against Norwich City. Crystal Palace win
:07:05. > :07:11.1-0, finally winning a league game in 2016, the last team to do so.
:07:12. > :07:19.Jason Puncheon's goal hugely significant. It's release the
:07:20. > :07:23.pressure valve at Selhurst Park, a rare moment of quality in, frankly,
:07:24. > :07:31.a relegation dogfight. Norwich felt they should have had a penalty in
:07:32. > :07:36.clear of Norwich with a game and sat clear of Norwich with a game and sat
:07:37. > :07:40.-- game in hand, Norwich still have work to do, starting with Sunderland
:07:41. > :07:45.next weekend. How did bottom club Aston Villa get
:07:46. > :07:50.on against Bournemouth? Eddie Howe is celebrating the win for
:07:51. > :07:54.Bournemouth, they get past 40 points, but eight defeats in a row
:07:55. > :07:56.for Villa, their worst Premier League run of results. There has not
:07:57. > :08:02.been worse since 1963, relegation League run of results. There has not
:08:03. > :08:07.only delayed for another week because of Palace's win against
:08:08. > :08:12.Norwich. Bournemouth are past the 40 point mark to safety in their first
:08:13. > :08:16.season in the top flight. Villa fans unveiled a banner saying no fight,
:08:17. > :08:23.no pride, no hope, which just about sums it up. You castle United also
:08:24. > :08:27.in the relegation zone, Tony Husband watch the match away at Southampton.
:08:28. > :08:34.The clock is ticking on their Premier League survival. The
:08:35. > :08:38.frustration for Rafa Benitez will be that Newcastle only showed a threat
:08:39. > :08:43.when they were 3-0 down and effectively out of it. Talented
:08:44. > :08:51.individuals, highlighted by the goal-scorer, Andros Townsend. 2-0
:08:52. > :08:56.down at the break, Wanyama made it three. Townsend's goal was great,
:08:57. > :09:00.but individual moments will not save Newcastle.
:09:01. > :09:04.Swansea are not safe yet, but a win over Chelsea today will do their
:09:05. > :09:08.prospects no end of good. Let's hear all about it. What a difference a
:09:09. > :09:17.year makes, Swansea have beaten Chelsea 1-0, this time last year
:09:18. > :09:20.Swansea, in full pump, won 5-0. Gylfi Sigurdsson scored his ninth
:09:21. > :09:27.goal since the turn of the year. He has been key to the Swansea revival.
:09:28. > :09:33.A first league defeat for Guus Hiddink on the second time around,
:09:34. > :09:39.plenty of work for Antonio Conte. Watford played Everton this
:09:40. > :09:42.afternoon. 1-1, these teams in their poor runs continue, one win in six
:09:43. > :09:48.for Everton, non-in 64 Watford. The poor runs continue, one win in six
:09:49. > :09:53.girls get the stroke of half-time, McCarthy put Everton forward, then
:09:54. > :10:01.Holub asked's header was deflected past his own goalkeeper. In the
:10:02. > :10:08.closing stages, Watson saw a 25 yarder brilliantly saved.
:10:09. > :10:14.Plenty to talk about in the English Premier League, starting with West
:10:15. > :10:19.Ham United and Arsenal, Craig. Is that Arsenal's title hopes gone?
:10:20. > :10:23.They had to win every game and hope that the best and they could not get
:10:24. > :10:29.it done, so I think so. Every time there is a criticism about Arsenal,
:10:30. > :10:33.it is that they are soft. Andy Carroll, and a planned at them,
:10:34. > :10:38.bowled over type striker, get a hat-trick. They got a point, showing
:10:39. > :10:43.bowled over type striker, get a character, but league champions? No
:10:44. > :10:48.chance. They are playing good football, but you have to have more
:10:49. > :10:52.than that. Compare that to Leicester City, their character and fight,
:10:53. > :10:58.that is why they are top of the league and Arsenal cannot get there.
:10:59. > :11:04.Great players, something missing. Do you think that they would hunger for
:11:05. > :11:08.the 1-0 wins under George Graham? There was a banner saying that all
:11:09. > :11:13.great stories have to come to an end, meaning that finger has to go.
:11:14. > :11:18.I think he has to go. -- meaning that Wenger has to go. How many
:11:19. > :11:28.years have people said that Arsenal RA soft touch? They need to bring in
:11:29. > :11:35.tough, and field centre halves. -- midfield centre halves. They have
:11:36. > :11:39.blown it again. The types of player who have been fantastic for
:11:40. > :11:43.Leicester, who go and do the hard work and are good enough on the
:11:44. > :11:49.ball, I am surprised that that is the type of player that Arsene
:11:50. > :11:54.Wenger does not get. Two horse race between Leicester and Tottenham? I
:11:55. > :11:57.would have thought so. Spurs play Man United, lest it would be
:11:58. > :12:03.expected to beat Sunderland, if it goes that way, they are a step
:12:04. > :12:12.closer. Aston Villa are a huge step closer...? They are gone, fair play
:12:13. > :12:16.to them, they will get ?100 million for being relegated. That is the
:12:17. > :12:22.obscenity of this new Premier League television deal, they get a pot of
:12:23. > :12:26.gold for being useless. The heart and Soul has gone out of that club,
:12:27. > :12:32.as with Newcastle. So Mike Ashley will be rubbing his hands, but it is
:12:33. > :12:37.not looking good for them Leicester mug 3-1 loss at Southampton? They
:12:38. > :12:41.are a huge club, passionate fans, they will go down again. Some of
:12:42. > :12:46.these teams might not come up for a couple of years. I know the
:12:47. > :12:51.parachute payment is great, but unless you jump back up, you are in
:12:52. > :12:54.trouble. Newcastle is one of those teams. A good result for
:12:55. > :13:01.Southampton, good to see them going well. Burnley are top of the
:13:02. > :13:07.Championship, the winner scored by Scott Arfield, Scotland have said,
:13:08. > :13:14.we do not want him, he is now Canadian. He is not good enough for
:13:15. > :13:16.Scotland! I thought he was always Canadian!
:13:17. > :13:20.Let's talk about the Scottish Premiership, we know who will be on
:13:21. > :13:22.the top six at the bottom six. We focused on the top six and earlier,
:13:23. > :13:28.let's look at the bottom six, you focused on the top six and earlier,
:13:29. > :13:32.have unanimously agreed, probably for the first time, that Dundee
:13:33. > :13:35.United's goose is well and truly cooked, but it is close between
:13:36. > :13:39.United's goose is well and truly Kilmarnock, Hamilton and Inverness?
:13:40. > :13:45.Do you see anybody else being sucked in? The Inverness game on Tuesday is
:13:46. > :13:54.big. If they win that, eight game, it gets them to 42 point, and I
:13:55. > :13:59.right? It opens it up. If they don't, they open the gap between
:14:00. > :14:01.themselves and Hamilton. Every game will be tough for them. It is a
:14:02. > :14:05.different type of pressure at the will be tough for them. It is a
:14:06. > :14:10.bottom you spoke about the reinforcements that Aberdeen needed,
:14:11. > :14:14.John Hughes has spoken about the difficulty of getting people up to
:14:15. > :14:21.Inverness, he is losing players to Dundee? That is the problem, Dundee
:14:22. > :14:26.can offer better contracts. We can pay a little bit more, is it enough
:14:27. > :14:32.to get players to uproot families, moved to Inverness, change schools
:14:33. > :14:36.etc? That will always be a problem, Inverness and Ross County have
:14:37. > :14:40.donated job but you wonder how far they can go because they are out of
:14:41. > :14:43.the way, it is difficult to get players from England and the South
:14:44. > :14:49.of Scotland. The manager must be wondering where it went wrong. I
:14:50. > :15:02.Hard to beat. They win games, they Thistle. Indeed's problem, 14 draws?
:15:03. > :15:10.Hard to beat. They win games, they lose games, if you turn two of them
:15:11. > :15:14.into wins, it is a different story. You have got to get the points if
:15:15. > :15:18.you want to finish top six. They did last season, just couldn't quite get
:15:19. > :15:21.you want to finish top six. They did there this season. Partick Thistle,
:15:22. > :15:28.I feel sorry for them because they had a period of fixture congestion?
:15:29. > :15:31.A bit unlucky. They went through a nice patch where they were winning
:15:32. > :15:34.games. I think they will move forward. I know it will be
:15:35. > :15:38.games. I think they will move disappointing for Alan Archibald.
:15:39. > :15:44.But I do think they have moved forward. I think we have sent Kenny
:15:45. > :15:48.Crawford too often to Hamilton. He has gone native, worried about them.
:15:49. > :15:56.Should he be worried, looking at the table? It is a big result for them.
:15:57. > :16:02.They get them close enough to the other group to give them a chance
:16:03. > :16:08.and keep the gap between themselves and Kilmarnock. Every game will be
:16:09. > :16:11.like a cup final. Is it five games they have to play? Inverness will
:16:12. > :16:13.play the extra game. That could be tremendous motivation for
:16:14. > :16:19.Kilmarnock, going into the final furlong? When you are six games
:16:20. > :16:22.without a win and only one goal scored, you are looking for
:16:23. > :16:31.something. You get the best result of the season when you find Hamilton
:16:32. > :16:37.also get a win. They have managed to beat St Johnstone twice, they have
:16:38. > :16:42.to use it as a springboard. And a clean sheet for Jamie Macdonald, I
:16:43. > :16:46.would imagine will be their Player of the Year? He has been brilliant.
:16:47. > :16:53.Looking at footage coming in, he made a magnificent save in the top,
:16:54. > :16:58.right hand corner. He is not the biggest guy, would you go and sign
:16:59. > :17:02.him because about, but look at the season they have had. Without him,
:17:03. > :17:10.why would they be. Given Dundee United bottom spot, who is next?
:17:11. > :17:14.Kilmarnock are the team in second bottom, a 4-point gap between them
:17:15. > :17:19.and Hamilton. A win and a draw and hope he will get your goal
:17:20. > :17:23.difference sorted out. These last five games will be immense. And the
:17:24. > :17:34.game between Kilmarnock and Hamilton will be the biggest.
:17:35. > :17:41.the lab Brooks Scottish Premiership. the lab Brooks Scottish Premiership.
:17:42. > :18:20.-- Ladbrokes. Highlights of that little lot
:18:21. > :18:22.tomorrow night with Jonathan You'll be annoyed with yourself
:18:23. > :18:29.if you don't catch live coverage of the Scottish Cup semi-final
:18:30. > :18:32.between Hibernian and Dundee United And the results show is back at half
:18:33. > :18:37.past four next week on BBC One. Before that, you can listen to Off
:18:38. > :18:45.the Ball's Saturday Supplement with Stuart not Tam this week,
:18:46. > :18:48.Annie Maguire deputising