:00:45. > :00:50.Good evening and welcome to sports in, Celtic wrapped up the title last
:00:51. > :00:54.weekend but that was never really in doubt. The focus is now on the
:00:55. > :01:00.subplot. The race for Europe and the relegation battle. With us as
:01:01. > :01:04.always, Steven Thompson and Michael Stewart. We're one of the most
:01:05. > :01:08.fiercely contested rivalries in Scottish football. Aberdeen winning
:01:09. > :01:12.15 of the last 17 games including all ten of their last matches at
:01:13. > :01:22.home. They are looking to cement second place with victory over
:01:23. > :01:29.Rangers this lunchtime. COMMENTATOR: Rangers looking for an 11th straight
:01:30. > :01:40.win in Aberdeen. No reason to change the team. -- Aberdeen looking for
:01:41. > :01:42.the 11th consecutive win at home. The Portuguese knows Rangers must
:01:43. > :01:55.win today if they are to threaten second spot. Miller will skipper
:01:56. > :02:13.them. 12 points is the current gap. That is McLean's fix -- flick. Top
:02:14. > :02:24.Aberdeen winning 15 of their last 17 games. Immediately Ryan Jack and
:02:25. > :02:27.Ghana have got heavily involved. Ghana has gone down, claiming he has
:02:28. > :02:31.been head-butted by the Aberdeen skipper. The referee has something
:02:32. > :02:43.big to sort out the first minute the game here. Jo Garner certainly hit
:02:44. > :02:49.the deck. But already a moment of serious controversy in an Aberdeen
:02:50. > :02:58.Rangers game. He goes to his pocket. Yellow for both.
:02:59. > :03:10.Good pace from Aberdeen in these early exchanges. Nile McGinn gets
:03:11. > :03:14.there. Shouts in the Aberdeen fans for a penalty. Danny Wilson with the
:03:15. > :03:27.challenge. Not many protests from the Aberdeen number ten.
:03:28. > :03:32.Now, Aberdeen on the counter. It is Johnny Hayes. Wes Foderingham makes
:03:33. > :03:53.to save at the near post. McLean has been rocked by Waghorn.
:03:54. > :04:02.It is going to break to Jo Garner, a great first touch and a great save
:04:03. > :04:10.by Lewis. Proving his worth again but Rangers will feel they should be
:04:11. > :04:20.in front. Hayes caught him late there. Rangers have been given an
:04:21. > :04:32.advantage and Waghorn spurns the opportunity. Rangers's second big
:04:33. > :04:40.opportunity of the game. Wilson. Lewis gets there. He is true by Joe
:04:41. > :04:48.Garner. He was booked earlier. -- tripped by Joe Garner. There will be
:04:49. > :04:59.no second yellow. An innocuous looking challenge. As he chases the
:05:00. > :05:05.ball down. Rooney. He has done well, he has done very well. McGinn one of
:05:06. > :05:14.them but he took it off the toe of Graham Shinnie. Who was the better
:05:15. > :05:20.option. He swings it in. Considine, Rangers have got away with one
:05:21. > :05:31.there. Graham Shinnie things he is smashing that into the net.
:05:32. > :05:40.Trying to help his team-mate. That is good play by Hayes, away from
:05:41. > :05:51.Wilson. Didn't have the end product again. Shinnie still has it but he
:05:52. > :05:57.is on the deck. Hayes will be disappointed he hasn't managed to
:05:58. > :06:03.provide a better ball here. Try to chip it with the left foot. Graham
:06:04. > :06:15.Shinnie would have done well to score from that situation. McGinn
:06:16. > :06:25.testing Miller. McLean on the volley. Wes Foderingham keeps it
:06:26. > :06:27.out. That was better from Aberdeen. It looked as though the people would
:06:28. > :06:41.get that at one stage. Well played by O'Connor. He read
:06:42. > :06:46.that almost last week. Through it comes for Adam Rooney, a big chance
:06:47. > :06:51.but Foderingham says again for the second time in a couple of minutes.
:06:52. > :06:58.Brilliantly read by Anthony O'Connor. He saw it a mile off. It
:06:59. > :07:11.goes to Hayes. Rooney is in there and Fotheringham
:07:12. > :07:14.denies Aberdeen for the third time in the second half, two of them from
:07:15. > :07:25.Adam Rooney who must have thought he was breaking the deadlock with this.
:07:26. > :07:31.O'Connor. That is for Logan. One of the balls of the season and Shay
:07:32. > :07:38.Logan is in here. A good challenge by Bates. But again, Aberdeen were
:07:39. > :07:42.in. Logan thought about the shot but decided to try and find Rooney but
:07:43. > :07:49.Bates did more than enough to put off the Aberdeen top scorer. Waghorn
:07:50. > :07:54.takes it down, look at Windus galloping to his right. Waghorn in
:07:55. > :08:02.the box and Windus saw the headlines. A decent rake by Rangers.
:08:03. > :08:11.Seldom threatened in the final third in the second half. Sloppy from
:08:12. > :08:21.Aberdeen in the middle. 12 minutes left. Tavernier. It has dropped to
:08:22. > :08:29.Waghorn, saved by Lewis, Miller, it is 1-0 Rangers. A stunning finish
:08:30. > :08:36.from Kenny Miller. Rangers might just have kept the battle for second
:08:37. > :08:43.place alive. But this is classic Kenny Miller. Lewis kept out why
:08:44. > :08:50.corn. What a strike it is. He still has so much to do. But he has done
:08:51. > :08:55.it with aplomb and Rangers lead 1-0. It is the age old story, Aberdeen
:08:56. > :09:01.have failed to take their chances in the second half. It has been even
:09:02. > :09:07.over the course of the game as far as opportunities are concerned. This
:09:08. > :09:17.is a tester for Aberdeen. O'Connor gives Miller could be in for another
:09:18. > :09:22.one, and he slots it home. Two goals in a minute for Kenny Miller. It is
:09:23. > :09:31.a horror story for Anthony O'Connor. Both he and Taylor. Given away by
:09:32. > :09:38.oh,, don't do finds Miller and that is as cool as you would like. And
:09:39. > :09:43.Rangers now lead to - zero. They had barely threatened in the second
:09:44. > :09:48.half. They have stepped up when they have had the opportunities. They
:09:49. > :09:57.have taken the two that have come their way in the second period.
:09:58. > :10:09.Rangers suddenly playing with real freedom. It is 3-0. Absolutely
:10:10. > :10:13.incredible. This is a major result, make no mistake about that. Second
:10:14. > :10:21.place could have been done and dusted today but a crazy few minutes
:10:22. > :10:36.have put hetero Caixinha in dreamland, look at what it means to
:10:37. > :10:42.him. He is in again. For four. Miller for the hat-trick, off the
:10:43. > :10:51.line by Considine. -- Pedro Caixinha. Terrible from Taylor and
:10:52. > :10:54.Rangers so close to capitalising. We have won games with late goals and
:10:55. > :10:59.there is a confidence and experience about us to get the goal but we
:11:00. > :11:07.never showed the same confidence from when we lost the goal. It is
:11:08. > :11:11.unusual. It is a huge disappointment today. We understand that. The
:11:12. > :11:17.players are disappointed as well and we have lost the fight today but it
:11:18. > :11:22.is important we win the battle the second and hopefully get in the cup
:11:23. > :11:27.final. He predicted the Aberdeen team but I am not sure he predicted
:11:28. > :11:35.the 3-0 scoreline. Given the way that match went, it was a remarkable
:11:36. > :11:39.scoreline. It was, it was an entertaining game. Both teams fully
:11:40. > :11:43.committed. Aberdeen started well but Rangers had the best of the first
:11:44. > :11:48.half. In the second half it was all Aberdeen. You could not see a way
:11:49. > :11:53.back in for Rangers, you could not see them getting one goal, let alone
:11:54. > :11:57.three. Wood big games are full of big incidents and there was a big
:11:58. > :12:03.incident right at the start. Was a yellow card each the right decision?
:12:04. > :12:07.I think it was. Tight games between teams that are close to each other
:12:08. > :12:11.there are a lot of potential turning points. Ryan Jack here runs the
:12:12. > :12:20.risk, he gives Kevin Clancy the chance, he could have been sent off.
:12:21. > :12:24.Joe Garner's reaction is pathetic. It is a reminder of Charlie Mulgrew
:12:25. > :12:27.and Kyle Lafferty. That was even worse. He could have been red
:12:28. > :12:37.carded. I think this, Taylor is a worse. He could have been red
:12:38. > :12:40.very un--- is very fortunate. Another potential turning point in
:12:41. > :12:44.the game. In hindsight when you look at the end of the game. Maybe
:12:45. > :12:51.Aberdeen and have wanted him to get sent off. That is harsh. He was
:12:52. > :12:55.involved in some poor defending. We will get to that shortly. Should
:12:56. > :12:58.this have been a penalty for Aberdeen? The fact nobody has spoken
:12:59. > :13:01.this have been a penalty for about it does not diminish that this
:13:02. > :13:08.is a penalty for me. Nile McGinn gets to the ball before Wilson. He
:13:09. > :13:15.is clumsily barged in the back. That is a penalty. I agree. The referee
:13:16. > :13:20.is in a fantastic position. For me, that was a penalty. It seemed to be
:13:21. > :13:26.missed by everyone. The macro the Aberdeen reaction as well. McGinn
:13:27. > :13:31.does react. But not adamant there was a penalty. I would have expected
:13:32. > :13:35.more. I think that is added to the reason why a lot of the reaction has
:13:36. > :13:39.been almost muted. In the second half, large swathes of Aberdeen
:13:40. > :13:47.pressure. Were you surprised there was no breakthrough. They certainly
:13:48. > :13:50.tried, Wes Foderingham were superb. It was magnificent, they had
:13:51. > :13:54.opportunities and improved in the second half, Aberdeen. This is a
:13:55. > :14:01.great reaction save. You got a wee bit excited. When you thought Joe
:14:02. > :14:04.Lewis had saved it. He looks to pass through, Rooney on to his weaker
:14:05. > :14:09.side, it has to be said, a more comfortable save. This was an
:14:10. > :14:17.excellent save. You were critical of Rooney here. It is a great save, he
:14:18. > :14:20.gets it on target. Aberdeen got their wide players involved more in
:14:21. > :14:25.the second half. Foderingham has been a top performer. They signed
:14:26. > :14:29.Matt Gilkes and you thought it would be a challenge but Foderingham
:14:30. > :14:35.stepped up to the plate and has been a top performer. Did you see Rangers
:14:36. > :14:40.winning this match 3-0? Know. Especially at that stage of the game
:14:41. > :14:43.where Aberdeen were on top. Kenny McLean, Graham Shinnie and Ryan
:14:44. > :14:48.Jack, the three midfielders, he picks the ball up. Look at the
:14:49. > :14:51.Spacey is running into. He has vacated from the defensive third to
:14:52. > :14:56.the attacking third and not been challenged. Aberdeen get back in
:14:57. > :15:01.shape and get back behind the ball. They bust a gut, late in the game
:15:02. > :15:03.and they switched off. You can see, he leaves him, he confronts him and
:15:04. > :15:14.it is poor defending. But it is an incredible hate. A
:15:15. > :15:20.mistake, but in terms of finishing, that is as good as you will see.
:15:21. > :15:24.They switched off, a slight touch. It goes back into the middle of the
:15:25. > :15:31.park. Take your touch, you have all the time in the world. Give him the
:15:32. > :15:37.benefit of the doubt, but then Anthony O'Connor is slack. They call
:15:38. > :15:42.finish from Kenny Miller. The game is over at that point. They went a
:15:43. > :15:46.goal down and did not react properly. That was straight from the
:15:47. > :15:51.kick-off. Ash Taylor has to come further across. He is not blocking
:15:52. > :15:56.the goal at all, he needs to come across and block. A great finish,
:15:57. > :16:01.because that is clever from the striker. Play it between the
:16:02. > :16:06.defenders. The goalkeeper is unsighted. News from Rangers,
:16:07. > :16:15.Jonathan Johansson will be the new assistant. Kenny Miller was the star
:16:16. > :16:19.man, does he deserve a new contract? Absolutely, he has been one of their
:16:20. > :16:24.best players this season. I hope there is no ages, because he looks
:16:25. > :16:26.fit. He has been one of the best players, he proved how valuable he
:16:27. > :16:32.is. Dundee had lost five straight players, he proved how valuable he
:16:33. > :16:35.games going into this weekend's match at Tynecastle. The home side
:16:36. > :16:41.games going into this weekend's on a run of three straight defeats.
:16:42. > :16:48.Pressure on both Paul Hartley and Ian Cathro. Something had to give.
:16:49. > :16:58.Following a run of six defeat in seven, Ian Cathro welcomes back a
:16:59. > :17:03.player after almost a month out. Dundee's form is even more of a
:17:04. > :17:08.concern. Daniel Higgins makes his debut in a team that has suffered
:17:09. > :17:15.defeat in the last five outings. Tom Hateley is promoted from the bench.
:17:16. > :17:22.Difficult skill to catch that perfectly. It goes well wide of the
:17:23. > :17:49.target in the end. He finds the back of the net. Hearts
:17:50. > :17:55.lead after 30 minutes. It is Esmael Goncalves, his fifth goal for the
:17:56. > :18:00.club. Don Cowie opened it up, Esmael Goncalves deceived the challenge of
:18:01. > :18:06.Paul McGowan. Despite the efforts of Darren O'Dea, Esmael Goncalves opens
:18:07. > :18:13.the scoring for Ian Cathro's side. The first goal they have scored for
:18:14. > :18:20.three games. It almost came all the way to Tom Hateley. Jamie Walker got
:18:21. > :18:25.in with a touch. Tom Hateley is not getting the decision. Jamie Walker
:18:26. > :18:37.seems to have got back with a crucial intervention. A bit of space
:18:38. > :18:44.the Jamie Walker. It is easy enough for Scott Bain to collect. He scored
:18:45. > :18:52.15 times this season, so often the spark that Hearts need.
:18:53. > :19:01.Prince Buaben is playing at centre-back. Having to go from back
:19:02. > :19:09.to front, with a lack of options going forward. Prince Buaben's ball
:19:10. > :19:18.forward, and Jamie Walker's header, but easy for Dundee to defend.
:19:19. > :19:32.The pass invited the challenge from Cameron Kerr, he was heavily into
:19:33. > :19:34.Liam Smith. It is a yellow card. The team -- he seemed to slip as he went
:19:35. > :19:51.into the challenge. Scott Bain with a fine save to keep
:19:52. > :20:00.him out. He does make a difference to this Hearts team. Almost adding
:20:01. > :20:09.the second. Tom Hateley does have a very dangerous delivery. It beat
:20:10. > :20:27.everyone. He finds the post. I think there might have been a fine touch
:20:28. > :20:38.He kept it low. Never really one that was ever going to trouble Scott
:20:39. > :20:43.Bain. Alexander Ostia Liz has one goal as a Hearts player. It was
:20:44. > :20:57.given away by Andraz Struna. Things are beginning to get a little
:20:58. > :21:03.nervous around Tynecastle. Kristian Novak gave it away, good pace from
:21:04. > :21:12.Craig Wighton, but he could not apply the finish. Dundee need to
:21:13. > :21:20.start picking up points somewhere. It was Liam Smith who attacked the
:21:21. > :21:37.header. He rose well. Could not directed on target.
:21:38. > :21:45.It is a good save in the end by Scott Bain. He had to react. Esmael
:21:46. > :21:53.Goncalves already has one, the second continues to evade Hearts.
:21:54. > :21:59.We had to defend some long balls, some direct plate. We still managed
:22:00. > :22:07.to play a bit. But it was about getting it over the line. We have
:22:08. > :22:11.done that. Hearts scored the goal, but we have the post, and that there
:22:12. > :22:18.was an outstanding chance. That is the difference. You have to take
:22:19. > :22:23.your chances. A big victory for Ian Cathro's side,
:22:24. > :22:28.Dundee in the doldrums. How impressed were you by Hearts? We
:22:29. > :22:32.have been critical of them, they have been criticised for not having
:22:33. > :22:37.an identity or a style, but I saw a style. I saw an attacking side.
:22:38. > :22:44.One of their full-backs dropping it in and then going. Prince Buaben was
:22:45. > :22:48.playing as a centre-half, the distance between the centre halves,
:22:49. > :22:53.they were trying to get the midfielders onto the ball. Out the
:22:54. > :22:59.other side. You can see the other full-back, Liam Smith, stretching
:23:00. > :23:05.the game again. They are moving through the thirds of the pitch. Don
:23:06. > :23:06.Cowie makes a fantastic run. He should do better there. You would
:23:07. > :23:10.expect him to hit the target. This should do better there. You would
:23:11. > :23:15.was typical of how they played. The goalkeeper to the full-back, into
:23:16. > :23:21.another midfielder, they look for the switch of play. You can see the
:23:22. > :23:25.midfielders rotating, Jamie Walker coming in, Don Cowie making a
:23:26. > :23:30.similar manner. The ball is switched to the high full-back, Jamie Walker
:23:31. > :23:37.go through the back. I was impressed in the first half. They had a
:23:38. > :23:41.definite style. One aspect you would not associate with Jamie Walker, but
:23:42. > :23:48.needed there. Tom Hateley almost gets in. A great defensive clearance
:23:49. > :23:54.from Jamie Walker. Wanting to get up and press on the opposition. Very
:23:55. > :24:04.animated. It is high due have to play, especially at home. On the
:24:05. > :24:08.flip side, I was surprised, quick play, but the lack of closing down
:24:09. > :24:15.from Dundee will stop but Hearts were resilient. You are a former
:24:16. > :24:22.Hearts captain, you have been critical of them, how much heart you
:24:23. > :24:26.take from that victory? I was not very critical, the results have not
:24:27. > :24:29.been good enough. But there has to be confident is taken from that
:24:30. > :24:33.result, that it has to be backed up with more fun that one result,
:24:34. > :24:38.because far too often they have not backed it up. They need to build on
:24:39. > :24:42.this and get a bit of momentum. It has been lacking in the last few
:24:43. > :24:46.months. Six defeat in a row for Dundee. Partick Thistle sank to the
:24:47. > :24:52.bottom of the table on the 20th of December. 2017 had seen a
:24:53. > :24:58.transformation in form, and they conceal a top six place against
:24:59. > :24:59.Motherwell. Four changes the Partick from the
:25:00. > :25:17.side that drew at Celtic. Motherwell drew 0-0 against
:25:18. > :25:28.Hamilton. Zak Jules and Shea Gordon in the starting XI. Shea Gordon
:25:29. > :25:35.making his first. Full it will be a corner. Scott McDonald appreciates
:25:36. > :25:43.the quality of the ball across, did not get the clean header he wanted.
:25:44. > :25:44.Partick with 15 points from their last seven league games, unbeaten in
:25:45. > :25:59.that spell. The opening goal for Partick Thistle
:26:00. > :26:07.comes from Kris Doolan. He cannot stop scoring. Chris Elliott with a
:26:08. > :26:10.great ball, Chris Erskine with a stop scoring. Chris Elliott with a
:26:11. > :26:16.turn of pace. He stolen between the centre halves. Great timing from
:26:17. > :26:23.Kris Doolan, his 13th of the season. The opening goal comes the way of
:26:24. > :26:31.the home side. He is happy with the way his side have started.
:26:32. > :26:37.Craig Samson flying across his goal. Needed to get up and over the wall,
:26:38. > :26:59.it would not come down in time. Off the crossbar. He flung himself
:27:00. > :27:07.across. Stephen Wallace almost got a second goal. He was persistent. A
:27:08. > :27:28.good block. Fortunate to see it come off the bar.
:27:29. > :27:40.Very considered in their build-up. He has been taking his chances in
:27:41. > :27:45.the last few weeks. Brilliant passing move from Partick Thistle.
:27:46. > :27:58.Ryan Edwards opened up, Kris Doolan just had to curl it home.
:27:59. > :28:07.Motherwell looking better in the second half.
:28:08. > :28:15.That is better from Motherwell. They disappeared in the first half after
:28:16. > :28:19.the loss of the goal. Two changes at half-time making a difference. They
:28:20. > :28:32.have had more to shout about in the second half. A brilliant save by
:28:33. > :28:37.Thomas journey. That looked like a good save from Tomas Cerny. Zach
:28:38. > :28:41.Jones met it really well will stop Lionel Ainsworth lofted a thin, and
:28:42. > :28:46.that is a first-class save from Tomas Cerny. They continue to push,
:28:47. > :29:06.Motherwell. No victories in their last four.
:29:07. > :29:13.Good, persistent play from Motherwell. Keith Lasley yet to
:29:14. > :29:15.score this season. Neatly away from Kris Doolan. Did not get himself
:29:16. > :29:36.set, though. Eventually knocked away by Liam
:29:37. > :29:44.Lindsay. Both these teams giving their all. Their bodies on the line.
:29:45. > :29:45.Lindsay. Both these teams giving It was Carl McHugh initially, Jacob
:29:46. > :30:08.Blyth try to dig it out. The full-time whistle will go.
:30:09. > :30:13.Partick Thistle confirmed their top six place. The first time since the
:30:14. > :30:18.introduction of the split in the top flight that they have achieved that.
:30:19. > :30:23.They celebrate after such a disastrous opening to the season.
:30:24. > :30:24.Partick were bottom, but now they are guaranteed the best league
:30:25. > :30:37.finish in 36 years. I thought we were dominant but we
:30:38. > :30:44.knew Motherwell would come out and have a go, they certainly did that.
:30:45. > :30:48.We lost the game in the first 30 minutes. We didn't compete well
:30:49. > :30:54.enough. And we didn't pass the ball well enough. We had a chance of
:30:55. > :31:00.something in the second half and the last seven minutes of the first but
:31:01. > :31:10.it too little too late. It is a great achievement. A massive
:31:11. > :31:12.turnaround for the players. Cute congratulation to Partick Thistle,
:31:13. > :31:18.their highest league finish since 1981. When you look at their record
:31:19. > :31:22.in 2017, you wonder if they had started the season well what they
:31:23. > :31:27.might have achieved. A phenomenal run they have been on. Built on the
:31:28. > :31:33.back of conceding few goals. They have slipped to a back three and it
:31:34. > :31:36.has been the bedrock of their success. Making sure to shut up shop
:31:37. > :31:42.at the back. But the first ten games, they won one game. If they
:31:43. > :31:47.had been able to get a half decent run, they could have been
:31:48. > :31:50.challenging for Europe. The previous season with similar but solid
:31:51. > :31:58.foundation is the bedrock and good form in the second half. He has been
:31:59. > :32:01.a good addition to the team, defensively sound. Sniffing out
:32:02. > :32:10.problems, just good defending. Devine as well. There is a wingback,
:32:11. > :32:15.and structurally, you heard them talking about the formation working
:32:16. > :32:20.well for them. They found this formation. They found this formation
:32:21. > :32:24.that has worked for them. And conceding as the goals as they have,
:32:25. > :32:29.you always give yourself a chance to stay in games and get points. It
:32:30. > :32:33.always give you a chance when you stay in games and get points. It
:32:34. > :32:37.are making sure you are sound defensively and that is what they
:32:38. > :32:40.are doing. They certainly deserve their place in the top half. Do
:32:41. > :32:45.are doing. They certainly deserve Motherwell deserved to be second
:32:46. > :32:52.bottom? They do. They have the worst defensive record in the league. They
:32:53. > :32:59.know every game is now huge. They had a better second half but they
:33:00. > :33:02.lost that game in the first half. They are the exact opposite of
:33:03. > :33:05.Partick Thistle, they can't defend. I keep saying they have enough at
:33:06. > :33:11.the top end of the park to get out of trouble but in -- when you have a
:33:12. > :33:15.defence that leaky, it doesn't guarantee anything. The big news at
:33:16. > :33:18.Celtic on Friday with Brendan Rodgers signing a new four-year
:33:19. > :33:24.contract. Should things go well, that could see him take Celtic to
:33:25. > :33:26.ten titles in a row. A bit of football to play before that,
:33:27. > :33:33.Kilmarnock were the visitors on Saturday afternoon. COMMENTATOR:
:33:34. > :33:38.Celtic make five changes after the win over Partick Thistle. Tierney
:33:39. > :33:40.returns to the defence and Stuart Armstrong, James Forrest and Scott
:33:41. > :33:47.Brown also return. Kilmarnock's loan Armstrong, James Forrest and Scott
:33:48. > :33:48.defender cannot play against his parent club so cannot play. Smith
:33:49. > :33:58.and Roberts come in as well. parent club so cannot play. Smith
:33:59. > :34:05.Armstrong finding McGregor. He is forest. Towards Sinclair. And he
:34:06. > :34:12.wasn't far away with that effort, Scott Sinclair. As Celtic try and
:34:13. > :34:29.open up this five-man Kilmarnock defence. They seemed to find a gap.
:34:30. > :34:37.It is McGregor with the shot, taking a deflection. Woodman had to keep
:34:38. > :34:45.his eye on that one. I think it came of Scott Boyd. The keeper reacted
:34:46. > :34:51.well. That is a lovely pass for Scott Brown. The on loan at
:34:52. > :34:57.Newcastle goalkeeper doing well for Kilmarnock there. Using his boot to
:34:58. > :35:03.make the stop. The pressure is still on the visitors.
:35:04. > :35:10.Armstrong trying the shot. And that is the opening goal for Celtic. It
:35:11. > :35:18.comes midway through this first half. They have tried to work
:35:19. > :35:20.openings with Armstrong going for a long-range strike. It took a
:35:21. > :35:41.deflection off of Wilson. Mikael Lustig on the overlap.
:35:42. > :35:46.Swinging it wide. Here is Tierney. Trying to hit it with the inside of
:35:47. > :35:56.the left boot. That was the two Celtic full-backs combining there.
:35:57. > :36:00.Not far away you from it. Armstrong linking again and trying the shot.
:36:01. > :36:10.Already has 14 goals, Stuart Armstrong. Here is Smith. Jordan
:36:11. > :36:15.Jones. Holding off the Celtic captain and getting the shot away.
:36:16. > :36:23.And that is the first real strike on goal for Kilmarnock this afternoon.
:36:24. > :36:26.Coming from the Wenger. Celtic still trying to work these neat
:36:27. > :36:34.combinations on the edge of the Kilmarnock box. Broken up this time.
:36:35. > :36:43.Here is Jordan Jones. He has salmon to his left. Conor salmon. He has
:36:44. > :36:48.found the pass for Jones and it takes a deflection and Kilmarnock
:36:49. > :36:52.are back on level terms. In the 65th minute. Jones claims his first goal
:36:53. > :36:55.for Kilmarnock. But when you look at minute. Jones claims his first goal
:36:56. > :37:05.that, it seems as though the shot was maybe going wide before it hit
:37:06. > :37:11.Mikael Lustig. And diverted beyond Craig Gordon. Celtic on this 38 game
:37:12. > :37:19.unbeaten domestic run. Sliding in was avoided. -- Boyd. The referee
:37:20. > :37:27.says it is a free kick for the challenge on Patrick Roberts.
:37:28. > :37:35.Armstrong. Swinging it to the back post. Turned back by Roberts. And
:37:36. > :37:42.the easiest of tap ins for Scott Sinclair. To claim his 23rd goal of
:37:43. > :37:51.the season, his seventh in his last seven appearances. Kilmarnock undone
:37:52. > :37:57.by the set piece. Sinclair with the easiest of set piece finishes.
:37:58. > :38:06.Mikael Lustig with the diagonal. Picking out Tierney. Celtic probing
:38:07. > :38:18.again. Around the pact Kilmarnock defence. Dembele on as a substitute.
:38:19. > :38:28.Dembele trying the shot. It takes a deflection and there is James
:38:29. > :38:34.Forrest. Making it 3-1 Celtic. The shot from Dembele spinning onto the
:38:35. > :38:42.post and James Forrest claims his eighth goal of the season. A rare
:38:43. > :38:52.goal from a header. Patient build-up again from the champions. To
:38:53. > :38:55.eventually find the breakthrough. I said to the players at half-time
:38:56. > :38:59.that this was a game where you will get your reward in the last 20
:39:00. > :39:03.minutes. If you move the ball quickly, teams tire and it is
:39:04. > :39:07.natural, it is what happens. We got a couple of those in the last 20
:39:08. > :39:15.minutes which was nice. A very good team performance. We did not deserve
:39:16. > :39:18.to win the game but proud of the way the boys showed character and passed
:39:19. > :39:26.the ball, especially in the second half at times. Maybe on another day,
:39:27. > :39:30.we could have got a point. Celtic remain unbeaten in 39 domestic
:39:31. > :39:34.matches. Brendan Rodgers can do no wrong it seems will stop he signed a
:39:35. > :39:38.four-year contract, will he be given big money to spend in the summer? It
:39:39. > :39:42.is great business by the Celtic board. He will get money to improve
:39:43. > :39:46.the Champions League. He doesn't need to make them any stronger in
:39:47. > :39:49.the Scottish league. But for qualifying through the Champions
:39:50. > :39:56.League. Rogers is very content, he is happy off the pitch and happy on
:39:57. > :40:01.the pitch, why wouldn't he be quite I am certain that was a big part of
:40:02. > :40:04.the deal to stay on, to improve the Champions League standard. To do
:40:05. > :40:08.that they need a bit of investment. I think centre-half is the area of
:40:09. > :40:13.the park that Brendan Rodgers will look at and think that is the first
:40:14. > :40:16.port of call to move them to the next stage. At times playing in
:40:17. > :40:20.Europe against top teams you get stretched. You need your defenders
:40:21. > :40:22.to defend one-on-one against top players and I am not convinced the
:40:23. > :40:29.centre-half they have are on the same level as the rest of the team.
:40:30. > :40:33.Where do you think Celtic should strengthen? I believe they need
:40:34. > :40:38.another top quality Centre forward. They have had to use emergency
:40:39. > :40:42.Centre forwards like that last week. When both are injured, they need
:40:43. > :40:46.another one. I think they should be running with three. That is
:40:47. > :40:51.strengthening the squad but starting XI. Celtic, Mousa Dembele, Leigh
:40:52. > :40:55.Griffiths. He could bring in somebody unreal. There is no point
:40:56. > :41:03.getting someone better than Mousa Dembele. Centre marks -- centre
:41:04. > :41:08.halves of the area. Kilmarnock safe? I think they are. I think since Lee
:41:09. > :41:13.McCulloch has come in, there is an honesty and grittiness about the
:41:14. > :41:20.team. Piller were only five points between them and the bottom, there
:41:21. > :41:24.is still work to do. They are not safe, nobody is safe. Should be
:41:25. > :41:28.fascinating to watch. Inverness began bottom of the table, one win
:41:29. > :41:33.from their last 20 league matches. It took on a St Johnstone side
:41:34. > :41:38.breathing down the neck arrangers for a European place. COMMENTATOR:
:41:39. > :41:43.Inverness Caledonian Thistle find themselves at the bottom of the
:41:44. > :41:47.table and make three changes. Alex Fisher coming in from the start.
:41:48. > :41:53.Richard Foster and Danny Swanson serve the second of their two match
:41:54. > :42:01.suspensions. Michael Colson starts for the first time this year. Alex
:42:02. > :42:07.Fisher attacks that. And it was Billy McKay's header which knocked
:42:08. > :42:13.it over the top. Fisher making just his third start for the club. Easton
:42:14. > :42:19.to Colson, returning for St Johnstone. A good ball through and
:42:20. > :42:23.it is Taylor. It goes all the way across the face of goal. He just
:42:24. > :42:31.needed a touch from Stephen the claim coming in. Warren cannot it
:42:32. > :42:38.upfield and release Billy McKay but outcomes Alan Manas. He retains his
:42:39. > :42:41.upfield and release Billy McKay but place after his fine form, Clark, he
:42:42. > :42:48.is back and fit. He can't get in the team. That should come for Smith.
:42:49. > :42:57.The man on loan from Preston North End. McLean. Dropping deep. Space
:42:58. > :43:03.for course and perhaps to have a go at Macnaughton. He has done well.
:43:04. > :43:07.And there is McLean and the ball crosses the line. And Stephen Miller
:43:08. > :43:21.clean opens the scoring to end an eight-game goal drought. Despite the
:43:22. > :43:27.efforts of Gary Warren on the line. Inverness look to respond before the
:43:28. > :43:32.break. It comes back to Draper. Cole again. Straight at the goalkeeper
:43:33. > :43:40.but that is certainly more encouraging for Ritchie Forum. A
:43:41. > :43:45.good move but it that the finish. It came all the way back to Cummings at
:43:46. > :43:50.the back post. He just couldn't quite react to knock it in from two
:43:51. > :44:02.yards out. It is an incredible miss in the end. Billy King, the
:44:03. > :44:17.substitute. He picks out McKay. And a fine challenge coming in. He keeps
:44:18. > :44:24.it alive for Inverness. Saved. Shaughnessy was the first to react.
:44:25. > :44:31.Billy McKay hosing in on the tap in. One win in 24 Inverness. McKay
:44:32. > :44:39.looking to change that. It is into coal and a good hit, it comes out
:44:40. > :44:44.through Billy King. And again, he is closed out by the St Johnstone
:44:45. > :44:50.defence. He has not scored since September, Billy King. That came
:44:51. > :44:58.against Celtic. Fisher gets the flick on. Couldn't get any power
:44:59. > :45:02.behind the volley. He has had an excellent season in front of goal.
:45:03. > :45:12.Just couldn't sort his feet out there.
:45:13. > :45:20.Off-camera, he has reacted to Stephen Finney. He will get a yellow
:45:21. > :45:28.card for dissent. He is continuing that. He has been shown a second
:45:29. > :45:31.yellow card. Larnell Cole has been sent off. Inverness are down to ten
:45:32. > :45:48.men. A good tackle by Gary Warren. Carl
:45:49. > :45:52.Tremarco did not react in time. He challenges Graham Cummins, and he
:45:53. > :45:59.points to the spot. St Johnstone have a penalty. This should be
:46:00. > :46:03.enough to wrap it up. Liam Craig sends Owain Fon Williams the wrong
:46:04. > :46:13.way. With just one minute left of normal time, he marks his 300th
:46:14. > :46:15.appearance with a goal. Just looking to run down the clock for St
:46:16. > :46:30.Johnstone. They make the extra man count. St
:46:31. > :46:36.Johnstone have their third goal. Instead of being concerned about
:46:37. > :46:39.Hearts on their coat-tails, St Johnstone might be looking up at
:46:40. > :46:49.Rangers, just three points above them.
:46:50. > :46:54.It is a ferocious effort. It rattles the crossbar.
:46:55. > :47:05.Not good enough all over the park. The main person not coming from is
:47:06. > :47:10.me. I am not doing my job right. We have not let the supporters down
:47:11. > :47:20.over the season, but we let them down today. It was 1-0 at half-time
:47:21. > :47:23.without playing particularly well. Second half, there was not a lot in
:47:24. > :47:31.it, but we looked comfortable enough. Then the sending-off, I said
:47:32. > :47:35.to them in there, we could have scored two or three more, and we
:47:36. > :47:38.made sure we finished the game on a high.
:47:39. > :47:44.Inverness now four points adrift of the bottom. An excellent victory for
:47:45. > :47:48.St Johnstone. Inverness not helped by Larnell Cole's sending-off. The
:47:49. > :47:52.last thing they need is a player sent off.
:47:53. > :47:59.They struggle enough with 11 men. I thought it was a free kick against
:48:00. > :48:03.him, but you cannot get sent off for thought it was a free kick against
:48:04. > :48:07.that. It was the last thing they needed. Fair play to St Johnstone,
:48:08. > :48:13.they took the game by the scruff of the neck. They were ruthless. They
:48:14. > :48:17.went in search of the second and third goals, which came about all
:48:18. > :48:22.too easily, from an Inverness perspective, especially this. It is
:48:23. > :48:25.a good touch and finish, but he should not be in that I'm out of
:48:26. > :48:33.space. It was a worrying afternoon for Inverness. Far too much space.
:48:34. > :48:38.For a team that has won once in 21 games, you struggle to think where
:48:39. > :48:45.they will find a victory from. It is relegation form. Richie Foran had no
:48:46. > :48:50.managerial experience, and they are staring at relegation. One victory
:48:51. > :48:55.in 21 is relegation form. Ultimately, the end of the season
:48:56. > :48:59.will be the telling factor, whether it has been the right appointment or
:49:00. > :49:03.not, but it does not look like it, and he said he is not doing his job
:49:04. > :49:09.well enough. There is enough ability. There are good players
:49:10. > :49:14.there. You know what it is like, when there is no guidance or
:49:15. > :49:18.structure, it is difficult, it becomes disjointed, and that is how
:49:19. > :49:22.they look. A great victory for St Johnstone. They were talking about
:49:23. > :49:28.doom and gloom, and they have turned it around again. I said last week,
:49:29. > :49:33.if they handle it well, they could come out of it positively, and that
:49:34. > :49:39.shows the foundation they are built on. Hamilton might be at the wrong
:49:40. > :49:42.end of the table, but they had not lost since Christmas Eve. Could they
:49:43. > :49:53.keep that going against Ross County, also in the relegation mix?
:49:54. > :49:57.The Hamilton midfielder was sent off on Wednesday, so he is suspended.
:49:58. > :50:04.Massimo Donati takes over in the middle of the pitch. Suspension hits
:50:05. > :50:09.Ross County as well. They had a red card on Tuesday. Ryan Dow comes in,
:50:10. > :50:16.the only change to the team that beat Dundee.
:50:17. > :50:24.It is off the line from Martin Woods. They have started really
:50:25. > :50:35.well, the home team, threatening already. Martin Woods in the right
:50:36. > :50:42.place at the right time. Popular where ever he goes, Dougie Imrie.
:50:43. > :50:46.That was Massimo Donati. Casually chipping the ball into the corner.
:50:47. > :50:55.Hamilton in front inside three minutes will stop --. A really good
:50:56. > :51:17.finish from the veteran midfielder, curling it away from Scott Fox.
:51:18. > :51:21.Hamilton have been the better team early on, but what a golden
:51:22. > :51:42.opportunity to equalise. That is a really good hit. The
:51:43. > :51:46.whistle goes. Scott Fox limits the damage for Ross County. Could have
:51:47. > :52:08.been 2-0, a good save. A good fit. That was not far away.
:52:09. > :52:10.Michael Gardyne still looking for his first goal of the season.
:52:11. > :52:28.Getting closer to it. He is taken out by Johannes
:52:29. > :52:33.contrasts. It is a red card. I think most would have expected a yellow
:52:34. > :52:35.for this. Not an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Surely not
:52:36. > :52:38.violent conduct. But what a turning goal-scoring opportunity. Surely not
:52:39. > :52:59.point that could be. What a strike. Just a fraction away
:53:00. > :53:05.from levelling things up. Could not have struck it any better. Bouncing
:53:06. > :53:11.back of the bar. Jim McIntyre's team ramping up the pressure. He produces
:53:12. > :53:15.a really good save from Remi Matthews. The on loan Norwich
:53:16. > :53:30.goalkeeper does well. Craig Curran with the equaliser. It
:53:31. > :53:41.is a seventh goal of the season for him. The Dingwall team back on level
:53:42. > :53:44.terms. Deflected in off Alejandro Luna call. A scuffed effort, but it
:53:45. > :53:52.is so valuable, as it levels things up. Ross County looking to make it
:53:53. > :54:03.11 against ten work, trying to turn one point into three.
:54:04. > :54:06.Michael Garden reckons he was pushed as he tried to get on the end of
:54:07. > :54:14.this. It was Scott McMann. Into the closing stages will stop
:54:15. > :54:32.ten man Hamilton. Scott Fox saves his angled shot.
:54:33. > :54:36.There looked to be a tug at his shirt here as well. He forced his
:54:37. > :55:00.way looking for the winner. He has missed that. The Cypriot U21
:55:01. > :55:02.international had the chance here to be an instant hero at Hamilton. He
:55:03. > :55:13.fluffed his lines. A big decision on half-time, the
:55:14. > :55:17.referee sends Ioannis off, it was not a red card. It looks worse than
:55:18. > :55:21.it is, because of the speed, but there is no intent to hurt the
:55:22. > :55:28.player. He is trying to block the ball, and he has got it before
:55:29. > :55:35.Ioannis can get there. It is not a red card. It is not a sending-off,
:55:36. > :55:44.they have been unfortunate. We knew we had to move the ball quickly, try
:55:45. > :55:48.and use the extra man advantage. Ryan Dow hit the bar, the goalkeeper
:55:49. > :55:52.made some good saves, we could not find a way through.
:55:53. > :56:01.Neither manager thought it was a red card for Ioannis Skondras. What this
:56:02. > :56:04.harsh? Ferry, it is a yellow card at best. That could have been nothing
:56:05. > :56:15.at all? It is a red card. It is not! I do
:56:16. > :56:20.not think it is a red card, I agree with both managers. The pace he goes
:56:21. > :56:25.in, there is no danger in the tackle. Ryan Dow could do better to
:56:26. > :56:32.avoid the challenge. I think it definitely is a red card, he lunges
:56:33. > :56:39.in at pace. He lifts his leg up at the end. I can understand why it was
:56:40. > :56:46.a red card. That must be the right answer, then! You came out with some
:56:47. > :56:54.strange it -- crazy suggestion that Ryan Dow lifted his leg down. You
:56:55. > :57:01.say read, I say hello. Should Ross County be in this position? They are
:57:02. > :57:07.still in the mix for the relegation zone. They have taken four points
:57:08. > :57:12.from six, and a waypoint is always welcome, they will see it as a
:57:13. > :57:18.decent point, but they have Celtic next. They will be in the mix until
:57:19. > :57:22.the end. Are you surprised? They have been stuttering all season, but
:57:23. > :57:27.if you had asked at the start of the season were they would be down
:57:28. > :57:32.there, I would not have thought so. But they have been inconsistent all
:57:33. > :57:37.season, and that is why they are in the mix will stop apart from
:57:38. > :57:41.Kilmarnock, in seventh place, the rest of the teams are right in
:57:42. > :57:45.there. You have been writing Hamilton off for months, but decent
:57:46. > :57:51.home form. That could be their saving grace. Absolutely. They are
:57:52. > :57:56.unbeaten in their last six at home, it is their away form they need to
:57:57. > :58:03.worry about, and their next match is a trip to Dundee. That leaves the
:58:04. > :58:04.Premiership table looking like this. Rangers cut the gap on Aberdeen to
:58:05. > :58:22.nine points. In now four points adrift. All the
:58:23. > :58:28.sides in the bottom six still very much in the relegation mix, although
:58:29. > :58:33.Michael does not quite agree. We are going all the way until the end of
:58:34. > :58:37.the season, which is just the way we like it. Goodbye for now.