:00:00. > :00:17.Good evening and welcome to Sportscene.
:00:18. > :00:35.A spectacular opening goal! The shot is an absolute beauty.
:00:36. > :00:40.What a finish! That is it, I would imagine.
:00:41. > :00:43.Good evening and welcome to Sportscene.
:00:44. > :00:45.Please do not adjust your sets, Jonathan Sutherland isn't putting
:00:46. > :00:53.I'll try not to break your show - which tonight looks
:00:54. > :01:29.Two Scotland internationals from yesteryear will apply
:01:30. > :01:32.their forensic minds to that little lot later.
:01:33. > :01:35.Say hello to Pat Nevin and Willie Miller.
:01:36. > :01:40.We'll start in Perth, where Premiership leaders Celtic
:01:41. > :01:43.travelled to face in-form St Johnstone this very day.
:01:44. > :02:01.Steven Anderson and Brian Easton return to the St Johnstone defence.
:02:02. > :02:06.Sam Scobey dropping to the bench. Sam Fisher cannot play against his
:02:07. > :02:23.parent club. Two changes to the team that drew in Turkey.
:02:24. > :02:31.What an opportunity! Only 60 seconds played. A big save by Craig Gordon.
:02:32. > :02:44.Standing firm, to deny O'Halloran. A ruck of players at the back post.
:02:45. > :03:12.Into the gloves of Gordon. Nadir Ciftci with a big opportunity.
:03:13. > :03:17.Saved by Alan Mannus, but Nadir Ciftci should be scoring, here.
:03:18. > :03:24.Mikael Lustig was lining up the shot. It took a deflection off
:03:25. > :03:39.Davidson. Helped on by Mikael Lustig, and
:03:40. > :03:44.Nadir Ciftci scores for Celtic. A really good bit of finishing from
:03:45. > :03:51.the former Dundee United striker. It is only his third Celtic goal. But
:03:52. > :03:54.this is much more like it from Ciftci, the control on-the-fly and
:03:55. > :04:03.the clinical finish. St Johnstone have been on such good
:04:04. > :04:10.form of late and now find themselves a goal down. Armstrong's corner kick
:04:11. > :04:16.and Boyata's header is saved by Alan Mannus. Pretty much straight up the
:04:17. > :04:24.goalkeeper, but a giant leap by Boyata.
:04:25. > :04:32.Liam Carr is Chris Millar's for St Johnstone.
:04:33. > :04:45.Gordon made the save. It had to be touched around the post by Craig
:04:46. > :04:52.Gordon, who has hired important saves to make in this match, at
:04:53. > :04:53.important moments. That is a double stop, firstly denying Davidson, and
:04:54. > :05:10.then Wotherspoon. Michael O'Hara and... Warhol Arana,
:05:11. > :05:15.and he put it wide. You can see exactly what was in his mind. He
:05:16. > :05:26.raced into the box. He got his angles all wrong.
:05:27. > :05:31.Lustig's cross is deflected. Ronny Deila would like another goal.
:05:32. > :05:35.Callum McGregor's corner kick finds Boyata and Celtic have the goal
:05:36. > :05:41.which takes them feel a whole lot more comfortable. It is only three
:05:42. > :05:53.minutes into the second half. A bullet header from Boyata. 2-0.
:05:54. > :06:01.O'Halloran, and deflected towards Davidson. Opened up for Brian
:06:02. > :06:08.Easton. Great strike! So close to bringing the game back to life. It
:06:09. > :06:17.was cleared, in the end, by Lustig. Brian Easton feels so unlucky that
:06:18. > :06:36.he didn't score. What a mess, what a chance to crown
:06:37. > :06:47.a masterful performance by Tom Rogic. He was well off target.
:06:48. > :06:55.Lustig won the header, and now he is racing away, after winning the ball
:06:56. > :07:01.back from Tom Rogic. Ciftci Seals the win for Celtic. Two goals from
:07:02. > :07:09.Nadir Ciftci, to double his Celtic total. Curtains for St Johnstone
:07:10. > :07:16.now. No way back. Great play from Ciftci. A double for Ciftci.
:07:17. > :07:25.Overall, the performance was really good. Some thing that the players
:07:26. > :07:30.should be proud of. It emphasises that you have to take your chances.
:07:31. > :07:34.The first half, we were struggling a bit. A little bit lucky. But we had
:07:35. > :07:40.a back four and goalkeeper that was very good. That was very pleasing,
:07:41. > :07:46.when we talked a lot about the back four over the last year.
:07:47. > :07:49.Second-half, when you get the second goals, you saw that the confidence
:07:50. > :07:54.was coming and we played some beautiful football.
:07:55. > :08:06.The man of the moment, Ciftci, doubling his goals tally in one
:08:07. > :08:10.match? He's taken the opportunity, no doubt about that. Top-class
:08:11. > :08:15.finishing from him, particularly the first one. The first one was
:08:16. > :08:22.excellent, a fabulous touch, precise finish. Saints went for it and they
:08:23. > :08:26.nearly caught Celtic out? I thought they played pretty well, they had
:08:27. > :08:30.some really good chances. No arguing against that. Celtic had about two
:08:31. > :08:39.thirds of the play, they had the ball a lot. As the game went on,
:08:40. > :08:44.they looked more classy. But it is about scoring goals. Celtic have a
:08:45. > :08:49.striker, in the form of Ciftci, who can put the ball away. St Johnstone
:08:50. > :08:54.didn't have that. You are keen to point out Celtic's high line.
:08:55. > :08:59.O'Halloran and has plenty of pace, and that's a high line. Ronny Deila
:09:00. > :09:03.likes to play that, he likes to push up a little bit. But there were
:09:04. > :09:07.quite a few times, this one is just good play, actually, I'm impressed
:09:08. > :09:11.with that. Good goalkeeping by Craig as well. In the end, there were
:09:12. > :09:14.opportunities, there were chances for them and they must feel a bit
:09:15. > :09:20.disappointed they couldn't put one away. This is a fantastic strike
:09:21. > :09:23.from Brian Easton. Left foot, a little bit unlucky. A bit
:09:24. > :09:30.speculative. But he hit it so swiftly. Generally, their play was
:09:31. > :09:36.good. They have been scoring goals this season. An entertaining team to
:09:37. > :09:39.watch. 3-0 maybe skews the overall performance.
:09:40. > :09:47.Ronny Deila picking up his back four? I was as well. Boyata was
:09:48. > :09:54.great today. His attacking play was really good. He scores a great goal,
:09:55. > :10:00.there. Fantastic. Great desire about that as well. Again, in the past, I
:10:01. > :10:06.have said things about the centre-backs. This was clever, two
:10:07. > :10:09.on one, but he doesn't live in. He does exactly what you should be
:10:10. > :10:20.doing, giving yourself a bit of time. Allowing the defenders to step
:10:21. > :10:24.back. The second one, the desire to get on the end of this. You know he
:10:25. > :10:29.was having a good day, when two of them were closing him down, what are
:10:30. > :10:34.you going to do? You could be in big trouble here. Celtic would have made
:10:35. > :10:38.these mistakes in the past. This... Surely! That as a player playing at
:10:39. > :10:42.the top of his game. It takes you a while to settle into the setup.
:10:43. > :10:44.Celtic have had to make changes at centre-back this season. They are
:10:45. > :10:46.beginning to get the understanding. Let's move on to
:10:47. > :10:48.Tannadice, shall we? Home of Dundee United where,
:10:49. > :10:50.with just four points in eight matches since taking over,
:10:51. > :10:53.the honeymoon period is over Yesterday they faced
:10:54. > :10:57.a Partick Thistle team chasing their third win on the spin,
:10:58. > :11:00.all under the keen eye of our man Mixu Paateleinen makes two changes
:11:01. > :11:23.as he looks for a winning formula. Thomas Cerney is back after a four
:11:24. > :11:34.date absence. Dundee United, a run of one win in
:11:35. > :11:49.15 league matches. Try that first time, but well off
:11:50. > :11:54.target, Blair Spittal. It was a good ball through. Spittal with a hook
:11:55. > :12:04.shot. United, still keeping up the
:12:05. > :12:21.pressure. Dixon, too high. But his earlier
:12:22. > :12:39.effort was blocked away well by Thomas Cerney.
:12:40. > :12:47.Good turn, and Partick Thistle are in front! Well, he celebrated his
:12:48. > :12:51.29th birthday yesterday, Kris Doolan. He celebrates his sixth goal
:12:52. > :12:54.of the season today. It is his fourth goal in his last three
:12:55. > :13:12.appearances for Thistle. Hit the post! Stephen Lawless's
:13:13. > :13:19.effort may have actually taken a deflection to hit the post off the
:13:20. > :13:35.boot of Souttar. Rankin, and the substitute could not
:13:36. > :13:42.hit the target. Lee Lindsey, slipping as he tried to accept the
:13:43. > :13:47.pass. Dundee United could not punish the Partick Thistle rearguard. There
:13:48. > :13:50.is the problem, getting mugged off the boots. No wonder Alan Archibald
:13:51. > :14:04.is shaking his head. Well, Gavin Gunning could not
:14:05. > :14:20.deflect that end. Appears to be appeals for a handball
:14:21. > :14:31.from Lindsay. In that shot, it seemed goal bound.
:14:32. > :14:43.The pressure is still on Thistle and Cerny is happy to grab that one.
:14:44. > :14:47.Partick Thistle are desperate to get this win, to make it three wins in a
:14:48. > :14:57.row in the top flight for only the second time in 20 years. Cerny is
:14:58. > :15:07.happy to grab hold of that one from John Rankin. Disappointed and
:15:08. > :15:11.devastated, really. One incident, the defender the wrong side of the
:15:12. > :15:18.player, has a shot, it can happen. If you want to defend solidly, you
:15:19. > :15:23.know, it's unbelievable. It wasn't a great game of football, the first
:15:24. > :15:26.half was a poor spectacle, I think it opened up in the second half. We
:15:27. > :15:28.actually got the goal. We put in some OK stuff at the end, but it
:15:29. > :15:41.wasn't a great spectacle. I think he was disappointed and
:15:42. > :15:46.devastated, certainly by the result. The defending isn't good, closer
:15:47. > :15:52.attention is needed to close down the tackles. It is a good goal in
:15:53. > :15:56.from these striker, he has made a nice finish but as a defender,
:15:57. > :16:06.closer. At the back?
:16:07. > :16:10.You do your job. They do care enough, that is fine, as long as it
:16:11. > :16:15.doesn't go further. They are doing it for the right reasons.
:16:16. > :16:22.Like we are in Brussels. And afterwards. In actual fact, it
:16:23. > :16:32.is not the worst sign. What is a bad sign is that, four -- 34 goals.
:16:33. > :16:42.They restricted their opponents to one on target yesterday.
:16:43. > :16:46.They are not scoring, that is united's problem, giving away soft
:16:47. > :16:51.goals at one end and not scoring at the other, a recipe for disaster.
:16:52. > :17:01.And this incident? Not deliberate, far too close to
:17:02. > :17:07.him. Hands in an unnatural position. The
:17:08. > :17:11.referee, I don't think, can see through the back, you are talking
:17:12. > :17:14.about the assistant who is a long way away.
:17:15. > :17:20.Making a movement like the defender with his feet off the ground, I
:17:21. > :17:27.don't think that is anyway unnatural.
:17:28. > :17:33.Alan Archibald was not delighted, he said it was ace Paul spectacle --
:17:34. > :17:37.was a poor spectacle. Do you remember
:17:38. > :17:38.the 26th of September? For one thing that was the last time
:17:39. > :17:42.Inverness Caledonian Thistle Mind you, the team
:17:43. > :17:45.they met this weekend - Kilmarnock - have won just one match
:17:46. > :17:48.away from home since then. Did something have
:17:49. > :18:07.to give yesterday? Christmas maybe a fortnight away but
:18:08. > :18:14.it was an early gift for the Caley Thistle players thanks to shoddy
:18:15. > :18:19.defending by Kilmartin. A tap in, a mix up between Balotelli and
:18:20. > :18:24.McHattie allowed the ball to be cut back for Vigurs to slip it home.
:18:25. > :18:27.Kilmarnock without a win in the last six but there was a chance for them
:18:28. > :18:34.to get back into the game when Steven Smith went down. This effort
:18:35. > :18:39.through -- flew narrowly over the crossbar.
:18:40. > :18:44.Caley finished second in the Premiership and lifted the Scottish
:18:45. > :18:48.club. -- Cup. Vigurs with his second of
:18:49. > :18:55.the afternoon. James Vince and with a step over
:18:56. > :18:57.allowing Vigurs a shot in off the post.
:18:58. > :19:03.Kilmarnock had strong claims for a penalty turned away by the referee.
:19:04. > :19:09.Hammill with the shot, coming away from the hand of Warren, play on,
:19:10. > :19:17.said the referee. Caley Thistle almost make it three.
:19:18. > :19:21.This effort into the side netting. Kilmarnock pulled one back,
:19:22. > :19:26.Balotelli Beppe header, Connolly at the back post. Three minutes left,
:19:27. > :19:32.Kilmallock. They had a chance of a point.
:19:33. > :19:34.Connolly's second goal of the season.
:19:35. > :19:40.However, it was to be Caley Thistle with the final chance of the game,
:19:41. > :19:45.this long-range effort from Tansey pushed by bike MacDonald and all
:19:46. > :19:49.three points state in the Highlands. A great first half performance, we
:19:50. > :19:55.scored two great balls and did the business in the second half.
:19:56. > :19:59.Kilmarnock came at us. But on account of the attack, we
:20:00. > :20:02.were more clinical with our passing and could have scored another few
:20:03. > :20:06.goals. We certainly need to start picking
:20:07. > :20:12.up points. The boys are well aware of that.
:20:13. > :20:15.We need to cut out the sloppy defending which is costing us
:20:16. > :20:20.dearly. This is a critique of Premiership
:20:21. > :20:25.defending. Starting with Kilmarnock.
:20:26. > :20:29.This was a freak. These don't happen that often.
:20:30. > :20:33.A miscommunication. They are too polite.
:20:34. > :20:39.Freaks happen now and again. Nothing particularly wrong. This is a world
:20:40. > :20:48.worked goal, take nothing away from the side.
:20:49. > :20:53.The step over it. We watched the same from St
:20:54. > :20:59.Johnstone. That was good football.
:21:00. > :21:03.The first one was a stinker. Killy had a penalty shout. Perhaps this
:21:04. > :21:09.was more clear-cut? I would think so, I thought it was
:21:10. > :21:13.an excellent save. Warren throwing his hands up. Definitely an
:21:14. > :21:18.unnatural position. It is heading for goal. The referee was in a
:21:19. > :21:26.perfect spot to make the call. Acting.
:21:27. > :21:29.No doubt in my mind it should have been a penalty, the arms are way
:21:30. > :21:34.above his head. Narrow escape. Definitely. When
:21:35. > :21:36.things are not going for you, you don't get calls like that.
:21:37. > :21:40.Aberdeen and Hearts have a big date to look forward to next month
:21:41. > :21:43.But that was far from their thoughts as they went toe
:21:44. > :21:47.It was all about the battle for second place, in a derby fixture
:21:48. > :21:49.that has produced many memorable moments -
:21:50. > :22:16.1-0 Aberdeen and I doubt very much if there will be an easier chance.
:22:17. > :22:32.1-0. The Aberdeen of 2015, another chance
:22:33. > :22:37.for Pollock to impress, the only change to the team that won at
:22:38. > :22:50.Dundee. Hearts first game for a fortnight, two changes.
:22:51. > :23:01.A good start by Hearts. Paterson. Nicholson! He was unmarked beyond
:23:02. > :23:09.the back post and he will be thinking he should have done better
:23:10. > :23:15.here with what was a free header. The long ball from Taylor and it has
:23:16. > :23:21.gone beyond Rossi. The ball was fired across goal, no
:23:22. > :23:29.takers in the middle. But it was poor defending from Rossi.
:23:30. > :23:39.An early ball in, and it came off the Hearts captain. That could have
:23:40. > :23:43.gone anywhere. Thankfully, for him, it missed the target.
:23:44. > :23:58.Header by Rossi. Hayes microbe with this snapshot taking it early, as
:23:59. > :24:15.that clearance went straight to him. In from Hayes, a big chance for
:24:16. > :24:30.Considine. And it went straight on Alexander.
:24:31. > :24:37.Taking Hearts by surprise, taking the shop on, on the right foot, and
:24:38. > :24:46.it was a good one. McGhee getting it back.
:24:47. > :24:55.It is opening up for Nicholson, a great hit from the youngster. It
:24:56. > :25:08.came crashing back off the crossbar, that could be the lift Hearts need.
:25:09. > :25:18.Rossi heads it away, straight back and you had your money on Adam
:25:19. > :25:21.Rooney scoring there. Well picked out, he timed run well but can't
:25:22. > :25:27.quite believe he has put it over the top.
:25:28. > :25:36.A great chance for Hearts top goal-scorer and what an important
:25:37. > :25:42.save that is from the Aberdeen goalkeeper Ward. He was offside, not
:25:43. > :25:47.flagged, a big chance for the breakthrough.
:25:48. > :25:55.Nicholson with the corner kick, a free header for Paterson, blocked on
:25:56. > :25:56.the line by Flood. Denied at the second attempt. Appeals for a
:25:57. > :26:10.penalty from Hearts. McGhee reaches up a hand and
:26:11. > :26:17.concedes a penalty four minutes from full-time, what was he thinking?
:26:18. > :26:24.Can Adam Rooney win the game for Aberdeen?
:26:25. > :26:29.He's scored his sixth goal in seven games.
:26:30. > :26:32.12 for the season. Aberdeen have surely got the win they so badly
:26:33. > :26:39.wanted to go seven points clear of Hearts.
:26:40. > :26:48.I think we showed perseverance and I think with two strikers to win the
:26:49. > :26:53.game. The first half performance, with dominance of the game, I was
:26:54. > :26:58.really pleased. We had a forced change at half-time. A small
:26:59. > :27:02.adjustment there. We started the second half well but we didn't have
:27:03. > :27:08.the same control. I thought we deserved the three points.
:27:09. > :27:14.Disappointed, we came up here and played really well. Created a couple
:27:15. > :27:20.of good chances. We made a bad mistake for the penalty. We are a
:27:21. > :27:28.club willing to give young players a chance, McGhee in his biggest game
:27:29. > :27:35.in Scotland, that is football. I am sure he will learn from it.
:27:36. > :27:39.A disappointing result but pleased. The winter has been wonderful bus
:27:40. > :27:43.far for the Dons. They are back in form, their first
:27:44. > :27:52.eight games of the season with victories.
:27:53. > :27:56.They are scoring goals, not too many, Aberdeen, but they are back in
:27:57. > :28:01.the mode where they can manage the situation and see it out.
:28:02. > :28:11.The decisive moment in this match was described on the radio by Willie
:28:12. > :28:19.Miller is a moment of badness. -- as a moment of madness.
:28:20. > :28:30.If you see it from the other angle, he has had a look. He made that run.
:28:31. > :28:35.Then he realises he is not there. I am not saying he should stick his
:28:36. > :28:42.hand up. He has two timed his run and be
:28:43. > :28:45.aware of where -- be aware that Goodwillie is not there.
:28:46. > :28:50.Irrespective of that comic you should not throw your hand up.
:28:51. > :28:55.He is thinking, I have spotted him there, he must be there now a couple
:28:56. > :29:00.of seconds later, but he wasn't. He is a young player.
:29:01. > :29:06.You are singling out Hayes for praise.
:29:07. > :29:12.On the day, he was fabulous. A great couple of seasons for the club, his
:29:13. > :29:16.general play is superb, prepared to take on players, delivering into the
:29:17. > :29:23.box. Really difficult to defend. He is
:29:24. > :29:27.willing to take on defenders. If he runs out of space, he is more than
:29:28. > :29:35.capable of hooking them in. That worked viciously and he nearly got a
:29:36. > :29:41.deflection. A wonderful cross for Considine who should have finished
:29:42. > :29:44.it. Hayes, again, he is in the box, the King to get to the end of the
:29:45. > :29:48.ball. His overall play has been wonderful.
:29:49. > :29:51.You may not remember this, but Dundee were the first
:29:52. > :29:53.Premiership leaders this season way back in week one.
:29:54. > :29:56.But things have gone a little off course since then with just one win
:29:57. > :30:00.Coincidentally, that win came against yesterday's opponents
:30:01. > :30:02.Motherwell who had yet to win a home game under new-ish manager
:30:03. > :30:15.Brian McLauchlin is your commentator for this one.
:30:16. > :30:25.Mark McGhee makes just one change, young Ben Hall makes his debut.
:30:26. > :30:31.Kevin Thomson has recovered from injury. He comes back into the
:30:32. > :30:40.starting XI, as does Gary Ifan. -- Gary Irvine.
:30:41. > :30:52.The cross, knocked away by Rory Loy. Scott McDonald! Motherwell are in
:30:53. > :30:56.front. A hint of offside. But McDonald was there. The ball knocked
:30:57. > :31:02.in by Stephen Pearson. McDonald, just six yards out, all alone, where
:31:03. > :31:10.were the Dundee defenders? The home side, 1-0 up.
:31:11. > :31:17.Pearson, in space! Good save by Scott Bain. Again, the Dundee
:31:18. > :31:35.defence cracked wide open. Cross comes into Moult! Back off the
:31:36. > :31:42.post! Clipped off the top of the crossbar. So close to a second goal
:31:43. > :31:49.for Motherwell. Excellent play by Louis Moult. It was McDonald that
:31:50. > :31:58.challenged. Mark McGhee the happier of the two managers. Moult! Number
:31:59. > :32:02.two for Motherwell. Louis Moult, with his ninth goal of the season.
:32:03. > :32:05.The Dundee defence again caught napping. Moult with a clinical
:32:06. > :32:24.henna. -- Heather. Connor Ripley forced to dive low to
:32:25. > :32:27.his right hand side. Hemmings, twisting one way and then the other.
:32:28. > :32:36.That again, the near post header by keeper.
:32:37. > :32:39.That again, the near post header by Louis Moult. This time, wide of
:32:40. > :32:56.target. The defence just coping. Harkins, takes a deflection and ends
:32:57. > :33:02.up in the back of the net. Gary Harkins brings the team back into
:33:03. > :33:07.the game. Good play by Hemmings. Law, a little bit unfortunate. The
:33:08. > :33:08.ball deflected off him and into the back of the net, beyond Ripley. Game
:33:09. > :33:27.on. Stuart! He was challenged by his own
:33:28. > :33:29.player. Gary Harkins. Greg Stewart, it looked like a free header.
:33:30. > :33:38.Harkins got in his way. Law, with the free kick, excellent
:33:39. > :33:40.stop by Scott Bain. Eventually out for a corner. Scott Bain doing
:33:41. > :33:57.terrifically well. Stephen Pearson! That is a goal that
:33:58. > :34:05.wraps up all three points for Motherwell. Pearson made the run.
:34:06. > :34:09.His second goal of the season. Three points for Mark McGhee's side. I
:34:10. > :34:15.suspect you would have to score more goals to beat them today. We have
:34:16. > :34:17.let in occasional goals. We have not yet got to the stage where we are
:34:18. > :34:23.let in occasional goals. We have not confident we will keep a clean
:34:24. > :34:30.sheet. The two goals won the game. We scored a goal after about five or
:34:31. > :34:36.six minutes. I felt, defensively, we looked a bit frail at times. A
:34:37. > :34:38.better second-half performance, in terms of overall play, going
:34:39. > :34:42.forwards. But we looked vulnerable today.
:34:43. > :34:50.A first home win for Mark McGhee in his second spell as manager? I am
:34:51. > :34:55.sure that will please him. The fact he scored three goals as well, he
:34:56. > :35:00.will be more than happy tonight. I think it takes a bit of time for a
:35:01. > :35:04.manager to get into a club and get his thoughts over to the players.
:35:05. > 0:28:09But I think that home victory, it certainly looks like he's getting
0:28:10 > 0:28:09his message over. Three goals yesterday, more than a whiff of
0:28:10 > 0:28:09controversy about the first? I would say not much. It comes into Stephen
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Pearson, by the way, this is a great pass.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09I think his heel is offside. But only his heel. It would take a
0:28:10 > 0:28:09phenomenal decision for the assistant referee to spot that. The
0:28:10 > 0:28:09strikers usually get the benefit of the doubt. Slightly offside, a neat
0:28:10 > 0:28:09and tidy finish. Plenty of space, though? The question is the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09defenders. Acres of space there, even though the decision is
0:28:10 > 0:28:09marginal. Nobody closing him down. Nobody in close proximity. And he
0:28:10 > 0:28:09finished it well. A lovely touch, fantastic finish. Stephen Pearson
0:28:10 > 0:28:09got on the scoresheet, just like old times? There were not many people in
0:28:10 > 0:28:09my years playing that were better at this than him. Nobody gets near him,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09when he goes at that pace. Quite phenomenal. I don't say that
0:28:10 > 0:28:09lightly. A lot of good players have been able to break into the box
0:28:10 > 0:28:09late. At 33, he is as good just now as he ever was at that. He should
0:28:10 > 0:28:09score a lot more goals than he does. He will get many more if he keeps
0:28:10 > 0:28:09doing that and stays fit. Our final port of Premiership call
0:28:10 > 0:28:09is New Douglas Park, where Hamilton hadn't won
0:28:10 > 0:28:09a home game since September. But their opponents Ross County,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09on the other hand, hadn't won a league match on the road
0:28:10 > 0:28:09since the August. Here's our reporter Andy Burke's
0:28:10 > 0:28:09story of the match. Just a point separating the teams
0:28:10 > 0:28:09going into this one. Neither were in great form. Hamilton took the lead
0:28:10 > 0:28:09through Gramoz Kurtaj. A superb counterattack.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09There were now in the groove. The lovely passing move almost brought a
0:28:10 > 0:28:09second. Gramoz Kurtaj forcing a good save from Scott Fox. Jim McIntyre
0:28:10 > 0:28:09wanted more from his side and got it just before the hour mark. Jackson
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Irvine's rocket almost brought them level, Craig Curran's follow-up did
0:28:10 > 0:28:09the trick. A sixth goal of the season for the Englishman. Boss
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Martin Canning felt his side should have had a penalty when Crawford
0:28:10 > 0:28:09tumbled under a challenge from Jackson Irvine. The replay suggests
0:28:10 > 0:28:09that the referee was right to suggest play on. The second goal
0:28:10 > 0:28:09owed a little too long. The substitute Stewart Murdoch made the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09most of the situation to get his first goal for County. Ross County
0:28:10 > 0:28:09thought they had put the game out of sight with a third. Michael Gardyne
0:28:10 > 0:28:09slotted home, but the flag was up for offside. Perhaps he was
0:28:10 > 0:28:09unfortunate to see his effort ruled out. County were not to be denied,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09adding a third in the 90th minute. Liam Boyce turned the ball home with
0:28:10 > 0:28:09the aid of a slight deflection. A second away win of the season for
0:28:10 > 0:28:09County, they leapfrog Hamilton Academical. I think we made the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09goalkeeper working. We try to move the ball. You see with the first
0:28:10 > 0:28:09ball, it's a good goal. At times, a ricochet can fall into your path and
0:28:10 > 0:28:09it is something we need to do better, hitting the target more. We
0:28:10 > 0:28:09have done well on our own terms. If you go away from home and pick up a
0:28:10 > 0:28:09point, you can never be too displeased. We knew we had to get
0:28:10 > 0:28:09our average of Windsor. To come to a tough place like this, on a surface
0:28:10 > 0:28:09we are not used to, the players deserve fantastic credit.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09A welcome when, and start of a benign run-off fixtures, all
0:28:10 > 0:28:09winnable? They are good, strong, good at the back for most of the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09games I've watched them. Players are front can find the back of the net.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09They've got the opportunity now to go on a little run, after some
0:28:10 > 0:28:09setbacks. Hamilton struggling at home, unusual, they haven't
0:28:10 > 0:28:09witnessed in September? It's tough to explain. I would always expect if
0:28:10 > 0:28:09you have got that sort of pitch, it should give you an advantage. Even
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Jimmy McIntyre has said it is not a surface they are used to. Even he's
0:28:10 > 0:28:09really excited about it. I am amazed, if it keeps on going, the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09big thing is, they did just put their foot through the ball and
0:28:10 > 0:28:09smack it generally towards the target. On those surfaces in
0:28:10 > 0:28:09particular, it is the right thing to do. I'm just amazed they don't do it
0:28:10 > 0:28:09more often. I don't think we have missed out any Premiership matches.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09So we can take a Terry Butcher's at the league table.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Celtic, four points clear of Aberdeen at the top.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09The Dons, seven clear of third-place Hearts.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Kilmarnock have dropped into the dreaded play-off place,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Dundee United, eight points adrift in the even more
0:28:10 > 0:28:09To the Championship next in which leaders Rangers welcomed
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Morton to Ibrox for the first time in the league in about 28 years.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Before the game, there was a minute's silence for Rangers
0:28:10 > 0:28:09midfielder Arnold Peralta who was shot dead in his native
0:28:10 > 0:28:09The Rangers manager makes one change to his line-up, Kenny Miller returns
0:28:10 > 0:28:09to the attack, Nicky Clarke drops to the bench.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Rangers, on this run of one defeat in 16 league matches. They are
0:28:10 > 0:28:09looking to maintain their place at the top. Lea Wallace, knocked to the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09ground by, Tyburn near, swinging that one
0:28:10 > 0:28:09income and that there is Kenny Miller! Rangers are in front after
0:28:10 > 0:28:09only two minutes. Tavernier's delivery, and Miller pounced to
0:28:10 > 0:28:09claim his seventh goal of the season. He outjumped everybody,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09including the goalkeeper. Well, he is desperate for a second,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Kenny Miller. Good play again by Mackay and Wallace, setting up the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09opportunity. James Tavernier has turned it into
0:28:10 > 0:28:09his own net! Johnston goes off to celebrate. The Rangers defenders
0:28:10 > 0:28:09can't believe what Tavernier has just done. He has been regularly
0:28:10 > 0:28:09scoring for the Ibrox side. On this occasion, he has levelled it for the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09opposition. Miller, good control, and blocked by
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Pepper. Good, thoughtful play from Rangers again. Morton break it up.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Miller is certainly lively this afternoon. Good control and Pepper
0:28:10 > 0:28:09throwing himself in front of it. Parried away, good, positive play by
0:28:10 > 0:28:09the visitors. Johnston with the shot, the on loan Birmingham player.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09He has been in good form, he's got six goals so far for Morton.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Waghorn, an excellent save by Grant Adam.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09The goalkeeper did not get there initially. It was O'Ware's header,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09initially. That a lovely, curling shot!
0:28:10 > 0:28:09McCloskey puts Morton in front! 82 minutes played, is there a shock on
0:28:10 > 0:28:09the cards at Ibrox? Excellent execution.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Cutback from Wallace, and that is Waghorn! Rangers have responded very
0:28:10 > 0:28:09quickly. In the space of two minutes, Martyn Waghorn, claiming
0:28:10 > 0:28:09his 20th goal of the season. Well into stoppage time, is that one
0:28:10 > 0:28:09last chance for Rangers? And he just couldn't get over the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09top of that one. They may have to be content with a
0:28:10 > 0:28:09draw. A bad day at the office today. But
0:28:10 > 0:28:09you saw that they never stop moaning. Frustrated, undoubtedly.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Lack of quality. But we move forward.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Most people might have thought Rangers can win it. Other than that,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09I think the referee was great, it was a good game, we contributed to
0:28:10 > 0:28:09it. Rangers dropping points again,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09making a habit of it? A little bit, in the early part of
0:28:10 > 0:28:09the season they were overpowering, that has dipped.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09I think Rangers are losing their form just now.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09So, folks, to Easter Road where Hibernian had the chance
0:28:10 > 0:28:09to capitalise on Rangers dropping points.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09They faced Alan Stubbs' bogey team, if you believe in such things,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Alan Stubbs makes just one change to the side, Hanlon comes into the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09team. Miller's reward for a hat-trick was
0:28:10 > 0:28:09a place on the bench. A nice little pass to Stevenson. Who
0:28:10 > 0:28:09gives it ' Keatings who goes down under the challenge of Muirhead, the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09decision is a corner from Kevin Clancy.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09A clever pass from Keatings to set Malonga on the way who returned the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09past. Keatings tries one and it almost crept into the net there.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Mightily relieved to see this slip past the post.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Great defending from Leahy. But the danger is still alive. Back
0:28:10 > 0:28:09to Cummings again. Finally, they get the danger clear.
0:28:10 > 0:28:0914 goals already, Cummings. Looking for number 15 there.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Cummings driving forward again. He has support in the shape of McGinn
0:28:10 > 0:28:09who fancied a go and that almost found the net, Rogers got a touch on
0:28:10 > 0:28:09it. Just for a second it looked as if it
0:28:10 > 0:28:09had crept inside the post. McGinn driving into the penalty
0:28:10 > 0:28:09area. That is a heavy challenge.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09McGinn, sent off, straight red card. You see that often when a player
0:28:10 > 0:28:09loses position but that is right over the top of the ball.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Fontaine wins the ball back for Hibs, now Cummings, what can he do
0:28:10 > 0:28:09up against McCracken and he goes down.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09I think Kevin Clancy has got that one right.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09No contact whatsoever. Can Falkirk apply some pressure off their own?
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Lofted into the box, well played by Fontaine. Vaulks picks it up.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Determined to play. There is Miller! The hat-trick hero
0:28:10 > 0:28:09from last weekend does it again. Not one that Mark Oxley will want to
0:28:10 > 0:28:09see again. A last chance for Hibs now as
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Cummings goes to the line. Surely Hibs have snatched it in
0:28:10 > 0:28:09stoppage time? Cummings has been trying to make
0:28:10 > 0:28:09things happen all day, a clever flick from Anier.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09I think in result and performance like that could go a long way within
0:28:10 > 0:28:09our season, when you look back at the end and you think of a
0:28:10 > 0:28:09performance and result, that was one of them.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09We could have moved it a bit quicker, more than we actually did.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09It was disappointing to lose a goal so late in injury time.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09But it's no disaster. Alan Stubbs seemed quite pleased
0:28:10 > 0:28:09with the outcome at Easter Road. They were playing with ten men,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Falkirk were a really good side. Psychologically it is a massive
0:28:10 > 0:28:09help. His team played well. Let us look at
0:28:10 > 0:28:09why they were playing with ten men, McGinn, a determined character.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09He has a lot going for him, this young man, a determined character.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09His momentum has taken him into the challenge, no doubt it is over the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09ball. No doubt he had to see the red card.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09I didn't think it was premeditated, the challenge. That is the way the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09ball, the boy plays. Full of determination. His momentum took him
0:28:10 > 0:28:09into the challenge. He had his back to the player in the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09last second and twisted around. It is reckless.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09But I don't think it was malicious. St Mirren, his former club, in
0:28:10 > 0:28:09trouble, third bottom, Ian Murray resigning after the defeat away to
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Dumbarton yesterday. Troubled times for St Mirren. They
0:28:10 > 0:28:09have to go through the process again, look at who is available.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Do they go for experience, a young manager? They have had too many
0:28:10 > 0:28:09managers in a short period. A big decision, who will be the next
0:28:10 > 0:28:09chief. Where do they go from here?
0:28:10 > 0:28:09The big thing is you will get lots of people wanting the job which is a
0:28:10 > 0:28:09good thing. It is a struggling team. I wouldn't
0:28:10 > 0:28:09say Ian Murray is a bad manager but it is a bad situation he finds
0:28:10 > 0:28:09himself in, he should get other opportunities.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09They have been through managers at a real rate of knots.
0:28:10 > 0:28:09If you get the perfect young manager available you go for him. You take
0:28:10 > 0:28:09everything on board. You see what is available. Maybe first initial ideas
0:28:10 > 0:28:09aren't right. The natural thing is to go for experience. If you see the
0:28:10 > 0:28:09right person, it may be you get 23 in at the same time, coach,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09assistant manager, tough job. If he keeps taking his medication,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09Jonners will be back next week. Oh, and on the subject of which,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09next Sunday, the show is on BBC Two Scotland at 10:10pm,
0:28:10 > 0:28:09so please don't be caught out. For now, though, it's thanks
0:28:10 > 0:28:10to Pat and Willie.