14/05/2017 Sportscene

The battle of the bottom six has reached fever pitch.

Which sides will fall at the final hurdle?

Steven Thompson and Michael Stewart with us as we enter the final

furlong of what continues to be a fascinating season

Hamilton Academical and Motherwell both fighting

Hamilton have Danny Lennon and Ali Crawford back in midfield at the

expense of Brussino Donati and Rakish Bingham. Model make one

change to their riding up. Stephen Robinson expected to be a battle --

Motherwell. Neither of these sides have won a

game since the split. Two games in a role that were

. Louis Moult. Setting it up for Craig Clay. That was a good opening

for Motherwell. Elliott Frear with the delivery and Louis Moult with

the setup. Clay could not get the angle correct. Dougie Imrie finding

Gillespie. That has a neat pass. Daniel Redmond. In towards Ali

Crawford. He was looking for Ali Crawford to hit the target. He has

scored nine goals this season but his last was back in December. That

was not one of his best efforts. Hamilton have not beaten marvel in

their last five meetings. That was good at delivery from Scott McDonald

to find Louis Moult. He is looking for Elliott Frear. The header away

from Ali Crawford. It breaks to Craig Clay. He is getting closer. It

had dropped nicely for him as Crawford got the header audit. Just

wide of that right-hand post. He's Crawford. Good delivery from

Crawford. Dougie Imrie?. It was good technique from Dougie Imrie?.

Getting that down off his chest. He could not get enough power in the

short. Dispossessed by Keith Lasley. It

breaks of Dougie Imrie. Here is Redmond. It breaks for Alexandre

D'Acol. What a save that was from Russell Griffiths. The man on loan

from Everton. It is only his second start for the Fir Park club.

Terrific stop matters. Stephen free with the free kick. It is Louis

Moult. And Motherwell are in front. It is their marksmen, Louis Moult

with his 18th goal of the season. It is his sixth in his three

appearances against Accies this term. The ball came off the shoulder

and looked into the corner of the net. It was a vital goal for

Motherwell. Ali Crawford again. Out to

Templeton. Trying to create the opening. David Templeton. Takes a

deflection off Campbell. It is David Templeton's first top team

appearance in football since August 20 15. He has livened things up

since coming on as a substitute. Lionel Ainsworth on the counter for

Motherwell. Looking for McDonald. Judging the jump with Devlin. He

finds Lionel Ainsworth again. Still Lionel Ainsworth. He tries to be

short. Still wide from -- just wide from Lionel Ainsworth. The model

finds Brian that all desperate to see that end up on the net. They

still have got the one goal advantage. Into stoppage time. Only

a few seconds remaining. It is full-time. You can see what it means

to the Motherwell players and fans. It pushes them three points clear of

rivals Hamilton who are now in the relegation play-off spot with two

games of the league season remaining. It is always going to be

tight. The biggest thing you have to do at the stage of the season you

have to be difficult to beat. Tactics did go out of the window. I

think we won the battle in all areas of the pitch. It is something like

Louis Moult that can win the game for you.

The Lanarkshire derby to end all Lanarkshire Barbies. It might well

be the case for the season two. Two games to go for both sides. Was this

a pivotal result in terms of the play-off spot for the relegation

equation? It was almost a play-off in its own. Never a classic with so

much at stake. It was tense and quality was at a premium. Hamilton

have lost three Matt Jeneroux and they have got a tough trip to them

all to save the season. You heard of Martin Canning saying that in a that

you are difficult to score against. The most disappointing thing for

Hamilton was the nature of the deseeded. It was very poor

defending. Looking at Georgios Samaras. He was trying to play Louis

Moult offside. That is fair enough. All that time Louis Moult has

Georgios Samaras where he wants. You heard Stephen Robinson seeing

that when you have got something like that you can win a game... Even

off shoulder. I have said all season that at the top end of the park

Motherwell would have enough to save them. He is going to say that I was

right! Marvel, defensively, as I was about to say, they are so poor they

may get dragged back into it. But he did see them there. Louis Moult been

linked with Rangers. Does that sound right to you? I am not sure. He has

had a decent season and is a natural goal-scorer. Rangers could do with

that. The thing about signing players, you have to sign players

that are better than you have got. Rangers are releasing Clint Hill and

he is a better defender than Ben Heneghan. He's part of a defence

that I am talking about being one of the worst in the league. You do not

want to tar all the defenders with the same brush but I would not say

that Motherwell is somewhere I would look to strengthen my defence to be

honest. Hamilton are second bottom and in the play-off spot. Is that

where they will remain? I do think so. Dingwall on Tuesday, tough game.

Ross County have got good form. Motherwell have their destiny in

their own hands. So, what of the Premiership's bottom

side Inverness Caledonian Thistle? They were at Kilmarnock,

Richie Foran's side hoping to build on victory over

Hamilton last weekend. As for Kilmarnock, a win would

guarantee their top flight status View my changes to the commando team

beaten by Dundee. Jamie MacDonald, having put cell and Greg Kiltie 09.

Richie Foran sticks with the team that won at Hamilton the last time

out to keep alive their slim hopes of survival.

Suddenly Alex Fisher is in on goal with a chance for Inverness. He

tried to beat Jamie MacDonald at the near post. He will be thinking now

that he should have gone on the other direction. Greg Tansey,

Aberdeen bound in the summer. Long ball from Brad McKay. That is Wilson

who flicks it away. Henri Anier. Yet as Billy Mckay. Get himself away and

the shot would not come down. How he would love to point Inverness in the

direction of survival. That is Mark Draper. Wilson crunching into the

challenge. He did get the ball. And it is going to be a yellow card.

Inverness are screaming for red. Uncompromising certainly from the

youngster. Luke Hendrie for Kilmarnock. Aiming for Greg Kiltie.

It comes Ryan Esson. He had it and lost it. Raeburn has given it away.

And Sean Longstaff rifles in the opening goal of the game. It came

off Brad McKay on its way into the back of the net. Kilmarnock could be

on the way to sealing the place in the Premiership. It is a catalogue

of errors from Caley Thistle. They are punished by Sean Longstaff. One

nil, and 17 minutes played. Mackay with the long throw. The

header cleared by Ajer. Connor Sammon. Lovely pass. He is

one-on-one with Gary Warren and it is Jones. It is 2-0. It could be the

goal that Seals not's safety. It points Caley Thistle of nearer to

championship football next season. It is a top quality goal. Adam

Frizzell with the setup. And Jones finishes it off. Warren claiming for

the header and in went Brad McKay against Adam Phillips cell. It was

certainly clumsy. John Beaton had a long look at it. Larnell Cole looks

to make the difference for Inverness Caley Thistle. They badly need to

get a call back. Iain Vigurs rules are true and Alex Fisher strikes 20

minutes from time. To lift the lingering hopes of Inverness Caley

Thistle have of turning this around. Kilmarnock badly caught out by the

football from Iain Vigurs. Suddenly there was a gaping hole in the

middle of the defence and Fisher scores. Time running out for Richie

Foran and Caley Thistle. Billy Mckay takes aim from long range. Sporting

Jamie MacDonald of his goal-line. On the end of Fisher's flight but could

not find the target. Good play from Larnell Cole. Fisher pulls it back.

David Raven with a curling effort. It needed to be better than that to

find a way past Jamie MacDonald. Back in the. Knuckle in place of

Woodman. The lay-off does not come off for Conor Sammon. Bundled over

by Longstaff was Iain Vigurs. Iain Vigurs takes the free kick quickly.

Billy Mckay with the chance. He is furious that the offside flag has

gone up against him. He did get his shot away. It was blocked by the

onrushing McDonald. Long ball from Liam Polworth. Alex Fisher knocks

down. Kevin Goze Billy Mckay but it goes wide. Credit to Ajer for the

challenge. The on loan Celtic defender playing an important part

as the game slipped away from Inverness. The way that we play

today was outstanding, right from the opening whistle. Last week I

said we were not acted but today and you that we were. There was a

killing in the dressing room of togetherness that was brilliant. We

have finally got beer, the two games remaining, we back up to seventh. We

need to cut out individual mistakes. It has been the story of the season

and we lost lots of points with individual mistakes. You work hard

on the training ground and what can you do if that happens when the

goalkeeper dropped one? It is disappointing, very disappointing

but the players have been great for me all season and we need a couple

of results to go our way this season and we need six points.

Richie Foran felt that Inverness desert of three points. At this

stage of the season it is not about performance. It is about results.

Barring a miracle, they are gone. The ramifications for the club and

for Richie Foran will be massive. He is full of contradictions. He talks

about individual errors that have cost him so much but then he says

the players have been great for me all season. There are the

individuals making mistakes? They have only won five games. They did

create chances. They still have a chance. Now, they are going down.

There is no doubt. They got a good result last week but about able to

back it up. For me, there is no doubt that they are going down. It

is disappointing to see the club struggled in the way that they are

but I have no doubt they are going to get relegated. No doubt in your

mind? They are going to a team in form at the Dundee in midweek. The

win last week was unexpected and give them a boost going into the

scheme but they could not follow it up. Lee McCulloch plays his cards

close to his chest. Happy birthday. While would he not be the next, a

manager? That is the question, fans will be asking. It is dragged on for

a long time. The chat was he might not want to colours to the mast when

relegation was a possibility. He has done very well. He has more than

claimed his stated that he should get the job. I do not think there is

any reason why he he should not be named... I would be surprised if it

is not announced this week. He has the building blocks, Jordan Jones

excelled. He is somebody that produces and gives a bit of an X

Factor. He plays in the wider area. When he gets into these positions,

he has got a good end product at times. He is direct, he commits and

attacks. He causes problems for teams. Most of the times you see

him. This is a wonderful goal. He shows desire. He is direct, faces up

to defenders and gets on the left foot and there is the end product.

That is a big goal for Kilmarnock. Looking towards the future, he is

somebody that will be pivotal and in Lee McCulloch's forts.

To the final game in the bottom six now.

Dundee still not safe despite two wins out of two under

Ross County essentially safe, barring the most unlikely

the side that won at, but last week they have been transformed since he

took the reins. A win here will go a long way to ensuring they will not

be dropping. Ross County bring back top scorer Liam Boyce after

suspension. He has not been seen after banging four past Inverness

and the damage. One point will extinguish any remaining relegation

fears. This is Jim O'Brien. Martin Woods. Promising build-up from the

visitors. Michael Gardyne. What is saved. What a save from Scott Bain.

This is more like the Scott Bain of all that we have seen over the past

couple of years. Nodded in Guy Caron for Liam Boyce.

He does it again. -- nodded in by Craig Curran. Always there and

always on the scoresheet. Liam Boyce, up to 22 for the season.

Redhot. And that is a big goal for Ross County.

Liam Boyce frock Craig Curran. They are shooting for the penalty team

are the Staggies. It was Scott Bain on Craig Curran. The referee not

interested. That is in towards Craig Curran who is claiming handball

against Darren O'Dea. The referee has turned a blind eye. It was Craig

Curran attacking it and it did come off Darren O'Dea. Two wins in 16 for

Dundee against Ross County. This is better for them. Kammy care. Held

comfortably in the end by Scott Fox. Paul McGowan and Mark O'Hara was not

too far away. Scott Fox got a touch on that and it is a corner. Paul

McGowan got into a good area. It seems like a long time ago since

Dundee's impressive when on the opening game of the season in

Dingwall. That kind of Marcus Fraser. -- that came of Marcus

Fraser. Dundee are knocking on the door and Fraser did not know much

about that. El-Bakhtaoui. Here goes again. That just flashes over. It is

not happening for him today. He does not lack confidence. El-Bakhtaoui.

That is came through towards Cammy Kerr. He goes down and penetrate!

Without a doubt. -- and penalty. It is a yellow card for Craig Curran as

well. I do not think he can have too many complaints. Craig Curran has

had a real surge in form since signing a new deal. Darren O'Dea who

scored from the spot against Ross County last month and does it again.

He is loving that one. That could be a huge goal in Dundee's season. The

penalty was smashed home by Darren O'Dea. It is dropped over for Kevin

Holt. This is Mark O'Hara. And then Kevin Holt goes down. No penalty but

it is another appeal. This was the initial effort from Mark O'Hara.

Kevin Holt felt he was upended by Jason Naismith. Back-to-back wins

for Dundee coming into this one since Neil McCann took over and

Marcus Haber should have made it three victories out of three. He was

onside was the Canadian. Really impressive second-half showing in

particular for Dundee. It is Kevin Holt. And that was Scott Fox. That

will surely mean that Ross County will get out of here with a point

and Dundee should feel that they have all three. Things happen and

you are tested, it shows a lot of character that you can come back

from it. That group and the run they want a Hoilett goal would not have

came back from that. My goodness, I am delighted with them. They showed

character. We should have been more clinical with the couple of

opportunities that we had but it was not to be. I felt we got really

sloppy and we invited Dundee back into the game and give them the

left. One you do that to a team that of one two on the back and have got

a big crowd at home, they have got their tails up. We went from control

to hanging on. The first time Neil McCann has not

won a match for Dundee. Dundee are not arithmetically safe on 37 points

but it is as good as. I think they are safe now. They started truly an

Ross County will the better team. They showed a lot of character to

come back into the game. I should have asked the oracle. I said the

Dundee were saving a few weeks ago. In all seriousness. A lot was made

of Paul Hartley losing his job. You heard Neil McCann referencing

himself the character that they have shown. On the poor before he came

in, they might not have came back from that and that is big

turnaround. I was impressed by Kammy care. His first full season for

Dundee. He spent part of last season on loan to Peterhead. He always

looked to go forward. He is young and exciting at full-back. His final

ball was not particularly good here. He was a standout player for Dundee

yesterday. His first thought is can I get forward? The cuts in on his

weaker foot and gets a shot on target. He ends up winning the

penalty kick. I do not think it was a penalty. I think Craig Curran

comes across and gets his arm up. I think it was the legs of Cammy Kerr

that collided. I do not think it was a penalty but he gets into the areas

where he causes problems for the opposition. That is where

youthfulness kind bring you energy down the right-hand side from Cammy

Kerr. We'll Ross County keep hold of Liam Boyce? Another great strike

from an impressive player all season. I think there will be teams

that are looking at him. He has one year left on his contract. Ross

County, if they get their team playing as they should, they will be

challenging in the top six. There is no doubt in my mind that there are

teams in the top six right now looking at him. Who do Ross County

go from here for next season? This was not part of the grand plan. It

will always be difficult after last year to reach those days again after

you think about what they achieved. They are only points buying Partick

Thistle who sitting sixth. I am not buying that. They are two points

Brian Partick Thistle Misha Mark because they did well last year it

was always difficult this year. The team that they have got and the

manager in Jim McIntyre, there was another boat then they should have

been challenging regardless. It would be boring if you ever agreed.

Hearts had slumped in the last few months but they still had a chance

of Europe as they arrived at Ibrox to face Rangers.

The home side hoping to seal third place.

Clint Hill is leaving Rangers button is pressed into service with Danny

Wilson injured. Jack and Victor swap places for

hearts. Viktor Noring is in goals for Hamilton.

Interception by Hill. James Tavernier charging forward. Kenny

Miller, first time. Joe Garner. 1- Rangers inside seven minutes. And

Joe Garner who struck late at Firhill last weekend is on the mark

early at Ibrox. Not picked up here. He made the most of the header,

clipping the post on the way in. It is the 10th Rangers goal for Joe

Garner. Aaron Hughes, he has just signed a

contract extension with hearts. Good touch for Esmael Goncalves. Don

Cowie. Good strike from the skipper. 20 the power behind this. It was

unlikely to be beating Wesley Fotheringham for them that angle.

Lovely touch from Kenny Miller. Always involved in the good things

for Rangers. Here goes again. Josh Windass. Squeezes in the cutback.

Joe Garner. It was a really good save from Viktor Noring. Astor

Kristian Colback saw his clearance canon of Marton. Rangers had the

chance to make it two. Johnson not picked up. Joe Garner was on the

way. Better from hearts after a faltering start to the scheme. Kenny

Miller and Joe Garner in the way. Prince Buaben steps out of defence.

Esmael Goncalves wriggling his way through. He hits the deck looking

for a penalty. It was Clint Hill who made the challenge. Did he get his

toll on the ball? That was certainly the ruling of the Bobby Madden.

Still 1-0 Rangers. The flick from Garner, end goes when Dallas. The

outcome was inevitable. A red card and hearts will play more than one

hour of this match with ten men. He did not react quickly to the flick

from Gardner and then minutes that 85 macro got in behind, the Hearts

defender was in big trouble -- Windass. Kenny Miller plays it back

again. 78 macro. He misses the target. He was

unmarked at the corner kick and will be thinking he could have done a

whole lot better. Another makai corner kick. Hill, off the post. It

is scrambled away. Just a fraction away from 2-0. Leaping high for the

header, the veteran defender and that was close. 55-macro.

-- Jon Toral. This looks very promising for a Hearts. 13 eye level

things up, six minutes into the second half. -- Goncalves. And

Johnsen sets up Goncalves for his eighth Hearts goal, it is 1-1. Can

Hearts consolidate having equalised. Tavernier, with the cross. And

21-macro has Rangers in front again. Just 90 seconds after Hearts

equalised -- Barry McKay. He should have punched and Barry McKay accepts

the invitation. He scored the equaliser last weekend and he

rattles in the goal here which makes it 2-1 to Rangers. Liam Smith.

Playing a lot of good football, Hearts, it is Johnsen. A really

disappointing effort. Having carved out the opportunity here, skipping

clear of Clint hill. Nicholson got a foot in and 32-macro with the

chance. -- Goncalves Djoum. The cutback by

Barry Mackay. -- Barry McKay. Some good shot stopping in the game. A

real howler for the Rangers second goal. Why corn. Hesitation at the

back from Hearts and Martin White corner with the chance to tie things

up -- Waghorn. Waghorn should have scored that. Victory for Rangers as

they seal third place. I am even more convinced that we will be a

very good team. Michael Stewart, are you convince? I think results would

suggest otherwise. There is no doubt that it was an improved performance

but for the first part of the game it was very poor

and I find those comments quite strange. They are looking to have a

big turnover of players as well. What team was he expecting was going

to be good? It looks like there will be big changes in the summer. They

started off, it was very bad and to go to Ibrox and start the way that

they did, giving yourself an uphill battle, this is the goal and you

look at Krystian Nowak. He has to close that. There is no one there.

The danger is in front of him. Gardner, the guide puts it in the

back of the net and he throws up his arm. He is pointing out wide, the

danger is start out wide, that is the gap you need to close at the

point of this header, he needs to narrow off and deepened. He has to

do better, but he would affect the ball over the top. Square pegs and

round holes. Krystian Nowak is not our right back and Prince Buaben is

not a centre-half. The big moment came in that in right channel. They

have given themselves an uphill battle, when it went down to ten

men, there was a big turnaround. After Hearts went to ten men, they

played better. They changed shape at half-time. The interesting thing for

me was leaving the two strikers on. I thought they would have sacrificed

a striker but they did that to keep Rangers under pressure. It also

meant that the Rangers full-backs could not press on. He brings a bit

of calm to the team. Rangers in the second half were desperately bad and

gave away the ball and it worked for Hearts. They counter-attacked at

every opportunity. This is so lucky for Smith. They are a man down and

they played like the team, it was as if Rangers had ten men. A big

mistake in the middle of the park. This one does not come to anything

but it shows you, numbers flooding forward. For me, Hearts deserve to

get something out of the game. They had structure in -- and a plan. He

looks at the corner, this is the goal for Hearts. It is a brilliant

counterattack. The desire they showed to go from one end of the

pitch to another, Rangers were slack and gave the ball away. Jason Holt

is not a sitting midfielder. You have to win this tackle. You're the

last man, you cannot not win it. Brilliant from Johnsen. He slides it

in to Goncalves. Positives to be taken, no doubt. It is the end of

the season, but at critical few months. I don't think there is any

doubt, because a lot of the players, a lot of them were on short-term

deals and there will be a big turnover of players. The club are

going to be hoping beyond hope that it works out, but you have got the

start of the season, the cup and then the first 56 games of the

league, they will all be away from home and there is a lot of games, a

lot of the games away from home that will be crucial because if you come

to September and October and the results have not been great... As

for Rangers, how do you rate a third-place finish? It has been an

average season, no trophies, no finals, they have a circus off the

pitch and it has been a bad season. The other thing I would add, if

Robbie had not left Hearts, there was a good chance they could have

been challenging properly and Rangers might have been squeezed

down to fourth place. Next St Johnstone

versus Partick Thistle. The Saints aiming to

seal European football. Thistle still with a chance

of catching Hearts. Alan McManus is back. Alan Archibald

is able to: porn Danny Devine after he missed the dramatic defeat to

Rangers -- is able to call upon. Both sides deserve a real credit for

their performances this season. St Johnstone still looking to be

confirmed as European qualifiers. James Tavernier -- Greenham Common

is looked for a penalty on air. Here is Danny Devine. He got into a bit

of trouble and it is Edwards. Hit with plenty of power. Mannus was

able to get down low. Partick Thistle have won on their past four

visits to this ground. Here is Edwards, operating in dangerous

pockets behind the attackers. Now it is Barton and that those just wide.

He scored the only goal as Partick Thistle knocked St Johnstone out of

the Scottish Cup earlier in the season. Wotherspoon, knocked away as

far as one son. Cerny could not gather it. It was dipping and

swerving all over the place from Swanson. Eastern into Craig and back

it comes to the midfielder. 35-macro looking to turn. He got away from

Keown, he did not have the space to work away from the target --

Cummins. He looks to get Cummins" Clay, Cummins, Swanson arriving,

penalty, says the referee. Our great piece of play by Danny Swanson. The

quick feet got him away from Keown. No complaints. Danny Swanson has

been the penalty King this season and he has done it again. That takes

into 15 for the campaign, nine have come from the spot. The goalkeeper

had no chance. Six home wins for Tommy Wright. They have struggled.

Eastern. -- Easton. Drilled hard and low. Cerny kept his eye on it as it

came through the bodies. Swindon Town expressed an interest in Alan

Archibald but he is staying. It is the header from Scobbie and great

reactions from Cerny to tip it over the top. This looked bound for the

net, but for the intervention and the goalkeeper. It is Christie Eliot

and that is cheaply given away to Wotherspoon. Richard Foster breaking

onto that pace, but Cerny did so well and he had to come out, as

Foster looked to go around the goalkeeper. St Johnstone have been

the dominant side in the second half, but 45-macro gets it into

Doolan. -- Erskine. Foster. Eyeing up

Lindsay. It is a delicate ball through to 68. He goes down under

the challenge from Steven Lawless -- Paul Paton. Knocked away by Keown

and here comes Danny Swanson. It is tipped over the top by Cerny who is

keeping Partick Thistle in theirs. All four meetings this season have

been won by the away team. Liam Lindsay is the target. It is knocked

away by Liam Craig as St Johnstone looked to hold onto what they have

and at the moment that would be guaranteed for the place and

European football for next season. What an achievement that would be.

Drops for Paul Paton on the edge of the box and tipped wide by Cerny.

They ask the questions of the referee as Cummins seemed to be

hauled to the ground by Osman and when it dropped to Paul Paton he hit

it first time. They said that is four seasons I have been in charged

and I keep thinking, can we get better and maintain it and they do

respond and they go again. They have been magnificent again this season

and they deserve to be in Europe. They are the fourth best team. Our

performance level dropped massively. Compared to last week, our passing

was crisp and good. We were out battles and outplayed. St Johnstone

punching above their weight, Tommy Wright said it was the best of their

fourth-place finishes. They do so well season after season. Alan

Archibald, got linked with jobs down south. The same is not true of Tommy

Wright. It is not. You have to wonder why. I think it

will come, he has proven time and time again that he is a very capable

manager and St Johnstone have a history of managers moving on. You

look at previous managers who moved on from Sam Johnson to down south

and I think it will come. St Johnstone will want to keep hold of

him. I think perhaps a bit of snobbery. You look at what he has

produced at St Johnstone with guys like Danny Swanson. He is someone

who has been that little bit of a flair addition to the team. Getting

the penalty, he is the guy who has made a big difference and he is

someone, Tommy Wright, when you're talking about if he will move on.

Danny Swanson will be moving on and he will need something to fill that

void and he has done it. Season after season, consistency from the

manager and for me, when you talk about why he has not been linked

with other jobs, I think there is a level of snobbery. If I was a top

six side in Scotland, I would be looking at Tommy Wright.

Realistically, saying why is he not getting offered those jobs. When you

look at teams down south, we spoke about Nottingham Forest going after

Mark Warburton, not Forest were in desperate dire Straits on the verge

of getting relegated and I do not understand why Tommy Wright was not

being looked at. They had to replace some people. They keep on doing it,

season after season. They do not have big turnaround like hearts at

Christmas. Kilmarnock, pre-season as well. The have two or three players

in key areas, the keep the core strength together and they know what

they're doing, they are organised, they have a togetherness. Despite

Danny going they will find ways replace them. Partick Thistle, they

have had a great season and it is job done as far as they are

concerned. They will not catch hearts. When they had hearts at

Tynecastle, if they'd been able to get two points, they might have

challenged. It has been a great season for Partick.

And finally tonight first versus second.

The Friday night Scottish Cup Final dress rehearsal between

Two changes. Adam Rooney is the second change. He is being rested.

Anthony O'Connor and Jayden Stockley are in. Celtic made three changes.

Scott Sinclair is back. 55-macro is back in.

-- Mikael Lustig. Boyata! Celtic ahead in three minutes. It is three

in three games for Boyata. He got the winner when the sides last met,

eased his way away from Taylor, top of the scoring. Celtic battling for

it. Griffiths on the chase, up against Reynolds. Pushes him wide.

Griffiths with the nutmeg, he is away from Reynolds. Deflected back,

McGregor, Logan will send out onto Armstrong and Celtic have a second.

Just eight minutes gone. Celtic are running riot already. Lovely play

from Lee Griffiths, turned back by Taylor, the shot from McGregor and

Logan passed it to Armstrong. His goalkeeper was behind him, great

finish from Armstrong and he joins Lee Griffiths on 15 goals for the

season. Celtic struggling so far, four out of four against the Dons

this season. Reynolds and Taylor try to hold him off. It is 3-0. 11

minutes played. And Celtic are having their way with Aberdeen. Jill

Lewis at fault. It was not unstoppable, great shot but not

unstoppable. Every picture tells a story and that is a very unhappy one

for Aberdeen. Consett dying, Boyata gets it away. Taylor, Graham shinny.

Play on says the referee. Brilliant goal! "Body beautifully. Credit to

the referee, he could have given a free kick, Craig Gordon, simply no

chance. Aberdeen blown away by Celtic, trying to get back into it.

They have got one back. Great ball across from Maclean and starkly got

in the way. Mikael Lustig. Brilliantly done. A couple of goals

against Aberdeen already this season and away once more. The Aberdeen

marking has left off a to be desired. Onto Considine. Aberdeen

building well. Up to Jonny Hayes. He swings it across, away by the

goalkeeper on to Maclean and a chance again. Great save by Craig

Gordon, Aberdeen are really pushing for the second goal. Maclean saw his

effort blocked and a decent stop. Celtic can break here but Griffiths

cannot hold onto it. Graham shinny got it away and Celtic can break. It

is three onto. On thinker, tacking back, great tackle, top-class

defending. Great ball by Roberts. Mikael Lustig. Back in. Good ball

across, but -- Maclean tried to get in. Opportunity for Aberdeen. It was

Shinnie. Celtic to miss the steadying presence of Scott Brown.

Shinnie goes through. Is that penalty? No, says the referee.

Shinnie was touch by Craig Gordon and that this very point is making.

He comes forward and get the touch on the ball and it was taken out. A

pivotal moment in the match and it breaks the way of Celtic. Just

bounces on the way. Very unlucky to have a free kick against him.

Griffiths and Logan getting into it. Maclean. Logan, ball in hand, you

cannot do it. Celtic, two games from an unbeaten league season. Three

games from a trouble. Kenny McLean. Can he find a way, can he find a way

to make it 3-2, the answer is no. Kenny McLean, normally reliable and

as the fans rose an expectation, the shots rose higher. The second half

as quite lived up to the action of the first, four goals in 12 minutes.

Scott Sinclair driving in and Logan has to be careful. That is a great

effort from Scott Sinclair. Logan should have known he was going to

cut in on the right -- inside on the right. Maclean. Aberdeen have not

given up. Considine trying to get ahead on that and Logan as well.

Considine, in four Niall McGinn. Great effort, plenty of pace on the

shot, getting away from Craig Gordon. I think the game tonight

will make us more confident of getting into the final, even though

we have lost. The Cup Final is the only thing that matters now. It is

what we are working towards for the next two weeks. And for me, the

result might it is disappointing. The performance tonight was exactly

what I was looking for. Aberdeen are very directing. Everything is a long

ball, there is no will sequence of passes. The ball from behind as in

the air, the ball on the site, great crosses into the box, in the air.

They are having to deal with a lot of long ball football. I am very

proud of the team and how they have stood up to them. We have shown the

quality that we can play but coming to Pittodrie is never easy.

It has been quite an incredible run they have been on and 100 points,

one Celtic fan said it has been a dream season. Fantastic, the only

criticism I would give is that they did not manage to get 100 goals in

the same game. It may well come, but they have been great, to get 100

points, there were to get 100 goals this season, they have three games

to go unbeaten, the record has just continue to fall for this side and

at their early deserving performance, result and worthy of

champions. Incredible game to watch, what did you make of the comments of

Brendan Rodgers, everything is a long ball in terms of the Aberdeen

directness. Maybe a bit harsh, there is more to Aberdeen and long balls.

The grasp balls fitted into the box are excellent and they work to get

the ball into the box well. This is individual brilliance from Jonny

Hayes. He has had a fine season, big player for the club. This is an

unbelievable cross from Kenny McLean. He knows that Jayden

Stockley is a big lad. Jayden Stockley should score. They use the

width of the pitch so well. He does not deal well with the cross. A good

snapshot and a decent save after that. Aberdeen will be pleased.

Because they caused Celtic more problems. They can go on to this

final and they can win it, they have the players that can hurt Celtic but

they cannot defend like they did in the opening ten minutes. The one

thing I would say about Aberdeen and the criticism that Brendan Rodgers

has given, they do stretch game very well, they have to look into those

pockets of space that they create and unfortunately they did not have

Ryan Christie because he cannot play against Celtic but if Shaun Maloney

signs for Aberdeen, if they have got some on there, they can utilise that

is where they could hurt Celtic. Aberdeen fans will be asking if you

think it was a penalty. Yes! It was a definite penalty. I cannot

understand why it is not given. You can understand? I think it is a

penalty all day long but looks unorthodox because Shinnie, his leg

is dangling as kicks it away. There is no question, it is a penalty, but

look slightly unorthodox, the referee is. He almost decapitated

him. That would have brought the game to 3-2 and it would have been

game on. Bigger gap next season? I think it will be hard for Celtic to

replicate this season. It has been one off in terms of going unbeaten,

it has been incredible, to reach those levels again next year... I

think they will finish the season unbeaten. It depends, Brendan

Rodgers is going to invest in a few key players, but I do not think they

can replicate this season. You think Aberdeen can beat Celtic in the

Scottish Cup final but you do not think they will. I think they will

and Derek will take positives. You hear him talking about being

methodical and work out how he will do it. He can draw a lot from that

game on Friday. The cross balls is a key thing. Saying all that, if

Celtic Perry to lick capabilities they will win the treble. Will they

take much beating, Aberdeen? They have not beaten Celtic this season

but there are elements of the game, if they can find a solution, they

have got a chance. Thank you. All that leaves the Ladbrokes

Premiership table looking like this. A Celtic century of points

after that win at Pittodrie. Brendan Rodgers' side 30

points clear of Aberdeen. Rangers and St Johnstone will join

both those teams in European At the bottom Kilmarnock

and Ross County are safe. Dundee, Motherwell and

Hamilton still sweating. But Inverness are

sweating most of all. Time for us to exit

through the Sportscene trapdoor. From all of us on the

team - bye for now. It would be the greatest night

of their lives... the night when Celtic Football Club

captured the hearts of Europe... They were like brothers. I loved

them. Absolutely loved them. A bunch of boys fae Baillieston,

Bellshill and Saltcoats ..became the first British club

to win the European Cup. When it came to my TV habits,

I'd watch anything. But now I can sign in online

and get more of what I love. I'm kept up to date

with the shows I love