:00:07. > :00:17.This could be something quite sensational. Right out of the top
:00:18. > :00:26.drawer. It is outstanding. The shot is an absolute beauty. Oh, yes!
:00:27. > :00:41.What a finish. Right here, right now, this is history.
:00:42. > :00:47.Good evening and welcome to Sportscene. Mid-March and the
:00:48. > :00:51.Premiership title could potentially have been one this weekend, but as
:00:52. > :00:56.it happens it's delayed until after the international break and after a
:00:57. > :01:00.long, hard season, we are looking forward to a well-deserved weekend
:01:01. > :01:05.off, Thompson and Michael Stewart. Plenty of business to get through
:01:06. > :01:09.this weekend. Let's get straight to the lunchtime match, Dundee at home
:01:10. > :01:13.to Celtic. The champagne on ice for the champions, with points on top of
:01:14. > :01:20.both sides, Liam McLeod was there for us. -- on offer.
:01:21. > :01:31.Paul Hartley has restored Kevin Gomis to the side after a month.
:01:32. > :01:37.Dundee are looking to bounce back from successive defeats. Calum
:01:38. > :01:43.MacGregor starts and plays for Celtic's Burstein for the time. He
:01:44. > :01:47.takes near Bitton's place in the side as he did at half-time in the
:01:48. > :01:53.Derby last week. Sviatchenko is replaced as the champions look to go
:01:54. > :01:57.within touching distance of the title. Before kick-off there will be
:01:58. > :02:00.a minutes silence for the Celtic legend, Tommy Gemmill, who of course
:02:01. > :02:05.served Dundee with distinction as well as player and manager. -- as
:02:06. > :02:35.both player and manager. Plenty of height for Stuart
:02:36. > :02:42.Armstrong to aim at. Headed wide, Dembele. I am sure he is targeting
:02:43. > :02:44.the 40 goals that Leigh Griffiths got to last season. 32 at the
:02:45. > :02:55.moment. Celtic are 22 points clear of
:02:56. > :03:02.Aberdeen at the top of the top-flight. Lusted knocks it across.
:03:03. > :03:09.Dembele could not quite gather. Still therefore Celtic -- Lustig.
:03:10. > :03:13.This was the run from Callum MacGregor. He had a bit of the
:03:14. > :03:14.jersey there, and he's already been done for that this afternoon. A
:03:15. > :03:31.yellow card for it early on. In it comes. Holt. Armstrong. He
:03:32. > :03:40.gets it back in. Then it is headed over by Boyata. Scored a couple in
:03:41. > :03:41.single goal victories over St Johnstone and Aberdeen, Dedrick
:03:42. > :03:53.Boyata. Former Dundee United midfielder
:03:54. > :03:57.Stuart Armstrong getting some stick. He has been over just about every
:03:58. > :04:01.set piece for Celtic. That is a better one. How on earth did that
:04:02. > :04:06.stay out? Boyata must have thought he had given Celtic the lead here.
:04:07. > :04:09.Armstrong's best delivery of the day and that has been blocked on the
:04:10. > :04:24.line by McGowan. Armstrong again. James Forrest. That is a great
:04:25. > :04:35.challenge by Kerr. Forest gets the break of the ball. And it has gone
:04:36. > :04:40.in, it has crept in. Simunovic gives Celtic the lead right on half-time.
:04:41. > :04:50.As they did against Dundee in Glasgow just before Christmas.
:04:51. > :04:57.Simunovic's first goal of the season edges Celtic that bit closer to six
:04:58. > :05:01.in a row. The big Croatian defender hardly caught that. It is the touch
:05:02. > :05:09.of Kevin Gomis that has taken it away from the grasp of a pain. -- of
:05:10. > :05:18.pain. Dembele. MacGregor. He keeps it going. Armstrong, Dembele down
:05:19. > :05:24.the middle, and Armstrong. And that is terrific.
:05:25. > :05:31.Paul Hartley will lament the defending but Brendan Rodgers
:05:32. > :05:38.applauds as one of his men of the season gets on the scoresheet yet
:05:39. > :05:42.again. He will surely win his first Scotland cap in the upcoming
:05:43. > :05:47.double-header. James Forrest picked him out and they made its -- it look
:05:48. > :05:59.so, so easy. That is a rare loose ball by Tierney
:06:00. > :06:06.and Paul McGowan is in, and Marcus Haber. He has got to at least hit
:06:07. > :06:11.the target with that. Celtic have only conceded four goals at home
:06:12. > :06:13.this season, and Marcus Haber scored one of them. It looked all the way a
:06:14. > :06:28.route back in for Dundee. Armstrong. James Forrest, who set up Armstrong
:06:29. > :06:35.for the second goal for Celtic. Here is Tierney. A big chance for number
:06:36. > :06:39.three. Dundee just about defend it. It's been a little bit too easy from
:06:40. > :06:41.the Dundee point of view for Tierney to get on to that. It just bobbled
:06:42. > :06:49.ahead of him. McGowan has shown too much of it for
:06:50. > :06:54.Scott Sinclair, who thought about the early shop. We might be in any
:06:55. > :07:01.way. Sinclair, Dembele, but a brilliant challenge by Gomez --
:07:02. > :07:07.early shop. -- Gomis. Losing out to Sinclair with Dembele to his left.
:07:08. > :07:10.Dembele did not bargain on Gomez. It is a good bit of defending.
:07:11. > :07:28.Armstrong's latest corner. Lustig. Floated delivery, Scott Sinclair. He
:07:29. > :07:34.must have lost sight of where the goal was as Dembele hits the deck
:07:35. > :07:46.under the challenge of Ojamaa. No penalty. Scott Sinclair, and Dembele
:07:47. > :07:49.went down way too easily. If Dundee are to get anything out of this they
:07:50. > :07:57.are going to have to think about scoring pretty soon. What a touch
:07:58. > :08:08.that was by El Bakhtaoui week, and he has a go. What a goal. Dundee
:08:09. > :08:13.have a way back in. And it comes in spectacular fashion from Faizal El
:08:14. > :08:22.Bakhtaoui. That is an absolute rocket. And it has halved the
:08:23. > :08:27.deficit. He has smashed that past Craig Gordon. Inspired management by
:08:28. > :08:31.Paul Hartley. And Dundee, who were 2-0 down, have
:08:32. > :08:59.an opportunity to equalise. Away by Dembele, backing by Kerr.
:09:00. > :09:02.Well passed from Haber. Not a prolific goal-scorer, Haber, but
:09:03. > :09:05.he's done a good job in other ways this afternoon.
:09:06. > :09:11.At times today we played fantastic football. We just failed to make the
:09:12. > :09:15.final pass that would have made the game more comfortable, but like you
:09:16. > :09:20.say, we know if we have to defend a game like that when it's coming in
:09:21. > :09:24.early into the box, we can do that. And by the end we were very happy
:09:25. > :09:28.with the win. We changed the shape and we had a real go and scored an
:09:29. > :09:33.excellent goal through El Bakhtaoui E. Haber had a fantastic opportunity
:09:34. > :09:37.and we put balls in the box. Celtic had to change to a back three, but
:09:38. > :09:43.I'm pleased with the attitude of the players. No champagne today but yet
:09:44. > :09:46.another victory for Brendan Rodgers's side. Stephen, how'd you
:09:47. > :09:51.characterise that Celtic performance today? Not the best, and the second
:09:52. > :09:55.week running they were under par. Not vintage Celtic but they have
:09:56. > :09:59.shown the winning mentality -- winning mentality. They grind out
:10:00. > :10:04.results, and they did that today. It was the little level of intensity
:10:05. > :10:11.they have had this season, but it's to be expected. They have been at
:10:12. > :10:13.such a levels for so long. For Scotland next weekend against
:10:14. > :10:19.Slovenia, how many Celtic players should be in the starting XI? You
:10:20. > :10:23.have five in the starting XI for Celtic who are in the squad. James
:10:24. > :10:30.Forrest has been wonderful form all season long. He set up both goals.
:10:31. > :10:35.Here is one from earlier on today, and I think I would be surprised if
:10:36. > :10:38.he was not in the starting XI. Craig Gordon has gone from strength to
:10:39. > :10:44.strength since getting back on the side and signing a new contract.
:10:45. > :10:48.Unbelievable, wasn't it? Scott Brown is backing the team and is a certain
:10:49. > :10:56.starter. That is a wonderful pass -- back in team. Very strong at
:10:57. > :11:00.left-back as well. Here are the two of them combining well. You have to
:11:01. > :11:04.remember that Leigh Griffiths is sitting on the bench for Celtic. He
:11:05. > :11:08.started at Wembley in the last Scotland game. Stuart Armstrong is
:11:09. > :11:14.the real gem at the moment. A wonderful run and a great header. He
:11:15. > :11:17.is the one, breaking into the Scotland squad, the big question
:11:18. > :11:21.will be whether he starts the game. I would be amazed if he's not
:11:22. > :11:25.starting because he's in the form of his career and is playing
:11:26. > :11:30.wonderfully well and scoring goals. Are you impressed by that header? I
:11:31. > :11:35.thought the cross was superb from James Forrest, drilled it across.
:11:36. > :11:41.You look at the five plays in the starting XI for Celtic they could
:11:42. > :11:43.easily be in the starting XI for Scotland and Leigh Griffiths, you
:11:44. > :11:48.could be looking at six Celtic players. Paul Hartley thought Dundee
:11:49. > :11:51.were excellent in the second half and it was an excellent strike from
:11:52. > :11:56.Faizal El Bakhtaoui E. An unbelievable strike and it was slack
:11:57. > :12:02.from Celtic not dealing with the quick free kick, but El Bakhtaoui
:12:03. > :12:08.drives at the heart of the defence that is a non-believable hit. That a
:12:09. > :12:11.fantastic hit. He has struggled for me to make the step up to the
:12:12. > :12:16.standard of the Premiership. He scored 30 goals last season. But
:12:17. > :12:18.that was only his third in the Premiership. We know he has the
:12:19. > :12:23.undoubted quality but he's not bringing it on a weekly basis but
:12:24. > :12:27.that was an unbelievable strike. Dundee had done well to rally
:12:28. > :12:30.towards the end but they could not get the result. Just needs to apply
:12:31. > :12:33.a bit more consistency to his game will
:12:34. > :12:39.you could apply that to Dundee as a whole. They've been very
:12:40. > :12:42.inconsistent. He clearly has goal-scoring ability but he's not
:12:43. > :12:48.able to maintain it this year. OK. The forlorn chase of Celtic for
:12:49. > :12:52.Aberdeen in second place and we've known it for some time, but Derek
:12:53. > :12:54.McInnes's side aiming to clinch the runners-up spot ahead of Rangers.
:12:55. > :13:01.Hearts were the visitors this weekend. Andrew Consett iron is free
:13:02. > :13:06.from suspension and returns to the fold at the expense of Jayden
:13:07. > :13:12.Stockley -- Consett iron. They are aiming to win nine home games on the
:13:13. > :13:15.trot. Ian Castro was that impressed last week that he has named the same
:13:16. > :13:20.11 as last week and Aaron Hughes is fit again and sit -- sits amongst
:13:21. > :13:24.the substitutes as hearts look for a first win of the season over
:13:25. > :13:27.Aberdeen. It was a goalless draw between these two in August.
:13:28. > :13:33.Aberdeen with the better of it. Hearts may be at the best chance, as
:13:34. > :13:40.Nicholson goals -- goes for gold. That was a decent opportunity carved
:13:41. > :13:47.out by Sam Nicholson. Taylor waiting for the corner. A bit of grappling
:13:48. > :13:55.and there was a shout for handball by a couple of the Hearts players.
:13:56. > :14:01.It might have been the midfielder it came off.
:14:02. > :14:07.Hearts looking to build on the wonderful win over Hamilton last
:14:08. > :14:14.week. Brilliant challenge by Logan. And Nicholson. That is the best
:14:15. > :14:20.chance of the game so far. Tony Watt, who was on loan at Hearts,
:14:21. > :14:28.when he missed his best opportunity at the tawdry. Considine for McGinn.
:14:29. > :14:43.A good ball, and Logan is there. He once again has the important
:14:44. > :14:47.delivery and Logan stole in from right back. He has enjoyed that one.
:14:48. > :15:02.Aberdeen in front. Aberdeen won nine matches in a row,
:15:03. > :15:10.and it was Hearts that stopped their run. He is offside, he is not in
:15:11. > :15:12.agreement with the decision. Pretty much on line with Logan to be fair
:15:13. > :15:27.to him. Brilliantly touched and Rooney is
:15:28. > :15:39.there but he is offside. Celebrations cut short. Graeme
:15:40. > :15:49.Shinnie, that was outstanding. His head and shoulders were in line.
:15:50. > :15:53.Hayes. Both he and Graeme Shinnie will feel very aggrieved they are
:15:54. > :15:56.not in the Scotland squad for the upcoming double-header. McLean has
:15:57. > :16:14.been superb in recent times. McClean went after it. It's number
:16:15. > :16:22.two. Nine in a row. He's on his way for Aberdeen. Oh dear. That is a
:16:23. > :16:29.horror show. Jonny Hayes gobbles up the chance to double their lead and
:16:30. > :16:36.it is the least they deserve. They are cruising.
:16:37. > :16:47.Look at that. You know someone is playing with confidence when you hit
:16:48. > :17:03.that from 30 yards. So unlucky, tipped over by Hamilton. Xinyi works
:17:04. > :17:10.it to Hayes. -- Shinnie. Hamilton beats its way. McGinn's effort
:17:11. > :17:22.blocked. Jonny Hayes is very difficult to keep a lid on. Sell
:17:23. > :17:27.theirs is in here. There was no flag. Just what the Aberdeen defence
:17:28. > :17:35.is looking for. Joe Lewis played to the whistle. It comes off the
:17:36. > :17:43.Aberdeen defender. Aberdeen picked up their 100th victory over Hearts
:17:44. > :17:53.just before Hogmanay. Victory number 101 is just about coming. Niall
:17:54. > :18:04.thinks he should have made it 3-1. He was offered a contract by Hearts
:18:05. > :18:13.in January. That should be easy. Jayden Stockley has become embroiled
:18:14. > :18:20.and Stockley is off. It was a flailing arm. Steven McLean, the
:18:21. > :18:23.referee will now sort things out. I think it's great as a manager when
:18:24. > :18:30.you see a team so relentless with their work. Their honesty. I thought
:18:31. > :18:35.we spoke before the game about players being aggressive. Pressing
:18:36. > :18:41.the life out of the opposition. I thought we did that.
:18:42. > :18:47.Much has been made from Craig Levein being in the dressing room in the.
:18:48. > :18:53.How much influence does he have in the 90 minutes? I work in a certain
:18:54. > :18:58.way, with collective staff, always been involved with technical staff.
:18:59. > :19:07.People connected to us throughout the game. Everything you see or
:19:08. > :19:12.focus on or want to try to create,. He is not providing coaching advice?
:19:13. > :19:18.That's my job. Yet another great home victory for Aberdeen. Is it
:19:19. > :19:22.that big a deal, Hearts director of football communicating with his head
:19:23. > :19:28.coach Ian Cathro during the match? No. I think that's fair enough. They
:19:29. > :19:34.are wise to utilise that vantage point from the stand. I don't have a
:19:35. > :19:37.problem with that. In the 21st century I think they could get
:19:38. > :19:41.something a bit better connected by running up and down the stands! I
:19:42. > :19:46.think it's the changing room think that is the real issue. As a player,
:19:47. > :19:52.you are sitting in the changing room and we are led to believe that they
:19:53. > :19:56.have a bit of a gathering, ideas are spoken about. Craig Levein is not
:19:57. > :19:59.speaking directly to the players but if you sit there for a couple of
:20:00. > :20:02.minutes and wonder where the head coaches, then he eventually comes
:20:03. > :20:06.through and you have another senior figure just standing net and not
:20:07. > :20:11.saying anything, just the fact he's there, adds to the confusion. I've
:20:12. > :20:16.never experienced anything like that. In the changing room it is
:20:17. > :20:21.normally one voice, one leader. You do get a better view from the stands
:20:22. > :20:24.sometimes. They are obviously comfortable with it but it's not
:20:25. > :20:28.been communicated well exactly what the role of Craig Levein is. I don't
:20:29. > :20:36.think Cathro explains it well either. They need some clarity. It's
:20:37. > :20:39.understandable the supporters, media, people, the director of
:20:40. > :20:42.football role is not normal in Scottish football so what is the
:20:43. > :20:46.defining difference between what he's doing and what Cathro is doing?
:20:47. > :20:53.It needs to be explained, more transparency. Another senior figure
:20:54. > :20:57.in the change in creating confusion because as a player, you wonder who
:20:58. > :21:03.is making decisions. Who is giving us the direction? His mere presence
:21:04. > :21:08.is confusing. Confusion on the bench as well. When results are not
:21:09. > :21:14.happening, you will get more scrutiny. At this point, there is a
:21:15. > :21:20.line and as a full-back, you never want to cross that and get dragged
:21:21. > :21:25.over. Look at his body position. He is closed off, he never looks. This
:21:26. > :21:35.is the first occasion he knows that Logan is behind him. The cross comes
:21:36. > :21:40.in. This happened all day long. You know Aberdeen, their strengths,
:21:41. > :21:44.really using the wide areas and they didn't put enough pressure on the
:21:45. > :21:53.Aberdeen wide men to stop crosses coming into the box.
:21:54. > :22:09.He's got his back to him there. This continued right through the game.
:22:10. > :22:14.You have to get touched tight. Right through the first half, it was clear
:22:15. > :22:17.Hearts were getting forced onto the back foot. Aberdeen played
:22:18. > :22:25.brilliantly. To be expected. They pressed them all over the park.
:22:26. > :22:39.Hearts were on the back foot. They do it every week. Isolated upfront,
:22:40. > :22:45.Steven? You can see the midfielder miles away from Hillier. -- away
:22:46. > :23:03.from him here. Either it's a bit naive for them to
:23:04. > :23:08.go chasing blindly. Aberdeen forced Hearts back the whole game and you
:23:09. > :23:11.have to squeeze it out. We discussed Hearts in depth. This was a
:23:12. > :23:17.fantastic victory for Aberdeen. Phenomenal home record. They are
:23:18. > :23:25.playing with such confidence and what an achievement to equal Sir
:23:26. > :23:32.Alex's record. He described it as relentless. You were there, does
:23:33. > :23:38.that sum it up? Definitely. It epitomises Aberdeen under Derek
:23:39. > :23:42.McInnes. They thoroughly deserved their victory. The more you talk
:23:43. > :23:46.about two clubs challenging at the top of the table and Aberdeen are up
:23:47. > :23:54.there, Hearts 1 million miles away at the moment. They've got a great
:23:55. > :24:00.opportunity, Inverness at home next. A great chance to do it. Next,
:24:01. > :24:05.Ibrox, Rangers keep the pressure on Aberdeen. Pedro Caixinha took the
:24:06. > :24:10.reins for the first time and greeted the fans. Commentary comes from Rory
:24:11. > :24:20.Hamilton. COMMENTATOR: Pedro Caixinha's first
:24:21. > :24:28.selection as manager sees just one change. Jon Toral comes on. Four
:24:29. > :24:48.goal loss at Tynecastle. The early ball forward finding
:24:49. > :24:54.McKay. Danger for Hamilton. McKay for Holt. The shot is just too high
:24:55. > :25:05.from Jason Holt. McKay kept his cool to pick out the past. Holt lacked
:25:06. > :25:12.composure. Lovely turn from Martyn Waghorn. He goes for gold. -- goal.
:25:13. > :25:17.A good record in this victory, scored in all three games this
:25:18. > :25:27.season against Hamilton Academical. A turn to get away from the party,
:25:28. > :25:35.very impressive. -- get away from Donati. Tavernier. He returns to
:25:36. > :25:45.write back. Freedom to move forward. This is nice from Rangers. The first
:25:46. > :25:53.goal of the Caixinha era at Ibrox is scored by Emerson Hyndman. A
:25:54. > :25:58.fantastic flowing move. Tavernier picked out the American and he
:25:59. > :26:01.scored for the fourth time since joining on loan from Bournemouth. 26
:26:02. > :26:20.minutes in, Rangers lead 1-0. Hamilton have had precious few
:26:21. > :26:25.chances. McMann. Crawford, the only man in the middle. Gillespie
:26:26. > :26:32.arriving now and Crom but... You went for the spectacular. Easy
:26:33. > :26:39.enough for Wes Foderingham. Crawford did score here on the very opening
:26:40. > :26:46.day of the season. Wilson for Tavernier. Hooks up the line where
:26:47. > :26:52.it McKay has switched flanks. Taken out of the play by Alexander Gudok
:26:53. > :26:59.pitch. Rangers will have a free kick in a dangerous position. Jon Toral
:27:00. > :27:04.assessing his options. He will swing this in with a left foot and it's a
:27:05. > :27:14.good one. Rangers have their second goal. After 41 minutes. The
:27:15. > :27:21.38-year-old has shown his instincts again to score for the third game
:27:22. > :27:28.running. Kenny Miller couldn't get enough on it and Hill couldn't miss.
:27:29. > :27:35.Tavernier likely to be the favourite. He struck it well. Just
:27:36. > :27:48.couldn't get it to come down and nestle in that top corner. They get
:27:49. > :27:55.it away but only as far as Waghorn who goes down under the challenge of
:27:56. > :28:00.Donati and Robinson points to the spot. No doubt in the referee's
:28:01. > :28:08.mind. Rangers have a penalty kick. No complaints from Donati either.
:28:09. > :28:13.Woods faces Waghorn and Waghorn goes down the middle of the goal and
:28:14. > :28:22.Rangers have their third. The results has rarely been in doubt.
:28:23. > :28:33.His 15th goal of the season, five of which have come against Hamilton.
:28:34. > :28:40.Wallace. Up the line for Barrie McKay. Far too much pace for
:28:41. > :28:46.Sarries. McKay is in. Holt was arriving. The first touch seemed to
:28:47. > :28:51.come off Darian MacKinnon. A little too close for comfort in knocking
:28:52. > :28:58.that past his own goalkeeper. Toral, confidence flowing amongst the
:28:59. > :29:04.Rangers players. Lee Wallace. Miller. For the return to his
:29:05. > :29:08.captain. It comes back to Kenny Miller. Waghorn and into Lee
:29:09. > :29:15.Wallace. That's will round it off very nicely. For Rangers. The
:29:16. > :29:22.captain gets in on the action. 15 minutes left to play. The Caixinha
:29:23. > :29:28.regime at Ibrox gets off to the perfect start.
:29:29. > :29:40.All eyes on Pedro Caixinha, a dapper gentleman, like yourself. How do you
:29:41. > :29:43.assess his first match in charge? Impressive. We managed to pick out a
:29:44. > :29:47.few things that were not that worthy. Rangers were often
:29:48. > :29:50.criticised for being laboured and predictable in the build-up under
:29:51. > :29:56.Mark Warburton, but here they are direct, a long ball, a flick on, and
:29:57. > :30:01.every time Rangers got the ball it seemed like their first thought was,
:30:02. > :30:07.how can we attack? Kenny Miller was superb. Again, Rangers, how quickly
:30:08. > :30:11.can we get forward, and when this comes into the box, you see five
:30:12. > :30:20.men, and that was the theme for Rangers. It was very impressive.
:30:21. > :30:25.Look at that attack. For Rangers fans at Ibrox, they were so
:30:26. > :30:30.accustomed to see teams parking the box, but this is how you get around
:30:31. > :30:37.that -- parking the bus. Watch Lee Wallace. Wants to catch it and
:30:38. > :30:42.attack it. One end of the pitch to the other here and basically five or
:30:43. > :30:44.six seconds, and it's fantastic. I think the Rangers fans will be
:30:45. > :30:50.entertained by this more dynamic style. You see the first one, the
:30:51. > :30:54.long ball over the top two Waghorn. That is not a punt up the park, it
:30:55. > :30:59.is a great pass. It is entertaining to watch because as a fan you want
:31:00. > :31:03.to see shots on goal and goals scored, and it was certainly a stark
:31:04. > :31:08.contrast to what it had been like for a lot of the season, in
:31:09. > :31:12.particular at Ibrox. Possession for possession's sake. And with the
:31:13. > :31:17.workrate, big changes from what we saw under Warburton? We highlighted
:31:18. > :31:22.the workrate last week and it was excellent but it struck me that
:31:23. > :31:26.Hamilton could not string for five passes together and everything was
:31:27. > :31:29.taken away. Rangers were hunting in packs to win it back and the
:31:30. > :31:33.turnover was incredible, the amount of times they won the ball back and
:31:34. > :31:39.they were superb. When they won it back, the first instinct was, can we
:31:40. > :31:43.attack again? I think that has probably been the one thing for me
:31:44. > :31:49.that Caixinha has brought in this week. The constant desire to attack.
:31:50. > :31:52.Here is an example. When the ball back, what can we do with it? This
:31:53. > :31:56.is another shot from Kenny Miller and he should have done better. I
:31:57. > :32:04.think Rangers fans will be entertained. It's incredible in the
:32:05. > :32:08.time he has been in. Five days. A huge difference in a short period of
:32:09. > :32:13.time, given that Hamilton have shipped a lot of goals of late, 14
:32:14. > :32:18.in the last three games. They've only scored one in five games. From
:32:19. > :32:25.the Rangers perspective, a lot of positives. I felt we learned quite a
:32:26. > :32:28.lot from that analysis. But you feel that from the semifinal in the
:32:29. > :32:33.Scottish Cup against Celtic is where they will learn most. That is where
:32:34. > :32:36.they will be judged. It is a massive game and then in summer he can check
:32:37. > :32:42.out how good the recruitment is but that will be a game where he is
:32:43. > :32:47.judged. Looking gloomy for Hamilton. Bottom of the table. Is that where
:32:48. > :32:50.they will stay? There are not too many positives or lights at the end
:32:51. > :32:56.of the tunnel to suggest they will drag themselves out of it. 14 goals
:32:57. > :32:58.in the last three games, conceding far too many and not scoring enough.
:32:59. > :33:05.Not a great combination. Motherwell are in trouble as well.
:33:06. > :33:09.Steve Robinson was made permanent manager in the week and he took on a
:33:10. > :33:13.St Johnstone side pushing for a top four place.
:33:14. > :33:19.Having been appointed permanent Motherwell manager in the week,
:33:20. > :33:22.Steve Robinson is forced into a defensive reshuffle. He welcomes
:33:23. > :33:26.back Louis Moult following a ban. Tommy Wright lost the services of
:33:27. > :33:30.Keith Watson to a knee injury in training but sees no need to make
:33:31. > :33:36.any changes following the 2-0 victory over Dundee last time out.
:33:37. > :33:43.Jewels wins the header. Craig gets Cummins on his way. It is Graham
:33:44. > :33:47.Cummins. That is a good ball in. Craig had continued his run and he
:33:48. > :33:53.finds the back of the net with the header, eight minutes played an St
:33:54. > :33:58.Johnstone lead at Fir Park. It was Liam Craig who started the move,
:33:59. > :34:08.Graham Cummins had time and space to measure the cross and Craig tucks in
:34:09. > :34:11.his fourth of the season. Freer, and he's got plenty of pace down the
:34:12. > :34:19.left-hand side. A good ball as well. McDonald goes down, claims he was
:34:20. > :34:25.held by Brian Easton. No penalty. Cummins. Looking to go round the
:34:26. > :34:30.outside of Jules, and he got the shot in. Samsung tips it over, and
:34:31. > :34:37.he was fantastic last week. -- Samson.
:34:38. > :34:53.Can't beat the first man, Cavan. Comes back to Frear, having to work
:34:54. > :34:56.for his space. Into McDonald, and Cadden on the half volley could only
:34:57. > :35:04.fire over the top as Motherwell threatened to equalise. Headed away.
:35:05. > :35:10.Hamill returns it with interest. It might drop for Cadden. It was the
:35:11. > :35:16.challenge from Payton. Louis Moult continues the attack, but they are
:35:17. > :35:23.able to clear. It was Cadden who went down under the challenge from
:35:24. > :35:27.Payton. Greg Aitken said no. McHugh. Moult, to McDonald. Lovely
:35:28. > :35:34.interchange. It comes back to Scott McDonald and what an incredible miss
:35:35. > :35:39.by the Australian. Well, he did the hard bit and the linkup with Moult
:35:40. > :35:42.was almost perfect, and when it dropped for McDonald the footwork
:35:43. > :35:50.was good but he could not apply the finish. Malta. He has done well here
:35:51. > :35:56.-- Moult. Scobey. Clay. Might drop for McDonald, and persistence pays
:35:57. > :36:02.off for Motherwell. They have got the equaliser just a minute before
:36:03. > :36:12.the break. Scott McDonald makes no mistake this time. And he has Number
:36:13. > :36:17.ten for the season, and it is all squared up at 1-1.
:36:18. > :36:28.Frear. There is Jules. McManus called into action after coming on
:36:29. > :36:34.at half-time. Jules. Tossing it back into the middle, and Louis Moult
:36:35. > :36:37.can't get the header on target. Jules must have thought that he had
:36:38. > :36:42.put Motherwell in front here. Great save. Incredible to think that
:36:43. > :36:49.Motherwell have not won at home since mid-November. There is Louis
:36:50. > :36:52.Moult, looking to change that. Their top scorer was not far away. St
:36:53. > :37:01.Johnstone will not want to give him that much space again. Foster. Up to
:37:02. > :37:08.Maclean. Swanson. Maclean is hovering on the right touchline.
:37:09. > :37:15.Clearing header but only to Liam Craig. What a hit that is Liam
:37:16. > :37:21.Craig. He has his second of the game, midway through the second
:37:22. > :37:27.half. St Johnstone restored their lead -- restore their lead.
:37:28. > :37:37.Ferguson's header did not do enough to clear the danger and Liam Craig
:37:38. > :37:46.has made him pay. Swanson. Cummins. Another great ball in for Liam Craig
:37:47. > :37:54.but he could not guide it into the net. Some hat-trick that would have
:37:55. > :37:59.been. Took it down nicely, and Motherwell having to come from
:38:00. > :38:06.behind again. That is for Louis Moult. That is the man, Stephen
:38:07. > :38:12.Robinson would have wanted it to fall to him. Uncharacteristically,
:38:13. > :38:19.he could not hit the target. McDonald gets it back. Looking to
:38:20. > :38:24.supply for Bowman. It comes off the inside of the post, and somehow it
:38:25. > :38:30.stays out. Motherwell cannot believe this.
:38:31. > :38:36.When you come away from home and get three points, and it's a massive
:38:37. > :38:40.three points as it almost takes us in the top six, the performance
:38:41. > :38:45.probably at times could have been better. We had seven clear-cut
:38:46. > :38:51.chances and one penalty, it's incredible how we didn't get it, and
:38:52. > :38:55.that wasn't given. There was another debatable one but it just didn't go
:38:56. > :39:01.for us. We hit the post in the last minute and Louis Moult has a chance.
:39:02. > :39:05.Six or seven clear-cut chances. They get to when they put them in the box
:39:06. > :39:09.and scored. Be done clay crosses into the box, is what happens. St
:39:10. > :39:14.Johnstone up to fourth in the table -- if you don't clear crosses.
:39:15. > :39:17.Motherwell had their chances and penalty claims as well. Should
:39:18. > :39:22.either have been given? Should both of them being given?
:39:23. > :39:29.This one I'm not convinced about. I've seen them given but I don't
:39:30. > :39:35.think there's enough. He is already falling down. Where is this one, the
:39:36. > :39:41.second one, no doubt at all that Cadden is taken out. As it drops
:39:42. > :39:46.down, he gets his foot in the first and Payton clears him out. He's in a
:39:47. > :39:52.really strong position. It is a definite penalty. He gets cleaned
:39:53. > :39:55.out. That is a penalty as far as I'm concerned. Every right to be
:39:56. > :39:58.aggrieved but they did create a lot of opportunities and probably should
:39:59. > :40:02.have taken something. Yet they are in the mix at the bottom of the
:40:03. > :40:08.table. Three points off the bottom of the table and they need to try
:40:09. > :40:11.and stabilise quickly. Ibrox next week. They are just conceding far
:40:12. > :40:15.too many goals and if you concede too many, you don't give yourself an
:40:16. > :40:18.opportunity to stay in the game. They conceded more than any other
:40:19. > :40:25.team this season. What about the tactic of that kick out? It is
:40:26. > :40:30.random. They are trying to stop the keeper kicking early and accurately.
:40:31. > :40:34.But it was largely ineffectual. I don't think it works particularly
:40:35. > :40:39.well. Is it worthwhile at all? I've seen it done before but he's not
:40:40. > :40:45.even putting the goalkeeper under pressure. Mannus is just kicking up
:40:46. > :40:50.the park. We talked about conceding too many goals. I'm not saying you
:40:51. > :40:55.can't concentrate on more than one aspect of the game, but from their
:40:56. > :41:00.perspective, they are ineffectual, those things. You need to be getting
:41:01. > :41:05.the defence sorted out, stop conceding goals. Too many crosses
:41:06. > :41:08.into the box coming in easily and you will never get a chance to get
:41:09. > :41:15.points and draws and wins if you Chuck goals in the back. Fantastic
:41:16. > :41:22.victory for St Johnstone. Could be a European spot. You have three out of
:41:23. > :41:26.the four semifinalists have an opportunity to win, and then fourth
:41:27. > :41:29.place will be in Europe. You cannot give St Johnstone enough plaudits.
:41:30. > :41:35.Year after year they continue to get in and around the European spots and
:41:36. > :41:39.they are in fourth and looking comfortable, second-best away record
:41:40. > :41:43.which normally you would expect at home, but away from home has been
:41:44. > :41:46.the bedrock of success. Only Celtic have the better away record. Cannot
:41:47. > :41:50.give them enough plaudits. Fantastic from St Johnstone.
:41:51. > :41:55.Two more sides glancing at the trapdoor, with Inverness Caley
:41:56. > :41:57.Thistle starting the weekend bottom of the table and Ross County just
:41:58. > :42:07.four points ahead. Two changes from the side that drew
:42:08. > :42:11.at Partick. Ross Draper comes back in from suspension and Brad Mackay
:42:12. > :42:14.and Polworth give way. Two changes for the visitors after the loss
:42:15. > :42:19.against Kilmarnock. Paul Quinn is injured and there is no Mark Wood
:42:20. > :42:21.'s. Andrew Davis and Christopher routers are recalled.
:42:22. > :42:40.Might break for Vigurs at the edge of the area. That is a terrific
:42:41. > :42:42.effort from Iain Vigurs. Scored his first senior goal for Ross County in
:42:43. > :42:51.the Premiership against Inverness Caley Thistle and tried to get it on
:42:52. > :42:57.target there the home side. Voices the runner. Naismith. Great little
:42:58. > :43:03.ball across. And Alex Schalk is an inch away from the opening goal.
:43:04. > :43:12.Lovely interchange with boys. It fizzed across that he could not find
:43:13. > :43:18.the touch. Deep towards Davies, and he brings it down. Alex Schalk
:43:19. > :43:22.tumbled in the box and Raven was behind him. He thinks he was fouled.
:43:23. > :43:25.He yells at the referee and Davies won the header. Raven certainly made
:43:26. > :43:42.contact with the player in the area. Played across. That is pure. Tansey
:43:43. > :43:48.is calling for it and he gets it from Polworth. And he gets the
:43:49. > :43:53.opening goal. The deflection was key, but Inverness Caley Thistle
:43:54. > :43:58.don't care. Greg Tansey scores for the third time against Ross County.
:43:59. > :44:02.Having enjoyed a difficult first 15 minutes of the first half, within
:44:03. > :44:05.three minutes of the restart, Inverness Caley Thistle Lara head.
:44:06. > :44:10.The goalkeeper with no chance. Davies with a deflection -- are
:44:11. > :44:17.ahead. He should have put that in the stand, but he didn't. The leader
:44:18. > :44:23.was perfect, and Tansey accepts. Polworth tries to work the 1-2.
:44:24. > :44:32.Draper. Tremarco stealing in at the back post. Mackay can't get back in
:44:33. > :44:36.time. Gardyne will slide in. Tremarco with a fine goal-scoring
:44:37. > :44:42.season, seven already, he could not put it on target. That was inviting.
:44:43. > :44:47.The last six games between these sides have found a winner. Ross
:44:48. > :44:52.County have one to this season. Caley Thistle leading and looking to
:44:53. > :44:55.add to it. Mackay tries to pick out Tansey in the middle. Naismith
:44:56. > :45:01.chases after it. That will be a free kick. And the yellow card to.
:45:02. > :45:05.Tremarco bearing the brunt of the challenge from Jason Naismith.
:45:06. > :45:12.Having a fine game, but that was reckless. Tansey more than capable
:45:13. > :45:13.from here. And the goalkeeper knew it. The Irishman popping it over the
:45:14. > :45:26.top. Tested the keeper. Frazar. On two boys. Naismith --
:45:27. > :45:28.onto Boyce. Great ball, and Craig Cummings is marked. He should have
:45:29. > :45:39.scored. It's the chance he has been waiting
:45:40. > :45:48.for. The former Tranmere and Carlisle man. He seemed to be in two
:45:49. > :45:54.minds about what he should do. They have only kept one clean sheet at
:45:55. > :46:05.home this season. They are driving and looking for another. It came
:46:06. > :46:16.back to Tremarco. Tremarco. He holds off his man. Hits the bar. Billy
:46:17. > :46:24.McKay does as all good strikers do, tried to anticipate to get in there
:46:25. > :46:32.and he's a lucky. Naismith. Boyce. Into the middle it goes. Jim
:46:33. > :46:41.O'Brien. Williams taking no chances. It was rising. O'Brien, one goal in
:46:42. > :46:47.nine appearances for Ross County. Accepted the gift from Draper and
:46:48. > :46:55.forced the keeper into the stop. It will come in. A nice touch. The shot
:46:56. > :47:00.has broken away from Warren. Second touch, Jason, and the equaliser from
:47:01. > :47:09.Alex Schalk. Four minutes to play and Ross County level. The
:47:10. > :47:14.substitute, a brilliant header, took at two defenders and Alex Schalk was
:47:15. > :47:18.calm and controlled, aiming for the top corner. Ross County are level.
:47:19. > :47:20.Four minutes to play in the Highland derby and what a crucial goal that
:47:21. > :47:29.could prove to be. It feels like a bit of a defeat but
:47:30. > :47:34.we are a point better off than before the game. Proud of the lads.
:47:35. > :47:37.We looked solid. We dealt with a lot of crosses into the box.
:47:38. > :47:43.Disappointed with the goal we conceded but all in all I thought
:47:44. > :47:53.the boys did well. Every team, is in a relegation battle.
:47:54. > :48:02.Sometimes the look on players face can say so much. We see the close-up
:48:03. > :48:09.on David Raven's face, it tells a story. First, I think it is a clear
:48:10. > :48:13.penalty. I don't know whether the referee was an cited but you can see
:48:14. > :48:18.the slow motion, Alex Schalk touches the ball and Raven comes in and
:48:19. > :48:25.breaks the back of his calf. It's this one. He's looking for the
:48:26. > :48:32.referee, saying, you didn't see that, did you? Thankfully for him,
:48:33. > :48:36.the referee didn't. Should the referee Hasina? Absolutely, for me
:48:37. > :48:40.it was fairly clear. The goal of Alex Schalk, into the realms of
:48:41. > :48:51.anatomy, a hint of handball? It was a hint. All those Inverness players,
:48:52. > :48:56.none of them claim for it. It is just his shoulder, I think he gets
:48:57. > :49:04.enough of his chest, shoulder area. I think it's OK. You don't see any
:49:05. > :49:08.of the Inverness players around him complain and also Richie Foran,
:49:09. > :49:14.there were no complaints. A fair enough goal. No complaints from you
:49:15. > :49:23.if you were doing that as a striker? Absolutely. It is a bit of a season
:49:24. > :49:27.of thanks for both of the Highland clubs. We have spoken at length
:49:28. > :49:33.about the fact Ross County should be doing a lot more with the quality
:49:34. > :49:36.they've got. Inverness, Richie Foran's first foray into management
:49:37. > :49:41.and it has been a bit of a struggle. But they seem to have a bit more
:49:42. > :49:44.grit about them, a bit more like his character as a player. I think they
:49:45. > :49:49.will have enough to see themselves out of this. A psychological boost
:49:50. > :49:56.also, seeing lots of off the bottom of the table. It's a better for Ross
:49:57. > :50:00.County. Inverness need to start turning those draws into wins.
:50:01. > :50:04.Especially home games. Only six points between the bottom five side
:50:05. > :50:08.so it will go right to the end and fascinating to watch. To the battle
:50:09. > :50:16.for top six safety now. Partick Thistle began in possession of that
:50:17. > :50:23.coveted spot. Kilmarnock hoping to replace them in the top half. Before
:50:24. > :50:24.the match at Rugby Park, a minute's silence, for Joanne Johnson, the
:50:25. > :50:40.wife of former chair Mr Johnson. WHISTLE
:50:41. > :50:46.APPLAUSE COMMENTATOR: Kilmarnock have
:50:47. > :50:54.experienced campaigners back after suspension. Robert Wilson dropped
:50:55. > :50:59.the bench. Partick Thistle make one change to their line-up with
:51:00. > :51:04.Christie Elliot, normally seen as a right-winger, taking the place of
:51:05. > :51:08.Callum Booth at left-back. Six of the last nine meetings between these
:51:09. > :51:18.sides have been draws. We expect another close encounter. An early
:51:19. > :51:21.opportunity for the on loan Newcastle United midfielder, he's
:51:22. > :51:26.been impressive in writing times Brash recent times for Kelly. Two
:51:27. > :51:38.victories and two feats for Lee McCulloch. It is Boyd. Brilliant
:51:39. > :51:46.save to deny Scott Boyd the opener for Kilmarnock. Terrific
:51:47. > :51:56.goalkeeping. Taylor. Boyd and Sammon. It's Christie Elliot who
:51:57. > :52:01.gets the final touch to deny Conor Sammon, giving Killie the lead.
:52:02. > :52:16.Kilmarnock have started very positively. Jones. Looking towards
:52:17. > :52:22.Mackenzie. Still Jordan Jones. He didn't quite get enough power on
:52:23. > :52:32.that effort. A yard of space away from Christie Elliot.
:52:33. > :52:43.Chris Erskine. Did well to create the opening for the shot. So close
:52:44. > :52:52.from Chris Erskine. He's already got eight goals so far this season.
:52:53. > :52:57.Tansey looking towards Gulen. Breaking away of Lawless. Kilmarnock
:52:58. > :53:03.relieved to see that will come back off the crossbar. Still clear. It is
:53:04. > :53:04.now. Scott Boyd's clearance straight to lawless who took the opportunity
:53:05. > :53:21.well. Doolan. Ryan Edwards. Australian midfielder.
:53:22. > :53:31.Missing the target as he's tried to steady himself.
:53:32. > :53:41.Adam Barton. That looked as though it would be a scorer all the way for
:53:42. > :53:46.the Partick Thistle midfielder, no wonder he's shaking his head. He
:53:47. > :53:56.thought he had got his third goal for the Firhill club.
:53:57. > :54:07.Chris Erskine. Partick Thistle in front. Chris Erskine claims his
:54:08. > :54:13.ninth goal of the season. He got the break of the ball back off Taylor. A
:54:14. > :54:20.fine strike to dispatch it beyond the woodman. Kilmarnock desperate to
:54:21. > :54:31.get themselves back on level terms. Conor Sammon. Striking it. And
:54:32. > :54:37.that's on its journey. Conor Sammon doesn't care. He fires that one in.
:54:38. > :54:45.Straight through the goalkeeper's hounds. Kilmarnock are back on level
:54:46. > :54:52.terms. That is Sammon's third goal since moving from Hearts. Killie
:54:53. > :55:00.pushing for a winner. They are up in towards Boyd. Sammon. It breaks to
:55:01. > :55:01.Boyd. Not quite sure what the infringement was. Didn't seem too
:55:02. > :55:12.much there. Overall I will take the point.
:55:13. > :55:17.Partick Thistle in the second half, probably they were the better team
:55:18. > :55:21.today. We had a good victory last week. Got a point today so four
:55:22. > :55:26.points out of six. I'm always looking at the positives. Kilmarnock
:55:27. > :55:30.were better in the first off, very direct and played the Pitreavie
:55:31. > :55:33.well. We didn't we caused a lot of problems on set plays and I think
:55:34. > :55:42.the referee could have helped us out. They were blocking. The
:55:43. > :55:48.officials didn't help us out. The second half was much better. He
:55:49. > :55:54.praised the performance last week. Can't be perfect all the time. In
:55:55. > :55:58.terms of what Alan Archibald was talking about, blocking at set
:55:59. > :56:03.pieces, how big an issue was that? It's a big issue when you see the
:56:04. > :56:07.highlights of how much space Kris Boyd gets. Partick defenders need to
:56:08. > :56:15.do better. They allow themselves to get detach from Kris Boyd far too
:56:16. > :56:19.easily. Alan Archibald said it was good movement to be fair to him.
:56:20. > :56:23.Partick have to deal with it better. This shows you that Lee McCulloch
:56:24. > :56:27.has clearly been working on a few different aspects of set plays. When
:56:28. > :56:30.you are playing in these games that are really tight, sometimes set
:56:31. > :56:35.plays can be the difference between getting three points and not. Lee
:56:36. > :56:40.McCulloch obviously very much in his career, very good in the air so he
:56:41. > :56:45.recognises that. There is something more about Kilmarnock at the moment.
:56:46. > :56:48.They look better organise. The set plays are indicative of that.
:56:49. > :56:52.Clearly getting up a good idea of what they are meant to be doing.
:56:53. > :56:56.Partick Thistle conceded late goals, it was Inverness last week. A
:56:57. > :57:02.different story in terms of points they got. They are in sixth place
:57:03. > :57:07.just now, if they'd got four extra points and hadn't conceded the late
:57:08. > :57:12.goals, I think they could have cemented that sixth place. And not
:57:13. > :57:17.be too far behind Hearts. Disappointing for them but I think
:57:18. > :57:22.at the same time, they will be glad they are looking to stretch that gap
:57:23. > :57:26.to six. Quite a transformation. We had a chuckle and we talked about
:57:27. > :57:30.Partick Thistle being a top side and the way things are going, they might
:57:31. > :57:35.have half an eye on catching Hearts? They have a five-game unbeaten run.
:57:36. > :57:38.I'll must feel reluctant to seem surprised by how well they've done.
:57:39. > :57:44.Every year they do well and they've been fantastic this season. Full
:57:45. > :57:49.marks to Alan Archibald. Partick Thistle are going up. There is not
:57:50. > :57:52.more trajectory. Hearts are going down fast so it's not without the
:57:53. > :57:58.realms of possibility that they could catch Hearts. We'll leave it
:57:59. > :58:02.for them time being. Four games to play before the split, the table
:58:03. > :58:23.looks like this. Let's start with the lower half for a change.
:58:24. > :58:28.Brendan Rodgers' side might well do that in two weeks' time. That is
:58:29. > :58:33.when we are back after the international break. Good luck to
:58:34. > :58:46.Scotland as always. Until next time, goodnight.
:58:47. > :59:38.Top Gear... Sweet!