19/03/2017 Sportscene


19/03/2017

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This could be something quite sensational. Right out of the top

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drawer. It is outstanding. The shot is an absolute beauty. Oh, yes!

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What a finish. Right here, right now, this is history.

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Good evening and welcome to Sportscene. Mid-March and the

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Premiership title could potentially have been one this weekend, but as

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it happens it's delayed until after the international break and after a

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long, hard season, we are looking forward to a well-deserved weekend

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off, Thompson and Michael Stewart. Plenty of business to get through

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this weekend. Let's get straight to the lunchtime match, Dundee at home

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to Celtic. The champagne on ice for the champions, with points on top of

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both sides, Liam McLeod was there for us. -- on offer.

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Paul Hartley has restored Kevin Gomis to the side after a month.

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Dundee are looking to bounce back from successive defeats. Calum

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MacGregor starts and plays for Celtic's Burstein for the time. He

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takes near Bitton's place in the side as he did at half-time in the

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Derby last week. Sviatchenko is replaced as the champions look to go

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within touching distance of the title. Before kick-off there will be

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a minutes silence for the Celtic legend, Tommy Gemmill, who of course

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served Dundee with distinction as well as player and manager. -- as

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both player and manager. Plenty of height for Stuart

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Armstrong to aim at. Headed wide, Dembele. I am sure he is targeting

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the 40 goals that Leigh Griffiths got to last season. 32 at the

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moment. Celtic are 22 points clear of

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Aberdeen at the top of the top-flight. Lusted knocks it across.

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Dembele could not quite gather. Still therefore Celtic -- Lustig.

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This was the run from Callum MacGregor. He had a bit of the

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jersey there, and he's already been done for that this afternoon. A

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yellow card for it early on. In it comes. Holt. Armstrong. He

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gets it back in. Then it is headed over by Boyata. Scored a couple in

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single goal victories over St Johnstone and Aberdeen, Dedrick

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Boyata. Former Dundee United midfielder

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Stuart Armstrong getting some stick. He has been over just about every

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set piece for Celtic. That is a better one. How on earth did that

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stay out? Boyata must have thought he had given Celtic the lead here.

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Armstrong's best delivery of the day and that has been blocked on the

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line by McGowan. Armstrong again. James Forrest. That is a great

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challenge by Kerr. Forest gets the break of the ball. And it has gone

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in, it has crept in. Simunovic gives Celtic the lead right on half-time.

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As they did against Dundee in Glasgow just before Christmas.

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Simunovic's first goal of the season edges Celtic that bit closer to six

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in a row. The big Croatian defender hardly caught that. It is the touch

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of Kevin Gomis that has taken it away from the grasp of a pain. -- of

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pain. Dembele. MacGregor. He keeps it going. Armstrong, Dembele down

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the middle, and Armstrong. And that is terrific.

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Paul Hartley will lament the defending but Brendan Rodgers

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applauds as one of his men of the season gets on the scoresheet yet

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again. He will surely win his first Scotland cap in the upcoming

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double-header. James Forrest picked him out and they made its -- it look

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so, so easy. That is a rare loose ball by Tierney

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and Paul McGowan is in, and Marcus Haber. He has got to at least hit

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the target with that. Celtic have only conceded four goals at home

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this season, and Marcus Haber scored one of them. It looked all the way a

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route back in for Dundee. Armstrong. James Forrest, who set up Armstrong

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for the second goal for Celtic. Here is Tierney. A big chance for number

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three. Dundee just about defend it. It's been a little bit too easy from

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the Dundee point of view for Tierney to get on to that. It just bobbled

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ahead of him. McGowan has shown too much of it for

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Scott Sinclair, who thought about the early shop. We might be in any

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way. Sinclair, Dembele, but a brilliant challenge by Gomez --

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early shop. -- Gomis. Losing out to Sinclair with Dembele to his left.

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Dembele did not bargain on Gomez. It is a good bit of defending.

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Armstrong's latest corner. Lustig. Floated delivery, Scott Sinclair. He

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must have lost sight of where the goal was as Dembele hits the deck

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under the challenge of Ojamaa. No penalty. Scott Sinclair, and Dembele

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went down way too easily. If Dundee are to get anything out of this they

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are going to have to think about scoring pretty soon. What a touch

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that was by El Bakhtaoui week, and he has a go. What a goal. Dundee

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have a way back in. And it comes in spectacular fashion from Faizal El

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Bakhtaoui. That is an absolute rocket. And it has halved the

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deficit. He has smashed that past Craig Gordon. Inspired management by

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Paul Hartley. And Dundee, who were 2-0 down, have

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an opportunity to equalise. Away by Dembele, backing by Kerr.

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Well passed from Haber. Not a prolific goal-scorer, Haber, but

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he's done a good job in other ways this afternoon.

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At times today we played fantastic football. We just failed to make the

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final pass that would have made the game more comfortable, but like you

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say, we know if we have to defend a game like that when it's coming in

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early into the box, we can do that. And by the end we were very happy

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with the win. We changed the shape and we had a real go and scored an

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excellent goal through El Bakhtaoui E. Haber had a fantastic opportunity

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and we put balls in the box. Celtic had to change to a back three, but

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I'm pleased with the attitude of the players. No champagne today but yet

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another victory for Brendan Rodgers's side. Stephen, how'd you

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characterise that Celtic performance today? Not the best, and the second

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week running they were under par. Not vintage Celtic but they have

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shown the winning mentality -- winning mentality. They grind out

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results, and they did that today. It was the little level of intensity

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they have had this season, but it's to be expected. They have been at

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such a levels for so long. For Scotland next weekend against

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Slovenia, how many Celtic players should be in the starting XI? You

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have five in the starting XI for Celtic who are in the squad. James

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Forrest has been wonderful form all season long. He set up both goals.

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Here is one from earlier on today, and I think I would be surprised if

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he was not in the starting XI. Craig Gordon has gone from strength to

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strength since getting back on the side and signing a new contract.

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Unbelievable, wasn't it? Scott Brown is backing the team and is a certain

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starter. That is a wonderful pass -- back in team. Very strong at

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left-back as well. Here are the two of them combining well. You have to

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remember that Leigh Griffiths is sitting on the bench for Celtic. He

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started at Wembley in the last Scotland game. Stuart Armstrong is

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the real gem at the moment. A wonderful run and a great header. He

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is the one, breaking into the Scotland squad, the big question

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will be whether he starts the game. I would be amazed if he's not

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starting because he's in the form of his career and is playing

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wonderfully well and scoring goals. Are you impressed by that header? I

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thought the cross was superb from James Forrest, drilled it across.

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You look at the five plays in the starting XI for Celtic they could

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easily be in the starting XI for Scotland and Leigh Griffiths, you

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could be looking at six Celtic players. Paul Hartley thought Dundee

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were excellent in the second half and it was an excellent strike from

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Faizal El Bakhtaoui E. An unbelievable strike and it was slack

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from Celtic not dealing with the quick free kick, but El Bakhtaoui

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drives at the heart of the defence that is a non-believable hit. That a

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fantastic hit. He has struggled for me to make the step up to the

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standard of the Premiership. He scored 30 goals last season. But

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that was only his third in the Premiership. We know he has the

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undoubted quality but he's not bringing it on a weekly basis but

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that was an unbelievable strike. Dundee had done well to rally

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towards the end but they could not get the result. Just needs to apply

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a bit more consistency to his game will

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you could apply that to Dundee as a whole. They've been very

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inconsistent. He clearly has goal-scoring ability but he's not

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able to maintain it this year. OK. The forlorn chase of Celtic for

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Aberdeen in second place and we've known it for some time, but Derek

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McInnes's side aiming to clinch the runners-up spot ahead of Rangers.

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Hearts were the visitors this weekend. Andrew Consett iron is free

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from suspension and returns to the fold at the expense of Jayden

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Stockley -- Consett iron. They are aiming to win nine home games on the

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trot. Ian Castro was that impressed last week that he has named the same

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11 as last week and Aaron Hughes is fit again and sit -- sits amongst

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the substitutes as hearts look for a first win of the season over

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Aberdeen. It was a goalless draw between these two in August.

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Aberdeen with the better of it. Hearts may be at the best chance, as

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Nicholson goals -- goes for gold. That was a decent opportunity carved

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out by Sam Nicholson. Taylor waiting for the corner. A bit of grappling

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and there was a shout for handball by a couple of the Hearts players.

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It might have been the midfielder it came off.

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Hearts looking to build on the wonderful win over Hamilton last

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week. Brilliant challenge by Logan. And Nicholson. That is the best

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chance of the game so far. Tony Watt, who was on loan at Hearts,

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when he missed his best opportunity at the tawdry. Considine for McGinn.

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A good ball, and Logan is there. He once again has the important

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delivery and Logan stole in from right back. He has enjoyed that one.

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Aberdeen in front. Aberdeen won nine matches in a row,

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and it was Hearts that stopped their run. He is offside, he is not in

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agreement with the decision. Pretty much on line with Logan to be fair

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to him. Brilliantly touched and Rooney is

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there but he is offside. Celebrations cut short. Graeme

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Shinnie, that was outstanding. His head and shoulders were in line.

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Hayes. Both he and Graeme Shinnie will feel very aggrieved they are

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not in the Scotland squad for the upcoming double-header. McLean has

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been superb in recent times. McClean went after it. It's number

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two. Nine in a row. He's on his way for Aberdeen. Oh dear. That is a

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horror show. Jonny Hayes gobbles up the chance to double their lead and

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it is the least they deserve. They are cruising.

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Look at that. You know someone is playing with confidence when you hit

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that from 30 yards. So unlucky, tipped over by Hamilton. Xinyi works

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it to Hayes. -- Shinnie. Hamilton beats its way. McGinn's effort

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blocked. Jonny Hayes is very difficult to keep a lid on. Sell

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theirs is in here. There was no flag. Just what the Aberdeen defence

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is looking for. Joe Lewis played to the whistle. It comes off the

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Aberdeen defender. Aberdeen picked up their 100th victory over Hearts

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just before Hogmanay. Victory number 101 is just about coming. Niall

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thinks he should have made it 3-1. He was offered a contract by Hearts

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in January. That should be easy. Jayden Stockley has become embroiled

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and Stockley is off. It was a flailing arm. Steven McLean, the

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referee will now sort things out. I think it's great as a manager when

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you see a team so relentless with their work. Their honesty. I thought

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we spoke before the game about players being aggressive. Pressing

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the life out of the opposition. I thought we did that.

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Much has been made from Craig Levein being in the dressing room in the.

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How much influence does he have in the 90 minutes? I work in a certain

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way, with collective staff, always been involved with technical staff.

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People connected to us throughout the game. Everything you see or

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focus on or want to try to create,. He is not providing coaching advice?

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That's my job. Yet another great home victory for Aberdeen. Is it

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that big a deal, Hearts director of football communicating with his head

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coach Ian Cathro during the match? No. I think that's fair enough. They

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are wise to utilise that vantage point from the stand. I don't have a

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problem with that. In the 21st century I think they could get

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something a bit better connected by running up and down the stands! I

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think it's the changing room think that is the real issue. As a player,

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you are sitting in the changing room and we are led to believe that they

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have a bit of a gathering, ideas are spoken about. Craig Levein is not

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speaking directly to the players but if you sit there for a couple of

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minutes and wonder where the head coaches, then he eventually comes

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through and you have another senior figure just standing net and not

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saying anything, just the fact he's there, adds to the confusion. I've

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never experienced anything like that. In the changing room it is

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normally one voice, one leader. You do get a better view from the stands

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sometimes. They are obviously comfortable with it but it's not

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been communicated well exactly what the role of Craig Levein is. I don't

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think Cathro explains it well either. They need some clarity. It's

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understandable the supporters, media, people, the director of

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football role is not normal in Scottish football so what is the

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defining difference between what he's doing and what Cathro is doing?

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It needs to be explained, more transparency. Another senior figure

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in the change in creating confusion because as a player, you wonder who

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is making decisions. Who is giving us the direction? His mere presence

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is confusing. Confusion on the bench as well. When results are not

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happening, you will get more scrutiny. At this point, there is a

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line and as a full-back, you never want to cross that and get dragged

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over. Look at his body position. He is closed off, he never looks. This

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is the first occasion he knows that Logan is behind him. The cross comes

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in. This happened all day long. You know Aberdeen, their strengths,

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really using the wide areas and they didn't put enough pressure on the

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Aberdeen wide men to stop crosses coming into the box.

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He's got his back to him there. This continued right through the game.

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You have to get touched tight. Right through the first half, it was clear

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Hearts were getting forced onto the back foot. Aberdeen played

:22:15.:22:17.

brilliantly. To be expected. They pressed them all over the park.

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Hearts were on the back foot. They do it every week. Isolated upfront,

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Steven? You can see the midfielder miles away from Hillier. -- away

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from him here. Either it's a bit naive for them to

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go chasing blindly. Aberdeen forced Hearts back the whole game and you

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have to squeeze it out. We discussed Hearts in depth. This was a

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fantastic victory for Aberdeen. Phenomenal home record. They are

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playing with such confidence and what an achievement to equal Sir

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Alex's record. He described it as relentless. You were there, does

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that sum it up? Definitely. It epitomises Aberdeen under Derek

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McInnes. They thoroughly deserved their victory. The more you talk

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about two clubs challenging at the top of the table and Aberdeen are up

:23:43.:23:46.

there, Hearts 1 million miles away at the moment. They've got a great

:23:47.:23:54.

opportunity, Inverness at home next. A great chance to do it. Next,

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Ibrox, Rangers keep the pressure on Aberdeen. Pedro Caixinha took the

:24:01.:24:05.

reins for the first time and greeted the fans. Commentary comes from Rory

:24:06.:24:10.

Hamilton. COMMENTATOR: Pedro Caixinha's first

:24:11.:24:20.

selection as manager sees just one change. Jon Toral comes on. Four

:24:21.:24:28.

goal loss at Tynecastle. The early ball forward finding

:24:29.:24:48.

McKay. Danger for Hamilton. McKay for Holt. The shot is just too high

:24:49.:24:54.

from Jason Holt. McKay kept his cool to pick out the past. Holt lacked

:24:55.:25:05.

composure. Lovely turn from Martyn Waghorn. He goes for gold. -- goal.

:25:06.:25:12.

A good record in this victory, scored in all three games this

:25:13.:25:17.

season against Hamilton Academical. A turn to get away from the party,

:25:18.:25:27.

very impressive. -- get away from Donati. Tavernier. He returns to

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write back. Freedom to move forward. This is nice from Rangers. The first

:25:36.:25:45.

goal of the Caixinha era at Ibrox is scored by Emerson Hyndman. A

:25:46.:25:53.

fantastic flowing move. Tavernier picked out the American and he

:25:54.:25:58.

scored for the fourth time since joining on loan from Bournemouth. 26

:25:59.:26:01.

minutes in, Rangers lead 1-0. Hamilton have had precious few

:26:02.:26:20.

chances. McMann. Crawford, the only man in the middle. Gillespie

:26:21.:26:25.

arriving now and Crom but... You went for the spectacular. Easy

:26:26.:26:32.

enough for Wes Foderingham. Crawford did score here on the very opening

:26:33.:26:39.

day of the season. Wilson for Tavernier. Hooks up the line where

:26:40.:26:46.

it McKay has switched flanks. Taken out of the play by Alexander Gudok

:26:47.:26:52.

pitch. Rangers will have a free kick in a dangerous position. Jon Toral

:26:53.:26:59.

assessing his options. He will swing this in with a left foot and it's a

:27:00.:27:04.

good one. Rangers have their second goal. After 41 minutes. The

:27:05.:27:14.

38-year-old has shown his instincts again to score for the third game

:27:15.:27:21.

running. Kenny Miller couldn't get enough on it and Hill couldn't miss.

:27:22.:27:28.

Tavernier likely to be the favourite. He struck it well. Just

:27:29.:27:35.

couldn't get it to come down and nestle in that top corner. They get

:27:36.:27:48.

it away but only as far as Waghorn who goes down under the challenge of

:27:49.:27:55.

Donati and Robinson points to the spot. No doubt in the referee's

:27:56.:28:00.

mind. Rangers have a penalty kick. No complaints from Donati either.

:28:01.:28:08.

Woods faces Waghorn and Waghorn goes down the middle of the goal and

:28:09.:28:13.

Rangers have their third. The results has rarely been in doubt.

:28:14.:28:22.

His 15th goal of the season, five of which have come against Hamilton.

:28:23.:28:33.

Wallace. Up the line for Barrie McKay. Far too much pace for

:28:34.:28:40.

Sarries. McKay is in. Holt was arriving. The first touch seemed to

:28:41.:28:46.

come off Darian MacKinnon. A little too close for comfort in knocking

:28:47.:28:51.

that past his own goalkeeper. Toral, confidence flowing amongst the

:28:52.:28:58.

Rangers players. Lee Wallace. Miller. For the return to his

:28:59.:29:04.

captain. It comes back to Kenny Miller. Waghorn and into Lee

:29:05.:29:08.

Wallace. That's will round it off very nicely. For Rangers. The

:29:09.:29:15.

captain gets in on the action. 15 minutes left to play. The Caixinha

:29:16.:29:22.

regime at Ibrox gets off to the perfect start.

:29:23.:29:28.

All eyes on Pedro Caixinha, a dapper gentleman, like yourself. How do you

:29:29.:29:40.

assess his first match in charge? Impressive. We managed to pick out a

:29:41.:29:43.

few things that were not that worthy. Rangers were often

:29:44.:29:47.

criticised for being laboured and predictable in the build-up under

:29:48.:29:50.

Mark Warburton, but here they are direct, a long ball, a flick on, and

:29:51.:29:56.

every time Rangers got the ball it seemed like their first thought was,

:29:57.:30:01.

how can we attack? Kenny Miller was superb. Again, Rangers, how quickly

:30:02.:30:07.

can we get forward, and when this comes into the box, you see five

:30:08.:30:11.

men, and that was the theme for Rangers. It was very impressive.

:30:12.:30:20.

Look at that attack. For Rangers fans at Ibrox, they were so

:30:21.:30:25.

accustomed to see teams parking the box, but this is how you get around

:30:26.:30:30.

that -- parking the bus. Watch Lee Wallace. Wants to catch it and

:30:31.:30:37.

attack it. One end of the pitch to the other here and basically five or

:30:38.:30:42.

six seconds, and it's fantastic. I think the Rangers fans will be

:30:43.:30:44.

entertained by this more dynamic style. You see the first one, the

:30:45.:30:50.

long ball over the top two Waghorn. That is not a punt up the park, it

:30:51.:30:54.

is a great pass. It is entertaining to watch because as a fan you want

:30:55.:30:59.

to see shots on goal and goals scored, and it was certainly a stark

:31:00.:31:03.

contrast to what it had been like for a lot of the season, in

:31:04.:31:08.

particular at Ibrox. Possession for possession's sake. And with the

:31:09.:31:12.

workrate, big changes from what we saw under Warburton? We highlighted

:31:13.:31:17.

the workrate last week and it was excellent but it struck me that

:31:18.:31:22.

Hamilton could not string for five passes together and everything was

:31:23.:31:26.

taken away. Rangers were hunting in packs to win it back and the

:31:27.:31:29.

turnover was incredible, the amount of times they won the ball back and

:31:30.:31:33.

they were superb. When they won it back, the first instinct was, can we

:31:34.:31:39.

attack again? I think that has probably been the one thing for me

:31:40.:31:43.

that Caixinha has brought in this week. The constant desire to attack.

:31:44.:31:49.

Here is an example. When the ball back, what can we do with it? This

:31:50.:31:52.

is another shot from Kenny Miller and he should have done better. I

:31:53.:31:56.

think Rangers fans will be entertained. It's incredible in the

:31:57.:32:04.

time he has been in. Five days. A huge difference in a short period of

:32:05.:32:08.

time, given that Hamilton have shipped a lot of goals of late, 14

:32:09.:32:13.

in the last three games. They've only scored one in five games. From

:32:14.:32:18.

the Rangers perspective, a lot of positives. I felt we learned quite a

:32:19.:32:25.

lot from that analysis. But you feel that from the semifinal in the

:32:26.:32:28.

Scottish Cup against Celtic is where they will learn most. That is where

:32:29.:32:33.

they will be judged. It is a massive game and then in summer he can check

:32:34.:32:36.

out how good the recruitment is but that will be a game where he is

:32:37.:32:42.

judged. Looking gloomy for Hamilton. Bottom of the table. Is that where

:32:43.:32:47.

they will stay? There are not too many positives or lights at the end

:32:48.:32:50.

of the tunnel to suggest they will drag themselves out of it. 14 goals

:32:51.:32:56.

in the last three games, conceding far too many and not scoring enough.

:32:57.:32:58.

Not a great combination. Motherwell are in trouble as well.

:32:59.:33:05.

Steve Robinson was made permanent manager in the week and he took on a

:33:06.:33:09.

St Johnstone side pushing for a top four place.

:33:10.:33:13.

Having been appointed permanent Motherwell manager in the week,

:33:14.:33:19.

Steve Robinson is forced into a defensive reshuffle. He welcomes

:33:20.:33:22.

back Louis Moult following a ban. Tommy Wright lost the services of

:33:23.:33:26.

Keith Watson to a knee injury in training but sees no need to make

:33:27.:33:30.

any changes following the 2-0 victory over Dundee last time out.

:33:31.:33:36.

Jewels wins the header. Craig gets Cummins on his way. It is Graham

:33:37.:33:43.

Cummins. That is a good ball in. Craig had continued his run and he

:33:44.:33:47.

finds the back of the net with the header, eight minutes played an St

:33:48.:33:53.

Johnstone lead at Fir Park. It was Liam Craig who started the move,

:33:54.:33:58.

Graham Cummins had time and space to measure the cross and Craig tucks in

:33:59.:34:08.

his fourth of the season. Freer, and he's got plenty of pace down the

:34:09.:34:11.

left-hand side. A good ball as well. McDonald goes down, claims he was

:34:12.:34:19.

held by Brian Easton. No penalty. Cummins. Looking to go round the

:34:20.:34:25.

outside of Jules, and he got the shot in. Samsung tips it over, and

:34:26.:34:30.

he was fantastic last week. -- Samson.

:34:31.:34:37.

Can't beat the first man, Cavan. Comes back to Frear, having to work

:34:38.:34:53.

for his space. Into McDonald, and Cadden on the half volley could only

:34:54.:34:56.

fire over the top as Motherwell threatened to equalise. Headed away.

:34:57.:35:04.

Hamill returns it with interest. It might drop for Cadden. It was the

:35:05.:35:10.

challenge from Payton. Louis Moult continues the attack, but they are

:35:11.:35:16.

able to clear. It was Cadden who went down under the challenge from

:35:17.:35:23.

Payton. Greg Aitken said no. McHugh. Moult, to McDonald. Lovely

:35:24.:35:27.

interchange. It comes back to Scott McDonald and what an incredible miss

:35:28.:35:34.

by the Australian. Well, he did the hard bit and the linkup with Moult

:35:35.:35:39.

was almost perfect, and when it dropped for McDonald the footwork

:35:40.:35:42.

was good but he could not apply the finish. Malta. He has done well here

:35:43.:35:50.

-- Moult. Scobey. Clay. Might drop for McDonald, and persistence pays

:35:51.:35:56.

off for Motherwell. They have got the equaliser just a minute before

:35:57.:36:02.

the break. Scott McDonald makes no mistake this time. And he has Number

:36:03.:36:12.

ten for the season, and it is all squared up at 1-1.

:36:13.:36:17.

Frear. There is Jules. McManus called into action after coming on

:36:18.:36:28.

at half-time. Jules. Tossing it back into the middle, and Louis Moult

:36:29.:36:34.

can't get the header on target. Jules must have thought that he had

:36:35.:36:37.

put Motherwell in front here. Great save. Incredible to think that

:36:38.:36:42.

Motherwell have not won at home since mid-November. There is Louis

:36:43.:36:49.

Moult, looking to change that. Their top scorer was not far away. St

:36:50.:36:52.

Johnstone will not want to give him that much space again. Foster. Up to

:36:53.:37:01.

Maclean. Swanson. Maclean is hovering on the right touchline.

:37:02.:37:08.

Clearing header but only to Liam Craig. What a hit that is Liam

:37:09.:37:15.

Craig. He has his second of the game, midway through the second

:37:16.:37:21.

half. St Johnstone restored their lead -- restore their lead.

:37:22.:37:27.

Ferguson's header did not do enough to clear the danger and Liam Craig

:37:28.:37:37.

has made him pay. Swanson. Cummins. Another great ball in for Liam Craig

:37:38.:37:46.

but he could not guide it into the net. Some hat-trick that would have

:37:47.:37:54.

been. Took it down nicely, and Motherwell having to come from

:37:55.:37:59.

behind again. That is for Louis Moult. That is the man, Stephen

:38:00.:38:06.

Robinson would have wanted it to fall to him. Uncharacteristically,

:38:07.:38:12.

he could not hit the target. McDonald gets it back. Looking to

:38:13.:38:19.

supply for Bowman. It comes off the inside of the post, and somehow it

:38:20.:38:24.

stays out. Motherwell cannot believe this.

:38:25.:38:30.

When you come away from home and get three points, and it's a massive

:38:31.:38:36.

three points as it almost takes us in the top six, the performance

:38:37.:38:40.

probably at times could have been better. We had seven clear-cut

:38:41.:38:45.

chances and one penalty, it's incredible how we didn't get it, and

:38:46.:38:51.

that wasn't given. There was another debatable one but it just didn't go

:38:52.:38:55.

for us. We hit the post in the last minute and Louis Moult has a chance.

:38:56.:39:01.

Six or seven clear-cut chances. They get to when they put them in the box

:39:02.:39:05.

and scored. Be done clay crosses into the box, is what happens. St

:39:06.:39:09.

Johnstone up to fourth in the table -- if you don't clear crosses.

:39:10.:39:14.

Motherwell had their chances and penalty claims as well. Should

:39:15.:39:17.

either have been given? Should both of them being given?

:39:18.:39:22.

This one I'm not convinced about. I've seen them given but I don't

:39:23.:39:29.

think there's enough. He is already falling down. Where is this one, the

:39:30.:39:35.

second one, no doubt at all that Cadden is taken out. As it drops

:39:36.:39:41.

down, he gets his foot in the first and Payton clears him out. He's in a

:39:42.:39:46.

really strong position. It is a definite penalty. He gets cleaned

:39:47.:39:52.

out. That is a penalty as far as I'm concerned. Every right to be

:39:53.:39:55.

aggrieved but they did create a lot of opportunities and probably should

:39:56.:39:58.

have taken something. Yet they are in the mix at the bottom of the

:39:59.:40:02.

table. Three points off the bottom of the table and they need to try

:40:03.:40:08.

and stabilise quickly. Ibrox next week. They are just conceding far

:40:09.:40:11.

too many goals and if you concede too many, you don't give yourself an

:40:12.:40:15.

opportunity to stay in the game. They conceded more than any other

:40:16.:40:18.

team this season. What about the tactic of that kick out? It is

:40:19.:40:25.

random. They are trying to stop the keeper kicking early and accurately.

:40:26.:40:30.

But it was largely ineffectual. I don't think it works particularly

:40:31.:40:34.

well. Is it worthwhile at all? I've seen it done before but he's not

:40:35.:40:39.

even putting the goalkeeper under pressure. Mannus is just kicking up

:40:40.:40:45.

the park. We talked about conceding too many goals. I'm not saying you

:40:46.:40:50.

can't concentrate on more than one aspect of the game, but from their

:40:51.:40:55.

perspective, they are ineffectual, those things. You need to be getting

:40:56.:41:00.

the defence sorted out, stop conceding goals. Too many crosses

:41:01.:41:05.

into the box coming in easily and you will never get a chance to get

:41:06.:41:08.

points and draws and wins if you Chuck goals in the back. Fantastic

:41:09.:41:15.

victory for St Johnstone. Could be a European spot. You have three out of

:41:16.:41:22.

the four semifinalists have an opportunity to win, and then fourth

:41:23.:41:26.

place will be in Europe. You cannot give St Johnstone enough plaudits.

:41:27.:41:29.

Year after year they continue to get in and around the European spots and

:41:30.:41:35.

they are in fourth and looking comfortable, second-best away record

:41:36.:41:39.

which normally you would expect at home, but away from home has been

:41:40.:41:43.

the bedrock of success. Only Celtic have the better away record. Cannot

:41:44.:41:46.

give them enough plaudits. Fantastic from St Johnstone.

:41:47.:41:50.

Two more sides glancing at the trapdoor, with Inverness Caley

:41:51.:41:55.

Thistle starting the weekend bottom of the table and Ross County just

:41:56.:41:57.

four points ahead. Two changes from the side that drew

:41:58.:42:07.

at Partick. Ross Draper comes back in from suspension and Brad Mackay

:42:08.:42:11.

and Polworth give way. Two changes for the visitors after the loss

:42:12.:42:14.

against Kilmarnock. Paul Quinn is injured and there is no Mark Wood

:42:15.:42:19.

's. Andrew Davis and Christopher routers are recalled.

:42:20.:42:21.

Might break for Vigurs at the edge of the area. That is a terrific

:42:22.:42:40.

effort from Iain Vigurs. Scored his first senior goal for Ross County in

:42:41.:42:42.

the Premiership against Inverness Caley Thistle and tried to get it on

:42:43.:42:51.

target there the home side. Voices the runner. Naismith. Great little

:42:52.:42:57.

ball across. And Alex Schalk is an inch away from the opening goal.

:42:58.:43:03.

Lovely interchange with boys. It fizzed across that he could not find

:43:04.:43:12.

the touch. Deep towards Davies, and he brings it down. Alex Schalk

:43:13.:43:18.

tumbled in the box and Raven was behind him. He thinks he was fouled.

:43:19.:43:22.

He yells at the referee and Davies won the header. Raven certainly made

:43:23.:43:25.

contact with the player in the area. Played across. That is pure. Tansey

:43:26.:43:42.

is calling for it and he gets it from Polworth. And he gets the

:43:43.:43:48.

opening goal. The deflection was key, but Inverness Caley Thistle

:43:49.:43:53.

don't care. Greg Tansey scores for the third time against Ross County.

:43:54.:43:58.

Having enjoyed a difficult first 15 minutes of the first half, within

:43:59.:44:02.

three minutes of the restart, Inverness Caley Thistle Lara head.

:44:03.:44:05.

The goalkeeper with no chance. Davies with a deflection -- are

:44:06.:44:10.

ahead. He should have put that in the stand, but he didn't. The leader

:44:11.:44:17.

was perfect, and Tansey accepts. Polworth tries to work the 1-2.

:44:18.:44:23.

Draper. Tremarco stealing in at the back post. Mackay can't get back in

:44:24.:44:32.

time. Gardyne will slide in. Tremarco with a fine goal-scoring

:44:33.:44:36.

season, seven already, he could not put it on target. That was inviting.

:44:37.:44:42.

The last six games between these sides have found a winner. Ross

:44:43.:44:47.

County have one to this season. Caley Thistle leading and looking to

:44:48.:44:52.

add to it. Mackay tries to pick out Tansey in the middle. Naismith

:44:53.:44:55.

chases after it. That will be a free kick. And the yellow card to.

:44:56.:45:01.

Tremarco bearing the brunt of the challenge from Jason Naismith.

:45:02.:45:05.

Having a fine game, but that was reckless. Tansey more than capable

:45:06.:45:12.

from here. And the goalkeeper knew it. The Irishman popping it over the

:45:13.:45:13.

top. Tested the keeper. Frazar. On two boys. Naismith --

:45:14.:45:26.

onto Boyce. Great ball, and Craig Cummings is marked. He should have

:45:27.:45:28.

scored. It's the chance he has been waiting

:45:29.:45:39.

for. The former Tranmere and Carlisle man. He seemed to be in two

:45:40.:45:48.

minds about what he should do. They have only kept one clean sheet at

:45:49.:45:54.

home this season. They are driving and looking for another. It came

:45:55.:46:05.

back to Tremarco. Tremarco. He holds off his man. Hits the bar. Billy

:46:06.:46:16.

McKay does as all good strikers do, tried to anticipate to get in there

:46:17.:46:24.

and he's a lucky. Naismith. Boyce. Into the middle it goes. Jim

:46:25.:46:32.

O'Brien. Williams taking no chances. It was rising. O'Brien, one goal in

:46:33.:46:41.

nine appearances for Ross County. Accepted the gift from Draper and

:46:42.:46:47.

forced the keeper into the stop. It will come in. A nice touch. The shot

:46:48.:46:55.

has broken away from Warren. Second touch, Jason, and the equaliser from

:46:56.:47:00.

Alex Schalk. Four minutes to play and Ross County level. The

:47:01.:47:09.

substitute, a brilliant header, took at two defenders and Alex Schalk was

:47:10.:47:14.

calm and controlled, aiming for the top corner. Ross County are level.

:47:15.:47:18.

Four minutes to play in the Highland derby and what a crucial goal that

:47:19.:47:20.

could prove to be. It feels like a bit of a defeat but

:47:21.:47:29.

we are a point better off than before the game. Proud of the lads.

:47:30.:47:34.

We looked solid. We dealt with a lot of crosses into the box.

:47:35.:47:37.

Disappointed with the goal we conceded but all in all I thought

:47:38.:47:43.

the boys did well. Every team, is in a relegation battle.

:47:44.:47:53.

Sometimes the look on players face can say so much. We see the close-up

:47:54.:48:02.

on David Raven's face, it tells a story. First, I think it is a clear

:48:03.:48:09.

penalty. I don't know whether the referee was an cited but you can see

:48:10.:48:13.

the slow motion, Alex Schalk touches the ball and Raven comes in and

:48:14.:48:18.

breaks the back of his calf. It's this one. He's looking for the

:48:19.:48:25.

referee, saying, you didn't see that, did you? Thankfully for him,

:48:26.:48:32.

the referee didn't. Should the referee Hasina? Absolutely, for me

:48:33.:48:36.

it was fairly clear. The goal of Alex Schalk, into the realms of

:48:37.:48:40.

anatomy, a hint of handball? It was a hint. All those Inverness players,

:48:41.:48:51.

none of them claim for it. It is just his shoulder, I think he gets

:48:52.:48:56.

enough of his chest, shoulder area. I think it's OK. You don't see any

:48:57.:49:04.

of the Inverness players around him complain and also Richie Foran,

:49:05.:49:08.

there were no complaints. A fair enough goal. No complaints from you

:49:09.:49:14.

if you were doing that as a striker? Absolutely. It is a bit of a season

:49:15.:49:23.

of thanks for both of the Highland clubs. We have spoken at length

:49:24.:49:27.

about the fact Ross County should be doing a lot more with the quality

:49:28.:49:33.

they've got. Inverness, Richie Foran's first foray into management

:49:34.:49:36.

and it has been a bit of a struggle. But they seem to have a bit more

:49:37.:49:41.

grit about them, a bit more like his character as a player. I think they

:49:42.:49:44.

will have enough to see themselves out of this. A psychological boost

:49:45.:49:49.

also, seeing lots of off the bottom of the table. It's a better for Ross

:49:50.:49:56.

County. Inverness need to start turning those draws into wins.

:49:57.:50:00.

Especially home games. Only six points between the bottom five side

:50:01.:50:04.

so it will go right to the end and fascinating to watch. To the battle

:50:05.:50:08.

for top six safety now. Partick Thistle began in possession of that

:50:09.:50:16.

coveted spot. Kilmarnock hoping to replace them in the top half. Before

:50:17.:50:23.

the match at Rugby Park, a minute's silence, for Joanne Johnson, the

:50:24.:50:24.

wife of former chair Mr Johnson. WHISTLE

:50:25.:50:40.

APPLAUSE COMMENTATOR: Kilmarnock have

:50:41.:50:46.

experienced campaigners back after suspension. Robert Wilson dropped

:50:47.:50:54.

the bench. Partick Thistle make one change to their line-up with

:50:55.:50:59.

Christie Elliot, normally seen as a right-winger, taking the place of

:51:00.:51:04.

Callum Booth at left-back. Six of the last nine meetings between these

:51:05.:51:08.

sides have been draws. We expect another close encounter. An early

:51:09.:51:18.

opportunity for the on loan Newcastle United midfielder, he's

:51:19.:51:21.

been impressive in writing times Brash recent times for Kelly. Two

:51:22.:51:26.

victories and two feats for Lee McCulloch. It is Boyd. Brilliant

:51:27.:51:38.

save to deny Scott Boyd the opener for Kilmarnock. Terrific

:51:39.:51:46.

goalkeeping. Taylor. Boyd and Sammon. It's Christie Elliot who

:51:47.:51:56.

gets the final touch to deny Conor Sammon, giving Killie the lead.

:51:57.:52:01.

Kilmarnock have started very positively. Jones. Looking towards

:52:02.:52:16.

Mackenzie. Still Jordan Jones. He didn't quite get enough power on

:52:17.:52:22.

that effort. A yard of space away from Christie Elliot.

:52:23.:52:32.

Chris Erskine. Did well to create the opening for the shot. So close

:52:33.:52:43.

from Chris Erskine. He's already got eight goals so far this season.

:52:44.:52:52.

Tansey looking towards Gulen. Breaking away of Lawless. Kilmarnock

:52:53.:52:57.

relieved to see that will come back off the crossbar. Still clear. It is

:52:58.:53:03.

now. Scott Boyd's clearance straight to lawless who took the opportunity

:53:04.:53:04.

well. Doolan. Ryan Edwards. Australian midfielder.

:53:05.:53:21.

Missing the target as he's tried to steady himself.

:53:22.:53:31.

Adam Barton. That looked as though it would be a scorer all the way for

:53:32.:53:41.

the Partick Thistle midfielder, no wonder he's shaking his head. He

:53:42.:53:46.

thought he had got his third goal for the Firhill club.

:53:47.:53:56.

Chris Erskine. Partick Thistle in front. Chris Erskine claims his

:53:57.:54:07.

ninth goal of the season. He got the break of the ball back off Taylor. A

:54:08.:54:13.

fine strike to dispatch it beyond the woodman. Kilmarnock desperate to

:54:14.:54:20.

get themselves back on level terms. Conor Sammon. Striking it. And

:54:21.:54:31.

that's on its journey. Conor Sammon doesn't care. He fires that one in.

:54:32.:54:37.

Straight through the goalkeeper's hounds. Kilmarnock are back on level

:54:38.:54:45.

terms. That is Sammon's third goal since moving from Hearts. Killie

:54:46.:54:52.

pushing for a winner. They are up in towards Boyd. Sammon. It breaks to

:54:53.:55:00.

Boyd. Not quite sure what the infringement was. Didn't seem too

:55:01.:55:01.

much there. Overall I will take the point.

:55:02.:55:12.

Partick Thistle in the second half, probably they were the better team

:55:13.:55:17.

today. We had a good victory last week. Got a point today so four

:55:18.:55:21.

points out of six. I'm always looking at the positives. Kilmarnock

:55:22.:55:26.

were better in the first off, very direct and played the Pitreavie

:55:27.:55:30.

well. We didn't we caused a lot of problems on set plays and I think

:55:31.:55:33.

the referee could have helped us out. They were blocking. The

:55:34.:55:42.

officials didn't help us out. The second half was much better. He

:55:43.:55:48.

praised the performance last week. Can't be perfect all the time. In

:55:49.:55:54.

terms of what Alan Archibald was talking about, blocking at set

:55:55.:55:58.

pieces, how big an issue was that? It's a big issue when you see the

:55:59.:56:03.

highlights of how much space Kris Boyd gets. Partick defenders need to

:56:04.:56:07.

do better. They allow themselves to get detach from Kris Boyd far too

:56:08.:56:15.

easily. Alan Archibald said it was good movement to be fair to him.

:56:16.:56:19.

Partick have to deal with it better. This shows you that Lee McCulloch

:56:20.:56:23.

has clearly been working on a few different aspects of set plays. When

:56:24.:56:27.

you are playing in these games that are really tight, sometimes set

:56:28.:56:30.

plays can be the difference between getting three points and not. Lee

:56:31.:56:35.

McCulloch obviously very much in his career, very good in the air so he

:56:36.:56:40.

recognises that. There is something more about Kilmarnock at the moment.

:56:41.:56:45.

They look better organise. The set plays are indicative of that.

:56:46.:56:48.

Clearly getting up a good idea of what they are meant to be doing.

:56:49.:56:52.

Partick Thistle conceded late goals, it was Inverness last week. A

:56:53.:56:56.

different story in terms of points they got. They are in sixth place

:56:57.:57:02.

just now, if they'd got four extra points and hadn't conceded the late

:57:03.:57:07.

goals, I think they could have cemented that sixth place. And not

:57:08.:57:12.

be too far behind Hearts. Disappointing for them but I think

:57:13.:57:17.

at the same time, they will be glad they are looking to stretch that gap

:57:18.:57:22.

to six. Quite a transformation. We had a chuckle and we talked about

:57:23.:57:26.

Partick Thistle being a top side and the way things are going, they might

:57:27.:57:30.

have half an eye on catching Hearts? They have a five-game unbeaten run.

:57:31.:57:35.

I'll must feel reluctant to seem surprised by how well they've done.

:57:36.:57:38.

Every year they do well and they've been fantastic this season. Full

:57:39.:57:44.

marks to Alan Archibald. Partick Thistle are going up. There is not

:57:45.:57:49.

more trajectory. Hearts are going down fast so it's not without the

:57:50.:57:52.

realms of possibility that they could catch Hearts. We'll leave it

:57:53.:57:58.

for them time being. Four games to play before the split, the table

:57:59.:58:02.

looks like this. Let's start with the lower half for a change.

:58:03.:58:23.

Brendan Rodgers' side might well do that in two weeks' time. That is

:58:24.:58:28.

when we are back after the international break. Good luck to

:58:29.:58:33.

Scotland as always. Until next time, goodnight.

:58:34.:58:46.

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:58:47.:59:38.

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