:00:08. > :00:14.Good evening and welcome to Sportscene.
:00:15. > :00:32.It is unbelievable! Unbelievable! It is a spectacular ball. The shot is
:00:33. > :00:39.an absolute beauty. Is it? It is! And it is there! What a finish. And
:00:40. > :00:46.that is it. Scottish football may be many
:00:47. > :01:33.things, but it's never dull. With us in the studio tonight,
:01:34. > :01:36.it's the Sportscene Stuart dynasty - With Aberdeen's match
:01:37. > :01:44.at Partick Thistle postponed due to a waterlogged pitch,
:01:45. > :01:47.Celtic had the chance to open up a six-point lead at the top
:01:48. > :01:49.of the Premiership. Inverness Caley Thistle
:01:50. > :02:03.the visitors. Ronny Deila throws out the same 11
:02:04. > :02:08.he started for last week's win over Ross County, resisting the
:02:09. > :02:12.temptation to start with Patrick Roberts, who is on the bench. The
:02:13. > :02:19.Inverness side is the one that started the win over Aberdeen.
:02:20. > :02:27.Gordon Roberts has been looking impressive. Celtic, if they win here
:02:28. > :02:34.and at Aberdeen they could be nine clear. That is deflected over. A
:02:35. > :02:40.vote of confidence for Gary Mackay-Steven today from the
:02:41. > :02:48.manager. Ronny Deila has plenty of options on the bench. He invited us,
:02:49. > :02:56.missed by Gordon and by Warren. -- Iain Vigurs. The chance of the game
:02:57. > :03:08.so far and it falls to skipper Gary Warren. What a mess. -- miss. That
:03:09. > :03:13.court Fon Williams by surprise. You know what the left foot of Leigh
:03:14. > :03:18.Griffiths can provide. It is just skipped along the ground and Fon
:03:19. > :03:27.Williams dealt with it. Iain Vigurs has won it back off Mackay-Steven
:03:28. > :03:33.and he has teed it up. So close again. Inverness are playing with
:03:34. > :03:41.real confidence here in Glasgow. It is Mackay-Steven. Blocked. Celtic
:03:42. > :03:48.have begun the second half pretty well but here comes Jordan Roberts.
:03:49. > :03:54.Big chance. And a big save from Craig Gordon. You can't say the
:03:55. > :04:04.Highlanders haven't have their chances. But haven't taken one of
:04:05. > :04:16.them. Celtic probe. Mackay-Steven. 1-0! With the aid of a deflection.
:04:17. > :04:21.Make no mistake, Celtic have been second best in this game up to this
:04:22. > :04:23.point. This is a hammer blow, a sucker punch for Cali Thistle. It
:04:24. > :04:39.might reinvigorate the champions. sucker punch for Cali Thistle. It
:04:40. > :04:44.Caley Thistle. He does it again! 12 in his last ten coming into this
:04:45. > :04:51.afternoon. And that is 31 for the season. On his weaker right hand
:04:52. > :05:02.side and in the blink of an eye Celtic dominate 2-0. Johansen. A
:05:03. > :05:09.very different Celtic side now, it is back with Johansen. It should
:05:10. > :05:13.have been three. It is amazing how a game can change completely. Caley
:05:14. > :05:20.Thistle looked like -- look like they have had the stuffing knocked
:05:21. > :05:30.out of them. Iain Vigurs takes the corner. Scooped away, only as far as
:05:31. > :05:34.Lewis Horner. He goes himself. That has taken a touch on its way
:05:35. > :05:39.Lewis Horner. He goes himself. That through, Gordon suddenly dived down,
:05:40. > :05:44.he didn't know where this was going. Nice change of pace by Patrick
:05:45. > :05:52.Roberts. First chance for him to impress the Celtic support. The
:05:53. > :05:59.defender is in big trouble. This is a good chance for Roberts. Put on a
:06:00. > :06:15.plate for him by Scott Allan. Inverness getting bodies
:06:16. > :06:22.Roberts, Christie. They saved the best to
:06:23. > :06:28.Roberts, Christie. They saved the wonderful goal, brilliant build-up
:06:29. > :06:34.play from the substitutes. A real lesson in how to take chances for
:06:35. > :06:40.Caley Thistle today. We knew it would be tough against Caley Thistle
:06:41. > :06:44.but you have to keep calm and carry on doing what you believe in and I
:06:45. > :06:49.think we did that in the second half, we had more chances and
:06:50. > :06:55.deserved to win. Even in defeat you can take great pride and inspiration
:06:56. > :07:01.from the way we played because we gave as good as we got. A lot of
:07:02. > :07:04.people were saying we are the best team they have seen
:07:05. > :07:12.people were saying we are the best Parkhead so the club is going in the
:07:13. > :07:17.right direction. Leigh Griffiths brings his tally for the season to
:07:18. > :07:22.32. They extend the lead to six points. John Hughes talking about
:07:23. > :07:26.how Inverness Caley Thistle were the better side certainly to begin with
:07:27. > :07:31.but when you are at Celtic Park you need to take your chances. No doubt.
:07:32. > :07:38.One get opportunities like this you have to score. That is a glaring
:07:39. > :07:44.chance, a real sitter. Poor play from Gordon, he is unchallenged and
:07:45. > :07:50.to miss it by such a big margin. Warren missing that, terrible. This
:07:51. > :07:53.is a good strike, just comes off the defender and drifts wide. When you
:07:54. > :07:59.get chances you have to take them, the first one was a sitter. Two
:08:00. > :08:03.minutes into the second half, great ball, Roberts gets in behind and at
:08:04. > :08:09.first it looks like maybe a bad miss but when you are again it is a
:08:10. > :08:12.fantastic save. He lifts it and the big arm saves it. That is really
:08:13. > :08:16.important because it could have been different if Inverness have put it
:08:17. > :08:21.away. There has been a lot of talk about the plethora of midfield
:08:22. > :08:25.options at Celtic. Five more on loan. We saw some fringe players
:08:26. > :08:37.yesterday and there has been a bit of chat about how there has been a
:08:38. > :08:39.lack of zest in the Celtic play. There was more zest yesterday. Yes,
:08:40. > :08:42.they have got involved when they came off the bench. It is
:08:43. > :08:44.intriguing, when you look at the substitution, Commons and Richards
:08:45. > :08:47.were still on the bench, and maybe the three kids coming on as a sign
:08:48. > :08:53.of the times for the next season but it certainly sparked it up a bit.
:08:54. > :09:01.Fantastic strike by Griffiths. We have seen some of the youngsters
:09:02. > :09:05.under Ronny Deila? If they are good enough, clearly those three players
:09:06. > :09:10.have the ability and the talent and they bring that youthful energy and
:09:11. > :09:22.Celtic have missed that. 32 goals for Leigh Griffiths, would you bet
:09:23. > :09:26.against him getting to the mark? Not at all, if you take him out of the
:09:27. > :09:31.team it is a huge mess. -- miss. Next up, nightmare
:09:32. > :09:33.on Tannadice Street - Dundee United's horror show
:09:34. > :09:35.of a season continued on Tuesday night as they lost 3-0
:09:36. > :09:37.at home to Motherwell. Could the disaster movie still turn
:09:38. > :09:46.into the Great Escape? After losing 3-0 at home to
:09:47. > :10:10.Motherwell Mackay and Dixon dropped out of Dundee United. Hearts replace
:10:11. > :10:17.several players. In steps Blair Spittal for Dundee United, big shout
:10:18. > :10:22.for a penalty. But probably mainly from those supporters behind that
:10:23. > :10:25.goal, because it was an appeal out of optimism more than anything else.
:10:26. > :10:41.Strong words from Stephen Thompson, the United chairman this week. Scott
:10:42. > :10:50.Fraser with the corner kick and the forward was convinced he had scored
:10:51. > :10:57.his first goal for hearts. John Rankin with the quick free kick, in
:10:58. > :11:05.from Spittal. A big chance to open the scoring. Another good save from
:11:06. > :11:11.hearts keeper Alexander but the forward knows he should have been
:11:12. > :11:15.scoring. Referee Kevin Clancy reaching into his pocket for a
:11:16. > :11:24.yellow card, not just for that offence. He tells Jordan McGhee,
:11:25. > :11:31.also for a series of fouls. Battling for possession, in goes Jordan
:11:32. > :11:38.McGhee and he could be in trouble here, the young hearts are -- hearts
:11:39. > :11:43.defender. It is a second yellow and he is off to stop five minutes
:11:44. > :11:56.before half-time and two bookings in the space of four minutes. Payton's
:11:57. > :12:01.pass deflected. Rankin! Just a fraction away from opening the
:12:02. > :12:07.scoring. Can't quite believe, Rankin, this hasn't gone in. It took
:12:08. > :12:21.a couple on its way back off the post. -- took a bobble. Fraser's
:12:22. > :12:27.corner. There is the golden Dundee United desperately wanted. The
:12:28. > :12:38.former West Ham man's first goal for the club and that lifts spirits
:12:39. > :12:42.considerably around Tannadice. Booing every time John sitter
:12:43. > :12:48.touches the ball. It drops the Jamie Walker. What a strike. Two and half
:12:49. > :12:56.minutes after the restart and ten man hearts are back on level terms.
:12:57. > :13:04.What a sweet strike from Jamie Walker, ripping into the roof of the
:13:05. > :13:13.net behind Oshaniwa. Payton looking for Ryan Dow at. A chance to get
:13:14. > :13:18.United back in front. He loses out to the bounce of the ball. It is
:13:19. > :13:26.lobbed over Aleksandar Pantic looked back with some relief as that went
:13:27. > :13:32.over the top. -- over Alexander and he. It is going to be a booking for
:13:33. > :13:46.the Dundee United substitute for that challenge on Ali mosque Turk.
:13:47. > :14:00.Rankin. Ryan Dow makes a move. Payton! Absolutely brilliant. He
:14:01. > :14:03.could not have caught this any better, and in the 88th minute
:14:04. > :14:27.Dundee United are back in front. A little kick out at Ozturk and
:14:28. > :14:32.Dundee United, like Hearts, will end this with ten men.
:14:33. > :14:39.To be played, especially first half, really pleasing. We created a lot of
:14:40. > :14:44.chances. If the match was 3-0 at half-time, I don't think it would
:14:45. > :14:48.have been wrong. Some occasions I wonder, I don't know, is it one of
:14:49. > :14:53.them again? Thankfully, we got a wonderful winner in the end and
:14:54. > :14:57.three points. We started the game, we had a couple of chances, they
:14:58. > :15:00.did, then the referee decides to give a yellow card for a tackle that
:15:01. > :15:04.Jordan goes in and plays the ball. give a yellow card for a tackle that
:15:05. > :15:09.don't know what the referee thinks, but he makes the decisions, he is
:15:10. > :15:09.don't know what the referee thinks, making the decisions, it is just
:15:10. > :15:14.don't know what the referee thinks, that we are the ones that have to
:15:15. > :15:17.suffer the consequences of it. The big three points for Dundee United,
:15:18. > :15:20.suffer the consequences of it. The just how big? We
:15:21. > :15:20.suffer the consequences of it. The of the season, Robbie
:15:21. > :15:25.suffer the consequences of it. The happy about the sending-off
:15:26. > :15:30.suffer the consequences of it. The it? Is this a
:15:31. > :15:32.suffer the consequences of it. The force? And the referee is justified
:15:33. > :15:35.to show yellow? To be honest, this is not the yellow card I would be
:15:36. > :15:37.worried about. The first one should not have been a yellow card. This
:15:38. > :15:43.one coming yes, not have been a yellow card. This
:15:44. > :15:46.got the ball. The way his studs are showing, in the modern day coming
:15:47. > :15:47.can't get away from that, especially when you have already been booked,
:15:48. > :15:52.as harsh as when you have already been booked,
:15:53. > :15:57.was a sense that the first yellow card was for persistent... That
:15:58. > :16:02.first one was not even a foul for me. I have to say on the second one,
:16:03. > :16:06.there is no doubt he gets the ball, I think it is a good tackle. I
:16:07. > :16:09.totally understand where Robbie is coming from, but also Kevin Clancy I
:16:10. > :16:14.think is one of the best referees, he was right behind it and I think
:16:15. > :16:18.he sees the angle coming down on it. I can understand why he got a second
:16:19. > :16:26.yellow, but I would be a bit peeved if I were McGee. It was a good
:16:27. > :16:33.tackle. He would be doing very well to do this every week. 20 yards out,
:16:34. > :16:38.no chance for Alexander in goal. There was a huge one for Dundee
:16:39. > :16:41.United. Mick said in the interview, he was thinking it would be another
:16:42. > :16:46.one of those days, they needed a bit of magic like that, but they need to
:16:47. > :16:49.back it up with another result. Otherwise it becomes immaterial if
:16:50. > :16:53.they don't go and win the next game, because that is the only they will
:16:54. > :16:58.get out of the trouble they are in, wins back-to-back. We have seen a
:16:59. > :17:06.fuel for storms of late with Dundee United, they need to -- a few false
:17:07. > :17:09.dawns. It just shows how important set pieces are, they lost two goals
:17:10. > :17:13.against Motherwell, free kick, corner, but that was a big was up.
:17:14. > :17:16.It keeps them in there, but I heard John Rankin saying they probably
:17:17. > :17:18.need a miracle, and he is probably right. But performances like that
:17:19. > :17:19.can only help. Still to come on Sportscene tonight,
:17:20. > :17:26.two big games from the Championship. St Johnstone's slump
:17:27. > :17:49.in form has been dramatic - they hadn't won a match
:17:50. > :17:53.since December the 5th. In fact, they hadn't won at home
:17:54. > :18:07.since the 7th of November. Commentator this one stretching back
:18:08. > :18:16.to the start of December, has Tommy Wright making changes again.
:18:17. > :18:23.Motherwell crashed Dundee United in midweek. One in forced change. Wes
:18:24. > :18:35.Fletcher replaces him. Down the line. More. Shaughnessy is there.
:18:36. > :18:36.Get some help from Scooby. Good work from Louis Moult, working hard on
:18:37. > :18:51.the right-hand side. McFadden with a corner, Louis Moult
:18:52. > :18:58.with the header and he guides it by Alan Mannus. He lost his marker, Tom
:18:59. > :19:02.Scobey. A really clever header. He opened the scoring here in August,
:19:03. > :19:11.he does so again today. That is a clever header from Louis malt.
:19:12. > :19:15.The corner comes in from Witherspoon, dealt with by Conor
:19:16. > :19:25.Ripley. He finds itself in the back of the net. Just going to fall
:19:26. > :19:29.underneath the crossbar. Craig from Scooby, back onto Wetherspoon, a bit
:19:30. > :19:35.of space for David Weatherspoon, and he exploits it fully! He stepped to
:19:36. > :19:41.the side and curled it past him. The goalkeeper wrong-footed, two minutes
:19:42. > :19:45.to half-time, St Johnstone are level, a seventh of the season for
:19:46. > :19:49.David Weatherspoon. Marvin Johnson gets it in low, looking for
:19:50. > :19:55.Fletcher. What a good chance that was for Motherwell. He felt he
:19:56. > :20:02.should have had a corner. Johnson's Paulin, Fletcher couldn't connect.
:20:03. > :20:07.Well off target. Here's Hamill. Back onto Marvin Johnson, another good
:20:08. > :20:13.ball in. Repelled. Only as far as Hamill again. Onto Johnson. Taken
:20:14. > :20:23.down by Fisher, who is manhandled to the ground. A fairly easy free kick.
:20:24. > :20:39.Hamill whips it in. Has only scored once today, but that one was guided
:20:40. > :20:43.away off target, Moult. To the middle it goes. What a good chance
:20:44. > :20:51.that was for Graham Cummings, the substitute. Just glanced it right
:20:52. > :20:54.across goal. Conor Ripley rooted to the spot and delighted to see that
:20:55. > :20:59.go wild. Saints with just two points in the last six league games. The
:21:00. > :21:05.last one a home match against Kilmarnock in November. Witherspoon
:21:06. > :21:11.plays it in, Liam Craig! That is the chance they have been looking for.
:21:12. > :21:15.Brilliant ball in from Witherspoon, set up Liam Craig. He just couldn't
:21:16. > :21:22.guide it on target. Good connection, looked for the corner. Here comes
:21:23. > :21:26.Sutton, taken down by Ben Hall, slightly cynical, that will be a
:21:27. > :21:35.yellow card for the youngster. He has impressed since coming into the
:21:36. > :21:43.top team. Simon Lappin plays it in, Scobey is up and scores in stoppage
:21:44. > :21:47.time! What a goal machine he has become, two in his last two home
:21:48. > :21:53.matches. A great header, Conor Ripley with no chance, and St
:21:54. > :21:57.Johnstone looked like they will seal all three points. It wasn't a pretty
:21:58. > :22:00.game but we got the important winner and that shows the character of the
:22:01. > :22:05.team. Really proud of them today. Our performance was good, dreadful
:22:06. > :22:09.pitch to play on, we played the conditions, it was good, it was
:22:10. > :22:18.energetic. Everything I hoped for. Not a lot of end product, of course,
:22:19. > :22:25.but not a disastrous outcome. So a destroying defeat in the end. In
:22:26. > :22:29.this match, set pieces were key. They were, but that is a frustration
:22:30. > :22:33.for a manager, because not only do you work all week on scoring and
:22:34. > :22:38.making drills to get a shot or a you also work in defending against them.
:22:39. > :22:42.Not only corners and free kicks, throw ins as well. You look at the
:22:43. > :22:45.Motherwell first goal. Promise eight Johnson point of view, they will be
:22:46. > :22:50.quite happy with how the marking is. James McFadden is on the corner.
:22:51. > :22:53.They know it will be an end to anger. Fletcher in on the
:22:54. > :22:56.goalkeeper, sometimes teams don't put people in there. That just
:22:57. > :23:03.allows the goalie to come and pluck it out of the air. He is a key
:23:04. > :23:06.position, and obviously Moult, the goal-scorer, up against Scobey.
:23:07. > :23:09.Before you go out, you know who to mark and is your role to stop them
:23:10. > :23:18.getting an attempt on goal. But it is a good ball in from McFadden, but
:23:19. > :23:22.just as it comes in, Scobey just gets in the wrong position there. He
:23:23. > :23:28.is under the ball, not facing the ball, and that is just a big melee.
:23:29. > :23:31.The fact there are so many bodies in their is one of the negatives you
:23:32. > :23:37.would cast a man for man marking at set place. Some people go with zonal
:23:38. > :23:41.where they just have tooth concentrate on the flight of the
:23:42. > :23:44.old. This allows Louis Tampa to get the better of him. That is his
:23:45. > :23:49.responsibility. He has got to do better in that position. Fu in the
:23:50. > :23:54.end, it is a really good header by Moult. This is one of my bugbears,
:23:55. > :24:00.if somebody is on the back post, they clear that, it is not a goal.
:24:01. > :24:04.What you will see, that is Scobey, he knows he has lost his man, Moult.
:24:05. > :24:08.He goes in at half-time, absolutely distraught because his man has
:24:09. > :24:14.scored. But we will play it on. We're talking about set pieces, very
:24:15. > :24:18.much in the round, and we are incorporating friends as well. That
:24:19. > :24:23.was significant in terms of St Johnstone's first goal. You also
:24:24. > :24:31.work at defending throw ins in the final third. From the onset,
:24:32. > :24:35.Motherwell in good position, his role as ones that ball comes out of
:24:36. > :24:42.a's Handscomb he stops the cross coming in. And then we have Louis
:24:43. > :24:48.Laing picking up Weatherspoon. That is a fairly standard setup. The
:24:49. > :24:52.three against two with the thrower here. I'd only like to draw your
:24:53. > :24:56.attention that with Motherwell playing three at the back, this
:24:57. > :24:59.becomes quite important. Normally this is your centre midfielder, as
:25:00. > :25:02.it is, but that would be all right wide player, not your right
:25:03. > :25:05.wingback, and the centre-half would be right. Ultimately, want to get
:25:06. > :25:09.plays on the bed, you will see why be right. Ultimately, want to get
:25:10. > :25:17.that is important. Yes, he is in front of Wotherspoon. As you see
:25:18. > :25:22.when it is played back... Yes. If Louis Lange had done his job happily
:25:23. > :25:25.and stayed with Wotherspoon, it would not have given him the space
:25:26. > :25:29.to turn and put it in. McManus and Hall have got Maclean, they are
:25:30. > :25:36.happy to against one. It is a minute before half-time well, lack of
:25:37. > :25:43.concentration. Big Blue switches. He is thinking like a traditional
:25:44. > :25:46.centre-back. If he had stayed up tight with Wotherspoon, it would not
:25:47. > :25:50.have allowed him the space. In fairness to the lad, it is a really
:25:51. > :25:56.good finish. But concentration, switching off at a set play, it has
:25:57. > :26:01.done Motherwell this time. We talked about Scobey, redemption for him in
:26:02. > :26:05.the end. That's right. From Motherwell's point of view, another
:26:06. > :26:09.last-minute goal they have conceded. Probably two things on this,
:26:10. > :26:16.originally you would say Michael that Motherwell are probably far too
:26:17. > :26:19.deep. Yes, they are, this is exactly what you want, the backline up into
:26:20. > :26:22.the shaded area here. The thing I would like to point out is that the
:26:23. > :26:26.goalkeeper is just concentrating on the ball here. He has got to be
:26:27. > :26:31.screaming at them to push them out to give him more space to deal with
:26:32. > :26:34.the ball. Probably more significantly, Stevie Hamill's
:26:35. > :26:39.position, picking up Scobey, he has got himself in a bad position. Not
:26:40. > :26:42.facing the ball. It is about to be taken, he has got in the wrong
:26:43. > :26:46.position. He is that desperate to keep tight with him, can't see the
:26:47. > :26:51.ball, and as we play it on, it is a good header by Scobey. And what
:26:52. > :26:54.would say, some people have looked at the goalie, but if Motherwell are
:26:55. > :26:59.up on the penalty spot, the head is coming from ten yards, he has more
:27:00. > :27:03.time to react. The header is coming from 67 yards, and we were just
:27:04. > :27:06.highlighted. It just shows you how quickly football can change, because
:27:07. > :27:09.probably from the first half enormous the same position history
:27:10. > :27:14.of their rooted and gutted. Now he is scoring the winning goal. Martin
:27:15. > :27:22.McGee described the pitch as dreadful. Would you rather play on
:27:23. > :27:24.that pitch or an artificial surface? For me, the pitch was not great, but
:27:25. > :27:28.you get varying degrees of grass parks, you do with Astra Tevez well.
:27:29. > :27:33.Top flight I would rather play on grass all day long. There is not
:27:34. > :27:36.saying that is not a place for Astroturf in the future, but at the
:27:37. > :27:38.moment, top flight, grass all the way for me.
:27:39. > :27:47.A new man in charge at Rugby Park - would he get off to a winning start?
:27:48. > :27:54.A first game in charge for the new Carl Meyer neck manager Lee Clark.
:27:55. > :27:57.After some success with Huddersfield Town he had less successful spells
:27:58. > :28:03.at Birmingham City and Blackpool. Could he get off on the front foot
:28:04. > :28:07.at Kilmarnock? The early signs were promising. Josh Magennis looked like
:28:08. > :28:12.he was in the mood. Evan Holtz cleared the danger.
:28:13. > :28:22.And there would be more menace from Magennis soon after. Dundee unable
:28:23. > :28:26.to get the ball clear. But Holt again doing enough to fall the
:28:27. > :28:33.Northern Ireland international, who fired into Row H or thereabouts.
:28:34. > :28:37.Clark keen to get his point across, and Kilmarnock continued to dominate
:28:38. > :28:44.the first time. Gary Decker with the effort over the bar. Next, a free
:28:45. > :28:49.kick from Craig Slater, and a great save from Scott Bain, to prevent
:28:50. > :28:56.Kevin Hall from turning into his own net.
:28:57. > :29:06.The Kelly chances kept going -- Kilmarnock chances kept coming.
:29:07. > :29:12.Unable to get the of this header. But he would get plenty on this one.
:29:13. > :29:14.Nick Ross clearing off the line at the back post, as Dundee survived
:29:15. > :29:27.again. So,
:29:28. > :29:33.Clark, but no goal. Dundee's big chance in the first half would be
:29:34. > :29:37.created by Greg Stuart. His pass found Rory Loy. His shot was
:29:38. > :29:43.deflected over the bar by Lee Hodson.
:29:44. > :29:49.0-0 the score at half-time. In the second half, Dandy set about
:29:50. > :30:06.creating more chances. Kane Hemmings neatly shed up --
:30:07. > :30:12.setup Paul McGowan, whose shot was blocked and life was about to get
:30:13. > :30:23.easier for the shot stopper extraordinaire. McDonald did well to
:30:24. > :30:37.get a strong hand and keep this shot out. With time almost up, Dundee
:30:38. > :30:46.almost nicked it, Thomas Konrad had a header just wide of the post and
:30:47. > :30:50.it finished 0-0. Got a bit nervy towards the end because you didn't
:30:51. > :30:55.want a repeat of Tuesday night. Pleased that once again the
:30:56. > :30:58.application and the desire of the players is terrific and as long as
:30:59. > :31:04.we have that we have a great opportunity to succeed. Second half
:31:05. > :31:11.we created good situations, could have done better, but another clean
:31:12. > :31:18.sheet, third on the trot, and I thought our goalkeeper was
:31:19. > :31:23.excellent. Not a bad game for a goalless draw, 20 of chances, both
:31:24. > :31:28.managers pleased with clean sheets and both goalkeepers had good games.
:31:29. > :31:36.I was at the game and I really enjoyed it for a goalless draw. A
:31:37. > :31:40.really good save, he was going one way and he just moves in midair.
:31:41. > :31:42.really good save, he was going one Terrific save, keeps them in the
:31:43. > :31:49.game, and I think second half Dundee were the better side. It was a good
:31:50. > :31:55.save from McDonald's. I wouldn't get too carried away, I would say it was
:31:56. > :32:00.good, not great, if it had been in the back of the net you would've
:32:01. > :32:04.been saying, how did he not save it? This one looked fantastic that I
:32:05. > :32:07.would say it was good, not great, because if it ended up in the net
:32:08. > :32:14.you would be asking questions of the goalkeeper. It looked fantastic in
:32:15. > :32:23.the flesh but not translating into the pitches. A good game for Lee
:32:24. > :32:29.Clark. Last time Kilmarnock lost by several to Dundee so it is progress.
:32:30. > :32:33.I think the manager has put a good foundation in there and with Lee
:32:34. > :32:36.Clark coming to the club they have been different since then. The
:32:37. > :32:43.atmosphere in the place has improved, clean sheets are vital.
:32:44. > :32:47.That is what they really need. Give them a foundation to build on so
:32:48. > :32:48.they can get some confidence in the side.
:32:49. > :32:51.With just one win from their last 11 matches, Hamilton Accies travelled
:32:52. > :32:55.But they faced a Ross County side who'd beaten them twice
:32:56. > :33:23.Ross County have captain Davies and Jimmy record back with them. Schalke
:33:24. > :33:27.is back up front. Hamilton have a suspended player. Ross County have
:33:28. > :33:31.only picked up one win in the last six league matches.
:33:32. > :33:35.only picked up one win in the last always. Good save by Michael
:33:36. > :33:53.McGovern. Good goalkeeping from McGovern. Foster. Players in the
:33:54. > :34:01.middle. Morris couldn't get the touch, out as far as Crawford.
:34:02. > :34:06.Crawford had the goal at his mercy. Morris clipped the goalkeeper, who
:34:07. > :34:11.was stranded there, got a knock in the face. The ball fell back to
:34:12. > :34:19.Crawford but he couldn't pick his spot. Forster. Davis with the
:34:20. > :34:26.header. Schalke! That is the breakthrough for Ross County in
:34:27. > :34:35.stoppage time at the end of the first half, the long thwarted free
:34:36. > :34:38.kick from Davies picked out Forster and there was Schalk arriving for
:34:39. > :34:49.his fourth goal this season. His first in the league and County are
:34:50. > :34:53.in front. Here it is Crawford. He thought he had got away from Jamie
:34:54. > :34:55.Reckord, who mistimed thought he had got away from Jamie
:34:56. > :35:03.and he gets a red card. thought he had got away from Jamie
:35:04. > :35:11.toe-poked beyond him. Jamie Reckord sees red, County down to ten men.
:35:12. > :35:16.Crawford with the free kick, turned away superbly by Fox.
:35:17. > :35:25.Crawford with the free kick, turned effort from Crawford. Good
:35:26. > :35:36.goalkeeping. Corner knocked away by Boyce. Back in, there is Morris. It
:35:37. > :35:43.just won't go for Accies. They are claiming for a handball on the goal
:35:44. > :35:47.line. The clearance came from Paul Quinn, he knocked it against Martin
:35:48. > :35:53.Woods, it looked as though it came off the county player's hand. That
:35:54. > :36:03.is what Accies are incensed about. Accidental, says the referee. Lovely
:36:04. > :36:10.reverse pass. Finding McKinnon and the shot turned away superbly by Fox
:36:11. > :36:11.once more. Accies growing in confidence with the one-man
:36:12. > :36:29.advantage. Good oral into the box. It has
:36:30. > :36:34.squirmed into the corner of the net. The Accies are level and it is
:36:35. > :36:41.Dougie Imrie popping up with the header, getting across with the
:36:42. > :36:54.header in ahead of Foster and it is his sixth goal of the season, Imrie.
:36:55. > :37:03.Accies get it away. Crawford. Now here it is Davies. Brought to a halt
:37:04. > :37:11.by the challenge of Crawford, who claims he got the ball. The referee,
:37:12. > :37:20.Greg Aitken, says there was a trip. McShane. Brilliant goal from Ian
:37:21. > :37:29.McShane. The ten men are in front. An exquisite finish with the right
:37:30. > :37:33.mood to put Ross County in front. I thought the boys battled manfully.
:37:34. > :37:38.The substitutions had a big part to play as well, and they showed the
:37:39. > :37:45.spirit in that dressing room to get a win. It was frustrating that it
:37:46. > :37:49.was free kick after free kick, you can't do anything about the boy
:37:50. > :37:53.putting the ball in the top corner. I couldn't be critical of the
:37:54. > :38:03.players, second half they were fantastic. An excellent three points
:38:04. > :38:08.in the end for Ross County with ten men, great free kick by Ian McShane.
:38:09. > :38:14.When it is not your day it is not your day. Certainly not. The ball
:38:15. > :38:19.comes in here, good ball in by Gordon, a lot of bodies. At first it
:38:20. > :38:27.is a good saint by Martin Woods that there is no way the referee can see
:38:28. > :38:33.that and I think the Accies were claiming it went over the line, so
:38:34. > :38:37.maybe Ross County got away with one. You considered Crawford gets a nick
:38:38. > :38:42.on that but when you watch it in real time you can see why that is
:38:43. > :38:45.given as a free kick. It is difficulty for the Hamilton guys to
:38:46. > :38:50.take but understandable how the referee has given that. I am sure
:38:51. > :38:56.the Accies boys have been doing their homework, to jump or not to
:38:57. > :39:05.jump at the free kick. -- I am not sure. They have two jump, I have
:39:06. > :39:06.only seen it go under the ball a couple of times. Then I remembered
:39:07. > :39:14.only seen it go under the ball a McShane had done it a month ago. It
:39:15. > :39:18.goes under the wall, Hamilton have done their homework and decided not
:39:19. > :39:24.to jump and he puts it in the top corner. Hugely frustrating for
:39:25. > :39:29.Accies and they are on a poor run of form at the moment. A few worries in
:39:30. > :39:34.terms of the play-off place? A number of teams are around the
:39:35. > :39:38.play-off spot but in such a bad run of form you will fear for that. They
:39:39. > :39:41.have to get out of it quickly because the longer it goes on the
:39:42. > :39:43.more difficult it becomes. Absolutely.
:39:44. > :39:55.The Ladbrokes Premiership table looks like this.
:39:56. > :39:57.After their win over Hearts, Dundee United 11 points adrift.
:39:58. > :40:02.With Rangers visiting Palmerston later this afternoon,
:40:03. > :40:05.in-form Hibs had the chance to narrow the gap at the top -
:40:06. > :40:07.for a while at least - against Alloa Athletic
:40:08. > :40:21.Alan Stubbs has the luxury of making seven changes to the Hibs team that
:40:22. > :40:29.reached the Scottish Cup quarterfinals. Keatings among those
:40:30. > :40:35.who get their chance. The same for Alloa Athletic, this starting XI one
:40:36. > :40:48.a precious point at home to Rangers. Kallis is on the look bench. -- the
:40:49. > :40:52.bench. That is a great ball through for Martin Boyle, who will open the
:40:53. > :41:01.scoring for Hibs within five minutes. Great vision from the
:41:02. > :41:07.online Celtic youngster. Darting run into the box for Boyle, one touch to
:41:08. > :41:12.lift it over the top of Gallacher and the second put it in the net.
:41:13. > :41:19.Ryan Finney looks to get the ball in the box and does. What a chance for
:41:20. > :41:26.Alloa Athletic to equalise immediately. Great ball in from the
:41:27. > :41:28.wingback and feathering them had a massive chance to equalise. --
:41:29. > :41:45.Hetherington had. Keatings. Perfect pass for Danny
:41:46. > :41:50.Mayor Carmichael -- Danny Carmichael, who has his first Hibs
:41:51. > :41:56.goal Tom and his injury torment is over. It has been tough since his
:41:57. > :42:00.move from Queen Of The South. Very similar to the goal five minutes in.
:42:01. > :42:11.This is five minutes from half-time and Carmichael makes it 2-0.
:42:12. > :42:14.This is five minutes from half-time tried to get there. That would have
:42:15. > :42:17.been one for the scrapbook for tried to get there. That would have
:42:18. > :42:27.central defender if this had gone on. It has skimmed the net and gone
:42:28. > :42:35.over. Carmichael, toying with Alloa Athletic. Here is Henderson, who
:42:36. > :42:41.takes aim and isn't too far away. He deserves a goal for a masterful
:42:42. > :42:48.midfield performance, just swerving wide of target, that one. McManus
:42:49. > :42:53.with the free kick, a glancing header away only as far as
:42:54. > :42:58.McCausland and that was Mitch Megginson and his shot took a
:42:59. > :43:07.deflection, took an awkward bounce as well in front of the keeper, Marx
:43:08. > :43:14.Oxley -- Mark Oxley, and ended up being a really good save. Bracing
:43:15. > :43:17.away is Henderson. Always aware of what is happening around the back.
:43:18. > :43:27.McGinn on who has had an impact since coming off the bench. Great
:43:28. > :43:32.ball, Henderson. Martin Boyle scores again, rounding off a very
:43:33. > :43:40.satisfactory afternoon for Hibs. Two goals for Boyle and it is three for
:43:41. > :43:46.Hibs and Alan Stubbs' team stays unbeaten in 2016.
:43:47. > :43:50.I had no doubt today with the changes I made because I
:43:51. > :43:52.I had no doubt today with the squad I have, I know the strength
:43:53. > :43:58.they have, and some people may squad I have, I know the strength
:43:59. > :44:03.questioned the seventh changes but we weren't questioning it
:44:04. > :44:07.questioned the seventh changes but for me, we had just as strong a team
:44:08. > :44:12.as what we did on Tuesday against Hearts. I don't have any qualms over
:44:13. > :44:19.the end result, I think Hibs deserved to win, but I think my
:44:20. > :44:24.players did well. We created chances in the second half and if we had
:44:25. > :44:29.taken them earlier it could have got us back within a goal and it could
:44:30. > :44:34.have been different but it is lots of positives and two big games on
:44:35. > :44:41.the horizon. at the victory for hips against hearts. Did you have any
:44:42. > :44:47.doubts that Hibs would get the three puts? Very much in agreement with
:44:48. > :44:50.what Alan Stubbs said, there were more than enough strength in that
:44:51. > :44:57.site come away with a victory at home where they have such a
:44:58. > :45:01.fantastic record. I am British or he would not put that side out against
:45:02. > :45:06.Hearts, but it shows the strength and depth that Hibs have. All you
:45:07. > :45:12.have to do is look at the bench to see that. It shows the strength in
:45:13. > :45:15.depth, it was very attack minded, a lot of names that you
:45:16. > :45:19.depth, it was very attack minded, a on the Hibs bench got the chance
:45:20. > :45:24.depth, it was very attack minded, a today. Fantastic pass. They were
:45:25. > :45:30.playing as two high wing-backs, but the quality of passing, this is
:45:31. > :45:34.another one. Just getting in behind, lovely when I'm great finish. I
:45:35. > :45:36.would say probably five of the lads on the bench today would be
:45:37. > :45:42.first-team players. Stevenson is injured. This was a really good
:45:43. > :45:48.passing move. On the other side of it, Alloa had one or two chances.
:45:49. > :45:56.Really strong performance. The ball comes in here and ball gets his
:45:57. > :46:00.third. You see a player like Henderson, on loan, and see how many
:46:01. > :46:08.midfielders they have. There is a real effervescence about his play.
:46:09. > :46:12.He fits in very well to the setup. He has a manager that has given him
:46:13. > :46:15.a lot of trust and belief, Filton full of confidence. You see the end
:46:16. > :46:17.result, some great performances from him.
:46:18. > :46:19.Hibs narrowing the gap on Rangers to five points.
:46:20. > :46:22.Could Rangers stretch it back to eight, with victory at Queen
:46:23. > :46:25.The Rangers manager Mark Warburton not a fan of artificial pitches -
:46:26. > :46:28.this would be the third artificial surface Rangers had played
:46:29. > :46:43.James Fowler makes a solitary change to the side that won against St
:46:44. > :46:47.Mirren. Andy Murdoch sets out today, Miller comes in. Rangers are without
:46:48. > :46:58.Martin Waghorn, hurt in the Scottish Cup win against Kilmarnock.
:46:59. > :47:07.Mark Millar, plenty of targets including Derek Lyle at the back.
:47:08. > :47:13.Good save. Then headed wide! Fotheringham did really well here. A
:47:14. > :47:23.good position, got the follow-up too. Free kick, dealt with by Tim
:47:24. > :47:27.Atkinson. 21-year-old, just the third appearance of the season.
:47:28. > :47:39.Dealing with the free kick from the full-back. Tavern near, on the King.
:47:40. > :47:43.Back again. Two players interchange. Rides the challenge well. Andy
:47:44. > :47:47.Halliday, goes for the curl, spilt by the keeper. Great save. King
:47:48. > :47:54.can't get there. Cracking challenge by Kyle Houghton. The goalkeeper
:47:55. > :47:58.made the mistake, it was a decent shot. But Clark was denied, the
:47:59. > :48:07.goalkeeper up quickly. That is what they are trained to do. Ryan Conroy
:48:08. > :48:16.with the corner from the right hand side. Back into the middle. Lewis
:48:17. > :48:18.Kidd is calling for it. Rattles the crossbar. What a hit that was. Chris
:48:19. > :48:30.Higgins laid it back to him. Queens are struggling now. Tries to
:48:31. > :48:37.show him on the outside. And does just that. Great action. O'Halloran
:48:38. > :48:46.with a long-running, but plays this just that. Great action. O'Halloran
:48:47. > :48:53.back. This rattles the frame. Halladay will run over. That goes
:48:54. > :49:01.down as casual stop of the day from Jim at consent. There is the hand
:49:02. > :49:04.up, have a corner. Queen of the South battling again. Rosol Centre
:49:05. > :49:11.out wide, calling for a again. Back on the Harris. --
:49:12. > :49:25.that is not a good clearance. Following out truly quickly. He had
:49:26. > :49:32.to be. That is alert goalkeeping. Mark Warburton, a glance at the
:49:33. > :49:40.clock. Wallace. Miller has made a run, bounces up, Kenny Miller has
:49:41. > :49:46.gone for Gradel! The half volley a reminder of that cup final winning
:49:47. > :49:52.goal in 2009, what a strike from Kenny Miller. It is his 100th league
:49:53. > :49:57.goal in Scotland, his 73rd for Rangers, and he delivered it with
:49:58. > :50:06.aplomb. Higher than he thought, the desired result exactly what he
:50:07. > :50:13.wanted! Here is Ryan Conroy. Fotheringham doing his job. Always
:50:14. > :50:20.looks a decent stop when you dive, but that is confident goalkeeping.
:50:21. > :50:25.Atkinson sent it long. Picked up by Jason Holt, it is opening up for
:50:26. > :50:32.Jason Holt! Out of the hands of the goalkeeper, somehow he got it on to
:50:33. > :50:36.the bar. It had power. The goalkeeper would have been blushing
:50:37. > :50:42.if that had gone in. Corner. That is a great header from Higgins. It is
:50:43. > :50:47.another good save from Wes Fotheringham. He got the angle on
:50:48. > :50:54.this perfectly, scooped clear by the keeper. Holt, on to Miller, Rangers
:50:55. > :50:59.will be happy to waste a few seconds here, Miller into Wallace, a great
:51:00. > :51:04.little run, Wallace, back onto Kenny Miller for two. Arguably an easier
:51:05. > :51:12.chance than the one he scored. Great play from Rangers. He knows this
:51:13. > :51:15.could be their final chance. Conroy sent it in. Andy Dowie, over the
:51:16. > :51:28.top. Queen of the South's final chance.
:51:29. > :51:31.Another three points for Rangers, and they are eight points ahead of
:51:32. > :51:39.Hibs again. Hibs have a game in hand against Morton in midweek. 1-0 they
:51:40. > :51:41.lost to Falkirk this weekend, Falkirk five points behind Hibs.
:51:42. > :51:47.What you have to say is the Rangers road show, where we saw a barrel
:51:48. > :51:50.load of goals being scored earlier, slowed down today, and Queen of the
:51:51. > :51:56.South had their chances. Threw it was a good game. This was early on,
:51:57. > :52:09.a free header from a set play. Knocks it wide.
:52:10. > :52:17.Now 1-0 today. A lot of people talk about Waghorn and tavern near, Holt,
:52:18. > :52:24.but Fotheringham has been a sound as anybody. Why has it slow down? I
:52:25. > :52:29.think a common mission of things. It is very difficult to maintain that
:52:30. > :52:33.level of tempo throughout a whole season. Teams have started to suss
:52:34. > :52:39.out the way Rangers play, trying to play a bit more defensive and
:52:40. > :52:43.frustrate Rangers. I think the combination of those two things has
:52:44. > :52:47.led to them not scoring a barrel load, but the most important thing
:52:48. > :52:52.is you get three points. That is the sign of a good team, and Rangers
:52:53. > :52:53.have been able to do that. A stupendous strike from Kenny Miller
:52:54. > :53:01.to this match. Yes, as stupendous strike from Kenny Miller
:53:02. > :53:08.vote in the Scottish Cup final. It is a fantastic strike. They used to
:53:09. > :53:11.work that, and I have seen Kenny Miller do Scotland. The other Miller
:53:12. > :53:16.switches off and doesn't go with him, but that is harsh. For him to
:53:17. > :53:21.shoot it from there, probably the highest shot ever to come down and
:53:22. > :53:27.land it surprised Kenny. The get his reaction. Fantastic goal to win any
:53:28. > :53:34.game. I am pleased for him, he has signed a new deal and are still
:53:35. > :53:38.scoring the goals. It is all heading to this match between Hibs and
:53:39. > :53:43.Rangers in mid April. As long as it still maintains just a few points,
:53:44. > :53:48.that game will be vital. Michael, thank you for struggling
:53:49. > :53:50.that game will be vital. Michael, championship race could go all
:53:51. > :53:55.that game will be vital. Michael, way to the wire. From all