23/03/2014 Sportscene

Good evening and welcome to Sportscene. We already know the

answer to a couple of questions, well Celtic beat champions? Yes. And

we'll there be a relegation, yes. U2 shared the light on the discussions

are Pat Nevin and Kris Boyd. Lawson Johnston yesterday it was not so

much doctors orders as patience orders. The manager chose the team

from his sick bed. Their opponents, Hibernian, had to win to keep alive

their hopes of the top six finish. A cold afternoon and what better

reward than a couple from the mascot? -- curl.

Frazer Wright is underneath and he will have to be careful. Almost beat

his own goalkeeper. He touched it away. Heffernan with McDonald in the

way. That is a poor ball. A chance for Hibernian. It is tracked across

the face of goal. He ended up walking back into the path of Danny

Haynes who came close for Hibernian. That is a decent ball into the box,

the header and a save. Another shot from Garry McDonald. The first grass

stains appearing on the white jersey of the keeper. Wotherspoon and the

goalkeeper has come for it. He has not got it and Steven MacLean has.

It is his ninth of the season for Steven MacLean. St Johnstone ahead.

The goalkeeper came for it and it was not for him to take. That is not

the prettiest goal of the season but it counts. Stevie May looks for

support. That is a great all to the past -- back post. The head from

Wotherspoon and it is over. It needed just a tap what it got more

of a touch and it was enough to sky it over the bar. Stevie May into the

middle and Wotherspoon! Murdoch kept his eye on the ball all the way. St

Johnstone note that a win against Hibernian today will secure the win

in the top six. Murdoch is even sitting down to make saves now.

Stevie May again. Or Halloran trying to get one away from Boateng, across

it comes and it is then, off of Ryan McGeever. It is an all in goal. That

is the first own goal for and Johnstone in over a year. Boateng

simply was not strong enough. Ryan McGuffie is unlucky there. Very

little he could do. Very little he could do. Danny Haynes. He has

pushed down on Wotherspoon and then he stood on him. It has got to be a

red card. The referee comes across. I have no idea what he is

complaining about. He pushed over his opponent and then look at the

stamp. St Johnstone are looking for a third. That goalkeeper is earning

his money, he can smile about it. Again Hibernian lack at the back.

Stevie May will leave it. Wotherspoon enjoined the afternoon

against his former employers. That is delightful footwork by David

Wotherspoon. 2-0 up so he can try a few flicks and tricks, wonderful by

David Wotherspoon. That is bad defending. Boateng. McLean looking

for help, he sends it out wide. Or Halloran, back onto Wotherspoon. It

is Gary Miller. Not a great end to a move with Hibernian going one way

and then the other. Being pulled all over the place. It has been the

good, bad and ugly this week. The ugly was the sending off, the red

card, the bad where the lapses for the goal. The good was getting

Steven Thompson into the team. We did really well in the first-half. I

am delighted for Tommy. To get back in the top six again for the third

year in a row. What an achievement for a club like this. A fantastic

achievement for St Johnstone. Now let's take a look at the march

through the eyes of Sean Murdoch. This man had a turbulent afternoon,

his wife went into labour. Within the six yard line you go in and you

wipe out everything in front of you. If you do not get it it is your

fault but for the rest of the game I think he was splendid. Meticulously

as the game wore on I think he stop it being a particularly embarrassing

scoreline against Hibernian. From a Hibernian point of view they will be

disappointed by the chances that their opponents have had. It could

have been six if they are goalkeeper had not been so good. As a

substitute goalkeeper you do not have time to think about it, you

come in and do your best, in the end the fault was not with him,

Hibernian have bigger problems than just the goalkeeper at the moment.

Looking to the end of the season there could be real concerns. And

what about this red card situation, what was he thinking about? The

elbow is there to start with and you can see the intent, it is stupid. He

will be wasting paper work appealing that one, that is for sure. What is

going through his mind? You are just a bit angry and furious new the end

of the game when you are getting beat and you have been working hard

and trying hard, it is just excuses. Now let's have a look at the record

of Terry Butcher since he arrived at Hibernian.

He took over at Inverness in January the season they got relegated,

Hibernian are not going to get relegated, are they? It looks really

bad for Terry Butcher but I cannot blame him, he has to rebuild the

team but he has to make sure he is doing that in the Es PFL, a win will

be needed. Lots of significant questions remain for St Mirren. They

are second from the bottom of the table. For Celtic, Liam Henderson

did enough last week to retain his place in the starting line-up. The

only changes virtual Van Dijk replacing Efe Ambrose. -- virtual

Van Dijk. -- Virgil. Fraser Forster getting a good arm to that. A sign

that St Mirren are not here only to defend. A nice switch of play,

Naismith coming forward. Magennis, it falls nicely for Naismith,

against rate at Forster. Some encouraging signs for the visitors.

Anthony Stokes, a lovely ball, Leigh Griffiths is then. The score is what

it is chalked off, he has been flagged for off side. He does not

agree. That is marginal, a great pass and the really nice finish. It

remains goalless. Commons and stalks looking dangerous. Commons could not

quite stretch to knock that into the net. St Mirren could not get that

clear. Eventually diverted over the crossbar. Liam Henderson cannot

believe he did not score. Nice from Commons Ford Griffiths. Surely this

must be the opening goal for Celtic. Darren McGregor is the man on the

line for St Mirren this time. Leigh Griffiths had so many options, it

looked inevitable that Celtic would score. Sometimes it was kept out.

Stop in his tracks. Celtic looking to make the breakthrough before

half-time. An exciting ball. Stephan your hands on with his first Celtic

goal! Celtic are in front just before the break. -- Johansen. He

could hardly miss. That is good play from stalks. Leigh Griffiths outside

of him. Leigh Griffiths note for number two. Celtic doubled the lead

and it is five goals in five games for Leigh Griffiths. Again it is

that trio of strokes, Commons and Griffiths combining. Celtic know

surely have the three points wrapped up. A short corner from Commons. He

gets it back again. Commons. So unfortunate for Commons. Chris

Commons so often on the scoresheet for Celtic these days and only a

little away from that today. Plenty of options. Griffiths. Back to the

Welshman again. The cross, Commons in there again and stalks but the

whistle had gone for the challenge on Marian Kello. Celtic looking

dangerous every time they come forward.

It's a good ball. High up in the air. Kello bundles over Griffiths

and there's Stokes. Leigh Griffiths took a sore one. I don't think

there's any suggestion of a penalty. A dangerous corner, hacked away by

McGuinness. -- McGuinness. Van Dijk on this occasion. Once again the

assistant referee's flag is raised. I think there's too much doubt about

this one. It's a fine finish to round things

off. Really well team goal. Anthony Stokes kept it down brilliantly to

beat Kello. We should have won the game more

comprehensively with the chances we had. But the attacking play and the

style of play at the minute is to a very high standard. I'm really

enjoying watching the team playing at the minute. Nobody else has

managed to capitalise on it. We've got to see that as a positive,

especially at this particular stage of the season. Great football once

again from Celtic. They can be crowned champions on Wednesday night

if Aberdeen drop points on Tuesday night at Ross County. The first

goal. From Johansen since arriving in Scottish football. He has made

quiet progress, the Norwegian player of the. How do you assess it? When

you look, they are in a great position there but the right

switches off and you get in between them. The ball from Griffiths is

tremendous, with his so called bad foot! It's that willingness to get

beyond the defenders, and he's done that. You know what it's like to

adapt to life at an old firm club, but are you surprised how well

Griffiths has settled in? No, because he's been here before and

he's scored goals with Hibs. You will get more chant -- and so is at

Celtic. He's a tremendous finisher. He probably could have had more in

that game. The offside one that was shown was maybe touch and go as

well. Neil Lennon is talking about adding four or five new faces to the

Celtic squad come the summer. Is the gulf between Celtic and the rest

simply going to widen? Most likely it will. You never know, Aberdeen

might keep on going but you never know what's going to happen there.

If you are bringing in the likes of Griffiths, he has been superb. A lot

of Celtic fans weren't sure about him, but he is fantastic. Johansen

etc coming on, they are going to have to reinvent themselves a little

bit as they go on, because they will continue to lose players down south

and there's nothing much they can do about that. As for St Mirren, any

positives? Guess, their game has finished now! They can just forget

about that, move on and thank their lucky stars that was only three, it

could have been a hell of a lot more. Kilmarnock were cast the

supporting act yesterday but were hoping to upstage the cup winners,

Aberdeen. As the Pittodrie Stadium or gathered at the tawdry to pay

tribute to the heroes of last weekend.

Peter Paul missed the league Cup Final because of injury. Johnny

Hayes missed practically all a bit for the same reason. A great moment

for the pair of them now. Barry Robson starts on the bench.

Three changes to the cull Marnoch team. -- Kilmarnock.

Rory Mackenzie on the move. Being allowed to run a long way with the

ball. Still going. He flicks it for Kris Boyd. 1-0! He is deadly. As the

recriminations go an in the Aberdeen defence, allowed to turn and poke

the ball past Langfield. Smith wriggles clear. A great

chance. Played up by Reynolds. Flicked on by

Nick K. For Adam Rooney, 1-1! What a prolific scorer he has been

since becoming an Aberdeen player. If you give him this sort of room at

the edge of the area, this is what he does. Having got themselves

level, they now fancy going in front. That was Nile McGinn blazing

a shot over the top. Although he would have to give some credit for

the challenge. It is through from McGinn. And he is

denied again. Set up by Rooney. He was onside, although the flag went

up against him. Another missed chance. The goals

were flowing so freely last season for McGinn. At the moment it is a

real struggle. A really inviting ball in from

McGinn. Concert thine involved as well. -- concert thine. That was

clumsy from Ashcroft on Adam Rooney. Reynolds gets the break of the ball

deflected. Smith... Jack! 2-1 Aberdeen. Ryan Jack scores. It's

been an afternoon of celebration already with the League Cup on show.

Aberdeen want the win to go with it. They are now 2-1 ahead, having been

one down. McGinn is on the end of Jack's pass.

He's dragged it wide. You get the feeling McGinn could be here all day

long trying to score. It keeps us winning. It's important to try and

keep winning, especially at home. That's the first one done. We go to

Ross County on Tuesday. We are looking for a stunning performance

again. If we can get that, we've got ourselves a chance. We got a good

goal, we looked good on the counter attack. We looked solid. But to lose

a goal from a free kick, especially after the week before, that was very

disappointing. It's been a fantastic week for Aberdeen. But last weekend,

victory in the league cup and today they celebrated in the Granite city

in style, with an open top bus parade through union Street.

Thousands of Aberdeen fans flocked to see their teams coming with

silverware. Echoes of 30 years ago. The trophy laid in the 1980s. Great

scenes. It's good to see so many people coming out. They've waited a

long time, but they have two add to that. It's one trophy, they've got a

great chance of another coming up as well. But this should be just the

start. The new manager has come in and done a phenomenal job, but let's

hope they don't lose a lot of those players. We've seen teams in

Scotland become really good and then just fall away quickly. This is a

real chance for Aberdeen. There was a great deal of celebration at

Qatada yesterday, and this man here almost spoiled it! And going to ask

a question of him here. He's got his back to the goal when it falls to

him. He turns and hits it and doesn't look. This is a habit of

strikers that I could never get during my career. I was always

looking for half a yard. You are trying these days to go beyond. I'm

not trying to embarrass you, but you go beyond defenders a lot more than

you did in your earlier career. It's played into you, your back is to the

goal. There isn't, for me, a goal on here. Do you think about it or do

you basically... It's just instinct. You know roughly where the goal is

going to be. I put it back across. With Rooney's goal as well, he does

exactly the same. As soon as he gets that half yard he moves it. For

someone who's not a striker, I don't think there's a chance on because

there's player between me and the goal. You just put it back where it

came from. His first touch takes it across. It puts it back across the

goalkeeper. He took a step that way. He's totally blind and put it

back across him. It is a great finish from him. For us, it was

disappointing because we silenced the crowd. To find ourselves one

each, we were lucky. It ended a 2-1 because Aberdeen threw everything at

us in the second half. Never a week goes by where you don't get linked

with Rangers. Ally McCoist talking about his hopes to have you back at

the club at some point. Is that a possibility? I don't know. You never

know what's going to happen. I've found that out. What I will say,

I've said it umpteen times, and am enjoying my football, and scoring

goals. You never know what's going to happen in the future. We need to

get a few more points, we know that. But we look forward to the cup

finals. Hopefully we will pull ourselves away from the bottom end.

19 goals and counting. Celtic will be champions soon, the Premiership

is back midweek as well and so, too, is Sportscene.

Despite all the hullabaloo caused by Aberdeen's recent revival, there's

no guarantee they will finish second in the Premiership. Mullet -- other

well have been there or thereabouts in the past few seasons and this

season is no different. They are very much in contention. Invite

girls lined up against his old side, Ross County. Derek Adams said

he'd spotted weaknesses in the Motherwell side that he hoped his

team would be able to exploit. Easier said than done. Ross County

themselves in desperate need of points.

If Ross County are to avoid the end of season play-offs, then they are

going to have to start taking chances like this. Jordan Slew still

without a Ross County goal should have at least hit the target. With a

testimonial dinner fork the captain coming up in the evening, Motherwell

were keen to celebrate with a win. But the early signs were that County

keeper I'd be the party spoiler as he denied James McFadden. But with

the Motherwell drum being pounded proudly, the home side tried again.

But again McFadden denied by Brown. But Motherwell retained possession.

Some inventive trickery from Ainsworth then gave Lasley the

chance. But the testimonial man could only fire wide. In the second

half the Motherwell drum was keeping up the rhythm, but the players on

the park were upping the pace. Ian bikers with a shot. This time

McFadden found his way past the County keeper. A good initial save

from Brown but the pieces falling kindly former -- the former Scotland

star, McFadden. Derek Adams, the Ross County manager, wouldn't be

happy with his keeper come the final whistle and for parrying the ball.

Although this one was at least proofed to safety. But soon after,

Brown failed to hold this swerving effort from Craig Moore. And there

was certain to make it 2-0. The shot seemingly wrong footing Brown and

Sutton, with his 19th goal of the season. There was still a chance for

Ross County to take something from this game. Come the 77th minute,

Richie Britton struck the base of the post. They got even closer five

minutes later. Yann Songo'o with the goal, as County mounted a late

rally. With antlers bristling, they had one last pop. Yann Songo'o

again. But defeat, and was the Ross County manager who was bristling

come full-time. I take full responsibility, he has padded the

ball into an area where the strikers come in and are going to score. It

should be parried around the post. Oval ball, we've created enough

chances here to win. We've not been clinical but we got three points.

The Ross County manager, Derek Adams, blasted Mark Brown after the

game, was a justified? It was quite harsh, he is a good keeper. If you

are going to parry it you have to do that into the Ainger areas. You know

what goalkeepers should be doing. This one, there is the angle you

want to put it at. It takes a move. I am with you on that. The first

one, fair enough. The second one, goalkeepers are not catching the

ball any more, it is because they are not moving. He has been punished

for probably the two mistakes of the game. Motherwell now level on points

with them. Stuart McCall trying to play down the fact they could end

second. I think they have had a fantastic season. They are under the

radar in many ways. They are 18 could be qualifying -- celebrating

this season. Everyone took their eye off of Motherwell but there are

players coming in and doing really well. Certainly they should be

celebrating. It is good to see James back scoring goals and doing really

well. James has got himself back together in the last couple of

months which is great because you want your good players doing well

and he is in that category. You old-timers are doing well. That is

very, very harsh! Inverness had not scored a single goal in their last

five matches, a mid week defeat to Motherwell added to the gloom. Not

only good Partick Thistle halt their opponents were a touch demoralised

yesterday but they could take hope from their when last October. Ross

Draper first to try his luck on goal. Norway past Gallacher. This

man has been a significant players and joining in January. Again no way

past the Thistle keeper. The competition was beginning to hot up.

Taylor did well to find space 18 yards out but the goalkeeper was on

hand to push the ball wide for a corner. And again, the pair went

head to head. This time a free kick from the official striker. The

difficult stop. Greg Tanzi is on his second spell with Thistle and he

felt he should have made it with this short but it went over the

crossbar. It has been a pretty barren spell for Billy McKay in

recent weeks but with this short looking set to score it was

disappointingly high and wide of the goal. This man thought he had a

short when he fired the ball past the keeper and into the net, only

for the flag to be raised for off side. This free kick went across

goal and Billy McKay knocked it home from just two yards out. Back in

goal-scoring form. The welcome three points. As a manager you cannot give

them an excuse. I asked them to play with more energy in the second

half, they gave everything they had got and I am the light did we picked

up the three points. We were by far the better team in the first half

and did not take our chances. I thought having that goal chalked off

that our striker was thinking he was onside. You almost get a sense of

relief from Caley Thistle and Billy McKay. He sets high standards for

himself. Good strikers will always go back. People get himself in the

position. That was a great header and he anticipated. He is difficult

to pick up, it is a great finish for him. How difficult is it for a

striker when you go through a barren run? I think it was six games he did

not have legal. If you are not getting the chances that is when it

is worrying. You will go through patches will your finishing is not

up to scratch and that is part and parcel of being a footballer,

strikers will miss chances. But you always look to score the next one

and that is what he did yesterday. Alan Archibald thought his side

should have taken something, would you agree? Yes. I feel really sorry

for Partick Thistle. They should not be in the danger they are in at the

moment. They get into really good positions. They keep on getting

there and keep on getting shots on target, eventually their luck will

change. When you see your luck changing, it did not change year.

The assistant referee was in a good position. But if Lionel Taylor keeps

on getting the right positions I think he will be the guy who keeps

Partick Thistle up. I think I probably ask you this every single

week but who do you think will finish second bottom? I think it

will be difficult for St Mirren and Ross County seem on a poor run right

now. Hibernian could get dragged in. When you are in the bottom six you

are all against each other. We have been lucky to have picked up Lloyd's

against the teams in the bottom six. It is going to be difficult when you

are down there every game is difficult. We look forward to them

and go in with confidence. It will be hugely interesting for us.

Tynecastle next. One change for Hearts for the side that lost last

time round at Rugby Park. Jackie McNamara makes five changes to the

United side. Into the middle it goes. Callum

Paterson. He is strong. The chance! Nice linkup play by Hearts. But some

was really strong. -- Patterson. A little nutmeg. Danger here for

Hearts. Robertson has made a great run. The ball into the middle

converted by Ryan Graham. Hearts are picked apart. Great play.

Robertson's run was to perfection. We will move onto the 50 point mark

with a win tonight. That was a good save. This is great play by Dundee

United. They have not scored since November. They are more than

capable. That was a bit early. Now dear Jeff J. The in the middle. He

will come again. No takers in the end. The dear Jeff G saying I played

it clear you wanted it. Smith doing well. Jamie Hamill for

Hearts. He felt he was being fouled. Under pressure and they give it

away. Cifci. Great goal. No wonder he is smiling. That gave the

goalkeeper Noel chance. Jackie McNamara likes his Friday night

football. Wilson! A great header. Right across the front of the

defence and into the opposite corner it goes. I think we could have

scored more goals in a lot easier to the finish instead of hanging on

until the last few minutes but I think that is more a criticism of

our performance tonight, we did not take more chances. I am macro we put

the lot into the game. The last second goal was a fantastic finish.

As a manager that is all you can ask. Ciftci know with 40 goals. I

thought there was one moment in this match where he got his pass wrong

but are you saying I am wrong? He has got to pass here. The ball has

gone it is in the middle, give me Ed. It looks like a good path but by

the time he passed it it is not, the timing is wrong but that is just

about the only thing he did wrong. Quick feet here and you score this

goal in any league in the planet and it is a cracker or let's just enjoy

that. He is contracted until the summer of 2016 so if anyone does

come in for him United will get the money for him. If it was any other

league in the world it would be shown over and over again. He has

scored some wonderful goals this season but also some great tap ins.

Brian Graham has to break his stride. It probably should have been

more comfortable for Dundee United in the end up. Black sabbath this

weekend in terms of Hibernian being able to relegate Hearts. How

significant with that be in terms of the whole Edinburgh football thing?

In the end Hearts fans who had looked at it in the way that if they

beat their opponents they will drag them down. Now look at this. The cat

the referee. White. I think the referee saw him coming and had a

little look around. The referee will not take a hit. He looked round and

thinks I am not going to get knocked over so I am going to give him a

little bit and white, he takes them out. Well done, very funny. Absolute

class. He hardly moved when he got hit there! What is the highlight?

Celtic will be celebrating. I suppose you have to look at the team

that has been ignored a little bit. Celtic have got into the top six

again. Limited budgets, getting there, applaud them. Thank you very

much. Let's look at the Premiership table this evening. Not a lot has

changed. St Johnstone will be in the top six,

Hibernian in the bottom six. It is very tight. It is a weekend of haves

and have-nots. Until Thursday, good night.