26/02/2017 Sportscene

Tonight a show choc-full of shock scorelines,

managers under pressure and comical defending -

We've got six in total from another weekend in the great Scottish

Starring for us amidst all the melodrama, Michael Stewart

Inverness Caley Thistle began the weekend bottom of the table.

They welcomed a Rangers side still without a permanent manager

and looking to bounce back from their defeat last

Commentary comes from Alasdair Lamont.

Richie Folland Gnat name is exactly the same team that came away with a

point from the last game, Cally Thistle are looking to make it three

unbeaten in the league, Rangers are already three without a win in the

league. They have the returning captain, Lee Wallace. Wallace's

throw is clever. A tight angle but it went for goal, saved by William

not once but twice. And early warning. Kenny Miller denied at the

near post. Driving forwards. Barry Mackay with a header. He's got to do

better than that from that position. The look on his face says that he

knows that. He's done well. I think that was Danny Wilson getting in the

clearance. At the near post, as morally wreaks havoc inside the

Rangers penalty area. Tansey with the hit and it is an! Greg Tansey

has put Cally Thistle in front! They'd didn't look to be in that

much danger but Tansey got a hold of that one and it curled away from the

goalie. Richie Foran's men overhead. -- move ahead. Billy Mackay. It is a

good effort and a good hand. That's a lovely ball. It's a chance and

it's gone just wide. Terrific execution in the pass. This is

Wallace. And it's a penalty kick. Steven McLean deciding that this

challenge on Wallace was a foul and Waghorn has a chance to draw Rangers

level and he has done. The 12th of the season for Martyn Waghorn, just

his fourth in the league but it could be a crucial one. Eventually

they get their block in. Tansey fancies his chances again! It will

require a great save to deny him a second. Amazon Hindman. Again

Waghorn takes it really well but he can't get it into the goal and Kenny

Miller is furious. You can see that he's looking for the cut back.

Waghorn went on his own. Kenny Miller comes short. Hyndman

eventually blocked, a good move by Rangers but it comes to nothing.

Good football, but as so often has been the case, no cutting edge.

Billy Mackay. He takes on McKiernan, and Foderingham had to push that way

to prevent Billy Mackay from putting his side back in front. Mackay. It's

a penalty! Richie Foran is looking tense as Iain Vigurs, it's saved by

Foderingham and behind, Foderingham could well have gained Rangers one

point here. Tansey. At the centre of just about everything for Cally

Thistle. It goes over his head. What a goal. Billy Mckay. Look what it

means to Richie Folland Gnat and the players. Something out of absolutely

nothing from Billy Mckay. And surely Inverness Caley Thistle have won it

now? Rangers with the last-ditch attack. Jason hold bursting through.

Did that come off the arm of Iain Vigurs? It's a corner only. Graeme

Murty can't believe it. Perhaps Rangers's chances have now gone. We

showed a lot of quality especially with the two finishes. We've been at

the bottom of the table for a long time. Weaker players would have

crumbled, not these. Huge desire, hunger, bravery. We kept positive.

We need the results would come. We've got two fine, fine results

against two top teams in Rangers and Hearts. What a result for both

sides, Stephen, you've only just thought outcome you're there, how

impressed we you with Inverness? Excellent. Rangers started well and

the passing was crisp, they created chances but didn't take them. The

goal they gave away was a defensive mistake, symbolic of them all

season, the same problems again and again. In the second half came out

well but then Inverness took the initiative. If you look at the

Inverness players, their desire to get forward and get their second

goal and the win that would take them off the bottom of the table was

evident. Tansey needs to get forward and he gets the second ball off the

back of that. This is poor from Waghorn. Weak. They are driving the

Rangers defence with three against two and where other Rangers

full-backs? They've left themselves exposed. They do very well to get a

shot. This is why it's important that the second midfielder is there.

They've got to shield the defenders. This is a piece of real magic.

That's too deep. If he had been tighter he could have nicked did we

maybe but Billy Mckay is able to pin him because he came late to the

tackle, poor defending. Great strike by Billy Mckay. What either of you

convinced by this penalty? I don't think it is a penalty kick, I think

it hits his chest before his hand. Handball is one of the big talking

points, you see here it comes off his chest and then his elbow but it

has to be deliberate. No headstand this week! It's got to be a

deliberate handball and it isn't. That's him lunging and it comes off

his midriff, up onto his elbow and I think the referee called it right.

Lee Wallace calls this a shocking period for Rangers. How bad is it,

Michael? It's not great. That's a strongly worded statement there, an

indictment of what is going on at the moment. It's a period of time,

they need to get number of decisions right, they need someone in charge

to steady the ship, it's not great on the field, they have won one in

seven. It is very poor. And off the field they've got a number of

positions they need to fill. If they don't, they will be more troubles

ahead for Rangers. The great Scottish footballing soap opera,

development of the day, Barry Ferguson? He quit as Clyde manager.

A lot of talk linking him with Rangers. One bookmaker has made him

favoured it to be the next Rangers manager. Barry was an unbelievable

player for Rangers, one of the best I ever played with, his contribution

was incredible but as a manager I don't think it's right for them

right now. Let's give Inverness do credit, bottom of the table, you

predicted Inverness would win this, didn't you Stephen? Nine added, 2-1.

Cheers! -- I did. Pay off the bottom of the table and it will give the

players such a huge psychological boost. They deserved it, they should

so much character and spread it in the last 30 minutes of the match.

Especially against two of the top sides in the division, to get those

results and get four points out of six it will have filled them full of

confidence. Welten Cally Thistle. -- well done.

It's been a turbulent few weeks for Motherwell boss Mark McGhee.

In trouble with officials, his team struggling at times,

and then a video filmed by a fan that went viral on social media.

Dundee arrived at Fir Park fresh from victory over

With McManus and Tate injured, Zak Jules and charmers come into the

defence. Keith Lapsley is on the bench. No selection problems for the

Dundee manager as he sticks by the side that won last week. That means

one former Motherwell player is an attack. Knocked back in. Mould gets

it out. It's Zak Jules who's turned that behind his own keeper! Zak

Jules, only his second league start for Motherwell. He wanted to make an

impact, not like that! He got it all wrong and looped it over Sampson.

Dundee are in front with seven minutes played. Motherwell have won

only one of the last eight meetings with Dundee. Charmers, into towards

Hennigan. Here's mould. It broke kindly for the Motherwell

striker and he dispatched that the keeper. Two wins in 12 league

matches for Motherwell going into this game. Mark or horror. A

tempting ball in. I'm not sure if he was trying to cross Aldershot but

O'Hara was on the scoresheet last week against Rangers. His Magellan.

O'Hara, down towards Haber and Dundee are in front, 2-1. Marcus

Haber claims his fifth goal of the season. He held off the challenge of

Zak Jules to swivel and send that one beyond Craig Sampson. Fine

strike. Dundee's away form hasn't been so good in recent times, no

wins in their last six matches. Wighton. O'Hara! Marc O'Hara is on

the scoresheet again! Tooling that one beyond Craig Sampson. Former

team-mates at Kilmarnock. -- drilling that. O'Hara with his

fourth goal this season. He really is in the mood this afternoon. He is

Vincent. Wighton! And Dundee go in front, 4-1! It's turning into a

rout. In this first half! And its Craig Wighton who buries that with

the Motherwell rearguard all over the place. Nowhere near to make the

clearance. Ojamaa teasing all the way. Magellan

trying a curler. Inches away from a fifth. Good play again by Dundee.

Worrying times for Mark McGhee and Motherwell. Here is Haber. It's a

double for Marcus Haber right at the end of this first half. And Dundee

are in front, 5-1. Poor Mark King again by Motherwell, and Haber took

full advantage. -- poor marking. McDonald. It's a good save by Scott

Bain. But that's better from the home team in this second period.

Scott Bain reacting quickly. To that strike. McDonald, through towards

Clay. Craig Clay. And it's Scott Bain to the rescue a game for

Dundee. It has not been Clay's day. It is not Motherwell's day either.

Scott Bain makes a good save with his boot. And he is Pearson, finding

a substitute, and the ball is clattered off the post. It's a scary

moment that the Dundee captain, even scarier looking at the scoreline for

Mark McGhee and his Motherwell team. I believe we've got a decent group

of players. I'll say it again, we've been undermined by the loss of

experienced defenders and we have suffered from bad but otherwise, I

will take the team out there in the week and will look at what happened,

we'll try and help charmers, try to help Zak Jules to improve on what

happened today. First half I thought we'd won the game, outstanding

player and goals, the shape of the team, we carried out from last week,

second half, we told them at half-time to make sure we don't

concede any goals. Some things happen when you have a commanding

lead but over all the players were outstanding.

Fantastic result for Motherwell but where on earth does this leave

manager Mark McGhee? Is under pressure, he said so himself, it's

simply not good enough and to lose at home 5-0, it wasn't Celtic who

beat them, it was a team around and about them. He's using the excuse of

injuries in the backline, McManus and Tate went there but they were

there when they lost by seven goals against Aberdeen and they've been

there all season, Motherwell have conceded more goals than any other

team in the league. Yesterday we highlighted some of these individual

errors, there's not much the manager can do about this.

Zak Jules allows Haber to pin him. Look at this, seven bodies back from

Motherwell but they are just ball watching and not doing anything.

Charmers switches off and eventually when the ball does come to O'Hara he

doesn't do anything. Far too many gaps in the back line and then

you've got two players just ball watching again. You've got to push

this further out and get in line with the wall. A lot of teams to

play with the defensive line. They just hold the line and try to create

enough space at the keeper to come out. That's the danger when you drop

too far back as we saw that come you've got three players at the

back, three on one it becomes difficult to defend. Mark McGhee is

never out of the headlines at the moment, they with their heavy

scoreline against Aberdeen and the fan video that we all saw on social

media. And now this scoreline. At the end of the day he won't lose his

job at the moment, when he? I would be surprised. You must take into

account, who at Motherwell would make that decision? Is it a

figurehead who makes the call? I would suggest, when it comes to the

end of this season there would be the parting of the ways. I think as

well when you look at what they've got up top in Moult, it's OK there,

it's the defensive side they have to strengthen because if you keep

leaking goals and is a problem. Huge credit to Dundee as well.

The irresistible force that is Celtic this season shows

It was 2014 when Hamilton Accies upset the applecart with a 1-0

The chances of that happening again this weekend looked decidedly slim.

Celtic are without McCullough stick and similar veg, Armstrong has

replaced Lee Henderson. 19-year-old Stephen Boyd starts up front for

Hamilton in place of Eamonn Brophy. Watson is out and Gillespie is in

central midfield. The ball is won back by Gillespie. Suddenly it has

opened up for Danny Redmond who disappointingly shoots well wide of

goal. The chances for Accies might be few and far between. It's a

crunching challenge, which leaves the Celtic winger in some pain. And

the game is over for Forest. He is replaced by Gary Mackay-Steven.

Let's hope it's not another long absence for Forest. Kieran Tierney

on the move, a driving run from him. Through for to Bell. The offside

flag has gone up against that darting run from the top Celtic

scorer. Surely the challenge might have led to a penalty, had the flag

stayed down. Gary Mackay-Steven. It's headed away by Don Marti. The

mistake by McMahon. He is Armstrong. Although we for Kieran Tierney. That

Fairey fizzed across the goal from the gang player. Armstrong not too

far from getting a touch. Celtic playing the patient game against the

organised Hamilton, Sinclair lets go from long range. This wasn't too far

away from the top corner. It is won for Accies by Damian McKinnon. There

are options for Hamilton. It's Dougie Imrie and it's a big

disappointment. Three in the box waiting for some supply. What a

touch that was from Kieran Tierney. Sinclair. Kieran Tierney again and

it's an opportunity for Celtic. Armstrong can't believe he's missed

this. It was an open goal. Sviatchhenko. Moussa Dembele finds

the top corner! A brilliant strike to break the deadlock bang on 45

minutes! The first half of frustration is ended for Celtic with

Moussa Dembele's 28th Celtic goal. Gamboa firing in the cross.

Armstrong chasing and collecting and winning the battle against Boyd.

Kieran Tierney. Moussa Dembele, that could so easily have been his

second. Massimo Donati was in the way and didn't know a lot about it!

That's Devlin. In goes Kieran Tierney getting into a dangerous

position. Massimo Donati put out his leg and down went the Celtic

full-back, it will be a yellow card for the former Celtic midfielder and

it will be a penalty for the home team. Positive play from Kieran

Tierney. And that was a blatant penalty. Moussa Dembele does the

business. His eighth successful conversion from the spot. Make that

29 Celtic goals, 2-0. Gary Mackay-Steven. It's Gary

Mackay-Steven and it's a decent effort on goal, trying to guide that

into the bottom corner. Gary Woods made the save.

Boyata. Moussa Dembele and a hat-trick. It's in the net and it

won't count. Lovely pass from Moussa Dembele. And he is disappointed here

that Gary Mackay-Steven had strayed maybe half a yard offside. Brown

pinned in the corner. Lovely backheel, cleared by Kieran Tierney.

Bad touch from Brown. Flying to the Deco 's Gramoz Kurtaj. Perhaps he

was hoping there was contact. The referee would say, that the dive.

Gamboa. Over the top for Griffiths and Armstrong and it is another

chance for Stewart Armstrong, on another day the midfielder might

have had a double. Well set up by substitute Griffiths. Bitton. Scott

Sinclair cutting inside, looking for a penalty. The referee says no, this

must have been a good shout, Devlin had hold of his arm, down went

Sinclair, no penalty. Gramoz Kurtaj. McKinnon. Substitute Doherty. Great

ball in for Brophy. And Gordon has his first save of the match in the

93rd minute, that tells a story. I suppose in the first half we closed

up our own space too much and could not get into the areas we wanted.

That was just our positioning, really. Right on half-time and

absolutely brilliant goal, the boy loses quality. Maybe one or two

final passes could have got us in the game. Otherwise, defensively we

were outstanding. I thought we did well. It just takes that moment of

quality, if you like. At that point the plan was working. We would have

had counterattacks, opportunities, we did break forward to give us some

of the best chances of the game. I was pleased with the players

actually in the first and the second half. Celtic Manor is out in front,

Accies bottom of the table. Michael, they obviously arrived with a game

plan but in the end it didn't work- Celtic Miles out in front. Like many

teams they go to start it with a game plan and Celtic find a way to

break them down. You heard about it there, they were structured,

disciplined. That told in the first half. Look at the compactness of the

side, just 17 yards between the deepest player, Don Marti, and the

player at the top. Just checking his shoulders, that made sure Celtic

didn't have the space to play in. Brendan Rodgers said he thought

Celtic closed at this base themselves, I think Hamilton

deserves some credit. This was wonderful skill from Dembele. Goals

change games. This was right on half-time. It totally changed the

dynamic. This is the second half, look at the space, the gap between

the deepest player and the striker. It creates space in areas for

Celtic's technicians to cause problems for Hamilton. Gary

Mackay-Steven 's gets a shot off. That shows the importance of having

the players Celtic have to create that bit of magic because goals do

change games and it changes the dynamic. We talked about this

earlier, is there a formula to tackle the Celtic side? We concluded

that you need a plan and you need a huge slice of luck if Celtic are to

be stopped. You do, every team has gone there has

tried to make it difficult, must have played in a similar way to

Hamilton. Inverness tried to go to to toe with them in the Cup and lost

6-0. Nobody has found a way to beat them and you wonder if they will

now. You alluded to that, you have to make sure that everyone you have

played place to their maximum. If Celtic have an off day you could

have luck. Sadly for every other team in Scotland no one has had this

day yet. We seem great goals this season, where does the one from

Dembele rank? Is fantastic. Accies, bottom of the table, Stephen. Your

line at the moment is that you feel they are doomed this season.

Yes, the bottom of the table, and their next four fixtures, looking at

those, the psychology shift from going bottom of the league. I really

fear for them. Do you feel the same? It is obviously very tight, but

looking at those fixtures it will be difficult. Some sad news today.

Billy Mick O'Neill's opening up about his fight with dementia. Our

thoughts go out to him and his family, a giant of Scottish

football. The Scottish Cup is back

next weekend, and we're What an effort, from the Captain! A

cool finish! Rangers caretaker manager has delivered a victory! And

Hamilton are through to the quarterfinals.

A great weekend in prospect, with the William Hill Scottish Cup.

On Saturday night join me for Sportscene at 10:20

And on Sunday afternoon Rob MacLean brings you live coverage

And then I'm back on Sunday night with more Scottish Cup highlights,

plus Kilmarnock versus Motherwell in the Premiership.

What sort of response would we see from Hearts

after their Edinburgh derby defeat to Hibs midweek?

Ian Cathro took his side to face Partick Thistle who were looking

to build on last weekend's win over Hamilton Accies.

Three changes from the win against Hamilton. Kris Doolan came off the

bench to score and he starts. Out go Steven Lawless, Adebayo Azeez and

David Amoo. Also out the side who lost the head, you can see here, and

incomes Currie. Up against Daniel Devine, coming across them, and he

does his job... Tracking back as well, it was Daniel Devine who went

with the Hearts striker. Lovely over the top, it just needed to be a bit

stronger. They will win back-to-back games for the third time this season

in the league. This is Ryan Edwards, his free kick... Plenty of bodies

there. He has not cleared... Gets down on the Doolan, lovely turn, and

lovely finish! Partick Thistle are ahead, and he is on a good

goal-scoring run at the moment, Chris -- Kris Doolan. Great

awareness of where he was. Little left chip into the corner. Hearts,

the architects of their own downfall here, but you have to give credit to

Kris Doolan for a lovely clever finish. Dumbuya, you will feed it

inside. A little deflection, offside, will not count. Kris Doolan

there are again, but the Hearts back four stepping up this time. Dumbuya,

and Erskine will gather from Doolan. Thistle missed him when he was out.

Deflected into the middle, Doolan comes through, and the saved by Jack

Hamilton, very alert with the legs. It took a wicked deflection off

Walker and Doolan was really alert. That is a good stop. Sunshine.

Probably the brightest thing about Hearts so far. That is a bad pass by

Dumbuya, and Rherras comes in... Good to see this strong contact with

the ball made. Edwards, Thistle looking to add to their lead. It is

Booth against Struna, a lovely ball in... And Hamilton with the save!

Well, they are getting lots of joy left and right. No wonder Jack

Hamilton is frustrated. The defence in front of them not doing a great

job, and Doolan almost made it 2-0. Hearts unbeaten, their last three in

the league, but a real shadow from that cup exit against Hibs. They

have not come to life today. He is unhappy with the attentions of Nile

Q1, continuing to complain, the captain coming across, trying to

push away. -- Niall Keown. Continuing to mouth away at the

referee, and the referee deems Goncalves are yellow. Played across,

and this is going to be a red card. The second yellow, and it is red for

Goncalves. He does not have far to go, the dressing room just on the

other side. More bad news for Hearts. Pulled away from the first

challenge, decided to go into the second and not a good start to the

second half, as the striker Goncalves is off. Wade over...

Rherras beating by Chris Elliott. He drives across, and Doolan was not

far away. Yet the scorer this season, Chris Elliott. Not like him.

He is usually a pretty good goal scorer. Booth, since the free in,

deflected away by Sutchuin-Djoum. Osman. Max Lowe to get away. Great

first touch, second touch! -- Hearts are slow to get away. That could

prove to be a crucial goal, as Thistle seek all three points. 2-0

ahead, they were. He had no chance. Lashed it home. Nobody is in the

best moment of their lives. This has been a bad week for this football

club, but we have the responsibility to improve those things, and

everybody in these moments has the look inside themselves and find

more, find strength. We have to stay focused together and deal with what

we have to deal with. I thought we were magnificent today. Even before

the sending off I thought we deserved to be well on top of the

game. As we missed a great chance at 1-0 actually and thought it would

come back to haunt us but thankfully it did not. That calf problem, you

decided to put in Lennard Sowah at centre-half. What about that? Was

there a call to date in Nowak? You look a bit uncomfortable at times.

These are decisions that we take, decisions that we make -- he looked

a bit uncomfortable. STUDIO: Are great when for Partick

Thistle but I asked the question of Ian Cathro about the defensive

hesitation. There was an issue there throughout the afternoon.

Absolutely, a pertinent question. I think it was a bad decision to have

been made. Sowah is not a comfortable defender committee is an

attacking full-back. You see he is at fault for the first goal, and for

the second as well, when the ball was outweighed and gets delivered

into the box, watch Sowah as he plunges into... I don't know what he

is doing, he misjudges it completely, and a fantastic turning

straight from Lindsay, but if you look at the situation from Hearts,

the injury is disappointed, but you have Nowak to step into the defence.

He is not comfortable in midfield, better in defence, and Sowah is an

attacking full-back. Don't put him at centre-half. They did not defend

well but by stark contrast Partick defended absolutely brilliantly.

Back-to-back wins and clean sheets, seven clean sheets in their last

ten. Daniel Devine making it difficult here, the ball not sitting

for him. They are confident, you can tell the manager has worked on them,

great shape. They just look like a really tight unit. Defensively. This

one, they just made sure Hearts are having to strike from distance. They

are compact and very good from Partick, real upturn in their

results of late. Obviously I was there yesterday and Partick Thistle

more than deserved their victory against Hearts, but I think we were

expecting a response from Hearts after that disappointment in the

Edinburgh derby. Clearly they were hammered yesterday. What is your

take on the current situation? Ian Cathro, the only way he can get

himself and the team out of this is to get results. He will live and die

by the decisions he makes, and the decision there was a poor one. The

whole structure of the club, it just begs the question for me, main

players came in in January and the whole reason you are a director of

football is to create stability and continuity, feigning main players in

the January transfer window does not strike me as a controlled continuity

-- signing numeric name players. The manager comes in, you're backing him

to get his own players -- signing nine players. It was a good team, so

the point I am making, why is there a director of football if you are

bringing in all these players. They have signed over 30 since the new

regime Kemen. A lot of turnover, so where is that continuity -- since

the new regime came in. Fair enough, director of football, but why this

huge of players? Argument would be the director football is clearly

backing his head coach. Yes, but then what is the role of the

director of football? If he is there to create that stability, the head

coach comes in to deal with what is already they are. Why pay a director

of football the top weight in the club to their not really do

anything? It is strange for me. What do you think, Steven? Does the

director of football need to be more hands-on? Yes, I agree. I am

surprised there were nine players brought in in the window, I didn't

think it was required and I would agree, yes. Another thing about

Hearts, any team is representative of their head coach and manager, and

at the moment they have a lot of quality but look leaderless and

rudderless. I would say Cathro and McLean have real quality but they

need a figurehead to date them. OK. -- to guide them.

Aberdeen's grip on second place was strengthened last weekend

with a victory over Kilmarnock and Rangers slipping

Ross County were the opposition at Pittodrie.

Derek McInnes reverts to the familiar line-up that has started

the majority of their recent run of nine wins in ten games. Graeme

Shinnie reclaiming his starting place. And this is the Ross County

first 11, as they look to address a sequence of four defeats in five

outings. Michael Gardyne becoming the club's all-time leading

appearance maker. Away by Jason Naismith, clearance not quite

completed, and Kenny Maclean goes down under the challenge of Alex

Schalk. And not of the head from them reflected in the referee's

decision, as he said no penalty. The prize for Aberdeen is they can go

nine points clear of Rangers. And it is Rooney! The acrobatic effort from

the Irishman, he got it well. Kenny Maclean, stepped inside and finds

some space, and he hits the shot through, and it was a decent effort.

-- McLean. Plenty of sightings of goal for Aberdeen. Not too many

clear-cut chances. Naismith one on one against Mark Reynolds, and road

outside. Tim Chow was the man in the six yard box, but Joe Lewis is the

one emerging with the ball. Good play by Jason Naismith down the

right-hand side, though. Paul Quinn, the former Aberdeen man, is forward,

but it will be Schalk... Good effort, and it comes out to Curran.

The closest Ross County have come to a goal, really decent hit by Schalk

from the free kick. Joe Lewis palmed it away and Curran could not keep it

down. Up goes Considine, hammered further clear by Jack and look at

the pace of Johnny Hayes, eating up the ground and Paul Quinn... It is

Johnny Hayes... The Rooney! You would expect Adam Rooney to tuck

that away. Hayes too strong for Paul Quinn who felt he should have had

the free kick, and Rooney could not finish. Fox, delivers it long. It is

Alex Schalk... It was a sighting of goal, a decent effort from the

Dutchman. A good save, too, from Joe Lewis, after the deflection. There

is Davies... Joe Lewis punches it away, with Curran waiting to knock

it in. The danger is still not clear for Aberdeen. Boyce, and Curran

sniffing around in the box again. Ross County will feel they have had

their chances in this game. Bear in mind that Aberdeen scored seven in

their last appearance at Pittodrie and that came against Motherwell.

Yet the breakthrough against Ross County, but here goes McGinn, and

that is in low through the bodies, but Scott Fox kept an eye on it --

fizzed in low. The bench, the key component of Aberdeen of late, and

that hit Adam Rooney, and goes in! At long last they have found the

breakthrough! 69 minutes played. I am not too sure Adam Rooney knew an

awful lot about that, as it claim from Davies's miscue, and just

really hit Rooney on his way to his 17th goal of the season. Johnny

Hayes, Aberdeen would love a second, just to make this a little more

comfortable. This is Miles Storey... Rooney again! Fox seemed to claw it

away. Perhaps a combination of the goalkeeper and the woodwork. Adam

Rooney denied a second goal. He certainly has an eye for the

spectacular today. Jack did really well to win that back. Miles

Storey... The former Inverness Caledonian Thistle player, and he

picks out McGinn. The ball is out, and the attack is halted. Another

fine stop by Scott Fox, though, this time to deny Nyom again -- to deny

McGinn. The cross picked out McGinn, who was completely free. Rooney

driving into the space. And now this is my old story. He has a good

record against Ross County, scoring three times last season for

Inverness, but unable to add his second Aberdeen goal -- Miles

Storey. Keeping another clean sheet, another three points, very important

to us. It was not enjoyable at all times. You cannot always enjoy

playing but you can enjoy winning and I think it was one of those

days. You cannot ask for any more than what the players give. It was a

sore one and with the result is going the way they have been, a hard

one to date, but we will lick our wounds and be ready

for Wednesday night. STUDIO: Yes, another great when for

Aberdeen as they strengthen that grip on second place. I know you

were all over this with your fine toothed comb, Steven. Impressed with

how many times they got the ball into the box? Yes, we know about

their wide players, Hayes and McGinn. I would love to play up

front in this Aberdeen team because you know the ball gets forward, it

is always given into the box. It is a theme, something they work on.

They get the numbers into the box and the amount of crosses and

deliveries they had income absolutely spectacular. Ross County

dealt with a large part of those. They were defending well. Two

overhead kicks in the game actually. Ross County defended well with a lot

of these balls into the box. It is just that the one they lose, he

should have scored here, but I think it is the next one, it is just a

really poor bit of defending from Andrew Davies, yet again another

cross into the box, McLean on the ball, and he inexplicably goes with

his other foot. I am not sure Adam Rooney knew anything about that,

will not score an easier goal. To be fair, not vintage Aberdeen that you

saw last weekend, yet they come away with another three points. Yes, last

week they did not play particularly well, yesterday it was not Aberdeen

at their best but they have won ten of their last 11 games, frightening.

Only Celtic are beating that. Really consistent, and the one thing that

was interesting to see there, from Derek McInnes, you cannot always

enjoy football but you can enjoy winning. It creates that confidence,

the excitement of playing. If you're going out and winning most games, a

good atmosphere in the changing room. Aberdeen look like a team that

are a really close-knit group of players that enjoy playing their

football, because they are winning most of the time. Can you see them

losing the script and second-place? Not at the moment, Hearts not doing

particularly well at Rangers have their own troubles. St Johnstone I

think are perhaps too far away to put in a challenge for second so

they are going so well and the teams challenging them are not doing

particularly well so I cannot really see it at the moment, no. Steven,

what do you make of where the right now, Ross County? Perhaps

disappointing in the context of League Cup winners and everything.

Yes, a surprise. They have underperformed the season, lost

format of the last five games, only two point above the play-off places,

struggling, no doubt -- they have lost ball of their last five.

This weekend marked the 132nd anniversary of St Johnstone's

Kilmarnock arrived hoping to be party poopers.

COMMENTATOR: St Johnstone are without their injured midfielder

Barry Davidson, the one change to the team that beat Ross County in

Dingwall last weekend. Thomas Scobbie stepping into the back

three. And Kilmarnock lost last time at Aberdeen, they have Scott Boyd

coming into the central defence. Gary Dicker... Luke Hendrie. Jordan

Jones getting away from the swipe of Chris Millar. And that follow-up

challenge coming in from Blair Alston, that will be a free kick for

Kilmarnock. Lining up as Kris Boyd... Beaten away by Zander Clark.

It might have taken a deflection on its way through, certainly had the

power behind it. Back it goes for Millar... Anderson, not the greatest

of backpackers, and that is not the greatest of clearances. It is Rory

McKenzie... Simply sensational! In the 12th minute at McDiarmid Park,

Lee Clark may look bemused, a terrible clearance, but that is what

you called precision finishing, from a long way out. You have to take

your hat off to Rory McKenzie, 1-0 Kilmarnock. That was well won by

Jones. He is still going, Jordan Jones. Kris Boyd's return path does

not find its target, but Millar loses possession. Sammon with the

curling shot, which is saved by Zander Clark. St Johnstone looking

strangely sluggish. Jones, and Luke Hendrie... Able to do as they choose

at the moment, Kilmarnock, and this is Kris Boyd. Chips it in... For

Sean Long staff, and the save is made as Kilmarnock threatened to go

ahead in the game. That was Longstaff again, should have been

scoring. After his first effort was beaten away by the goalkeeper. No

organisation here at all in defence from St Johnstone. Anderson... David

Wotherspoon, and there is Maclean, just too high. Off target from

Stephen Maclean. Thomas Scobbie's diagonal, eventually looking for

Maclean, and he finds .-year-old through, and now is Blair Alston.

Richard Foster, looking for the cross. Collected by the Kilmarnock

keeper Freddie Woodman. This was some nutmeg from Foster. Maclean

with the quick throw, Blair Alston's cross, and he had a flash added on

the back of his spectacular winner in Dingwall last weekend, but off

target that time. Kilmarnock still with this one goal advantage. This

is Jones... The supporting run from Greg Taylor. No pressure on the

ball. The cross comes in, and a header goes on from Conor Sammon,

and you would imagine no way back here for St Johnstone, and this is a

horror story for Zander Clark, the goalkeeper. It has gone right

through him. 2-0, Killie, and an unimpressed Tommy Wright. He is

persistent, and threads it through for Michael Coulson. He tried to

call that in at the far post, Chris Kane, and it took a little

deflection on its way through, weighed off target, no joy for the

Sense. Anderson looking to keep this alive. -- no joy for Saints. The

cross beyond everyone, but Brian Easton can collect it and get the

ball back in. Maclean is there, and Chris Kane with a snapshot,

deflected over the top and the body language from St Johnstone tells you

everything here. Not their best day. A bad day. I have been here 56 years

and that is the worst it has been, so a bad one. We will probably have

to accept that. Pick ourselves up, because overall it was not good

enough. We are delighted to come here today and scored two great

goals and have a couple more chances as well. I thought we would

organise, that our desire and energy in the middle of the pitch, all over

it, was brilliant today. STUDIO: It is good when a manager

says what he really thinks, isn't it, Michael? The worst 45 minutes he

had seen from St Johnstone side in six years, pretty strong stuff? Yes,

it is. We applaud St Johnstone so often, I really consistent Aslef,

but this season at home they have had a lot of bad results against the

teams on the butternut -- they are a really consistent.

Uncharacteristically sloppy -- they did not allow them to get out the

back lane easily and then when they did venture forward and get up the

park, St Johnstone, look how quickly Kilmarnock countered. Gary Dicker

playing the ball down the left-hand side were Brian Easton had come

from. Yet again, no real pressure on the ball. Plenty of bodies but not

getting enough pressure, and they do eventually win it back, then they

are sloppy and lose possession again, but Kilmarnock really forcing

the pressure back on the St Johnstone, and sloppy. Giving the

ball away from David Wotherspoon. This one epitomises it. The desired

you heard Lee McCulloch talking about. Four Kilmarnock players all

the park than the rest of the St Johnstone players, and over 50 yards

out, what a finish from Rory McKenzie. Wonderful. As much as

Tommy Wright was scathing of St Johnstone, I think Kilmarnock should

get a lot of credit. He was spot-on, Lee McCulloch, real desire in the

performance from Kilmarnock and that is not something we have seen all

season from them. Who needs Coulibaly when Rory McKenzie can do

that! What a strike. Yes, Lee McCulloch is there, solidity and a

good performance for most of the match against Aberdeen and obviously

there against St Johnstone. Yes, putting his own stamp on the team.

Back to training at normal times. I think all the players love him, they

respect him. Yesterday was a high tempo attacking performance. OK, we

must leave it there for this evening. Steven and Michael, thank

you very much indeed. The Ladbrokes Premiership

table looks like this. Aberdeen nine points

ahead of Rangers. Dundee are on 30 points in sixth

place, eight points clear Hamilton Academical

bottom on 21 points. It does not look that great for the

moment for them. Join us next week for another

instalment of the great Scottish The plot twists into

the William Hill Scottish Cup, with Saturday night and Sunday night

Sportscene. Plus Aberdeen and

Partick Thistle live. Until then, from all

of us, goodnight. Only interested in one thing

and that's bent coppers. A 24-year-old man

has been charged with murder. Huntley's definitely

hiding something.