Scottish Premiership Play-Off Final, Second Leg Sportscene

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

drawer. He is outstanding, the shot is an

absolute beauty. What a finish, right here, right

now, this is history. Welcome to Sportscene. It is the

final day of the domestic season, the Premiership lay-off second leg.

With us tonight, dreaming of the beach after another solid campaign,

Stephen Thompson and Michael Stewart. After the first leg

finished 0-0, but I very much in the balance, Hamilton Accademical with

the home advantage, but Dundee United with a large hopeful

travelling support, a place in the Premiership next season at stake.

Commentary from Willie Miller and Liam McLeod.

The final act of the domestic season, and what a game we have

here, with the stakes as high as they have been since the talk it off

with the League Cup last July. Thursday's first leg saw plenty of

action and talking points, but no goals, no such luxury for the

players today. The Accies have been savaged by injury and suspension,

McKinnon banned, the captain misses out. Gillespie starts his 200th game

for the club, and Docherty's impressive cameo at Tannadice sees

him staff. Dougie Imrie has made it. Unsurprisingly, come what isn't even

here, let alone the pitch, after his show of petulance on Thursday. Can

they unlock the door to the Premiership? Simon Murray does play

after the club appealed against that yellow card, the second one, which

resulted in the red for simulation. The experienced Craig Thomson is in

charge, he was the referee in the second leg two years ago as

Motherwell completed their demolition job of Rangers. A match

of huge significance, the landscape of Scottish football's top-flight

will be completed this afternoon. Someone has to win, no away goal

rule in the play-offs, extra time and penalties if needed. Hamilton

battling to avoid the drop, United battling for a quickfire return to

where they feel they belong. It is all to play for this afternoon, very

tight game at Tannadice, nothing in it really. The quality in that game

not so good, but certainly it had its moments and talking points. They

are looking for better quality today, but both teams desperate to

either stay or be promoted into the top division.

Interesting to see how united approach the opening stages of this

match. Slow out of the traps in the last couple of games in the

play-offs, but they have the game's first corner here. Backed by an

impressive away support, United fans have packed the end behind Remi

Matthews. Andreu got a touch onto it, the

goalkeeper has somehow kept it out. It looked as though it wasn't a

particularly good corner kick, but Andreu at the near post definitely

gets plenty on it. The second corner in quick succession, and it is close

that time for Edjenguele. United have turned up the heat early on.

That is not ideal from Willo Flood, and there goes been, perhaps Accies'

best chance on Thursday. Willo Flood heaves acai relief. He does, and

experienced player they're giving possession away. Big doing extremely

well, taking on three players, Crawford with the strike. Catches it

well enough, but it is not far enough away from the goalkeeper.

Mikkelsen's flick, and here is Simon Murray. Adjudged to have dived twice

at Tannadice. A couple of chances in quick succession, Mikkelsen with the

flick on, but not a great finish, the quality again lacking.

Mikkelsen again flicking on for Murray, and what can he do with it

this time? It was Tony Andreu blocked by Skondras, this has been a

really good start by Dundee United, 12 minutes in. Spittal, through to

Matthews. It has been a high tempo start for the visitors, and Simon

Murray again running in behind the defence, setting up for

Andreu, who again has had too many Hamilton defenders back there.

They needed to get that right, and Andrei is trying to get something to

work for himself. The movement is good, Andreu working from ADP

opposition, Mikkelsen a threat there, too. Whyte Dundee United

managed just four wins away from home this season. Paul Dixon shoots

from just outside the centre circle, he is doing well to even hit target

from Blair. Adventurous, perhaps. Definitely, from the full-back.

Templeton is brought down by Durnan in a circle fashion. It is scrappy,

Imrie taking one there. The referee has been called into action again,

it is a little scrappy, this game. I don't see Spittal doing anything

illegal there, perhaps he is just a little bit tender around the ribs.

He is getting on with it. Ali Crawford has this free kick for

Hamilton. They haven't really managed to get into any kind of a

stride. Edjenguele just turned 30 last week, he is being warned by

Craig Thomson. Yes, using his arms again. I don't think it is going to

stop him, though. It just dipped too late for Crawford. That is a really

tight angle. To beat Cammy Bell from that angle. You felt that the

goalkeeper had it covered, it was off target anyway. This is what

Craig Thomson wasn't happy with, Edjenguele and God -- Gog ic.

Edjenguele once again up against Gogic.

Hamilton defenders trying to get act to their posts. There goes Willo

Flood. Telfer quickly closed down by

Redmond, and now it is Ali Crawford, and it has spilled out, but it stays

out. They have burst into life, and doing well to save it, but to send

it back into the danger area, that is never the right place to go. The

goalkeeper has got to try to deal with it better, but he had a little

assistance there. Good defending eventually. Yes, it was.

Spittal into the danger area, and Accies clear through Templeton.

Spittal made his run in behind Dougie Imrie, but he is offside. The

shouts go up for a penalty here, but you know, it is players going

forward, it is physical contact. No sign of the opening goal in this tie

as yet, 0-0 at Tannadice, 0-0 here. Closing on the half-hour mark, it is

as tight as we expected it to be. Here is Gillespie. Proofed away by

Edjenguele. That was a foul by Flood on Gillespie. Willo Flood barges

into him, I'd think there is any doubt that there is a free kick.

Very good position, one should test the Dundee United defence. Nervy

times for the fans at the other end of the stadium. The opportunity for

Redmond to swing this in an top of United. What a save from Bell.

Docherty elects to keep it in play. Cammy Bell, that is a terrific piece

of goalkeeping, because it looked all the way 1-0 Accies there. Good

opportunity, but excellent saving from the United keeper.

McMann. He had to get rid of that, Bingham was behind him. And now it

is Spittal. Andreu to Telfer, this is promising for United, and it is

tipped over by Matthews. It is a good job the goalkeeper is in top

form right now, because that looked like it was sailing into the net. He

had to adjust his feet to get his hands to it, the cross coming in,

having a swipe at it. It is coming off his shin, maybe it took a little

deflection before it reached him, but the goalkeeper Matthews

definitely an instinctive touch there, over the bar. Almost a

heartbreaker they're for Scott McMann. Dundee United's fourth

corner. Edjenguele went down, this is Mikkelsen. Really tight in that

box as the cross came in from the corner. Bodies going in, a little

bit of tagging and pulling, it is going on all the time. Mikkelsen

eventually getting an opportunity, but hooks it over the bar.

It is just the second corner of the second leg. As ever, it is Ali

Crawford who sends it in. They are going to get another opportunity,

the final minute of the first half here. The United defence really need

to concentrate, they have lost a late goal in a match that is so

finely poised. You never know, it could be a one goal game, a one goal

tie. Header by Spittal. WHISTLE

Craig Thomson has seen enough, it hasn't been the best first half, to

say the least. Both teams have had big opportunities, and both

goalkeepers have had big saves in that first half. The stakes are so,

Sohaib, there is much tension in the air, but at half-time, it is 0-0.

This is Hamilton's third straight season in the top flight, they

haven't managed more than that since before the Second World War. United

haven't spent more than one season at SAD the top flight since the

1950s. -- outside the top flight. Dougie Imrie looking to make a

positive start to the second leg of this play-off final.

That is clever by Spittal. He get it back from Flood.

Mikkelsen. Here is Dixon. Couldn't resist it.

Matthews hoeds on. Sticky gloves. Good technique here

from Dixon. He times it well, he doesn't have unfortunately for him

have enough power on it but straight at the goalkeeper. Longridge who

played against Hibernian will replace David Templeton. He will not

be having the final say in Accies season, despite having a big say in

the closing weeks of the Premiership campaign.

Crawford. Eventually between the two of them,

managed to clear their lines. Doherty and Gillespie who has space

to operate in. Nice play. Crawford. It is Bingham. That is a

really good ball. The centre-back, having to be in the right spot at

the right time. He certainly did that identifies the danger, binge

hall down. Long wing who is just on. hall down. Long wing who is just on.

-- Longridge who is just on. Bingham was close to it. Imrie and

Bell. Here is Crawford. And Redmond over the bar, that is a bullet

dodged by Dundee United United. Fabulous goalkeeping, isn't it, from

Bell, Imrie does everything right. It is a tight angle, but, Dundee

United goalkeeper has to sniff out the danger, close that angle down.

Fabulous save. Good close control by Crawford.

Crawford has rediscovered his form in the last month or two.

Here he goes. Looking for Longridge. He is going

to get there. Bingham arrived in the middle. It is

Imrie. United getting it away, but this is much better performance in

the second half from the hosts. Here is Doherty. Oh, what a goal!

What a goal by Greg Doherty! And that might just save Hamilton

Accies's skin. It has McGinn them the advantage in the play-off final.

A magnificent strike from the midfielder, with the right foot. He

has picked his spot. Heads got a little bit of room outside the box,

a lot of work to be done there though, pulls the trigger and it

whizzes by Bell and goes to nestle in the back of the net. Great strike

from him. A bit of deflection. Bell unsited I would suggest. But its

advantage Hamilton. It is just Doherty's second goal of the season

but it is utterly priceless. It has broken the deadlock, and moves

Accies that bit closer to Premiership football next season.

They have been better in the second half Hamilton, they have upped the

tempo, a lot more belief in the game. The realisation you have to

play on these occasion, you can't freeze, they haven't done that in

the second half. The evidence of the second half they deserve to be in

the league. the league.

-- lead. Dundee have 24 minutes left. That is poor from hath ewes.

It is with Tony Andreu. Chance for Spittal here.

Well, Andreu might wonder if he might have done better with that.

Before Spittal pull the trigger. He has got a bit sharper but I don't

know what Matthews was thinking about. It is an awful clearance that

gives Andreu the opportunity. Telfer's corner. The worst of the

game. Here is Dillon. United have dug

themselves out of a scrape already in these play off matches at fall

Cork with where Falkirk where they trailed. Mikkelsen, Andreu.

Hampton get away -- Hamilton get away with it. Hay do that. The more

positive in their defending, the ball bobbling about. Not great

quality from them. Andreu managing to get a pocket of space there and

put the drive in, again good blocking.

They are in trouble down there. There is Flood.

And Tony Andreu. Advantage here Andreu was up ended. This is tell f

get the backtracking by Crawford. He is such a good forward player but

that was terrific. Good work rate. Yes, you are asked to do, Gillespie

does it, very well, and you know, that is what is needed. You have got

yourself in front. You have something to hold on to. You know,

you really have to give it everything you have got. Murray

flicks on, the goalkeeper will hold on and it will remain 1-0 with 20

minutes to play. Again, it is so scrappy isn't it at the back post

there, the referee not seeing the incident where Mark Durnan gets

wrestled to the ground. Andreu back to Dillon.

Mikkelsen trying desperately to control. He feels he was impeded. I

don't think it was any real shout other than an optimistic one from

Mikkelsen for that penalty. That is a so one for Longridge. That

is a free kick to Hamilton as well. He has caught it, you know, it's a

vicious swipe through the ball there from Dixon and caught Longridge in

the calf. I don't think this is a penalty. You don't get penaltieses

for being off balance I'm afraid. No, you don't.

Hamilton free kick in dangerous territory. Redmond stands over it.

Accies need to put this to bed, to save them the stress of the closing

stains. Bingham is in and Bell holdses on, there was no flag

against Bingham either. A claim here for a penalty. I don't think so, I

think he is almost made contact with the United player himself.

Halal -- Hamilton are showing a tenacity they haven't had in this

season. They found it at the right time. This is Longridge. The goal

scorer Doherty, meantime, it might be the end of his game. Looks as

though he may have pulled a hamstring, he is certainly holding

that area. Greg Doherty is done for the day. Quite fitting he has got

the Accies's goal. He has been at the club since he was nine years of

age. They have dug in throughout this

game. Not great in the first half at all, I thought United were the

better team. Started the game, you know, much more positively than the

home side but second half has been all Hamilton and they seem to be

coping with anything that United can throw at them, mind you, I don't

think United have thrown enough at them, particularly in the second

half. Murray is in behind. What can he do

here? He goes to the outside and the right, and it's over.

Again it is a simple ball, you know, doesn't deal with it, Murray is on

to it like a flash, yes, it is on for the left foot, it has to be a

left foot drive there, tries to get his right foot round it and put it

towards goal. Always going to be difficult and can only manage to put

it over the bar, but an opportunity and an opportunity that was wasted.

The Dundee United Chairman knows the situation. United can ill-afford

another season in the second tier. They are steering -- staring down

the barrel of that right now. Durnan has gone up as another

striker. Mikkelsen, Murray. Matthews holds on. Straight to the goalkeeper

unfortunately, and it is a direct root. Dunning finds himself up

there. Good enough technique, keeps it low but again straight at the

goalkeeper. #12 They are resigned to their fate.

Regated at Dens Park a year ago, Dundee United. It is looking like

Championship football for them again.

It is a funny old game isn't it. It just takes one strike and they could

find themselves back in it but the clock is against them. That's four

sure. How much injury time. Are the officials adding on here? Waiting to

hit the 909 then the board will go up. Three minutes have been added on

at the end. United have three minutes to save themselves.

Longridge has got involved with Paul Dixon.

Right in front of United supporters and Craig Thompson has a situation

here to defuse. Longridge, he has to take action against Longridge. He

has the ball, he is not letting it go. There was a tussle with Paul

Dixon who was the other player, then it become, you know, just a fracas

down there on the touchline but the referee has to take some action, I

think at least a booking here. Fraser and Dixon were trying to get

the ball back off Longridge. He has the ball, he is not letting it go.

There was a tussle with Paul Dixon who was the other player, then it

become, you know, just a fracas down there on the touchline but the

referee has to take some action, I think at least a booking here.

Fraser and Dixon were trying to get the ball back off Longridge. It is a

case of "It's my ball" I thought Dixon went in naughtily there.

Again it is pulled in by Dixon. Mikkelsen, it is ambitious, it is

weak and it is saved by Matthews and Dundee United, who haven't spent

more than one season outside of the Premiership since the 1950s look as

though they are staying there. It looks like it doesn't it. It is a

mix, it has to be something special mix, it has to be something special

-- Mikkelsen. Edjenguele. Hamilton fans hole their

breath. The Dundee United fans biting their nails as well.

Well into the final minute that was allotted at the end of the game by

Craig Thompson. Redmond, all action today. Flood has

managed to keep it in. We are into added time in added time. It is

Mikkelsen. Matthews will hold on to that and that is just about that.

You would think so. It is a weak effort from Mikkelsen. Mark Gannon

desperate for that full-time whistle He will get it very soon.

We are into added time in added time. It is Mikkelsen. Matthews will

hold on to that and that is just about that.

You would think so. It is a weak effort from Mikkelsen. Mark Gannon

desperate for that full-time whistle He will get it very soon.

They cry "We are staying up". That is exactly what they are doing.

Dundee United are consigned to the Championship again. And Hamilton

Academical, thanks to Greg Doherty's goal, are staying in the

Premiership. Yet more odds defying football from Hamilton. Who feel at

times they are hard done by by others.

Ray MacKinnon. Well, he has to go back to square one. He is a drawing

board to go back to. But Martin Canning, who struggled when he

replaced Alec Neil initially, has his finest moment as Hamilton

manager. They have just completed their third

straight season in the top flight. They haven't before today, managed

more than that since before the Second World War, heartache for them

and Dundee United. But a joyous end to the season for

the Accies. It finished here, thanks to Greg Doherty's goal, a whatten

who joined the club when he was a nine-year-old boy. A man. Accies

one, Dundee nil It was 90 minutes when he had to make sure we won it.

I thought over the piece we deserved to win it. We tried to play it, I am

thankful we got the goal and we managed to hang on. It is something

we haven't managed to do. Half of defence is out and we managed to

keep a clean sheet. We have it has cost us points and put us in this

position. Today we get a goal and manage to hang on. Really pleased

today. We are going to be in the Premiership for a third consecutive

year. Speechless. Look, as I have been trying all year to get his goal

tally up. I am glad one dropped for me. This is a brilliant way to

finish the season. Season. This season too many draw, I was playing

deeper than usual, so I wasn't getting to get a chance on goal. I

put my foot through and right in the bole Tom corner. In terms of a

person to keep Hamilton in the Premiership you have be been here

since an eight-year-old. You are 20. This club mean so much to you. I

will be congratulateful to this club, no matter what happens, they

have given me a chance, a platform to play in, racked up a number of

appearances and in the Premier League as well. That is thank you to

the coaching staff, everybody, I moan they have been fantastic to me.

You know the first goal in these games is going to be big. He

probably has more goals in him than he shows, because he strikes the

ball well with both feet. You can relax now. Yes, we go again next

year. You couldn't get any breaks in front of the goal today. They have

scored a good goal, so it was an evenly contested game, but we ran

out of steam in the first half, the legs had gone, the spark had gone,

not making an excuse, it is just a fact, we didn't have the same level

of intensity. And that was difficult, so we are all feeling

flat now. Can you really are that moment when the ball hit the back of

the net? I didn't know what to do, it is just pure joy. Magical moment

for him, congratulations to Hamilton Accies in the Premiership next

season. The Scottish Cup final was a thing of beauty yesterday, but this

match was the opposite. It wasn't the best, it was the last game but

one of the worst I have watched all season. United started OK, but then

perhaps fatigue took its toll after having so many games, they just

seemed to run out of energy. Hamilton won't care a jot at this

point whether the game was good, bad or indifferent, it is the result

that matters. There was a bit of anxiety surrounding it, but the goal

was a very good goal, and settling a tie that is a huge prize of staying

in the Premiership. How would you describe the nature of this match?

Wasn't a great deal of structure or patterns of play from both sides,

but I would agree that Hamilton deserved to stay up. There wasn't a

huge amount of quality, but there were flashes of inspiration from Ali

Crawford, we have spoken about that a lot, but is the one player who

stood out today. Look at him in the space he finds himself in here when

he takes the shot, no United players anywhere near him, he tries to cover

it, and he just doesn't get enough on it, this is where he probably

should have put it. He takes a very quick touch, again nobody near him,

gets a really good shot, a fantastic save from Cammy Bell. It is the

speed with which he manages to turn, and again you need to give the ball

away in the midfield. Paul Dixon plays a vital role for United, Cammy

Bell doesn't do that well, but look at what Dixon does to get back in

and clear the danger. Ali Crawford was undoubtedly the one player far

Hamilton who was involved in all of the moments, a bit of excitement,

and you see here with the position he takes up, good, quick feet,

awareness and he lays it off, and this is the moment that changes

everything far Hamilton, again, Ali Crawford finds the space, good first

touch, awareness to notice around him, and the second touch gives Gary

Docherty the the chance. He gets enough pressure on it and it goes

through his legs and clips the back of his calf as it goes through the

bottom corner. In terms of Ali Crawford very briefly, he has been

someone we have talked about getting moved to a bigger club, will they

have to try to hang on to him again? There is no doubt he can play at a

bigger club. He has to bring a performance level and a more

consistent basis, but when he does play, no doubt he is a talent. And

even without the consistency, he is a player that can step up and play

at a high level. There is no question about that, but Greg

Docherty who scored that wonderful goal, a lot of chat, he is somebody

who complain further forward, he played deeper today, but potentially

if Ali Crawford was to move on, they have a guy in Greg Docherty who is

capable of scoring goals and creating things. It was a makeshift

defence far Hamilton Accies, we should remember that, because early

in the season, they had a habit of losing late goals, and that didn't

happen today. You look at the number of points that Hamilton Accies drop

through the season, Inverness losing a last-minute goal, against

Motherwell here, and arguably with a stronger team. I'm sure Martin

Canning would have said he has missed a number of first-team

starters, but they keep conceding these last-minute goals that put in

that position in the league, whereas today, the makeshift side have

managed to see through. They didn't put them under enough pressure, they

tried to rally late in the game, but until then they hadn't tested the

defence that much. How poor was it? It was a surprise, given that they

had some chance in the match, he should have taken that on his left,

I would agree 100%. He should still get it on target even with the

outside of his right. He is a player who has given it good form. This is

a decent hit, any angle on it at all would be great, but it is straight

down the keeper's thread, and it is too little, too late for United,

they tried to rally but they didn't have enough energy legs or quality

in that final third, and this was the last opportunity of the match, a

desperate overhead kick. It was lacklustre, wasn't it? There was no

question that Hamilton were the two legs that deserve to see it through.

I think from Dundee United's perspective, you are not going to be

given the status of Premiership club, they have to go out and earn

it, and over the two legs, they'd do enough. The six games they needed to

play, it isn't as if they have a lot of quality and reserve, numbers to

bring in, they had to use the same players in almost every game, it is

a massive disadvantage going into the match. A lot of grappling in

this game, Durnan you mentioned. Is this the nature of these games,

Durnan and Gogic, throughout the game, you could see it, nothing

really happened. They were at it the whole match. Should so they have

happened? Six of one and half a dozen of the other, I think. If the

referee is going to take action, he has to take action in the very first

instance that it happened. These could possibly be thought of as

penalties, but they were all soft. Thompson was in a good position to

see them. You look back to the start of the season when the sort of

incident Louw being called all the time, from a manager's perspective,

you want consistency, and it is amazing how the start of the season,

everything is a penalty, but as it drifts away, through the season, but

again, I go back to it, Hamilton are the team who deserved to win in

extra time. A lot of able ask what Hamilton Accies bring to the top

flight of Scottish football, they criticise the number of fans, the

stadium, but ultimately they deserve to be there, don't they? All that is

irrelevant, football is won out on the park, and whatever the arguments

are for against, they deserve to get there and stay there on the park,

they deserved to beat Hibernian in the play-offs, and the fact that

they maintained their status proves that they deserve to be there right

now. It was a gutsy performance in terms of exposing parts of the

season, and Dundee United, how worrying for them financially in

particular, they spend another season in the championship.

It is worrying without a shadow of a doubt. Next year's championship is

going to be the of most even it has been for awhile. I think they will

be hoping that Andrew Robertson is sold very quickly, they can get a

fever that, but they will have to deal with the favourites tags next

season, they will have to recruit well in the summer and come back

stronger, and use that disappointment as fuel to win the

league next year. In terms of that match, congratulations to Accies, in

terms of the season overall, yesterday, huge moment in terms of

Celtic capping the trouble. For you, what has been the highlight of this

season for you? You can't look past Celtic and the treble, and yesterday

was a fantastic game. It was finished off with a perfect moment,

a last-minute winner for Tom Rogic. I didn't see it. I saw it. When you

are talking about the season, the transformation between last season

and this, to be undefeated, to win the cup final and a last-minute

winner, that is the story for me. I will be more specific and go for

goal. I am going to go for the goal scored by Celtic at St Johnstone.

That was a thing of beauty. I went for the last one. He told you that

earlier on! You are stealing his ideas and! It summed up Celtic's

season in so many ways, doesn't it? Yes, God of the season. Stephen,

Michael, it has been hugely enjoyable, let's do it again next

season. That is it, the end of the season for Sportscene. Thank you so

much for being with us all the way this season. Enjoy your summer, and

we hope that next season the excitement levels get even higher

and higher. From all others on the Sportscene team, it goodbye for now.

# Than I've ever been lifted before # Than I've ever been lifted before

# So keep it up, my desire # So keep it up, my desire

more more

# You know your love keeps on lifting me

# Higher, higher and higher # Higher, higher and higher

# I said your love keeps on lifting me

# Higher and higher # Higher and higher

# Once I was downhearted # Once I was downhearted

# Disappointed # Disappointed

# But then you # But then you

# Came and it soon departed # Came and it soon departed

# And you never saw this face again # And you never saw this face again

lifting me lifting me

# Higher, higher and higher # Your love keeps on lifting me

higher and higher It's not bad, it's brilliant in

fact. # I'm so glad

# Yes, that one in a million girl # Yes, that one in a million girl

you you

# I can stand up and face the world # I can stand up and face the world

on lifting me on lifting me

# Higher and higher # Higher and higher

# And I said your love keeps on # And I said your love keeps on

# Lifting me higher and higher # Lifting me higher and higher

# I said, keeps on lifting me... COMMENTATOR: The season of their

dreams.