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Premiership (Scotland)

Marley Watkins grabs late winner for Kilmarnock against Livingston

The visitors failed to convert a number of chances in the first half against their out-of-sorts hosts and they were punished at the death.

Substitute Kevin van Veen was the provider, knocking the ball across goal for Marley Watkins to bundle home two minutes from time.

Killie strengthened their grip on fourth spot after winning their first league match of the year, while Livingston’s miserable winless run has stretched to 17, meaning they remain six points adrift at the foot of the table.

Greg Stewart was handed his first start for Kilmarnock and Liam Donnelly replaced Liam Polworth as Derek McInnes made two changes to the team that drew with Motherwell four days earlier.

Livingston made four changes as they looked to taste victory in the Premiership for the first time since October.

Tete Yengi started in the Premiership for the first time, while Daniel Mackay, Steven Bradley and Michael Nottingham all returned to the side.

Bradley had a weak early shot from distance smothered by Will Dennis, while Kyle Vassell blazed high and wide of the target at the other end.

The visitors passed up a good opportunity after 20 minutes when Nottingham rose to meet Bradley’s free-kick, though his header sailed harmlessly into the arms of the Killie keeper.

It required an important intervention from Jamie Brandon to turn Stuart Findlay’s dangerous cross behind for a corner – but the home supporters were growing increasingly frustrated at the laboured tempo of their team.

Livingston had the ball in the net six minutes before the break after Scott Pittman raced onto Yengi’s defence-splitting pass and rolled the ball home, only to have his celebrations cut short by the offside flag.

On the stroke of half-time, Pittman curled an effort just wide with Dennis scrambling and Yengi then prodded wide after being brilliantly set free by Bradley.

The home fans voiced their displeasure at the end of the first half and McInnes reacted by making a double change at the break. Matty Kennedy replaced Tom Davies and Polworth came on for David Watson.

Shamal George had been a virtual spectator but came up with a brilliant stop five minutes into the second half as he leapt to tip away Kennedy’s goal-bound shot.

The Livi keeper was at it again on the hour-mark, sensationally keeping out Donnelly’s close-range header.

The home supporters were lifted by the introduction of Van Veen on 71 minutes, part of a triple switch by the hosts.

Killie survived a huge scare when Mo Sangare passed up a glorious chance after being picked out by Andrew Shinnie.

The Lions almost paid the price for their lack of cutting edge when Murray found Watkins with a pin-point cross, though he was the latest to be denied by more heroics from George.

Kennedy stung the palms of the keeper before the hosts finally made the breakthrough with two minutes left.

Van Veen did well to nod Kennedy’s cross into the path of Watkins who turned the ball into the net.

Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller ready to go for Hibernian – Nick Montgomery

Attacker Boyle started last Friday’s agonising 2-1 quarter-final defeat by South Korea in Qatar while right-back Miller came on as a substitute while his side led 1-0, conceded a stoppage-time penalty and then also gave away the free-kick that led to their opponents’ extra-time winner.

While city rivals Hearts have allowed Australian pair Nathaniel Atkinson and Kye Rowles the rest of this week off to recover, Hibs will pitch their Socceroos duo straight back into action at home to the cinch Premiership leaders as they bid to bounce back from Saturday’s humiliating 3-0 defeat by St Mirren.

“If you know anything about Martin Boyle and Lewis Miller, you’ll know they just want to get back playing football,” Montgomery said on Tuesday.

“Martin has scored his first goal at a major tournament, he’s been away for six weeks, so you want someone like him back in the team.

“Lewis has been a starting player who has had a real quick acceleration in the international team.

“When I came here, he wasn’t in the Hibs team, he became a regular and got himself into the international set-up. A lot has happened to him in the space of six months.”

Miller, 23, has been criticised in his homeland for his part in Australia being eliminated from the tournament.

“It was a really difficult moment for Lewis,” said Montgomery. “Anybody who knows the game knows that, in big moments, players can make mistakes.

“Lewis is a great kid, he has confidence, but that’s going to affect anybody. The most important thing is that we’ve given him our support since he came back.

“I’ve spent time talking to Lewis and putting my arm around him because he really has to move forward now. Nobody is more disappointed than Lewis with what happened, but he’s back here now with the boys who love him and support him.”

Montgomery has also been the subject of criticism in recent days following Hibs’ biggest home defeat by the Buddies since 1985. The Edinburgh club have taken just two points from their last six league matches.

“I understand the expectations of the club and the fans,” he said. “I understand the frustration of the fans because no one was more frustrated with the result than me.

“Pressure comes with any job, especially at a club like Hibs. I accepted the challenge when I took the job knowing there would be a rebuild going on, but change takes a bit of time. It’s not easy, and we’re in a bit of transition.

“I know where the club is heading in the big picture, but right now I understand the need to get a bit of form back.”

Matt O’Riley hails Hoops squad depth as ‘pretty crazy’ with treble up for grabs

The Viaplay Cup winners clinched the cinch Premiership title last Sunday with a 2-0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle and only Scottish Cup final opponents Inverness from the Championship stand between Ange Postecoglou’s side and the clean sweep.

The Hoops’ prowess was reflected in the PFA Scotland nominations for player of the year, where Motherwell striker Kevin van Veen is the only non-Celtic player among the four nominees, with Reo Hatate, Kyogo Furuhashi and last year’s winner Callum McGregor representing the Hoops.

O’Riley is nominated for young player of the year along with team-mate Liel Abada, Rangers midfielder Malik Tillman and Albion Rovers striker Charlie Reilly.

With a nod to Celtic players like Jota and Cameron Carter-Vickers, who may well consider themselves unlucky not to have been nominated, the Parkhead midfielder said: “Our depth is pretty crazy to be honest.

“We have boys who are very good players who are not even making the bench.

“That is a tough position for them to be in but it also shows that competition is really, really high.

“That comes from the training pitch every day. If we win a game 5-0 the training the next day will still be at a very high level and I think the standard we have set in terms of pushing each other every day definitely helps us.”

As well as highlighting the work ethic of the squad, O’Riley also talked up the personality of the Celtic dressing room.

He said: “First and foremost, everyone in our group is a nice person.

“We don’t have anyone in the team who is going to step out of line or if anyone does step out of line the slightest bit they will get told and will be back together on the same page.

“I think that is probably the main message, that we are just good people.

“When you work with good people it is more enjoyable and naturally you are going to work hard for each other.”

The Hoops travel to Ibrox on Saturday as champions for the final Old Firm game of the season which, for “safety and security” reasons, will be played in front of home fans only.

O’Riley said: “I would be looking forward to it even if we weren’t league champions and the fact that we also don’t have our fans there will be a unique experience but it should be fun.

“Even when our fans are in the stadium there are still hundreds of thousands if not millions watching on TV.

“Obviously we would like them there but we are not too bothered in the sense that the motivation levels will still be high and if you are not up for a Rangers game there is probably something wrong with you.”

Matty Kennedy hurts his former club as Kilmarnock beat Aberdeen again

Kennedy rounded off the scoring after Corrie Ndaba’s header put Killie in front just before the interval.

Killie’s third win over Aberdeen this season put them 10 points clear of seventh-placed Hibernian and left the Dons five points adrift of Dundee in the race for a cinch Premiership top-six place.

Aberdeen have now gone eight league games without a win and their travelling fans reacted angrily after the final whistle.

The game pitted Dons boss Neil Warnock against former Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes in a reunion of the ‘Battle of Bramall Lane’ 22 years ago, when the then West Brom captain was headbutted by one of Warnock’s Sheffield United players.

This meeting was more like a no-contest although Warnock received one of the two yellow cards dished out by referee Graham Grainger.

Warnock had called for his side to stand up to the physical challenge after watching footage of the Dons being “bullied” in a 2-0 defeat at Rugby Park in October.

There were early signs that it might be a similar afternoon as Aberdeen struggled to deal with balls into the box in the first quarter.

Vassell saw a shot deflected on the post after Marley Watkins’ headed on, Jamie McGrath cleared Stuart Findlay’s header off the line, then Kelle Roos clawed away Watkins’ effort after the Dons central defence failed to cope with a bouncing ball.

Aberdeen had some attacking moments of their own and Will Dennis held a deflected strike from Dante Polvara.

Some lengthy treatment to Aberdeen defenders disrupted the flow of the game but Killie took advantage to net from a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage-time.

Danny Armstrong whipped in an outswinging cross after Kennedy teed up his fellow winger, and Ndaba brushed off the attention of Bojan Miovski to head home from close range.

Warnock was booked in the aftermath of the goal, presumably for something said to the fourth official. Whatever he said to his players at half-time had little impact as Killie came out looking for a second.

Kennedy saw a free-kick saved and Aberdeen were soon exposed after Connor Barron’s free-kick from inside the Killie half failed to reach the penalty box.

The hosts broke through Armstrong and Roos came out to block from Liam Polworth before Vassell steered the rebound well off target with men in support.

The second goal was coming and it arrived in the 58th minute following a throw into the box. Vassell held off his marker, played a one-two with Watkins and set up Kennedy to wrong-foot Roos.

The home side could have added further to their lead with Kennedy at the heart of most of their chances.

Watkins glanced a header just wide, substitute David Watson got on the end of Kennedy’s cross but could not get enough power in his shot as he stretched, and the winger saw a curling effort held by Roos.

Aberdeen never looked like sparking a comeback and Polvara’s first-half effort proved to be their only shot on target.

Max Kucheriavyi’s late brace earns St Johnstone unlikely point against Dundee

The visitors dominated proceedings for long spells and found themselves in command thanks to Scott Tiffoney’s opener and Ricki Lamie finding the net on his Dundee debut.

The introduction of Max Kucheriavyi was to change the game. The Ukrainian came off the bench to hand Saints a lifeline with eight minutes remaining and then popped up in the sixth minute stoppage time to earn Steven Maclean’s side an unlikely share of the spoils.

The hosts almost found themselves a goal in front after two minutes when Graham Carey’s corner was deflected skywards and was eventually met by Sam McClelland, who really should have at least found the target with his header from close range.

Joe Shaughnessy nodded over and Tiffoney’s tame effort was comfortably gathered as Dundee began to threaten the Saints goal.

Tiffoney went close when Dimitar Mitov could only partially clear Zach Robinson’s cross, but the winger’s low shot drifted wide.

On the half-hour mark, Amadou Bakayoko curled an effort inches past the post and they would finally be rewarded for their pressure five minutes later when they opened the scoring.

A well-worked free-kick ended with Bakayoko rising at the far post to head Finlay Robertson’s cross beyond Mitov.

A VAR check would follow to establish whether Tiffoney had made contact with the ball prior to it hitting the net before the goal was eventually awarded, much to the delight of the large travelling support.

Steven McLean introduced Chris Kane and Cammy McPherson into the action eight minutes after the restart as the Saints boss looked to give his side a desperately required spark, but it was to have little impact.

Dundee continued to look the more likely and Bakayoko’s brought out a good save from the Saints keeper before they extended their lead from the resulting corner.

Owen Beck’s pin-point delivery was rocketed high into the net by Lamie, who celebrated wildly after netting his first goal since joining the Dee on loan from Motherwell earlier in the week.

A defensive lapse by McClelland almost heaped further misery on the home side. Luke McCowan robbed the defender before rolling the ball through to Tiffoney, who was denied by an excellent save by Mitov.

St Johnstone almost grabbed a lifeline when Kane’s volley beat Trevor Carson, but rebounded back off the crossbar.

They would set up a dramatic finish with eight minutes left as Kucheriavyi stooped to head Carey’s cross past Carson for Saints’ first Premiership goal of the season.

Kane then headed into the arms of the Dundee keeper and James Brown blazed over the top as St Johnstone looked to complete a remarkable turnaround.

They were almost hit on the counter as the fourth official signalled five minutes of added time as Zak Rudden raced through on goal before guiding his effort into the side-netting.

Dundee looked set to comfortably see out the victory, though, they would suffer late heartache when Kucheriavyi slid the ball home from Luke Robinson’s cutback six minutes into added time to snatch a point for the home side.

Michael Beale can build on first Old Firm win – 5 things from cinch Premiership

The rest of the games were all significant either in the battle for European places or top-flight survival.

Here are five things we learned from the latest round of action.

Beale gets Celtic monkey off his back

Although it had no bearing on the title race, Rangers’ 3-0 win over champions Celtic at Ibrox was significant for one person in particular. It was Michael Beale’s first win over the treble-chasing Hoops in five attempts since taking over from Giovanni van Bronckhorst as Gers manager last November and was exactly what he needed to alleviate the pressure that was building. The former QPR boss will revamp his squad this summer in an attempt to wrestle the title back to Govan next season.

Celtic come up short in points tally quest

The Hoops were also looking to take full points from their final four games to take them on to 107 points, which would have been a record tally, beating the Celtic team of 2017. However, their second league defeat of the season ended those hopes. Manager Ange Postecoglou was perhaps looking more to next season by giving the likes of Alexandro Bernabei and Oh Hyeon-gyu starts at Ibrox, but there were no instant dividends.

When you are on a roll, you get the breaks

Kevin van Veen became the first Motherwell player to score in eight consecutive top-flight games for 86 years but only after being allowed to take his penalty again when St Johnstone goalkeeper Remi Matthews was punished for edging off his line while saving the initial effort. To give Van Veen his dues, his second – a chipped effort – showed supreme composure. Van Veen’s eight-game roll is the longest run of goalscoring in Scotland’s top flight since Craig Dargo managed the same with Inverness in 2005-06.

The relegation battle gets even more interesting

Dundee United slumped to the bottom after their second post-split defeat as Ross County leapfrogged them with a 3-1 Tannadice win thanks to Jordan White’s hat-trick. Kilmarnock moved out of the bottom two with a 2-0 win over Livingston and moved two points behind their next opponents, St Johnstone, following their 2-0 defeat by Motherwell. Killie can move further up the table when they host the Perth side next weekend. The bottom two are both away from home – County at Fir Park, while United travel to Livi.

No change in the battle for Europe

The four teams still vying for European places drew with each other. Third-placed Aberdeen were the biggest winners as the status quo suits them and goalkeeper Kelle Roos saved a penalty from Kevin Nisbet to maintain their five-point advantage over Hearts. St Mirren were the most disappointed after blowing a two-goal lead against the 10-man Jambos to stay sixth.

Mika Biereth rescues late Motherwell point against St Johnstone

Biereth powered home a header in the final seconds to level proceedings, though Well boss Stuart Kettlewell remained under pressure, having seen his side extend their winless run to 13 matches.

A goalkeeping error from Liam Kelly led to Bevis Mugabi turning Graham Carey’s free-kick into his own net early in the second half and it looked like the hosts were heading for another dismal afternoon until they came up with a late response.

Saints have slipped into the relegation play-off position, trailing Motherwell on goal difference having played one game fewer.

Kettlewell made three changes in an effort to end his side’s search for a first victory since September. Georgie Gent made his first start for the club while Davor Zdravkovski and Jon Obika were both handed starting roles.

Craig Levein was without Max Kucheriavyi – who sustained a concussion during Saints’ 1-0 victory over St Mirren in midweek – and he was replaced by Chris Kane.

There was little to excite supporters of either side during an error-strewn opening 20 minutes.

The hosts looked to have a case for a foul when Brodie Spencer hit the deck following a challenge just inside his own penalty area, but when the referee waved play on, Kelly parried Anthony Gallacher’s shot before grasping an effort from Carey.

Gent forced a good stop from Dimitar Mitov after 27 minutes with a low drive that took a deflection off Matt Smith – the first time the St Johnstone goalkeeper had been called into action.

Having almost broken the deadlock, Motherwell were clearly lifted and began to pose much more of an attacking threat.

Obika had a weak shot gathered comfortably then a neat passing move concluded with Blair Spittal firing a powerful effort at Mitov that the Bulgarian turned away.

Callum Slattery saw his long-range drive saved shortly after half-time, though the home side would find themselves behind after 53 minutes.

It was a disaster for Kelly who got nowhere near to collecting Smith’s curling free-kick and Mugabi could only divert the ball into his own goal.

The mood had noticeably shifted inside Fir Park and the Steelmen almost found themselves two down when Diallang Jaiyesimi released Kane, who blasted against the legs of Kelly with the goal at his mercy.

Kettlewell introduced Oli Shaw in place of Obika with 20 minutes left on the clock, however, it was the visitors who continued to look the more likely.

After Zdravkovski had hacked down Carey, the Saints man dusted himself off to bend the resulting free-kick beyond the helpless Well goalkeeper but against the crossbar.

Spencer blazed an effort high and wide as Motherwell desperately searched for a way back into an encounter that was slipping away from them at pace.

In bringing on Theo Bair and Conor Wilkinson for Spencer and Zdravkovski they would have four strikers on the field for the final 10 minutes.

The changes almost paid off instantly as Bair got in behind the Saints defence before heading into the arms of Mitov, while Beireth then looped a header that crept wide of the target with the aid of a deflection.

It appeared that it was almost time up for Kettlewell, but his side would strike deep into added time as Beireth bulleted the ball high into the net after connecting with Bair’s pin-point cross.

Mikael Mandron at the double as third-placed St Mirren hammer St Johnstone

Keanu Baccus’ stunning strike broke the deadlock before Mikael Mandron added two more after the interval and Greg Kiltie added a late fourth to draw the Paisley club level on points with second-placed Rangers.

St Johnstone played well in spells in the first half but now find themselves five points adrift at the foot of the table.

St Mirren made two changes from the team beaten by Rangers in their previous outing. In came Ryan Flynn for the suspended Ryan Strain, with Mandron replacing Toyosi Olusanya.

St Johnstone, in turn, made three changes following the goalless draw with Aberdeen. Out went Drey Wright, Graham Carey and Luke Jephcott, replaced by Diallang Jaiyesimi, James Brown and Nicky Clark.

Clark, making his first appearance of the season, had the first chance of the game but saw his free-kick attempt blocked for a corner.

The striker was next to threaten with a shot from distance that again was redirected for a corner before Dara Costelloe lashed an effort well off-target.

The home team had created nothing as an attacking force only to then score with their first shot of the match after 36 minutes.

There was plenty for Baccus to do when the ball was played to him just outside the box by Kiltie but his shot had both the power and precision to beat Dimitar Mitov in the St Johnstone goal.

The Australia international tried to repeat the trick minutes later but, from just inside the area this time, fired his attempt well over the bar.

St Mirren went on the attack at the start of second half but Mandron’s header from Scott Tanser’s free-kick lacked the power to beat the goalkeeper.

The striker would not be denied moments later when he pounced on a poor attempt from Brown to usher the ball back to his goalkeeper only for Mandron to nick in to fire a shot beyond Mitov.

St Johnstone kept trying to get a foothold back in the contest and Jay Turner-Cooke fired in a shot that Zach Hemming did well to pull out of the air.

A third goal after 71 minutes, however, killed their prospects. Mandron sent substitute Olusanya haring down the left wing and he weighted his pass perfectly for Mandron to thread his shot beyond Mitov.

Kiltie grabbed the fourth in the final minute, tapping in at the back post after Olusanya had helped on Mark O’Hara’s cross.

Mikael Mandron shines as St Mirren ease past St Johnstone

The French striker fired against the post before the ball found the net off the back of visiting goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov to put the hosts ahead late in the first half.

After being unfortunate not to be credited with the opener, there was no doubt about the second goal as Mandron brilliantly dispatched a half-volley into the bottom corner.

St Mirren remain fifth in the table, two points behind Kilmarnock, while St Johnstone’s relegation worries have been heightened, with their advantage over Ross County in the play-off position cut to just two points.

St Mirren started brightly and Mitov did well to make a crucial interception with Mandron bearing down, before then comfortably gathering Caolan Boyd-Munce’s weak effort a few minutes later.

The visitors were showing glimpses of their threat on the counter-attack, though were finding a pivotal final pass hard to come by as they wasted several promising opportunities.

When the opening goal arrived with nine minutes remaining in the first half, it was a moment to forget for Mitov.

Mandron found space 20 yards from the St Johnstone goal and unleashed a low shot that took a deflection off Liam Gordon. Mitov appeared to have done enough to keep it out, but it somehow found the net after striking the post and then the back of the despairing Bulgarian.

The beginning of the second half was delayed by five minutes following technical issues with VAR, but when play resumed the hosts looked to carry on their momentum.

Shortly after the restart, Mitov made a smart double stop to deny Mandron and then Marcus Fraser, before Lewis Jamieson saw his cross land on the top of the St Johnstone goal.

It seemed like only a matter of time before the Buddies extended their lead as they continued to threaten.

Greg Kiltie lashed just wide of the target and Jamieson sent across a tantalising cross that had no takers inside the six yard box.

Their pressure eventually paid dividends with 64 minutes on the clock. The away defence failed to clear their lines and Mandron slammed home brilliantly on the half-volley from inside the box.

It looked as though Kwon Hyeok-kyu had put the game beyond reach when he burst clear and fired past Mitov, but he was denied his first goal for the club after a VAR check deemed he had committed a foul in the build-up.

The small band of travelling St Johnstone fans were witnessing an abject display from their team, and a disappointing afternoon was summed up when Adama Sidibeh was rightfully booked for a theatrical dive in what was a rare venture into the St Mirren box.

Matthew Smith sliced wide as the visitors looked to restore some hope late on, though it would be as close as they would come to a consolation.

Millwall sign Hibernian striker Kevin Nisbet for ‘seven-figure fee’

The deal for the 26-year-old, whose exact price tag remains undisclosed, includes both add-ons and a sell-on arrangement.

A statement on Hibs’ official website read: “We can confirm that Kevin Nisbet has joined English Championship side Millwall for a significant seven-figure fee.

“The full terms of the 26-year-old’s departure will remain undisclosed, however, it does include sizeable add-ons and a sell-on fee.”

Millwall had a bid, understood to be in the region of £2million, accepted for Nisbet in January, but the player ultimately opted to stay in Scotland.

Hibs’ chief executive Ben Kensell said: “After deciding to stay in January, Kevin informed us that he wanted to leave the football club this summer, which we understood.

“Following those discussions, we had to ensure we got the best possible deal for him. We’re happy with the fee we received, and we wish him all the best for the future with Millwall.”

Nisbet, who joined Hibs from Dunfermline in July 2020, scored 12 goals in 19 league appearances last season after recovering from a knee injury which sidelined him for 10 months.

Manager Lee Johnson said: “We’re disappointed to lose Nizzy after he did so well for us on his return but understand that he wanted to go on a new adventure down south.

“Although he will be missed, this presents a new opportunity for someone else to step into that role. We thank him for his contribution and wish him all the best in England.”

Motherwell fight back for share of spoils in six-goal thriller with Ross County

The Steelmen trailed 3-1 with two minutes remaining but would level matters thanks to goals from Conor Wilkinson and Luca Ross.

After an uneventful first half, the game would spring into life as goals from Eamonn Brophy and Simon Murray had County in command.

Mika Biereth came off the bench to reduce the deficit for the home side, though any hopes of an unlikely comeback seemed to have disappeared when Victor Loturi added a third after 83 minutes.

With two minutes left on the clock, Wilkinson restored some hope for Motherwell following a good finish and Ross would scramble home in the fifth minute of added time to send Fir Park wild.

All three Well goals were scored by substitutes and a draw keeps them in sixth place, while County remain in 11th, though the away side have extended their advantage over bottom side St Johnstone to five points.

Boss Stuart Kettlewell handed former County striker Oli Shaw his first start as Motherwell returned to action for the first time in three weeks.

The visitors made three changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Dundee in midweek, with Brophy, George Harmon and Dylan Smith all given starting roles.

Brophy came agonisingly close to putting the Staggies ahead on six minutes when he narrowly missed Connor Randall’s cross.

They would have another good opportunity just minutes later as Yan Dhanda picked out Jack Baldwin, who headed the ball across goal to Ryan Leak who glanced it past the post.

It was all one-way traffic towards the Motherwell goal and it required a crucial deflection from Bevis Mugabi to divert Randall’s shot behind for a corner.

It took until the 23rd minute for the hosts to create their first chance and County had the woodwork to thank as Brodie Spencer nodded Stephen O’Donnell’s cross onto the post.

Dan Casey should have done better when he rose the highest to meet Callum Slattery’s corner, though he would fail to find the target.

Just before the half-hour mark, referee Graham Grainger consulted VAR over a potential penalty after Blair Spittal hit the deck under the challenge of Dhanda, however, play was waved on following a quick check.

It was becoming a busy afternoon for the VAR officials and they would deny two further penalties, one at either end as half-time approached.

Spittal saw his shot deflected behind as Motherwell made a bright start to the second half and there was then yet another brief stoppage as VAR concluded that the ball did not strike the hand of Kyle Turner.

County had created little of note following their strong start, though they almost broke the deadlock when Scott Allardice’s effort from distance drifted narrowly wide.

A defensive lapse by O’Donnell would almost prove costly for the Steelmen after 62 minutes, the ball broke to Turner and his shot fell the way of Murray, who was denied by the legs of Liam Kelly.

The momentum was back with Malky Mackay’s side and they took the lead after 65 minutes. Brophy picked up Turner’s pass and curled a superb shot beyond the Motherwell goalkeeper.

Things got even better for County eight minutes later when Murray burst past Harry Paton before driving the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Kettlewell introduced Biereth and Georgie Gent immediately after his team conceded a second goal and it was a move that paid off almost instantly.

When Biereth was bundled over by Ross Laidlaw, the referee made no hesitation in pointing to the spot and the on-loan striker stepped up to coolly send the goalkeeper the wrong way with the resulting penalty kick.

Hopes of a Motherwell comeback were to be short lived however, as County struck again after 83 minutes. Dominic Samuel played in Loturi, who tucked home the rebound after being initially denied by a good stop from Kelly.

To their credit, the home side continued to try find a way back into the match and they would reduce the deficit again with two minutes left, Biereth slid the ball through to Wilkinson who showed good composure to drill past Laidlaw.

Seven minutes of added time brought renewed hope for the home supporters and a remarkable fightback was completed when 17-year-old Ross bundled the ball over the line to spark wild celebration among the home supporters.

Nathan McGinley still facing ‘awful lot of work’ to get back in Motherwell team

Left-back McGinley has not played since March 13 last year but was pictured running last week.

Motherwell have deliberately not disclosed what the left-back’s problem has been, although he made an aborted comeback in pre-season training.

The 26-year-old has a further season left on his contract but his chances of being fit for the start of next term appear slim.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s visit of Ross County, Kettlewell said: “It’s nice to see Nathan back out on the park, it’s been a really, really tough struggle for him. He is out doing some very, very light work on the pitch.

“Fourteen months out the game is an awfully long time and from what I hear from Nathan, the medical team and the sports science guys, there is a substantial amount of time that has to come now in terms of that build-up, and that’s provided there is no hiccup.

“It’s not just a case of getting back on the park and he is available for selection or able to go straight into pre-season, there is an awful lot of work that has to go in to build Nathan up before he can go back into training sessions.

“The first step is there but we hadn’t got him on the park even to do light running during that 14 months, so that is a massive step, and it was really nice to see him come back on the park and get a round of applause from the players. I really hope he can kick on in the coming weeks and months.”

Motherwell have had to rely on loan left-backs this season after Jake Carroll suffered a serious knee injury early in the campaign.

“Jake has still not been back on the park,” Kettlewell said. “Jake is out of contract, I spoke to him the other day.

“The medical care he has had has been terrific and the access he has had to the medical guys here and the facilities is great. He knows the football club is doing everything it possibly can to get him back out there playing.”

Another long-term absentee, Josh Morris, who has a further year left on his deal, has not featured since November 9 and has not been seen around Fir Park for several months.

Kettlewell said: “Josh has been out with a longer-term injury and I expect there to be confirmation on that situation in the next week or two.”

The Motherwell manager also gave an update on short-term injuries, including Max Johnston, who missed last weekend’s win over St Johnstone.

“Max has got a hamstring niggle,” Kettlewell said. “It’s not a major issue but it kept him out on Saturday and it kept him off the park for a day or two this week as well.

“We will see how he is in the next couple of days to see if he is available for selection.

“Joe Efford has been struggling, Riku Danzaki has been struggling. Ross Tierney and Jon Obika have been incrementing back into training sessions.”

Meanwhile, Kettlewell could provide no clarity on reports from East Anglia that Johnston recently visited Norwich’s training ground with a view to a summer transfer.

The 19-year-old wing-back is out of contract and Kettlewell has “offered him the best deal that’s on offer”.

“I would expect if someone was visiting another football club that there would be some sort of dialogue there,” the Well boss said.

“There’s been absolutely no dialogue from Max, his representatives or anything like that to tell us that was happening.”

Neil Warnock bemoans Aberdeen’s lack of physicality after loss at Kilmarnock

The Dons manager admitted the performance looked “pathetic” and questioned whether he could do anything about their major weakness during his spell in charge until the end of the season.

Corrie Ndaba shook off the attentions of Bojan Miovski to head home the opener in first-half stoppage-time and Matty Kennedy netted against his former club as Killie enjoyed a comfortable second half.

The Dons are now without a win in eight cinch Premiership games, four of them under Warnock, and are as close to the bottom two as they are the top six with five points separating them either way.

Warnock said: “I just think it’s the physical aspect – we haven’t got any physical presence really in the whole squad.

“I don’t think we did too bad in the first half regarding the way they play and how we competed, because they are a lot more physical than us.

“But to give a goal away like that sends you in at half-time heads down. Bojan’s defending, it’s simple, he has just got to stop with his man.

“But the second half, I was disappointed.

“We haven’t got many players who have an edge on them. How many times did they leave a foot in and the referee didn’t do anything?

“We need one or two nasty people at times. That’s going to be the biggest problem in the next few months, getting the recruitment right.

“They’re all nice lads. I can’t fault them for being nice lads but you want a bit of nastiness in the team.

“You want people standing up to be counted but they’re not there. I can’t force that on them.”

Warnock, who was the only man in the visiting team to get booked, added: “We got bullied. I wouldn’t want to watch that every week, if I’m honest, but they played to their strengths and you have to match that.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a team that’s been bullied in my time but you can’t put into some players what they haven’t got.

“Believe it or not, most of those players would have tried, it just looks pathetic at times. Most of the lads were trying their hardest, they are just too nice.”

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes felt there was more to his side’s dominance than the physical nature.

“I thought we were good at what we did,” McInnes said. “There is always an element in Scottish football where you have to stand up for yourself and be physical but we were more than that. I think it would be wrong for that to be the only talking point.

“I thought we settled on the ball, we fed our wide players time and again.

“We showed a lot of good attributes and being physical and standing up for yourself is always part of that.”

McInnes added: “We had 16 shots inside their box. For only two to go in means it was not the perfect afternoon.

“We passed up some good chances, but anytime a Kilmarnock team can beat Aberdeen 2-0, you have to take that.”

Nick Montgomery breathes sigh of relief after Hibernian defeat Dundee

The Easter Road team found Dark Blues goalkeeper Trevor Carson in inspired form as he kept the visitors in the game after Dylan Vente’s first-half penalty.

And they got their rewards when Luke McCowan scored with the Dens Park men’s only shot on target.

However, Myziane Maolida’s solo goal earned a first triumph in nine league games for the capital outfit.

Montgomery said: “It should have been more comfortable – but we’ve probably said that too many times this season. I thought the performance was worthy of three points.

“The stats tell you it should have been a lot easier than it was. Dundee had one shot on target and scored a goal from that, a long throw-in and second phase, so we’re disappointed to concede that.

“But the game could had probably should have been out of sight by then. All credit to Dundee, because Carson was outstanding for them, pulling off some outstanding saves.

“Our boys showed real character, losing a goal at such a late stage and then coming back.

“We’ve played some good football and haven’t always got the results we deserved. We’ve thrown away a lot of leads. Too many draws.

“I’m a bit relieved to get the win because we’ve been a bit anxious at times, dropped points in games we could have and should have won.

“Today is another step forward to building on this end to the season.”

Next up for Hibs is Wednesday’s Edinburgh derby against Hearts at Tynecastle.

With Hibs losing the last meeting of the sides 1-0 in December, Montgomery added: “This builds a good foundation moving into Wednesday’s derby.

“We go out every week trying to win the game. Anyone can win a derby.

“In the last derby here, we probably deserved something out of the game. Martin Boyle missed a penalty, we had enough opportunities to win the game.

“Then, one moment of brilliance from Lawrence Shankland and a mistake at the back cost us on the night.

“We go into every game feeling we’ve got an opportunity to get a result, and that won’t change on Wednesday.

“I’m really looking forward to going to Tynecastle, knowing it will be a good atmosphere.

“Hearts had been on a great run. But it’s a derby. Anything can happen.”

Meanwhile, Dundee boss Tony Docherty has admitted his side’s first-half display had put the Dark Blues on the back foot.

But he was still frustrated they left with nothing after a second-half comeback.

He said: “I was disappointed in our first-half performance. That was uncharacteristic of us, maybe we were too concerned with what we were doing out of possession.

“In possession we were wasteful and passed up opportunities.

“We made a few changes at half-time and I think as we made changes throughout the game we got better and better.

“I thought we became the stronger team and had all the momentum when we got it to 1-1.

“So I was disappointed to go from that position to losing the game.

“The message to the players is that when you come to Easter Road, a difficult venue away from home, if you aren’t going to win it then don’t lose it.

“I’m disappointed for the players because I see the effort.”

Nick Montgomery credits Hibernian fans after winning start at Easter Road

Goals either side of the break from Lewis Miller and Dylan Vente sealed a well deserved victory and lifted the Leith side into sixth in the cinch Premiership.

It was also a memorable day for Rory Whitaker as the Hibs right back became the club’s youngest player at 16 years and 44 days when he climbed off the bench in the second half.

Montgomery said: “The fans were amazing, they gave me a really good reception before the game.

“And the energy they created in the second half resulted in a lot of opportunities.

“We know the pace we have up front and teams are going to come and work hard against us and that’s what happened.

“But as the game got stretched we created a lot of opportunities on the counter attack.”

Montgomery insists Whittaker’s breakthrough illustrates that age will not be a barrier to first-team opportunities under his watch.

He added: “Today was an opportunity to show there’s a pathway into the first team and Rory more than deserved his chance.

“I saw him play against Rangers last week and was very impressed with him.

“And when he trained with the first team his attitude was spot on.

“He’s a local boy, he’s been in the academy a long time and there is no better feeling than giving a young lad like him his debut.”

Hibs created several half chances in the first half before Miller headed in a Joe Newell cross at the back post.

After Elie Youan wasted another good opportunity, Vente doubled Hibs’ lead with a finish from close range after being teed up by Adam Le Fondre.

St Johnstone remain rooted to the bottom of the Premiership and manager Steven MacLean was not happy with his team’s defending for both goals.

He said: “The goals we are conceding just now are poor. The first Hibs goal comes from a second phase set-play and someone just doesn’t do their job at the back post so it’s poor from us.

“We were well in the game, we were frustrating them and we could have done better. We had a lot of opportunities in the transition and it was just the final pass, that final ball or the final run which cost us.

“The second goal was also a very poor goal to lose as we had bodies around about it but we didn’t have enough pressure on the ball and they played a ball around the corner and we got done.”

Nick Montgomery proud as Hibs hold on to beat Dundee

The visitors had established what looked to be a commanding 2-0 lead in the cinch Premiership clash thanks to goals by Jair Tavares and Lewis Miller.

However, the latter was sent off in the 63rd minute, with Dundee pulling one back through Owen Beck late on.

Hibs, who have thrown away two-goal leads already this season, withstood a late onslaught to emerge victorious to the delight of their manager.

Montgomery said: “We’ve been 2-0 up in a few games and conceded late and dropped points but we deserved more in some of those games. You don’t always get what you deserve.

“I was really proud of the boys. They work really hard and internally we had to fix it. Whether it was a mental thing or us not playing our football and heads dropping, but we’ve addressed it and it’s great to see us putting bodies on the line.”

Montgomery also admitted he would go easy on Miller, who was sent off for bookings in each half for fouls on Beck.

The manager added: “You pick up a silly booking and you’re walking a tightrope. His second was maybe harsh but I’ve not seen it.

“In that moment you regret the first one because it affects you and the team but he scored a winning goal with the header so I’ll let him off.”

Dundee boss Tony Docherty believed Hibs should have been reduced to 10 men earlier when Rocky Bushiri chopped down Beck in full flight.

Referee Don Robertson flashed a yellow with the VAR not intervening.

That irked Docherty, especially as earlier this week the VAR Independent Review Panel had ruled that the Dark Blues had already been on the wrong end of calls this season that resulted in a Josh Mulligan red card against Kilmarnock and an Amadou Bakayoko goal at Livingston being chalked off.

When asked if Bushiri should have been dismissed, Docherty replied: “I thought so. I thought it was reckless, high and at the speed Beck was going through I was worried for him.

“I thought it might be a possible bad injury. VAR must have looked at it and thought it wasn’t.

“I’m disappointed. They got three wrong and two affected us. It’s how it impacts your season. In the Kilmarnock game we’re 1-0 up and lose him (Mulligan) and then lose him for two games.

“There was also a perfectly good goal chopped off. I’m disappointed but we move on.”

Of course we’re good enough – Nicolas Raskin says Rangers can turn season around

Interim boss Steven Davis guided the Ibrox side to a 3-0 win at St Mirren on Sunday as they went into the international break seven points behind cinch Premiership leaders Celtic.

The former Gers midfielder, who was continuing his rehab from a knee injury at the Govan club after his contract expired in the summer, took over last weekend after Michael Beale departed following the 3-1 home defeat to Aberdeen.

Davis’ first game in charge was an embarrassing 2-1 Europa League defeat by Aris Limassol in Cyprus on Thursday night  – Rangers had already lost their Champions League play-off to PSV Eindhoven – and in Paisley some Rangers fans unveiled banners early in the game which read ‘heartless, passionless, leaderless; not fit to wear our colours’.

A double from skipper James Tavernier, the first from the spot in the 29th minute after Saints’ Ryan Strain was sent off for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and an Abdallah Sima strike in between gave the Gers much needed respite.

Noting that players such as Todd Cantwell, Danilo, Rabbi Matondo, Kieran Dowell and Tom Lawrence are working their way back to fitness, Raskin, who along with striker Kemar Roofe has only recently returned to action following a knock, was positive when asked if the Light Blues were good enough to win the title.

The 22-year-old midfielder said: “Are we good enough? Of course we’re good enough.

“We’ve got like six or seven players out injured, so it’s been a hard time.

“But now people are going to come back soon hopefully. We have to look forward and work hard. We’re still early in the season and we have to do our job on the park.

“We all know that we’re coming from a hard time. The last two games before Sunday were difficult for the team.

“We’ve got a lot of injuries too so it was important to turn this situation around before the international break.

“I think we played well. We tried to play as a team, to go forward and make some runs in behind St Mirren.

“Now we just have to work well and build on Sunday’s performance over the next few games because we have some important fixtures coming up.

“We have to stick together and work hard as that’s the only way to go forward and to achieve something good.”

Asked about the banner, and if the Rangers players were up for the fight, Raskin, signed from Standard Liege in January, said: “I don’t think it was down to a lack of effort.

“In football sometimes you try to do things, but sometimes it just doesn’t work for this or that reason.

“We haven’t got to the level we want to be at as a team, but we’ve also had some moments go against us.

“We have to look forward, focus on the next game and try to find the confidence by working hard together.

“Then it’s about going game after game, trying to give our best. Then it will come. I’m sure it will come because we have quality.”

Raskin was signed by Beale and described his departure last weekend as a “bit sad for everybody”.

Former Genk, Club Brugge and Monaco boss Philippe Clement has been linked with the manager’s job at Ibrox, with an appointment set to be made during the international break.

Raskin said: “I don’t know him personally, but he did very well with the two teams he had in Belgium.

“And he also did incredibly well at Monaco.

“I think he’d bring some clarity and an attacking style, so I think he’d be good.”

Owen Coyle confident Queen’s Park can mount second-leg comeback

The Spiders fought back to level the tie at Firhill with two goals in the last seven minutes of normal time but Brian Graham scored deep into stoppage time to earn the Jags a 4-3 quarter-final first-leg victory.

Queen’s were two down to goals from Kyle Turner and Jack McMillan inside 28 minutes but Dom Thomas netted the first of two spectacular strikes.

Aidan Fitzpatrick restored Thistle’s two-goal cushion after a slack back-pass but Marcel Boateng’s deflected strike was soon followed by an even better solo effort from Thomas.

However, a late blow consigned the Spiders to a sixth defeat in eight games and came four days after a 5-3 defeat by Dundee in the Championship title decider.

Coyle, whose side host Thistle at temporary home Ochilview on Friday, said: “What I do know from what I have seen, is that we can win the game on Friday night.

“What we need to do, and it’s very clear, we need to defend better because if we do we can score. We know we can score goals.

“We will take the kick in the teeth to lose the game in the seventh minute of added time when there was three minutes of time added on.

“What I do know is people must certainly enjoy watching us play because we play to win games, and that won’t change, we are trying to build a team that’s pleasing on the eye.

“But we want to be winning at the same time, but we need to defend better as well as having that flair going forward.”

Thistle manager Kris Doolan felt a mistake by referee Kevin Clancy changed the course of the game but he praised his players for their character.

Turner appeared to be fouled by Marcel Oakley just before the ball broke for Boateng 25 yards out.

Doolan said: “There was a clear foul on Kyle Turner just before their second goal, I can’t believe it wasn’t given. The referee was five yards away, it wasn’t a difficult one.

“They get a goal and they get back in the game and feel they have the impetus. Dom Thomas has real quality, we know that, but the second goal was the real catalyst for them. At 3-1 down they are almost out the game.

“We have to tighten up a wee bit, we don’t want to be giving away three goals, but to score four, and a last-minute winner, it shows the character.

“I think it gives us even more confidence. We can see across the 97 minutes we have the fitness, the stamina, the desire to keep going, and the mentality as well. We kept that mental strength all the way to the end and in the play-offs the mentality is massive.

“There is a real togetherness among us anyway and I feel that galvanises us as well.”

Partick Thistle thrash Queen’s Park to reach Premiership play-off semi-finals

The Thistle manager was in the dugout at Ochilview as his team won 4-0 to set up a semi-final against Ayr, the first leg of which will be at Firhill next Friday.

Goals from Brian Graham, Scott Tiffoney and Kevin Holt put the tie beyond doubt before half-time and the Jags soaked up some second-half pressure without any major scares before Danny Mullen sealed an 8-3 aggregate win.

Thistle announced on Thursday that Lawrence Doolan had died in the morning, and assistant manager Paul McDonald performed media duties after training. But the Firhill manager was back at work to continue his impressive start to management – he has now lost just once in 15 games.

Queen’s Park, whose Lesser Hampden home remains under redevelopment, only turned professional less than four years ago and a third consecutive promotion would have completed their ambitious plan to play in the top tier for the first time since 1958 well ahead of schedule.

But Scotland’s oldest football club led the Championship for much of 2023 and have paid the price for a late season collapse. They have won just once in nine matches and shipped 13 goals in a week in their three biggest games of the season, including last Friday’s title decider against Dundee.

Thistle fans gave their former centre-forward Doolan a special reception when the clock hit nine minutes and they were grateful for David Mitchell’s save and Darren Brownlie’s goalmouth clearance during the ovation after Connor Shields’ header had sent Jake Davidson clear.

The crowd included Neil Lennon, Duncan Ferguson, Ayr manager Lee Bullen plus Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin, whose team are battling to avoid the play-offs or worse.

Ferguson would have been proud of Graham’s 14th-minute finish as the experienced striker guided home a side-foot volley following Kyle Turner’s deep corner.

Aaron Healy hit a half-chance straight at Mitchell from 18 yards before Thistle doubled their lead with a well-worked goal in the 28th minute. Steven Lawless found Jack McMillan with a clever return pass and the right-back squared for Tiffoney to finish.

Holt bundled home the third in the 41st minute as he followed up on a parried header from Graham, who was soon denied a second goal by a point-blank save from Calum Ferrie.

Queen’s Park manager Owen Coyle made three half-time changes but needed Ferrie to make a one-on-one stop from Tiffoney early on.

Thistle frustrated their hosts and substitute Mullen nodded home in the 82nd minute after Ferrie had made an unorthodox stop with his foot from Cammy Smith’s deflected effort.

Philippe Clement furious with Dundee pitch after Rangers game is postponed

After heavy rain overnight, there was an initial 9.15am pitch inspection by local referee Craig Fordyce ahead of the scheduled noon kick-off and, following another inspection by match referee Don Robertson at 10.15am, the game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

The postponement – Dundee’s third at the Scot Foam Stadium at Dens Park this season after matches against Aberdeen and St Johnstone were called off – means Celtic go into the international break with a one-point lead over the Ibrox men at the top of the table.

Gers boss Clement said: “We weren’t warned about it – not Saturday evening, during the night.

“I hear now that people started to work on the pitch at five o’clock in the morning. So, in that way they did their best.

“But we were only told there was an issue because our kitman was at the stadium early, at around 9.15am.

“He warned us about the situation and for me that’s a really strange thing.

“This will be the only pitch in all the leagues in Scotland where a game was postponed.

“That tells me that it has nothing to do with the weather.

“Yes, it rained, but it rained all over Scotland and there were pitches in other lower leagues where they could play football.

“There, the ball was bouncing. But here, the ball was not bouncing. So clearly there is something wrong.

“Also, there were spots on the pitch where they put lots of sand and there was no stability for the players. It is really dangerous for injuries.

“I think it’s a very important thing for the future that a league thinks about how to raise the level of the pitches and put standards on that like they do on other things.

“They have standards with things like lighting, for example, to have a good broadcast of the game and to have a good product.

“Sure, the lights are really important. But even more important is the quality of the pitches, I think.”

The Ibrox club released a statement which backed up their manager’s disgruntlement.

It read: “Rangers, on behalf of our supporters, are extremely disappointed and angered with the late call-off of today’s match with Dundee.

“The first team have prepared as normal for the match, and it was not until this morning that any concerns over the playing surface were raised.

“It is not understood why the home club did not raise those concerns in a more timely manner, given the reoccurring issues they have had with their playing surface at earlier points in the season.

“The Rangers team and thousands of our supporters had already arrived at the stadium by the time a decision was reached.

“This is the only match in the entire UK senior leagues to be postponed this weekend, and given it was to be shown on Sky Sports nationwide, reflects poorly on our game.”

Referee Robertson was left with no option but to postpone the fixture.

“The only consideration for me was the safety of the players,” he said.

“When I inspected the pitch there, it was quite clear that it wasn’t in a playable condition.

“The ball wasn’t bouncing, and there were a couple of areas of concern in front of the dugout and in the top penalty area.

“The ground staff have done a lot of work to be fair to them, but the ball is not bouncing at all in some of those areas, it wasn’t rolling, the conditions underfoot were dangerous for the players.

“So, it’s quite a simple decision after that.”

Dundee managing director John Nelms expressed a different type of disappointment on Sky Sports News, saying: “We are supposed to be one of the most robust leagues in the world. The ball is rolling.

“We have had guys out here since 5am. We have done everything we could do to get this pitch in place. We have two small spots where the ball is not bouncing as we speak. The rest of the pitch is fine.”