Harmon strikes late at Kilmarnock to secure County’s third straight away win
Venue: Rugby Park Date: 05/01/25 Time: 15:00pm Ross County travelled back to Dingwall with their third consecutive away win, a result made all the more impressive considering they hadn’t recorded one since September 2023 prior to the run. In a lesson for the home side on how to take your chances, George Harmon was clinical in dispatching Noah Chilvers’s pass into the box with just minutes to play. Despite the result, Kilmarnock had the first real chance of the game. Fraser Murray used some fine footwork to create shooting space, forcing Jordan Amissah into a save he would need to double down on after it deflected back towards goal. However it wasn’t long before County began to impose themselves, Josh Nisbet did well to get in on goal but his centred shot made it all too easy for Robbie McCrorie to deal with. McCrorie was soon called on again, this time straining every muscle in his body to tip Connor Randall’s effort from far reaches of his box over the bar. No doubt buoyed by his earlier effort, Randall soon attempted a shot from outside the area but watched it sail over the bar. It took over an hour but eventually Kilmarnock got their first attempt on target albeit not one that troubled Amissah as David Watson could not get enough purchase on Fraser Murray’s cross. Murray’s next cross found Bruce Anderson who saw his shot deflected out for a corner but Kilmarnock could not make the set piece count. The result means Derek McInnes’ men now sit tenth, just one point above Hearts in the relegation play-off place. Attendance: 5,426 Line-Ups: Kilmarnock (4-4-2): R. McCrorie, C. Ndaba, L. Mayo, J. Wright, B. Lyons (c), F. Murray, (L. Donnelly (K. Magennis 63’), D. Watson, D. Armstrong (G. Mackay-Steven 84’), B. Anderson, I. Cameron ((M. Watkins 5’)(B. Wales 62’)) Substitutes: O. Bainbridge, A. Brown, J. Burroughs, R. Deas, G. Mackay-Steven, K. Magennis, K. O’Hara, B. Wales, M. Watkins Ross County (3-5-1-1): J. Amissah, C. Randall (c), K. Lopata, A. Wright, G. Harmon, J. Nisbet (V. Loturi 75’), N. Kenneh, J. Grieves (R. Hale 59’), J. Brown, N. Chilvers (C. Telfer 88’), J. White Substitutes: S. Allardice, E. Brophy, R. Hale, J. Hamilton, V. Loturi, J. Reid, J. Reid, M. Sheaf, C. Telfer Referee: Steven McLean
First half collapse sees St Johnstone fall to Dundee
Venue: McDiarmid Park Date: 05/01/25 Time: 15:00pm St Johnstone’s early collapse saw Dundee come out comfortable winners and leave the Perth side eight points adrift at the bottom of the table. Just three minutes into play Josh Rae flailed as he jumped to catch a lofted free kick ball, leaving Simon Murray to put the visitors on the front foot. In the tenth minute disaster struck again when St Johnstone were guilty of not clearing from a set piece allowing the ball to fall into Seb Palmer-Houlden’s feet, the 21 year old making no mistake to double his side’s lead. Folding like a deck of cards on a windy day, Simo Valakari’s men found themselves three down just twelve minutes later, Lyall Cameron finishing Mulligan’s pass into the box which could have been finished by Oluwaseun Adewumi had he not missed the ball entirely. Making two substitutions before the half hour mark, the manager look to turn things around but would earn no more than a consolation goal courtesy of Josh McPake’s long range effort. Nicky Clark came close to getting the first for the home side but could not get enough purchase on Aaron Essel’s cross as the ball skimmed over his head. Continuing in their struggles to find the target, Benjamin Kimpioka could not add a finish to his tricky footwork, ending the game goalless for the fifth time in a row before Adama Sidibeh failed to do better with his own effort. Much improved in the second half, Clark at least forced a save from Trevor Carson who endured one of his more comfortable evenings in a Dundee shirt. Palmer-Houlden probed for a second but was denied by a strong hand from Rae. Attendance: 5,246 Line-Ups: St Johnstone (4-2-3-1): J. Rae, A. Raymond (A. Essel 28’), B. Mikulic, J. Sanders, D. Wright, M. Smith (M. Kucheriavyi 28’), S. Sprangler, B. Kimpioka (J. McPake 58’), N. Clark (c), G. Carey, A. Sidibeh Substitutes: A. Brookfield, B. Dair, A. Essel, F. Franczak, C. Helpburn, D. Keltjens, M. Kucheriavyi, C. MacPherson, J. McPake Dundee (3-4-2-1): T. Carson (c), L. Graham, C. Roberston, R. Astley, S. Tiffoney, M. Sylla, L. Cameron, J. Mulligan, O. Adewumi (C. Garza 76’), S. Palmer-Houlden (C. Main 84’), S. Murray (E. Ingram 68’) Substitutes: S. Braybrooke, C. Garza, E. Ingram, C. Main, J. McCracken, H. Sharp, J. Vetro Referee: David Dickinson
Aberdeen go ten without a win as Motherwell triumph
Venue: Fir Park Date: 05/01/25 Time: 15:00pm Aberdeen’s recent woes continued as they fell to their 10th consecutive game without a victory, dropping into fourth and only four points ahead of Motherwell. Having been dominant throughout the first half, the home side were rewarded for their efforts when Ewan Wilson lashed home a ball the Dons had failed to clear. Desperately needing a result, Jimmy Thelin’s men did themselves no favours as Slobodan Rubezic reacted to Tony Watt’s provocations, making head contact to earn himself a straight red. Taking full advantage of the numerical advantage, Motherwell scored just two minutes later through Tawanda Maswanhise Motherwell could have opened the scoring sooner when Andy Halliday’s curling long ball found on the head of an oncoming Dan Casey who lifted his hands in disbelief after putting the effort wide. Similarly Aberdeen had chances of their own, Nicky Devlin leapt into the air to head in an corner but Aston Oxborough did ever so well to deny the Scotland international. Looking improved with ten men, the visitors continued to probe for an opener, Duk guilty of not setting himself correctly to put away a ball Topi Keskinen sent skimming across the turf. Leighton Clarkson came closest, his effort from distance beating Oxborough but rattling the crossbar and bouncing away. Late on Maswanhise saw his effort fly low past Kris Doohan’s left hand side but by then game looked over as Motherwell secured their first win in five. Attendance: 5,308 Line-Ups: Motherwell (3-4-2-1): A. Oxborough, D. Casey, L. Gordon (c), K. Balmer (P. McGinn 86’), E. Wilson, A. Halliday, D. Zdravkovski (T. Sparrow 78’), M. Kaleta, T. Watt (C. Slattery 86’), T. Maswanhise (S. Nicholson 78’), M. Ebiye (J. Vale 68’) Substitutes: S. Blaney, K. Hegyi, J. Koutroumbis, P. McGinn, S. Nicholson, S. O’Donnell, C. Slattery, T. Sparrow, J. Vale Aberdeen (4-3-3): R. Doohan, J. MacKenzie (J. McGarry 72’), A. MacDonald (L. Clarkson 46’), S. Rubezic, N. Devlin, G. Shinnie (c), S. Heltne Nilsen, A. Palaversa (P. Ambrose 80’), Duk, K. Nisbet (D. Polvara 46’), T. Keskinen (S. Morris 72’) Substitutes: P. Ambrose, F. Boyd, V. Enem, J. McGarry, J. McGrath, S. Morris, L. Clarkson, D. Polvara, T. Ritchie Referee: Nick Walsh
Hearts Pick Up Vital Win At Tannadice Over High-Flying Dundee United
James Penrice scored the only goal of the game as Neil Critchley’s side move 8 points clear of 12th place Dundee United were looking to win their 4th consecutive match in the league, with Hearts aiming to build on their 1-0 win over Motherwell on Thursday. There were 3 changes in the United team that beat Dundee, as Declan Gallagher returned to the XI to captain the side. Hearts named an unchanged lineup. It was the Jambos who started brighter of the two sides and looked threatening when they went forward. Musa Drammeh had the first shot of the game but his left footed attempted was well saved by Jack Walton. Liam Boyce came the closest to opening the scoring in the first half, with his shot from a tight angle outside the box firing off the United keeper’s crossbar. United struggled for any good possession but looked dangerous from every throw in. Their first chance of the afternoon fell to Kevin Holt inside the box, but his volley scuffed past the post. At the other end, Craig Halkett found himself free at the back post from Spittal’s corner, but his header was cleared off the line from Holt. Jim Goodwin opted to make a double change at the end of the first half, hoping to gain more control in the much. The first half petered out, however, as neither side were able to create any real openings. Half Time – Dundee United 0-0 Hearts The second half started the same way the first half ended as both teams struggled to get a hold of the ball. Ryan Strain had the first chance of the half as the ball fell to him from 12 yards out, but he blazed his shot into the Hearts fans behind Craig Gordon’s goal. Hearts hit the woodwork for the second time in the game when former Dundee United man, Blair Spittal, smashed the ball off the crossbar from a free kick 30 yards out. The scrappiness of the match continued throughout the second half, with the ball spending a lot of it’s time in the air. The breakthrough finally came at Tannadice in the 73rd minute. A headed cross from Forrester was aimed for Boyce, who fluffed his lines but the ball fell to Penrice who fired his volley into the back of the United yet. An excellent finish in a game in a game lacking any real quality. The late goal specialists searched for an equaliser but Critchley’s men looked like the only side scoring the second of the match as United pushed bodies forward. Hearts saw out the game well, with Goodwin’s sides only opportunity coming via a goal line scramble in added time. Over the course of 90 minutes, Hearts probably deserved the victory, in what was a rare away victory for them this season. The result sees the Jambos move 8 points clear of 12th place St Johnstone. As for Dundee United, they remain in 3rd spot despite the disappointing defeat. Dundee United – Walton (GK), Strain, Adegboyega, Gallagher (C) (Trapanovski 73), Holt, Ferry, Odada (Docherty 39), Sevelj (Fotheringham 86), Stephenson (Middleton 73), Thomson (Van Der Sande 39), Dalby Hearts – Gordon (GK) (C), Forrester, Rowles, Halkett, Penrice, Devlin, Grant (Vargas 86), Drammeh (Forrest 76), Boyce (Boateng 76), Spittal, Wilson (McCart 90) 10,214 attendance
Celtic bounce back to comfortably beat St Mirren
Venue: Celtic Park Date: 05/01/25 Time: 15:00pm Celtic bounced back from their midweek defeat to Rangers to comfortably dispatch St Mirren. A third consecutive defeat for Stephen Robinson’s men. Nicolas Kuhn’s remarkable season continued when he opened the scoring, darting past his defenders to meet Daizan Maeda’s pinpoint low ball across the box. Once the floodgates had been opened there was little hope a comeback for the visitors, Auston Trusty was far too comfortable heading in an Arne Engels corner for his first goal in a Celtic shirt. A third and final blow would be delivered in the second half as confusing rained down on the visitors’ backline. Engels had found himself surrounded and his back heel seemed to be falling into Zach Hemming’s hands before he and Marcus Fraser collided to see the ball drop to Kuhn’s unforgiving feet. Despite knocking at the door on numerous occasions, striker Adam Idah struggled to get the beating of Hemming and score his first league goal since November. An early headed effort from another dangerous Engels corner early on could not be directed on target as St Mirren attempted limit their hosts’ opportunities. Unfortunate too was the Republic of Ireland international to see his deflection of Engels’s shot saved by the keeper signed loan for the second time to replace Ellery Balcombe, himself recalled by Brentford. Despite being marked by two players Maeda also had an opportunity to add a goal of his own but winger’s header lacked the requisite accuracy to trouble the keeper. St Mirren had their best opportunity of the game late on when Jonah Ayunga outmuscled Cameron Carter-Vickers just outside the six yard area but Kasper Schmeichel reacted well to make the save. With Rangers drawing away to Hibernian, Celtic gave themselves a thirteen point cushion at the top of the table. Meanwhile St Mirren find themselves just one point above seventh place Hibs. Line-Ups: Celtic (4-3-3): K. Schmeichel, G. Taylor, A. Trusty, C. Carter-Vickers, A. Johnston, A. Engels, C. McGregor (c), L. McCowan (R. Hatate 70’), D. Maeda (L. Palma 83’), A. Idah (K. Furuhashi 83’), N. Kuhn (Yang Hyun-Jun 71’) Substitutes: K. Furuhashi, P. Bernardo, R. Hatate, L. Palma, A. Ralston, L. Scales, V. Sinisalo, Alex Valle, Yang Hyun-Jun St Mirren (3-5-1-1): Z. Hemming, R. Taylor, A. Gogic, M. Fraser, S. Tanser (D. John 84’), M. O’Hara (c) (O. Smyth 62’), C. Boyd-Munce (R. Idowu 83’), K. Phillips, E. Bwomono, G. Kiltie (O. Oseni 62’), T. Olusanya (J. Ayunga 62’) Substitutes: J. Ayunga, A. Iacovitti, R. Idowu, D. John, M. Mandron, E. Mooney, O. Oseni, O. Smyth, P. Urminsky Referee: Grant Irvine