Moult Magic Hands Dundee United Late Win
A spectacular overhead kick from Louis Moult separated these two sides in a classic game of two halves. A frantic first half in Paisley saw a revitalised St Mirren aiming to end their winless run. Both teams were in full flow and the first half was a spectacle for the neutral. Just before the five minute mark, Richard Taylor thought he put his side in front as his header was cleared off the line by Luca Stephenson. A VAR check took place and confirmed it did not cross the line to the dismay of the home support. Dundee United broke through Glenn Middleton and his pass found Sam Dalby but the striker could not convert. A quick break from St Mirren resulted in a wayward effort from Roland Idowu as the home side started to gain a foothold in the game. Progressing through the thirds impressively, some neat interplay from Greg Kiltie, Killian Phillips and Mikael Mandron resulted in a Phillips’ effort being blocked by Emmanuel Adegboyega. Kevin Holt had his volley safely held by Zach Hemming as did Vicko Ševelj in the visitors’ best chances of the game. The Buddies continued to dominate possession and looked a threat going forward and from set pieces much to the delight of the home crowd who witnessed a rejuvenated performance from their side. An off ball incident involving former Saints Declan Gallagher and Greg Kiltie was addressed by the referee to no repercussion for the United defender. Killian Phillips saw his delightful header expertly palmed away by Jack Walton as the half drew to a close. Half Time: St Mirren 0-0 Dundee United Dundee United came flying out the traps and just after kick off they had the ball in the net through Šelvej but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. The game continued in its chaotic nature as Elvis Bwomono missed a glorious chance from a St Mirren counter as the ball was crossed in by Tanser, the Ugandan couldn’t quite sort his feet out to convert. Glenn Middleton was next to test the St Mirren defence. A quick break through Stephenson found the winger who was hunted down by Iacovitti and his effort was deflected wide. Some quick feet from Roland Idowu found the feet of Mandron who danced and weaved his way into space in the United box before crashing an effort off the underside of the bar in a shot that looked destined for the back of the net. St Mirren stopper Zach Hemming had to be on top form as he was quick to react to save a goal bound shot from Middleton before pouncing on an effort from in form Sam Dalby. Mikael Mandron used his body well and fended off Declan Gallagher before squaring the ball to his captain Mark O’Hara but his effort sailed over. Mandron was involved again as he sent his strike partner Toyosi Olusanya through on goal. The latter broke through the heart of the United defence and was 1 on 1 with Jack Walton but smashed his shot straight off the goalkeeper who made himself big. St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson had his head in his hands and the forward should have done better. The hosts had to contain pressure from their opponents and a combination of blocks from Alex Iacovitti and Marcus Fraser along with a point blank save from Hemming kept the score level going into the final five minutes. Substitute Louis Moult would grab the headlines as with two minutes to play he got on the end of a cross and lashed a fine overhead kick into the far corner, giving Hemming no chance and sending the away fans into delirium. Dundee United will have goalkeeper Jack Walton to thank as Olusanya was clipped in the box by Kevin Holt and St Mirren were given a lifeline at the death. However, Walton guessed right and smothered Olusanya’s penalty and the three points would head back to Dundee. Full Time: St Mirren 0-1 Dundee United A break from league action sees St Mirren visit Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup, meanwhile Dundee United travel the short distance to Dens Park to play their city rivals in the same competition. Teams: St Mirren– Hemming (GK), Fraser, Taylor, Iacovitti, Bwomono (Penman, 95”), Tanser, Phillips (Oseni, 95”), O’Hara (C), Kiltie (Boyd-Munce, 73”), Idowu (Olusanya, 63”), Mandron (Mooney, 95”) Dundee United– Walton (GK), Strain, Holt, Ševelj, Ferry, Middleton (Moult, 61”), Adegboyega, Stephenson (van der Sande, 86”) , Dalby, Docherty (C), Gallagher Attendance: 7440 Referee: David Dickinson
Quickfire double sees Hibs join defeated Motherwell in top half
A Martin Boyle double saw Hibs come away with the all important three points, sending David Gray’s side into the top six as Motherwell left the capital with just one win in seven. Boyle continued his fine form to open the scoring, finishing a pass into the box by substitute Jordan Obita, who entered the fray early on after Nicky Cadden’s knock to the head. Just minutes later Ewen Wilson was caught in possession by Nectar Triantis, the Australian bursting clear and firing a low shot past Archie Mair, whose signing was announced less than an hour before kick off. Time crept on as the home side looked to see out the win but Jack Iredale’s silly foul just outside the box allowed Motherwell back into the game, substitute Callum Slattery firing in an excellent free kick. Motherwell made sure this was little more than consolation as Stephen O’Donnell gave away a cheap penalty whcih Boyle duly converted for his fourth goal in two games. Hibernian did well to see out the game but in truth Motherwell offered little threat going forward. Tony Watt had a couple of headed chances on either side of half of the break but could do little more than send the chances over the bar. Nectar Triantis came close to getting his second as the ball met him at the far post but Mair put enough pressure on the midfielder to force a shot into the stands. Motherwell’s frustrations continued to bubble and eventually Jack Vale earned himself a straight red for a foul on Boyle with seconds to go. Hibs march on with one eye on Europe Just over a month ago, the chat around Easter Road was about how the side would cope with relegation. Now, Europe is talk of the town as Hibs powered into the top half. And why not? The side have always looked to two good for the bottom places, let down by what was perceived as mental fragility that looks distant memory. Martin Boyle has four in two games but more than numbers, the striker has become a leadership figure and his tireless running an embodiment of Gray’s desire to not let his side take their foot off the gas. Speaking in the post match conference, the manager was unequivocal, they will focus on chasing the next team down rather than look to far ahead. That will not however, stop the fans from dreaming of booking a trip to continent come next season. Lack of spark kills Motherwell’s chances Despite the single victory in seven, Motherwell remain four points clear of the bottom half. Helped in the past by their ability to eek out victories by single goal margins and more recently by their opponents fumbling the bag in their own attempts to push up the table, Motherwell might need to find a solution fast if they are to prevent a slow drift in the rankings. Without the titanic Aston Oxborough in goal and missing the creativity of Lennon Miller, the side lack to guaranteed points the two bring. Their lack of bravery going forward was exposed in the continued absence of their captain, Tony Watt and Jack Vale waited in vain for the ball to progress its way up the park towards them. Stuart Kettlewell spoke of the fatigue, both mental and physical setting into the side as the congested fixture list wore heavy on the side featuring six changes from their draw in Kilmarnock. With a Cup game coming next week, Kettlewell will need to dig deep to find the solutions for what he called the most difficult period of managerial career thus far. What the managers said: Hibs boss David Gray: “The return, one defeat in the last ten games, is fantastic. A hell of lot of work’s gone into it. “Probably didn’t create as many chances as I would have liked but controlled the game. “We’ve given ourselves a real opportunity to push on, tasked before the game to try and get into that top six. We’ve still got ten games to go before that’s settled we need to make sure we keep picking up points quickly and make sure we’re in it.” Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell: “I think it’s a case of three individual errors cost us. “That’s my biggest frustration, the mental fatigue as well as physical that started to set in. “To give that penalty away at that stage quite clearly gives Hibs a lift that they needed and it gives them a platform they needed just to see the game out.” Attendance: 15,829 Line up: Hibernian (3-4-1-2): J. Smith, J. Iredale, R. Bushiri, W. O’Hora, N. Cadden (J. Obita 19’), D. Levitt (Kwon Hyeok-Kyu 62’), N. Triantis, C. Cadden (L. Miller 62’), J. Campbell, D. Gayle (J. Hoilett 62’), M. Boyle (c) Subsitutes: R. Molotnikov, L. Amos, J. Bursik, J. Hoilett, Kwon Hyeok-Kyu, H. McKirdy, L. Miller, N. Moriah-Welsh, J. Obita Motherwell (3-5-1-1): A. Mair, S. Blaney, P. McGinn (c) (D. Casey 33’), K. Balmer, E. Wilson (M. Kaleta 46’), T. Sparrow (C. Slattery 70’), A. Halliday (T. Maswanhise 46’), K. Andrews, S. O’Donnell, T. Watt (M. Ebiye 70’), J. Vale Substitutes: D. Casey, M. Connelly, M. Ebiye, M. Kaleta, J. Koutrombis, T. Maswanhise, S. Nicholson, C. Slattery, D. Zdravkovski Referee: Colin Steven