Hearts rally to down Staggies

Hearts came from a goal behind to condemn Don Cowie’s men to a sixth straight league defeat in a 3-1 victory in Dingwall on Saturday.Ronan Hale’s 14th goal of the season proved to be the only highlight as a double from a rejuvenated Lawrence Shankland and a late strike from Alan Forrest was enough to give interim manager Liam Fox a win in his first game in charge. Hale’s strike just before the half-hour mark was as good as it got, the Irishman unleashing a brilliant strike 20 yards from goal, which was drilled into the bottom corner. Shankland has been deployed in midfield for large parts of the season, but Fox opted for the traditional number 9 role with Elton Kabangu and James Wilson on the bench, marking a departure from the Neil Critchley era. Those changes proved dividends as Shankland brought Hearts level just shy of half-time, the Scottish International received the ball from Beni Baningime and struck low below Jordan Amissah. A flurry of Staggies chances and a VAR check for a penalty gave Cowie hope that they might be able to retake the lead, but it wasn’t long before Shankland fired Hearts in front, to the delight of the near-900 Hearts fans in the Highlands. A brilliant passing move from the Jambos saw the ball worked from defence to attack, resulting in a terrific ball from Vargas across the Ross County goal, which had the Staggies defence at a standstill as Shankland was his classic predatory self and swept the ball cooly past Amissah. Blair Spittal spent three years in the Highlands and almost hit a sweet strike from distance that cannoned off the crossbar as the Staggies looked down for the count. Cowie made sweeping subs to try and inject some life into the County attack and claw themselves away from the relegation playoff spots. That change did little to appease the Staggies faithful, however, and the pivotal fourth goal would follow late into the game. Akil Wright slipped under pressure from Shankland, who raced down the left and flashed the ball to an unmarked Forrest, who calmly slotted Hearts’ third to take the three points back to Edinburgh. County remain two points behind Dundee but the threat of a third straight relegation play-off is looming large for the Dingwall side with three games remaining. They travel to Perth next weekend to take on a seemingly doomed St. Johnstone side. Hearts are looking to finish best of the rest as they chase top  spot of the bottom half of the split in pursuit of Motherwell. With the games remaining, it remains to be seen if boss Fox can use them as an audition for his own shot of the Jambos job. FULL-TIME: ROSS COUNTY 1 – 3 HEARTS Ross County: Amissah; Wright, Tomkinson, Ashworth, Brown, (Nisbet 63), Kenneh, (Efete 63), Randall, Harmon, (Grieves 74); Samuel (Robesten 83), Hale, White 6 (Phillips 63). Subs not used: Ross, Campbell, Lopata, Smith. Hearts: Gordon; Forrester, Kent, Halkett, Penrice, Baningime, Spittal (Nieuwenhof 70), Vargas (Dhanda 80), Grant, Forrest, (Wilson 90), Shankland. Subs not used: Fulton, Kingsley, McKay, Steinwender, Kabangu, Kartum. Referee: Don Robertson Man of the match: Lawrence Shankland.

Robinson’s Buddies defeat the Dons as they set up a late dash for Europe!

St Mirren ended Aberdeen’s unbeaten run of eight games with a 1-0 win at St. Mirren Park. This win, along with Hibs’ defeat of Dundee United at Easter Road, has given the Buddies a chance at a European place. A set piece on the hour mark from Captain Mark O’Hara found its way through to Mikael Mandron, who sealed the three points.  Last weekend, Aberdeen managed to end Hibs’ record-equalling unbeaten run of 17 games at Pittodrie, extending their unbeaten run to 8 games. St. Mirren earned a well-deserved point in their 2-2 draw with Rangers, with some fans believing they may have deserved more from the game. The first half started, and for the opening 10 minutes, it was one-way traffic from the Dons with the Buddies struggling to get out of their half. After this, it became a feisty affair between the two sides, but the visitors looked the most dangerous from chances. In the 25th minute, the travelling side had the ball in the back of the net. A cross into the box, along with scrappy defending, allowed the ball to fall to the feet of Okkels, who slotted it past Zach Hemming. However, the ball appeared to hit the hand of Kevin Nisbet on the way in and was chopped off via VAR. After this, it seemed to spur the home side into life as they began to create more chances in the game. Chances from O’Hara, John, and Mandron came but did not find the back of the net. The first half whistle blew, and both sides had periods of control throughout this feisty encounter. The second half kicked off and continued that feisty display from both sides. The opening 15 minutes continued this way, and then on the hour mark, the home side struck home, thus breaking the deadlock. A set-piece cross from Captain Mark O’Hara 40 yards out found its way through to the far-left hand side of the goal, and Mandron, after signing a new contract this week, fired it home. For the remainder of the game, the visitors controlled the possession of the game but failed to take their chances. This, along with St. Mirren’s physical presence at the back, meant the Dons failed to record a single shot on target in the game. This past week, Manager Stephen Robinson spoke about a push for a European Place. After today’s result, he said;  “I know this group of players, the talent they have, they desire they have, and people thought we’d turn up for these two games and not put everything into it, that’s not how my teams work, and not how my players work”. Don’s manager Jimmy Thelin said; “It was a difficult game, I don’t think we were good enough to deserve the win, but maybe not bad enough to lose. It was a typical 0-0 game with something extra needed, a set play or one against one situation, and today they did it and we didn’t do it”. This result makes the race for third between Hibs, Dundee United and Aberdeen all the more interesting as Hibs now have the advantage with the Buddies slowly closing the gap to United. 

Saints Staring at Relegation after Comfortable Kilmarnock Victory

St Johnstone 0 – 2 Kilmarnock Kilmarnock continued their impressive post-split form with a comfortable 2-0 victory over a disjointed St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, leaving the home side facing a daunting challenge in their bid for Premiership survival. Derek McInnes’ men started with intent, early efforts from Fraser Murray and Danny Armstrong setting the tone before David Watson opened the scoring in the 12th minute. The midfielder collected the ball on the edge of the box and his well-struck shot nestled into the bottom left corner, beyond the reach of Andy Fisher. St Johnstone struggled to find any rhythm throughout the first half, several misplaced passes and heavy touches drew boos of the home faithful. Their best chance of the half fell to Uche Ikpeazu just before the break. A defensive lapse saw the ball fall kindly to the big striker at the back post, but Kieran O’Hara reacted sharply to produce a brilliant point-blank save from his close-range volley, ensuring Killie went into the interval with their lead intact. Kilmarnock were gifted a golden opportunity within minutes of the second half restart. Rory McKenzie was brought down in the box, and following a brief VAR review, Danny Armstrong  dispatched the ensuing penalty straight down the middle, doubling the visitors’ advantage and effectively sealing the victory. The second half descended into a more attritional affair, with clear-cut chances few and far between. Substitute Adama Sidibeh offered an injection of pace for the Saints, but his efforts ultimately came to nothing against a resolute Kilmarnock defence. McInnes will be buoyed by his side backing up last week’s victory over Ross County with another clean sheet. He will also have been pleased to see club captain Kyle Vassell making his first appearance since January. The striker was all action in his 15 minute cameo, constantly menacing the St Johnstone back line, though he was unable to direct either of his two efforts on target. The defeat leaves St Johnstone facing a daunting challenge in the season finale, still sitting six points adrift at the foot of the table. They now face a pivotal encounter against Ross County at McDiarmid Park next weekend, a must-win clash in their fight for survival. For a buoyant Kilmarnock, it’s back to Rugby Park where they will aim to maintain their perfect record in the post-split fixtures with the visit of Dundee. Teams St Johnstone: Fisher Balodis Sprangler Douglas Carey Watt Griffith (Clark 64’) Steven Kirk (Sidibeh 64’) McPake (Franczak 79’) Ikpeazu Kilmarnock: O’Hara Mayo Findlay Deas Ndaba Armstrong (Vassell 77’) Donnelly Watson (Polwoth 89’) Wales (Mackenzie 46’) Anderson (Watkins 77’) Murray (Ramsay 86’) Manager Reactions Simo Valakari: “They can come here, Ross County, not to get beaten not to lose we need to win” Derek McInnes: “The form we’ve shown in the last few games has been pleasing, three clean sheets, three 2-0 wins, it’s the type of form I know we are capable of”

Advantage Hibs in race for Europe

Hibernian secured a first home win over Dundee United since 2020 as Dwight Gayle’s late finish sealed the three points, taking the side one step closer to qualifying for Europe next season. An uncharacteristic lapse in concentration allowed Martin Boyle to poke the ball home just four minutes in after Declan Gallagher could not untangle his legs from the ball, a twelfth league goal of the season for the forward. Failing heed the warning, Mykola Kukharevych was able to saunter into the box and drive a shot onto the inside of the post before ricocheting behind a helpless Jack Walton. Two changes at the break surmised Jim Goodwin’s displeasure at the lackadaisical approach his side took after going down, the results immediately providing the side with a much needed impetus as Kristijan Trapanovski took advantage of a poor corner clearance to pull one back. As the game approached its end, three minutes after coming on fan favourite and the soon to be retiring Gayle lifted propelled himself to header a third to ensure the points would not travel back to Dundee with the visitors. United in truth were fortunate to not find themselves standing before an even greater mountain to climb as Walton parried efforts from Junior Hoilett and Kukharevych in quick succession. The stopper would deny Josh Campbell with a stunning save from close ranger after the break to keep his side in the game as the midfielder pummelled the ground in frustration. Jordan Smith played his part too at the other end, throwing himself to deny Emmanuel Adegboyega from less than a metre out. Both sides desperate to take advantage of Aberdeen’s defeat at St Mirren. Victory leaves Hibs six points ahead of United and three clear of the Dons with three games left to play. Hibs strength in depth As sides in the league count the casualties in the infirmary, David Gray must take some pleasure in having a bench almost as strong as the starting XI. Having done the dirty work in the first half, the manager could bring on the likes of Kieron Bowie, Nicky Cadden who assisted fellow replacement Dwight Gayle. Gray spoke after the game of the importance of players understanding that the role of substitute is as important as those who started and as their opponents showed signs of running out of steam, the bench might be as important as ever with three to go. Goodwin hopes season does not peter out To finish in the top half is already quite an achievement for a side only just promoted but having come so tantalisingly close it is understandable that anything but a European place would feel like disappointment for Jim Goodwin and his players. Speaking in the press conference, the manager pointed to tired bodies throughout the squad but was keen to point out that Hibs were far and away deserved winners, philosophical in understanding that they have done well to sit where they are whilst not wanting it to end on a sour note. Unimpressed with the way his side played in the first-half, Goodwin said he wanted more from his players to ensure they gave themselves every chance of placing in the top four. After all, they were only three points behind Aberdeen. What the managers said Hibs boss David Gray: “The way they started the game, I thought it was an excellent first-half performance, especially. (0:29) Then, obviously, the way the game went in the second half, the next goal in the game was always going to be huge. Dundee United made a few changes, scored the next goal, but the players showed massive character.” “I said before the game to the players about us controlling the controllables.  All we can do at the moment is take care of what we are doing.” ” The line I use all the time with the players is, the team that starts is never the team that finishes. So, subs need to be ready to impact it in a positive way and that’s happened on numerous occasions now this season.” United boss Jim Goodwin: “I thought Hibbs were the better team over the whole piece and deserved the victory in the end.” “Ultimately, what it boils down to is the fashion in which we concede the goals, far too easy.” “Sometimes you get beaten by the better team and I think if you look at the players that Hibbs have got, individually across the board, I just thought that they were better than us.  That is, of course, disappointing given what is at stake but we’re very much still in the fight. Line-ups:
 Hibs: Smith, Iredale, Bushiri, O’Hora, Obita (N. Cadden 84), Levitt, Triantis, C. Cadden (Miller 84), Hoilett (Campbell 62), Kuharevich (Bowie 69), Boyle (c) (Gayle 84) Unused Subs: Bursik, Ekpiteta, Manneh, Moriah-Welsh Goals: Boyle (4), Kuharevich (14), Gayle (87) Booked: Levitt Dundee United: Walton, Ševelj, Gallagher, Adegboyega (Campbell 78), Ferry, Sibbald, Docherty (c), Strain, Babunski (Middleton 46), van der Sande (Trapanovski 46), Dalby Unused subs: Harding, Fiorini, Fotheringham, Moult, Paton, Richards Goals: Trapanovski (50) Booked: Docherty 18,399