St Mirren 2-0 Dundee Utd: Saints get first league win in eight
St Mirren 2-0 Dundee United McMenamin (17′) Baccus (66′) St Mirren secured a comfortable home win over Dundee United as they look to climb the table. After a cagey start, it was the home side who broke the deadlock after Declan John’s terrific cross was met by Conor McMenamin, whose bullet header rifled past Dave Richards into the back of the net. This was McMenamin’s first goal of the season. The visitors looked to reply as Zac Sapsford went through on goal, but failed to convert his chance. Summer signing Nikolaj Möller’s close-range header drifted wide for United, as Mikael Mandron’s long range strike was off target for the Saints. St Mirren carried the one-goal lead as referee Nick Walsh signalled for half-time. The second half started like the first, with half-chances for both sides but neither taking their opportunity. Sapsford came close once again, as his free-kick cannoned off the crossbar. However, St Mirren found a break of the ball and Killian Philips’ shot was saved by Richards, but substitute Keanu Baccus ensured he converted the rebound to give the Saints a two-goal lead. This was Baccus’ first goal since returning to the club in the summer. United still found chances in the latter stages of the game, as Craig Sibbald’s effort hit the bar and substitute Amar Fateh couldn’t find a way past Shamal George. St Mirren held out to ensure a clean sheet and all three points as they achieved their first win in eight league matches. With this result, Dundee United sit 8th in the league without a win in six matches. They next host Motherwell in a 3 o’clock kick-off next Saturday. St Mirren found their first win in five matches in all competitions and eight matches in the league. They climb out of relegation playoff position into 9th, as preparation now starts for their mammoth tie versus Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup final next Sunday afternoon. St Mirren: George, Fraser, King, Freckleton, McMenamin, Philips, Taylor, Gogic, John, Mandron, Ayunga Subs: Baccus (61’), Dijksteel, Douglas, Idowu, Mooney (82’), Mullen, Nlundulu (68’), Richardson 68’, Tanser (82’) Dundee United: Richards, Iovu, Graham, Kereztes, Strain, Sevelj, Stephenson, Sibbald, Ferry, Möller, Sapsford Subs: Adams, Fatah (46’), Beattie, Cleall-Harding, Dolček (82’), Esselink, Stirton, Trapanovski (82’)
Kilmarnock 0-3 Rangers: Miovski Double Inspires Rohl’s Rangers to Victory
Kilmarnock 0-3 Rangers Miovski (33′, 54′) Moore (81′) Rangers reclaimed 4th place in the Scottish Premiership after a clinical victory at BBSP Rugby Park, pushing Kilmarnock’s losing run to nine games. The visitors were looking to bounce back from consecutive draws and had the game’s first chance. Miovski headed Connor Barron’s free kick straight at Tobi Oluwayemi in the 7th minute. Rangers continued to grow into the match. Djeidi Gassama latched onto a Mohamed Diomande pass in the 14th minute, but flashed his left-footed strike over the bar from a tight angle. Bruce Anderson raced clear of the Rangers’ backline three minutes later. He lifted the ball over the onrushing Jack Butland, but Connor Barron was on hand to clear off the line. Stuart Kettlewell’s side looked structured in their approach; they limited Rangers in the forward areas for much of the first half, drawing belief from the home faithful. That was until the 32nd minute, thanks to Miovski. The Macedonian striker gathered the ball in a crowded box and squeezed a clever left-footed strike past Oluwayemi, who perhaps could have done better with the poked shot. Anderson flashed a half-volley wide of Butland’s goal four minutes later as the home side looked to respond; however, it had been a frustrating half for Kettlewell’s men. Miovski added his second goal of the game in the 53rd minute. Nicolas Raskin drove at the home defence and fed the striker at the back post. After cutting inside, he drilled a low strike past Oluwayemi at his near post. Anderson smashed a low strike towards goal from a Dom Thompson corner kick in the 64th minute, but Scott Tiffoney could not convert. Butland pushed away a Robbie Deas header from the next corner, as the home side attempted to hit back. Barron misjudged a backpass in the final 15 minutes, but Butland was on hand to clear from Anderson’s path. The goalkeeper took plenty of Anderson in his clearance, but VAR took no further action. Substitute Mikey Moore sealed the three points in the 80th minute. The winger scampered infield after turning away from Lewis Mayo and delivered a composed strike into the bottom corner from the centre of the box. Moore thought he had added Rangers’ fourth moments later, after dinking Oluwayemi from a tight angle. But play was rightly brought back for an Emmanuel Fernandez foul in the buildup. Butland produced a low save to deny Tyrece John-Jules in additional time. The victory moves Rangers back to fourth place and level on points with Motherwell in third. They return to Europa League action against Ferencvárosi on Thursday evening. Kilmarnock: Oluwayemi 5 Brown 6 Mayo 5 Deas 5 Thompson 6 Kiltie 6 Polworth 6 Watson 7 Tiffoney 5 Anderson 6 Dackers 7 Substitutes: Lowery 6 John-Jules 6 Brannan 5 Rangers: Butland 7 Aarons 7 Djiga 7 Fernandez 7 Meghoma 7 Raskin 8 Barron 8 Diomande 7 Gassama 7 Miovski 8 Bajrami 6 Substitutes: Curtis 6 Danilo 6 Tavernier 6 Chermiti 6 Moore 7
Hibernian 3-0 Falkirk: Bowie brace helps Hibs return to winning ways
Hibernian 3-0 Falkirk Boyle (36′ pen) Bowie (41′, 80′) Hibs returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon as they dismantled Falkirk 3-0 at Easter Road. A spot kick converted by Martin Boyle and a double from Kieron Bowie ensured that David Gray’s men bounced back from the disappointment of last weekend’s defeat to Celtic and secured an important three points. The hosts started the game on the front foot and carved out the first chance of the game within five minutes. Jack Iredale burst his way past a few Falkirk defenders whilst driving into the box before forcing Scott Bain into making a save at the near post, who stuck a foot out for a Hibs corner. Hibs threatened again as Chris Cadden’s fired an effort from eight yards over the bar, following some good play by Martin Boyle and Dan Barlaser on the right-hand side. It was all Hibs in the early stages, and they were inches away from netting the opener shortly before the 20th minute as Chris Cadden was involved as he played an inviting ball across the face of the goal with Falkirk defender Liam Henderson making a vital clearance to prevent Hibs from taking the lead. A first opportunity of the match for Falkirk fell on the 20th minute with Hibs keeper Raphael Sallinger doing well to get a hand to Brad Spencer’s effort from outside the box, Man United Loanee Ethan Williams hoped to net from the follow through, but he could only find the side netting from an incredibly tough angle. Falkirk had struggled to deal with Hibs’ attacking threat so far, with Josh Mulligan in particular proving to be a nuisance for Falkirk to deal with. Hibs were awarded a penalty kick on the 35th minute, Martin Boyle was clipped by Philip Lissah on his way through to goal after being played through by Josh Mulligan, Lissah was shown a yellow card in the aftermath. Boyle stepped up from twelve yards out and made absolutely no mistake from the penalty spot as he sent Scott Bain the wrong way, Hibs’ pressure eventually paying off. A Falkirk free kick was then whipped into the box, which was met by Brian Graham who attempted an ambitious backheel flick as Raphael Sallinger had to be at full stretch to deny the striker. Hibs doubled their advantage on the 40th minute as Kieron Bowie took a touch on the edge of the area before curling a stunning strike into the top corner beyond Scott Bain, giving his side a convincing two goal cushion going into the interval. With the second half underway, Falkirk made a double substitution for Falkirk, with Alfie Agyeman and Henry Cartwright coming on to replace Brian Graham and Dylan Tait. At the start of the half, VAR was involved as a check was ongoing, Falkirk felt as though they should’ve had a penalty for a potential handball from Jack Iredale, however replays showed it came off his forearm. The visitors began to show signs of improvement, Falkirk attacker Ethan Ross was lively down the left-hand side, as he cut inside before being denied brilliantly by Raphael Sallinger who tipped over the bar. Falkirk looked as if they had got one back, when Ethan Ross had the ball in the back off the Hibs net on the 65th minute after calmly slotting the ball past Sallinger, a VAR check would then penalise Ross for being offside and the goal was overturned. An improved second half display from Falkirk would see Hibs limited to very few chances in front of goal, with the Bairns enjoying the better of possession. With ten minutes remaining, Hibs had a third. Keiron Bowie netted his second goal of the afternoon and secured all three points for David Gray’s men. It was an instant impact from Josh Campbell as he flew down the right-hand side before fizzing the ball across goal for Bowie, who finished well from close range to cap off an impressive performance from the Hibees. Next up, Hibs travel to Ibrox to face Rangers on Monday 15 December, whilst Falkirk host Hearts at the Falkirk stadium next Saturday. Hibs: Sallinger,C Cadden, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, Mulligan, Chaiwa, McGrath, Barlaser, Bowie, Boyle. Substitutes: Smith, Hanley, Levitt,88’ Youan,76’ Newell 76’, Hoilett, Mitchell, Megwa,86’ Campbell 76’ Falkirk: Bain, Lissah, Allan, Henderson, McCann, Spencer, Tait, Ross, Williams, Miller, Graham. Substitutes: Hogarth, Hart 76’, Yeats, Agyeman 45’, Edwards, Samuel-Ogunsuyi, Arfield 76’, Wilson 76’, Cartwright,45’
