Livingston 1-1 St Mirren: A Point Apiece For Two Strugglers In The Scottish Premiership
Livingston and St Mirren played out a 1-1 draw at the Home of the Set Fare Arena, a point that is massive for both teams as they look to avoid relegation. Livingston came into this one off the back of three defeats and two draws in their last five, with their last result being a valuable point against Rangers. Livingston were bottom of the table with 13 points from 28 games and without a win in 26 league games. St Mirren had lost three and won two of their last five, however were dismantled 5-0 at home to Motherwell in their last match, they sat in 10th place with 23 points from 27 games as they look to avoid any relegation battles. Livingston made just one change coming into this one, as Cristian Montano who was sent off against Rangers last week was replaced by Babacar Fati. Stephen Robinson made six changes to the team that lost to Motherwell as Richard King, Declan John, Jacob Devaney, Roland Idowu, Conor McMenamin and Jake Young were replaced by Jayden Richardson, Scott Tanser, Mikael Mandron, Dan Nlundulu, Marcus Fraser and Keanu Baccus. The First real change fell to Livingston as they countered after a good run by Lewis Smith and his cross was almost perfect but Scott Pittman wasn’t able to convert St Mirren were quick to get a chance of their own as Jaden Richardson connected to a great cross but it was knocked onto the crossbar by Livingston keeper Jerome Prior. St Mirren would have another shot at goal through KIllian Phillips but Brooklyn Kabongalo took one in the face to stop his team conceding. Just after the quarter hour mark, Livingston struggled to play out from the back presenting a chance to Mikael Mandron but his shot went over the bar. Livingston would get another chance just before 20 minutes as a misread of the situation by Marcus Fraser allowed the ball to bounce to Robbie Muirhead but he rushed the shot and it went over the bar. Mark O’Hara was next to try his luck for St MIrren, as his looping shot bounced off the top of the net, as it had Prior backtracking. Livingston would fashion another chance for themselves down the left hand side eventually ending a shot by Pittman but it was wide. Marvin Bartley’s team would get another soon after, Smith again looking threatening and his powerful shot was well saved by St Mirren keeper Shamal George. As we approached half-time the deadlock was broken as Dan Nlundulu’s header from a Mikael Mandron cross was floated into the corner of the goal past Prior, that was his fourth of the season. St Mirren threatened from a corner early on in the second half with Phillips and Nlundulu having shots that were blocked by the Livingston defenders. Stephen Robinson’s team got quickfire double chances from both Mandron and Nlundulu, both were blocked by the scrambling Livingston defense. Another chance for St MIrren as this time it was Mark O’Hara who rifled a shot just wide of the goal after a cross was headered away. The game went into a lull where no team was really creating much, Livingston made subs to try and have an impact on the game but it was working as they wanted. Babacar Fati was able to get a shot away for Livingston but it wasn’t troubling George who watched it sail over. Livingston would get their equaliser as substitute Barrie McKay’s cross was headed in a similar fashion to Nlundulu in the first half by Kabongolo, it’s his second in two games after his strike opened the scoring last week against Rangers. Substitute Joel Nouble was able to get a shot away for Livingston but his shot went harmlessly over the bar. Livingston were the ones pushing to win the game. There were six minutes added. They had a few corners but just couldn’t find the magic touch that could win the game for them. There was then a fair bit of confusion as Mikael Mandron was injured and then substituted off before running back on the park and playing as a 12th man for around 30 seconds, he left the field of play and was booked. The game came to an end all square as the teams continue their fight to avoid relegation as remain in the league. Livingston’s next game is against Hibernian at Easter Road next Saturday which looks to be a tricky test for the team from West Lothian. As for St Mirren they have a much quicker turnaround as they play Dundee United on Tuesday night as they look to pull away from Kilmarnock who currently sit in the relegation play off. Livingston Jerome Prior, Babacar Fati, Ryan McGowan, Scott Pittman (Mo Sylla 86), Robbie Muirhead (Joel Nouble 68), Lewis Smith (Barrie McKay 59), Daniel Finlayson, Emmanuel Danso (Jeremy Bokila 59) , Brooklyn Kabongolo, Macaulay Tait, Danny Wilson. St Mirren Shamal George, Jayden Richardson, Scott Tanser, Mark O’Hara, Mikael Mandron, Alex Gogic, Dan Nlundulu, Miguel Freckleton, Marcus Fraser, Keanu Baccus, Killian Phillips.
Partick Thistle 0-0 Arbroath: Thistle Fall Behind in Championship Title Challenge
Partick Thistle lost ground in the Scottish Championship title race after drawing 0-0 with 3rd place Arbroath at Firhill. Both teams were reduced to ten men in the second half, paving the way for leaders St. Johnstone to extend their lead at the top to five points. The first half offered very little for either set of fans to get excited about. Aidan Fitzpatrick found space down the right flank around 17 minutes in, but the Thistle winger’s zipped cross was diverted behind for a corner. Striker Tony Watt fashioned an opportunity for himself just two minutes later after receiving the ball just outside the box from Ts’oanelo Lets’osa, but the veteran’s effort was easily saved amid defensive pressure. Arbroath rarely threatened in the opening 45, with Ryan Dow going down inside the area looking for a penalty being the only time Josh Clarke in the home net may be getting troubled. The visitors would have a player advantage just before and hour had been played when Thistle’s Daniel O’Reilly received a straight red card for a high challenge on Arbroath’s Harry Cochrane. Yet it would be the hosts who came closest to breaking the deadlock with around twenty minutes to go. Fitzpatrick, who moved over to the left for the second half, burst onto a through ball in the box and cut in onto his favoured right foot. His drilled shot was deflected wide for a corner, and the contest remained goalless. Clarke kept his clean sheet intact with a fine catch inside the final fifteen minutes of action, keeping Arbroath captain Thomas O’Brien’s header from six yards out from a corner kick. And if that save wasn’t good enough, he produced an even better one with seven minutes to go. Scott Stewart put it on a plate for Findlay Marshall after a weaving run wide right, but the Aberdeen loanee’s shot was fantastically tipped over by the 21-year-old. The number of players were levelled a minute later as Thistle went on an attack of their own. O’Brien of Arbroath brought Alex Samuel down outside the box, and was given his marching orders after being deemed the last man. Ben Stanway struck the bar from the awarded free-kick. And it was as though the deadlock was never meant to be broken, with Oisin Smyth cannoning a second effort off of the crossbar from a similar position in added time. The stalemate means Thistle fall further behind St. Johnstone in the title race, with the Perth side seeing of Ayr 3-1. They can stretch the 5 point lead to 8 this weekend, with the Jags in Scottish Cup quarter-final away to St. Mirren on Sunday. As for Arbroath, they remain comfortable in 3rd place, but have no time for respite as they host Scott Brown’s aforementioned Ayr United who will be hungry to bounce back to winning ways as the fight for the promotion places heats up. PARTICK THISTLE: Clarke 8, Reading 3 (Loughrey 60’ 2), Ashcroft 4, Smyth 5, Samuel 6, Crawford 2 (Chalmers 46’ 2), McBeth 2 (Ingram 46’ 3 ), O’Reilly 3, Fitzpatrick 5 (Turner 77’ 1), Watt 4, Lets’osa 4 (Stanway 60’ 4) ARBROATH: McAdams 5, Wilkie 5, O’Brien 4, Muirhead 3 (Lang 69’ 2 ), Flynn 6, Reilly 5 (Beadling 77’ 1 ), Dow 5, Watson 5, Marshall 4 (Mebude 84’ 1), Nesbitt 5 (Stewart 69 3’), Cochrane 6 (Robinson 77’ 1)
Hearts edge past Aberdeen to extend gap to seven points at the top
A Claudio Braga first half goal gets Hearts over the line and extends the gap at the top of the league to seven points ahead of tomorrow’s Old Firm clash at Ibrox. Aberdeen were on the front foot right away and were awarded a free-kick from outside the box following a foul on Olusanya but a Nisbet strike struck the Hearts wall. Keskinen moments later with a darting run down the left flank who put it into Olusanya but failing to connect. Milne with a great cross into the box found Magnusson but his header going just wide of target after four minutes. Milne again with a brilliant ball into the box where Claudio Braga met but again just firing wide of goal as Hearts continued to threat Mitov in goals. Kyziridis had a chance from a very difficult angle soon on but wasn’t causing Mitov any issues as it goes just over the bar. Kabore with a gem of a chance, through on goal with just Mitov to beat, chipped the ball but went jusr inches wide of target – a chance he had to take. Aberdeen with a chance after 25 minutes as Keskinen with a darting run down the wing, a through ball into Olusanya who was put off by McCart as he couldn’t hit target. Kabore did brilliantly to get past Morrison who squared the ball into Braga who calmly slotted home to continue their title charge. Hearts had a chance nine minutes before the break, Spittal with a curling effort from the edge of the box which fired just high of goal. Into the second 45, Devlin had chance to level the game but his chance being blocked and out for a corner. A ball in from Cameron found Nisbet deep in the box with his volley striking wide of target. Spittal had another chance from the edge of bos which curled towards goal but a save to Mitov to deny Hearts a second as Kabore moments later had another chance which was stopped by the legs of Aberdeen’s number one. After the hour mark, Braga with a ball across to Kyziridis with his effort going across goal again which found Braga once again with his effort being a simple save for Mitov. A quiet second half Aberdeen just unable to test Schwolow in goals as Hearts doing well to see out the game. Substitute Chesnokov had a strike from inside the box but well blocked to deny Hearts a second. As the full-time whistle goes, a Braga first half goal gives Hearts the deserved three points as Hearts stretch their lead to seven points as Aberdeen’s winless run at Tynecastle continues. Hearts: Schwolow (7), Steinwender (7), Halkett (7), McCart (7), Milne (7), Kyziridis (8), Magnusson (7), Leonard (7), Spittal (7), Braga (9), Kabore (7). Substitutes: Kent )6), Baningime (6), Chesnokov (6). Aberdeen: Mitov (6), Devlin (5), Morrison (5), Milne (6), Molloy (6), Shinnie (5), Olusanya (4), Geiger (6), Cameron (6), Keskinen (6), Nisbet (6). Substitutes: Nilsen (6), Frame (6), Armstrong (6), Lobban (6), Lazetic (6).
There are huge positives – Carrick pleased with progress ahead of European push
Manchester United boss Michael Carrick is focused on keeping the “momentum” after their positive upturn in form since his arrival. Speaking ahead of Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace, the manager highlighted the importance of squad rotation amidst a busy schedule. “When there are a lot more games, we have rotation or have to change things physically. There are huge positives with the results we’ve had, playing well and winning games, but a big awareness from me and the staff is how important everyone is in the group. Even though it’s the same players, game-to-game we have tweaked things, some of the front players have changed in different positions, Luke [Shaw] has played in a different role in possession, but there is a feeling of trying to keep the momentum.” Carrick has remained unbeaten in his opening six matches since taking over from Ruben Amorim, including seismic victories over Man City and Arsenal. The lack of European football has allowed Carrick’s side to be “laser focused” on their domestic push. “It’s certainly where we want to be [Champions League]. I think you’ve got to earn that you’ve got to show you’re good enough. At the moment, we are laser-focused on what is ahead for us. There is no point in looking elsewhere. We know where we want to be, we know what we need to do to get there and the performance level and the games that are coming up, we want to try and get the right results.” Carrick pointed towards the positive impact of Harry Maguire, who has made 14 appearances so far this season. The Englishman played all 90 minutes of Monday’s narrow victory over Everton. “Harry is an impressive character. He’s had a great career so far; hopefully, there is a lot more to come. He’s been here on the journey, and the experiences he’s had show exactly what he is. We know the player he is and what he is capable of doing. He was fantastic the other night [against Everton] – his experience, attributes and character help. He’s willing to put himself out there. He’s been really important for us.” “There is a case, as your career goes, when you’re a young player, and everything is fresh and new, you’re fearless, and there aren’t many scars there. You get to your peak years, and you feel good, and everything is there, but you’ve had a few ups and downs. As you get towards the later times, the experience should make you a better player. We’ve seen that with Harry’s performances of late.” Monday’s goalscorer, Benjamin Sesko, has recorded three goals since Carrick’s introduction, including 90th-minute strikes against Fulham and West Ham. Despite the Slovenian’s impact, Carrick is yet to start the striker, but insists there is “no drama” in his exclusion. “The whole thing is a real positive. It’s certainly not a decision that is one I look at in a negative way. We’re playing well as a team, we’re not getting carried away and thinking that it carries on. The forwards have scored a good number of goals. Ben has been so good in so many ways. It’s really not a drama. It just shows the quality Ben has got. If he starts the next game or the one after, it is what it is, but he’s doing so many good things.”
