Falkirk v Motherwell – Cartwright makes the difference as Falkirk earn massive three points

The Bairns edge past The Steelmen to put them just two points behind Hibs, as Henry Cartwright scores just moments after he enters the pitch to finish Falkirk’s unbeaten run against Motherwell this season. Falkirk started rapidly. In the first seconds of the match, Calvin Miller tried to lob Calum Ward, but his effort was saved easily. Barney Stewart’s effort in the 12th minute flew over Ward’s goal. However, the Falkirk pressure was increasing, causing a really open first 15 minutes. Motherwell started to pressure the Falkirk backline. Elijah Just and Callum Slattery’s combination play found Motherwell in many promising positions, but it wasn’t enough to test Nicky Hogarth in the Falkirk net. Elijah Just had a fantastic opportunity to open the scoring in the 24th minute. The PFA Player of the Year nominee’s effort drifted slightly past Hogarth’s goal. Shortly after, Barney Stewart was found in a two versus one situation through on goal. The young Scotsman opted to go by himself and lashed it over Ward’s crossbar. Moments after, he was found in a similar position nearing on goal. But it was the same outcome, as his blasted effort didn’t test Motherwell’s Ward. However, a worrying sign for the Motherwell defence. In the 33rd minute Emmanuel Longelo found himself in a promising position just outside the box. Looking to add to his double last week, his effort was heading towards the corner of the net before Hogarth’s save pushed the ball away for a corner. Just before the half time whistle, Ben Broggio delivered an inviting cross towards Calvin Miller. He got onto the end of it, but Paul McGinn’s leg denied any goal bound danger, before Stewarts low driven effort was saved well by Ward. There was more to come before the half-time whistle. A horrendous mistake from Calum Ward almost caused Motherwell to go into the interval behind. Somehow, Stewart failed to open the scoring although he was yards away from goal. After a fairly even first half, with chances at both ends, Dan McFarlane blew the half-time whistle to end what was an entertaining 45 minutes although there were no goals. Barney Stewart had another brilliant chance just shortly after the interval. The Falkirk talisman was unmarked, but his header again didn’t test Ward. Another warning sign for Motherwell. In the 54th minute Longelo was lurking deep in Falkirk territory. The ball fell to him on the bounce but his lashed effort rippled into the side netting of the Falkirk net. End to end action at The Falkirk Stadium saw The Bairns finally open the scoring in the 63rd minute. On the pitch for a small moment of time, Henry Cartwright’s low driven effort fell into the bottom corner, sending the home support into frenzy. The home side’s goal gave them real confidence. Calvin Miller skipped past the Motherwell midfield and defence with ease, but at the last hurdle seen his effort go wide. In the 81st minute, Kyrell Wilson skipped past Longelo and aimed one into the roof of the net. It wasn’t to be like last weekend for the Swansea loanee, as his rocket landed marginally over the crossbar. The Steelmen threw everything at it for the final 10 minutes. They almost equalised in the final minute of the match, when Stephen Welsh’s header fell into the danger area, but it bobbled out for a Falkirk goal-kick. A massive three points for Falkirk, sees them two points behind Hibs before they face Celtic tomorrow afternoon. For Motherwell, a disappointing result this afternoon. But they have a fantastic opportunity to cause upset in this fascinating title race as they play Hearts and Celtic in their next two fixtures.   Falkirk: Hogarth (8), McCann (7), Spencer (7), Broggio (7), Yeats (6), Neilson (7), Stewart (5), Allan (7), Tait (6), Miller (6) Subs: Cartwright (8), Wilson (5), Parkinson (4), Donaldson (3), Adams (3) Motherwell: Ward (6), O’Donnell (5), Sparrow (4), Slattery (5), Fadinger (5), McGinn (6), Maswanhise (4), Watt (5), Just (5), Longelo (7), Welsh (5)  Subs: Said (4), Nicholson (3), Charles-Cook (3), Hendry (3)

“We Know We Can Do It.” Nico Raskin Adamant Rangers Aren’t Out Of The Title Race

Rangers midfielder Nico Raskin still has full belief in the Rangers squad that they can win their last four games to lift the Scottish Premiership title despite the home loss to Motherwell last Sunday. The 25-year-old Belgian international has urged his teammates not to get hung up on their last result and focus on what’s to come as the season comes to a dramatic end. Raskin spoke at the Rangers pre-match press conference before the game against Hearts at Tynecastle on bank holiday Monday. Raskin said: “We know we can do it, it is now about putting in the effort in the last four games to get the wins.” He also spoke about his desire to win trophies before doubling down on his point of putting the Motherwell result behind them. He continued: “Winning trophies is something I have dreamed about and I was so disappointed after Motherwell, but in football you can’t dwell on it.” Raskin only has a League Cup winners medal from his time at Rangers since signing in January 2023. After the Hearts game, Rangers are away to Celtic, home against Hibernian then finish their campaign away to Falkirk. After the poor result last week it looks like only 12 points out of 12 would be enough for Rangers to win the Scottish Premiership for the first time since 2021.

Kilmarnock 3-0 Dundee Utd: Hosts leapfrog relegation rivals to boost survival hopes

Kilmarnock 3-0 Dundee United Deas (21′)  Curtis (51′) Hugill (64′) Kilmarnock took a huge step towards automatic safety after a clinical home victory against Dundee United at the BBSP Rugby Park. Both sides had early chances in a frantic opening. Max Stryjek saved Zac Sapsford’s shot inside the penalty area after positive play from Will Ferry down the United left. Neil McCann knew a victory could potentially propel Kilmarnock out of the relegation playoff, and responded minutes later. Dave Richards tipped Tom Lowery’s header over the bar for their first effort of the game. United’s best threat looked to be coming from Ferry, who was influential in last weekend’s derby victory. His latest cross deflected to Sapsford inside the box, whose low shot arrowed wide from 12 yards. If they could build on the 3-0 win against their bitter rivals, they could wrap up the top spot in the relegation group. Dave Richards produced another top-class save in the 17th minute to keep the scores level. Greg Kiltie raced through on goal, but the Welshman spread himself to deny from close range. Killie hit the front from their first corner of the match in the 21st minute. A deep cross was headed home by captain Robbie Deas to lift Killie from the relegation spots. News of Dundee’s opener against St Mirren spread across all corners of the BBSP Rugby Park, to reinvigorate the home faithful . The tenacious Tshibola went close to doubling the lead in the 38th minute. But after dispossessing the United midfield, his speculative 25-yard effort was tipped over. Sapsford’s blazed over Neil Farrugia’s cross close to the break, as United pushed for the leveller. Kilmarnock’s excellent home form looked to be delivering another victory as the halftime whistle blew. Findlay Curtis endured a quiet first half but burst into life in the 50th minute. After latching onto a speculative forward pass, the winger showcases composure beyond his years, sidefooting past Richards to double the host’s lead. With national boss Steve Clarke in attendance, the youngster’s strike could help to foster another Scotland call-up with the World Cup on the horizon. Matters got worse for the Arabs, and especially for the unfortunate Samuel Cleall-Harding, in the 64th minute. The young defender misjudged a backpass, allowing Jordan Hugill to poke Killie into a 3-goal advantage and effectively end any hopes of a Dundee comeback. United were unable to test Stryjek in the first half, and Jim Goodwin quickly moved to his bench before the hour mark. Though safety is all but secured in the top flight, the manager would have hoped for a strong end to the season. The visitors pushed for a way back, with Kilmarnock happier to drop deep and defend their lead. Farrugia and Ivan Dolcek’s efforts were saved by the Pole, determined to keep his clean sheet. Victory moves Kilmarnock out of the relegation playoff spots for the first time in 18 games, but McCann insists “we’ve achieved nothing yet” ahead of a seismic clash against St Mirren next weekend. Teams Kilmarnock: Stryjek 7 Curtis 8 Stanger 7 Deas 7 Schjonning-Larsen 8 Kiltie 7 Lowery 7 Tshibola 8 Hugill 7 Anderson 7 Clescenco 6 Substitutes: Thompson 6 Polwarth 6 Curtis 6 Mayo 6 Dundee United: Richards 5 Cleall-Harding 4 Graham 6 Keresztes 6 Naamo 6 Ferry 6 Camara 5 Agyei 5 Sapsford 6 Watters 5 Farrugia 6 Substitutes: Dolcek 6 Sevelj 6 Russell 5 Sibbald 5 Stirton 4 Attendance: 5,529  

Dundee 1-0 St Mirren – Dundee edge past St Mirren to steer away from relegation

A first-half Westly strike earned Dundee a huge three points as they look to steady the ship and avoid the drop and remain in the top-flight. Dhanda had the first real big chance after ten minutes as he fired a tame effort from the edge of the box which was easily gathered by Ross Sinclair in goals. Dundee shortly fired ahead after a slack pass at the back allowed Dundee to attack with Congreve twisting-and-turning on the right flank, he then whipped a ball into the box where Joe Westley struck it home to steer Pressley’s men away from the relegation fight. The hosts nearly had a second as Dhanda struck the ball goal bound but was deflected onto the bar by a St Mirren body to deny Dundee a second. Congreve again whipped a low ball in, it found Westley once again but his effort went just wide of the target. St Mirren were denied a penalty just before the break after a pretty dreadful half by the Buddies’ but after a lengthy VAR check, the penalty was denied. Into the second half, Richardson took on a shot from distance which ended up being palmed away by the Dundee number one to deny an equaliser for the Paisley outfit. St Mirren had another big chance which saw Campbell deliver a ball into the box and Mandron met with it but his strike fired just wide. Not much drama in the second period going into the 70 minute mark as St Mirren struggle to pull one back despite a slightly better half than their first half showing. St Mirren again came close as Idowu made a darting run towards goal and took on a strike from a very tight angle which rattled the side netting as St Mirren keep pushing for an equaliser. Congreve had a chance to see off the game with a right-footed strike inside the box but too many touches allowed St Mirren bodies to come back and block his effort. Dundee had a massive late chance with a ball across goal mouth but the Dundee forward unable to tap the ball into the net to go two clear. Dundee see out a vital win at Dens as they continue their relegation fight as their Premiership status for next season looks very likely and for the visitors, well they drop into 11th as they go into the fight with Kilmarnock – which they will meet next Saturday in Paisley. Dundee: McCracken (6), Astley (7), Wright (7), Murray (6), Halliday (7), Yogane (8), Westley (8), Congreve (7), Dhanda (9), Hamilton (7), Graham (7). Substitutes: O’Hara (7), Robertson (7), Hay (6), Samuels (6), Koumetio (6). St Mirren: Sinclair (6), Richardson (6), Tanser (5), King (6), O’Hara (6), Idowu (6), Devaney (6), Mandron (5), Campbell (6), Freckleton (6), Phillips (5). Substitutes: McMenemin (6), Fraser (6), Young (6).

“If We’ve Any Chance of Progressing in the Play-offs, We Need to be Much Tighter as a Unit” – Mark Wilson

Partick Thistle manager Mark Wilson admits his side have to be stronger defensively if they are to win promotion to the Scottish Premiership in the play-offs. Thistle completed an unbeaten season at home for the time in 24 years last night with a 1-1 draw against Queen’s Park. However manager Wilson hopes that the performance level doesn’t creep into their play-off ties against either Dunfermline Athletic or Arbroath. He said: “I think everybody will have seen we’ve utilised these few games to get a couple of the boys, who were long-term injuries, up to speed. “I think that first half, that [goal] was the only good thing we did, but how many could we have been down? “From our point of view, there was no pressure on the ball, which is not what I’d planned. “I made it clear to the players that I wanted to go out on a high and I wanted to preserve this home record, which of course we’ve did, I’m really pleased at that. “That’s the most chances we’ve gave up all season, and I’m not talking about half chances, I’m talking real, clear-cut ones. “If we’ve any chance of progressing through the play-offs, we need to be much tighter as a unit.” The result meant that the Jags completed the Championship season undefeated at Firhill, and Wilson believes anything they can take this into these play-offs to their advantage. “When you look at us against Arbroath, we’ve failed to beat them this year. Dunfermline, we’ve sort of got the better of them. “But anything can happen in the play-offs and that’s why you have to rely on your home form. “We’ve been really strong here at Firhill. We don’t give up much when we come here in terms of chances. We’re relentless with our play and with our pressure. “But tonight was just a wee bit the opposite. But I suppose, if I look at it, I’d rather give up that many chances tonight than in the play-offs. So hopefully we’ve got it our system.” Thistle have drawn three times and lost once to Arbroath this season, whilst boasting a better record over Dunfermline with one draw and three victories. Wilson however, has no preferred opponent for the play-off semi-final. “I have no real preference at all, because I know how fraught and how unpredictable play-offs are. “You’re never quite sure what is going to happen. Obviously, all three side will be looking to roll out their best performances and maybe some of us will get that. “Arbroath have been stuffy, they’ve been hard to play against, we’ve maybe not taken our own opportunities when we should’ve. “I think Dunfermline, technically very, very good. And we’ve seen how successful a season they’ve had. They’ve got real danger, real threats. But I suppose in the games against Dunfermline, we’ve maybe been clinical when we’ve been on top in the game. “I’ll be a keen watcher of the games between them, and it’s a hard one to call, but I really wouldn’t have any preference and they’re all going to be tight games.”