Scots Abroad Watch week three: Two Scotsmen on the scoresheet in Italy

It’s been a busy week for the Scottish contingent abroad. Nathan Patterson has joined the long list of Scottish players in Italy whilst Josh Doig and Ché Adams scored over the weekend. Another Scotsman was also on the move in MLS. Scott McTominay: In the past week it’s been announced Scott McTominay will undergo a minor heart surgery, causing him to miss over a month of football. The midfielder is expected back after the international break. Josh Doig, Kieron Bowie & Lewis Ferguson: Another all-Scottish clash in the Serie A saw Josh Doig & Kieron Bowie’s Sassuolo clash with Lewis Ferguson’s Bologna side. The match ended 2-2 as Doig scored the opening goal. All three players started the match. Ché Adams & Nathan Patterson: Ché Adams scored a late winner as Torino defeated Fiorentina 2-1 away from home. Nathan Patterson made his debut after signing for the club on deadline day. Danny Armstrong: The ex-Kilmarnock winger continued his fine form in Romania as he provided two assists for Dinamo Bucharest as they defeated Steaua Bucharest 2-1 in the derby. Dinamo are currently top of the Romanian league. Luis Binks: Despite a 3-0 loss, Binks captained Danish side Brondby yet again at the weekend. Capped at U16 level, Binks has played every minute in the Danish Superliga this season. Scott McKenna: The Hadjuk Split defender played the full match as his side defeated HNK Gorica 1-0. They currently sit 2nd in the Croatian league. Lewis Morgan: The winger signed for his fourth MLS side last week as he completed a move to Toronto from San Diego. He’d make his debut days later in a 4-4 draw against Chicago Fire.

Simo Valakari Delighted For Josh Fowler After Two Goals to Defeat Hibs

Simo Valakari has expressed his delight for the St Johnstone number nine after netting a brace in their 2-1 win over Hibs. Josh now has four goals to his name for the Perth side with Fowler now sitting as top-goal-scorer in the Scottish Premiership after grabbing a double yesterday afternoon. It took 17 minutes for Fowler to get his first before Nathan Lowe equalised for the visitors before and calm penalty by Fowler sealed the win for the newly promoted side. Valakari said: “Josh is showing that he can score goals at this level. I have never doubted that – and Josh himself never doubted that. Of course, strikers live for goals and when you score them you get so much confidence. “But I always say that, in our team, our strikers need to work so hard without the ball. They’re our first line of defence. We go down as a team if we don’t do that. Josh has been working so hard on that side of the game, which pleases me as much.” Simo Valakari is verry with his side’s display as the side from Edinburgh controlled the second 45 but St Johnstone did ever so well to hold on to all three points. He added: “It was a good win and an important win,” said Valakari. “I think there was everything across the 90 minutes. In the first half we played some excellent football, progressing our passes and were very solid. “In the second half we had to show the other side of our game – this grittiness and readiness to put our bodies on the line and block shots. And Toby (Steward) had to make a couple of big saves.” St Johnstone leap-frog Hibs into seventh place with seven points on the board following a solid start to the season but thing’s are certainly set to get a whole lot tougher as Celtic are in town on Wednesday evening before having the weekend off.

“Lack of desire” as Furious David Gray Hits Back at His Side

David Gray was left furious after his side slumped to a 2-1 defeat in Perth at the hands of St Johnstone. Josh Fowler was on target after 17 minutes for the hosts with Nathan Lowe responding just before the half-hour mark but four minutes from the break, Josh Fowler got his second from the penalty spot which was enough to see his side pick up all three points over David Gray’s men. Following a defeat on Derby day on Thursday, Gray was expecting a big reaction from his players but it was the exact opposite as David Gray was quick to criticize his team. The Hibs boss stated: “The biggest thing for me is the manner in which the first half went for us – again,” Gray said. “It was summed up in the way we conceded the two goals. So, a lack of desire to stop somebody advancing past you, gambling in the box, guessing in the box. “Then a needless penalty that we give away. They were poor goals. But the players went to the end and we created a few chances. But I certainly can’t sit here and say we deserved to win the game. Back-to-back defeats is tough to take. “And, understandably so, criticism will be there.” This defeat puts Hibs down in eighth with just six points to their name from a possible 15 with a trip up to the Highlands up next to face an on-form Ross County for a place at the National Stadium in October.

“Personality in second half” pushed Hearts to victory – Braga

Claudio Braga insists belief remains high within the Hearts squad after the Jambos secured a tenth consecutive league victory at Tynecastle on Sunday, capping off a successful week for Wouter Vrancken’s side. The striker converted an 84th-minute penalty before Sabah Kerjota struck a stunning late winner to seal all three points against Dundee. While Braga acknowledged Hearts were below their best in the first half, with Bradley Fink giving the visitors the lead, he praised his side’s character and improved second-half display. “First half we were not ourselves in some ways and then we talked at half-time and we just needed to improve for sure,” he said post-match. “We know what we can do. We already proved that, so I think getting those two goals in the end shows character, but it’s also a sign of relief, of course. “I think we had more personality in the second half and were less afraid to make mistakes. In some moments during the first half we weren’t dropping deep enough to get on the ball and maybe there was no space because of that. “If you don’t move, the space will not be there. In the second half we rotated a lot more and demanded the ball more often, and then the spaces opened. The more we attacked, the more chances we created and, of course, confidence comes from that. I think that’s what changed.” Hearts have faced a demanding schedule both domestically and in Europe at the start of the campaign, and the Portuguese forward admitted the squad are beginning to feel the effects, particularly after their 3-1 derby victory over Hibernian at Easter Road just three days earlier. “I feel everybody’s a little bit tired,” he added. “A lot of games, but I think it’s only for a good reason. It’s because we’re in European competition and we’ve been playing a lot of games. I think we just need to deal with that.” After the heartbreaking conclusion to last season, Hearts underwent significant change during a hectic summer transfer window. A slow start under Wouter Vrancken included difficult European defeats to Sturm Graz and Benfica, as well as an opening-day league defeat at Pittodrie. However, the Tynecastle side are beginning to find their stride. Four consecutive league victories have lifted Hearts to second place in the Premiership, while Friday night’s League Cup quarterfinal offers the opportunity to move one step closer to Hampden. Despite the recent upturn in fortunes, Braga insists confidence within the dressing room has never wavered, especially during Sunday’s win over Dundee. “I think from outside, yes. From inside, I think the belief was always there,” he said. “Of course, it’s a little bit better now because of the results. If you win, the belief grows a little bit more, but the belief was always there. “We just knew we needed to be patient and make fewer mistakes, and I think that’s what we’ve been doing. “We’re showing that we can play good football and exciting football. Of course, the belief grows a little bit and maybe people on the outside believe a little bit more that we can achieve something this year, but as a group we always knew that.”