Partick Thistle 2-0 Livingston: Jags Make Statement Victory under Firhill Lights

Partick Thistle 2-0 Livingston Crawford (4′) MacPherson (43′ og) A first-half double sealed a crucial home win for Partick Thistle, sending them straight to the top of the Scottish Championship after a flawless start to the season. The hosts exploded into life after four minutes, keen to add to their opening-day victory over Morton. New signing Seb Drozd combined with the overlapping Ben MacPherson, whose low cross was expertly flicked home on the penalty spot by Robbie Crawford. The goal rewarded the Jags’ fast start, and sent a packed-out home section into a frenzy. Drozd and MacPherson were in the mood early on; the pair combined again moments later, before Drozd dragged wide with a left-footed effort. Glen Whelan cut a frustrated figure on the Livingston touchline; after conceding early, his side struggled to hold possession of the ball, and were wasteful in the final third. But the Lions would gradually embed themselves into proceedings; positive play down the right saw the ball drop to Scott Pittman on the edge of the midfield. With only one thought on his mind, the midfielder laced a right-footed effort off the crossbar, to the encouragement of the travelling faithful. Thistle burst into life in the 38th minute. A swift break saw Aiden Fitzpatrick drive at Livingston’s back line. The winger picked out the onrushing Oisin Smyth, whose curling shot was diverted wide by Jerome Prior. Fitzpatrick would double their advantage on the stroke of half-time. After a penalty box stramash, the winger’s low cross was diverted off Cammy MacPherson and snuck into Prior’s net. A stroke of luck perhaps, but the hosts deserved their half-time lead. As for Livingston, a huge second half awaited for Whelan. Whelan turned to his bench to introduce summer signing Bradly Van Hoeven. The tricky winger immediately looked lively, delivering a dangerous ball from the right-hand side that narrowly evaded Brooklyn Kabongolo. As Livingston searched for a route back into the match, the visitors pinched the ball from Smyth, allowing Babacar Fati to scuff a shot toward Liam McFarlane. The home faithful rose to their feet on the hour mark to welcome Ben Stanway. The 21-year-old midfielder has committed to another year at Firhill and should prove to be a key player for Mark Wilson this season. Liam Polworth and Droz both tested the opposition goalkeepers with speculative efforts before McFarlane collided with the post while backpedalling to deal with a cross for the hosts. Thistle pressed for a third goal around the 70-minute mark. Substitute Euan Henderson fired in a low cross that bounced off the post, and Letosa diverted the rebound over the bar as The Jags looked to kill off the game. Despite being second best, a 2-0 scoreline still offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors. Late in the game, Muirhead released Tyrese Sinclair into space in a dangerous area on the 80-minute mark, but Cale Loughrey stood his ground well to block the winger’s powerful effort. In the end, it was a statement victory for The Jags, who move top of the Championship with a deserved victory. Partick Thistle: McFarlane 8 McPherson 8 O’Reilly 8 Reading 8 Letsosa 9 Smyth 7 Drozd 9 Crawford 8 Fitzpatrick 8 Samuel 9 Substitutes: Henderson 7 Watt 7 Stanway 7Logan 7   Livingston: Prior 5 Doherty 5 Kabongolo 56 Robertson 4 Fati 4 Pittman 5 MacPherson 5 Palmer 4 Sinclair 5 Muirhead 5 Carey 5 Substitutes: Van Hoeven 4 Polworth 4 McGowan 4 Anderson 4

The Six Pointer: Scottish Premiership Round 1 REVIEWED

The Scottish Premiership is back with a bang. From seven-goal thrillers to statement wins, the opening weekend delivered plenty of early drama. Here is the round-up of the weekend’s action. Goal of the Round: Ibrahim Said It has been a summer of transition for Motherwell, marked by the arrival of new manager Alfred Johansson and the departures of stalwarts Stephen Welsh and Elijah Just to Swansea, alongside midfield anchor Elliot Watt to Turkey. Yet, one thing remains untouched: the Steelmen’s free-flowing brand of football, embedded by departing manager Jens Berthel Askou. Motherwell’s winning goal at Easter Road was a testament to that style, culminating from a brilliant team move that capitalised on a flurry of missed opportunities by Hibs. Olly Whyte dispossessed Rudi Molotnikov on the halfway line, sparking a clever sequence of link-up play between Said and Alex Lowry. Lowry then released Ewan Wilson down the left flank, who showed great composure to pick out the onrushing Said, whose clinical first-time finish sent the away support into a frenzy. It was a ruthlessly efficient move that contrasted Hibs’ lack of cutting edge, and handed Johansson his first league victory. Carrying Sunday’s momentum forward from their European exploits in the Faroe Islands, the feel-good factor from last season’s fourth-place finish shows no signs of fading at Fir Park. Game of the Round: St Johnstone 4-3 Kilmarnock Unsurprisingly, my pick for game of the weekend comes from Perth, where Premiership newcomers St Johnstone and Neil McCann’s Kilmarnock produced a pulsating seven-goal thriller. Simo Valakari’s side scored goals for fun on their way to last season’s Championship title, finishing as the division’s top scorers, and they carried that attacking threat into this encounter. Josh Fowler and Greg Kiltie exchanged first-half goals as the sides went into the break level at 1-1, but it was the chaotic second period that turned the match into a classic, with the lead changing hands three times. Cheick Diabate headed St Johnstone in front shortly after the restart, only for Kilmarnock to turn the game on its head with two goals in four minutes. Joe Hugill levelled proceedings before an unfortunate Jason Holt own goal handed the Ayrshire side a 3-2 advantage. However, Valakari’s men responded superbly to the setback. Showing the composure and resilience of seasoned Premiership campaigners rather than newly promoted players, Saints finished the stronger side and were rewarded for their attacking intent. An own goal from Schjønning-Larsen brought St Johnstone level before Fowler combined brilliantly with Kai Fotheringham to restore the hosts’ lead. The former Dundee United attacker then applied the finishing touch in the 80th minute, completing a dramatic 4-3 victory and securing a hugely important three points for the Perth club. McCann was left frustrated by his side’s defensive vulnerability, particularly from set-pieces, with Kilmarnock conceding twice from dead-ball situations. Despite briefly leading 3-2, Killie were unable to withstand St Johnstone’s pressure, and the hosts were ultimately deserving winners. Jamie Gullan, who contributed 14 assists during Saints’ Championship-winning campaign, played a key role in two of the opening goals. At the same time, Fowler excelled in the number nine role, recording a goal and an assist. Yet it was Fotheringham’s decisive strike that capped a memorable afternoon at McDiarmid Park and earned St Johnstone one of the standout results of the opening weekend. Team of the Round: St Mirren St Mirren boss Craig McLeish set out to make his side more exciting this season, and while Saturday’s victory over Falkirk wasn’t entirely flawless, it could serve as the ideal foundation to build upon. The Falkirk Stadium remains a notoriously difficult place to visit, bolstered by back-to-back league titles, consistently sold-out crowds, and a stylish brand of football that underpinned last season’s impressive sixth-place finish. However, St Mirren bounced back strongly from their League Cup defeat to Dunfermline, securing a 2-0 victory, their third consecutive win at the Bairns’ home ground. Killian Phillips stole the headlines as the hero, but the performance was littered with standout displays across the pitch. Jacob Chapman bravely played out from the back while securing a clean sheet; Jayden Richardson offered a constant threat from right-back; the midfield pivot of Paul Nsio and Ryan Carr dominated the centre of the park; and Eseoso Sule led the line superbly. Though a disallowed Falkirk goal threatened to change the complexion of the match, and the Buddies squandered several gilt-edged chances, if Saturday is anything to go by, it could be a special campaign for McLeish’s side. Player of the Round: Killian Phillips St Mirren talisman Killian Phillips is determined to add more goals to his game after opening the season with a double against Falkirk. The midfielder poked home at the near post after 11 minutes, then applied the finishing touch to a swift counterattack in the 87th minute, sealing a clinical 2-0 victory at Falkirk Stadium. Despite his match-winning contribution, Phillips was quick to highlight the collective effort behind the result. “It’s something I need to add to my game: numbers. So I’m over the moon to get two goals,” Phillips said. “It was a good team performance. I know I could have had a couple more, and we could have scored a couple more as well.” The Buddies successfully navigated the Premiership play-offs against Partick Thistle last season, but goals proved hard to come by throughout the campaign. St Mirren finished as the league’s lowest scorers with just 30 goals, 10 fewer than relegated Livingston, and Phillips acknowledged that is an area that must improve this season. “On another day, those missed chances could have cost us. Last season, we probably struggled to create a lot of chances, so to have as many opportunities as we did today is more of a positive than a negative. “It’s a perfect opening-day performance.” St Mirren return to league action against St Johnstone at the SMISA Stadium on Saturday and Phillips will be eager to build on his encouraging start following their impressive victory in Falkirk. Stat of the

Phillips Hails “Perfect” St Mirren Performance

St Mirren talisman Killian Phillips is determined to add more goals to his game after opening the season with a double against Falkirk. The midfielder poked home at the near post after 11 minutes before applying the finishing touch to a swift counterattack in the 87th minute, sealing a clinical 2-0 victory at the Falkirk Stadium. Despite his match-winning contribution, Phillips was quick to highlight the collective effort behind the result. “It’s something I need to add to my game: numbers. So I’m over the moon to get two goals,” Phillips said. “It was a good team performance. I know I could have had a couple more, and we could have scored a couple more as well.” The Buddies successfully navigated the Premiership play-offs against Partick Thistle last season, but goals proved hard to come by throughout the campaign. St Mirren finished as the league’s lowest scorers with just 30 goals, 10 fewer than relegated Livingston, and Phillips acknowledged that is an area that must improve this season. “On another day, those missed chances could have cost us. Last season, we probably struggled to create a lot of chances, so to have as many opportunities as we did today is more of a positive than a negative. “It’s a perfect opening-day performance.” St Mirren return to league action against St Johnstone at the SMISA Stadium on Saturday and will be eager to build on an encouraging start following their impressive victory in Falkirk.

Determined McGlynn urges Bairns to “grow” from opening day defeat

John McGlynn says he won’t panic about Falkirk’s opening-day defeat to St Mirren, and hopes to strengthen several areas before the end of the transfer window. A Killian Phillips double secured The Buddies’ third straight victory at The Falkirk Stadium, and despite a strong 10 minutes, McGlynn was displeased with the manner of the opening goal. “Certainly not the start that we were looking for. We had high hopes for the game going into it. In the opening 10 minutes or so, we were good, we were in control, we passed the ball really well. “We got wide, we got crosses in. We make an error in defence, playing a ball out, trying to thread the ball through the eye of a needle. “It’s intercepted, they break on us and we’ve got so many bodies in the box against not an awful lot of bodies, yet they manage to get the ball in, get a cross in. The hosts required a second-half spark, and substitute Ben Parkinson delivered in the 70th minute. The former Newcastle boy bundled in Deniss Melniks’ knockdown from close range to the delight of the Falkirk support. Unfortunately, in the build-up, Melniks’ touch had made contact with his elbow, and after a lengthy VAR check, Duncan Nicholson consulted the monitor and ruled out the equaliser. McGlynn was pleased with the second half reaction, but bemoaned a lack of clear-cut chances. “I thought we dominated the second half, we get a goal. It’s denied on a handball which I’ve not seen. We’re huffing and puffing and then from our corner kick, we lose a goal. It’s crazy. We’ve been punished for not doing an awful lot wrong. “Have we done enough to really say that we deserve to win that game? Probably not. We’ve not created enough; we need a little bit more quality. But early days, there’s always going to be a quick turnaround. But we have to pick up points quickly. One of Falkirk’s biggest strengths last season was their squad cohesion, with several starters playing instrumental roles in The Bairns’ League One and Championship-winning campaigns. But with seven new starters, McGlynn admits that combinations will take time to grow as his incomings embed themselves in the Scottish Premiership. “[Goals are] the hardest thing to get. Big Barney [Stewart] was on fire last season, and Calvin Miller was a big player for us with the number of assists that he got. “[Those players] are hard to find. We’ve been trying, and maybe in time it’ll come, but obviously today, we have to concede that we didn’t have that today. “We’re not going to panic. Certainly, we’re disappointed. We’re naive on the pitch. We need to learn and grow up a little bit quicker, but we’re not pressing any panic buttons, but we know we need to do better than that. “I would imagine we’ll get another couple [of players in], I think we’ll get another couple for sure.” Falkirk face Motherwell at Fir Park next Sunday.

Falkirk 0-2 St Mirren: Phillips double send Buddies top against Wasteful Bairns

Falkirk 0-2 St Mirren Phillips (11′ ,87′) The Buddies secured their third straight victory at The Falkirk Stadium after a Killian Phillips double secured a dream start for Craig McLeish in the Scottish Premiership. Falkirk started brightly, keen to build on their top six finish last season. Ethan Laidlaw’s positive play and cross dropped to ex-Exeter City man Jack McMillan. His right-footed shot narrowly snuck wide of Jacob Chapman’s net, encouraging the home support. But the visitors grew into the half, showing good signs under new boss Craig McLeish. Summer signing Samuel Ramos managed three goals in the League Cup group stages; his 40-yard laser pass fell kindly to the onrushing Killian Phillips, who forced a sharp save from Scott Bain. Phillips opened the scoring moments later. The Irishman met Henry Fieldson’s cross, poking home at the near post, and giving the best possible start to The Buddies’ season. Falkirk have lost stalwarts Barney Stewart, Calvin Millar, and Dylan Tait in the transfer market, and were still attempting to blend their new forward combinations. They clicked after 21 minutes. Former St Mirren man Ryan Strain burst forward in the 22nd minute. His cutback gave Finn Yeats freedom in the penalty box, but the midfielder’s strike was tame and didn’t trouble Jacob Chapman. St Mirren’s midfield pivot of Ryan Carr and Paul Nsio was a strong base to launch visiting attacks, and they continued to look dangerous. Nsio caught McMillan napping on the centre circle, allowing Sule to bear down on goal, but his strike lacked conviction and rolled wide of Bain’s goal. Falkirk’s best opportunities continued to come from wide areas; Laidlaw’s inswinging ball narrowly evaded Ross MacIver on 33 minutes. MacIver hit the sidenetting minutes later as the hosts ended strongly. McLeish spoke pre-match about turning St Mirren into an “exciting” side. They looked comfortable in playing out from the back, though goalkeeper Chapman needed maximum concentration on a few occasions to withstand the oncoming Falkirk press St Mirren had a golden chance to double their advantage on the stroke of halftime after breaking from a Falkirk set piece. Carr advanced with Sule and Ramos on either side in a 3 v 2, but after exchanging passes the move fizzled out. A frustrating opening half for John McGlynn’s side, but plenty of encouragement for McLeish to ponder at the break. St Mirren had a chance to double their advantage on the hour mark after a shaky back pass from Deniss Melniks, who had looked uncomfortable in the second half. But after advancing on Bain’s goal, Sule’s powerful effort was blocked by the Scottish internationalist, as another golden opportunity slipped away. The hosts required a spark, and substitute Ben Parkinson provided such in the 70th minute. The former Newcastle boy bundled in Melniks’ knockdown from close range to the delight of the Falkirk support. Unfortunately, in the build-up, Melniks’ touch had made contact with his elbow, and after a lengthy VAR check, Duncan Nicholson consulted the monitor and ruled out the equaliser. Despite encouragement from the home crowd, Falkirk continued to waste possession, and St Mirren would shortly close off the game in the 87th minute Substitute Ronald Idowu broke to the 18-yard box before sliding Phillips into space. His right-footed strike deflected past Bain, sending the away allocation into frenzy. Victory was nothing short of what the visitors deserved, as they moved top of the Scottish Premiership. Falkirk: Bain 7 McMillan 6 Henderson 6 Strain 5 Tanser 4 Gardner 5 Melniks 3 Sibbald 5 Laidlaw 6 Yeats 5 MacIver 5 Substitutes: Doherty 6 Parkinson 6 Ross 6 McCann 4 McGovern 4 St Mirren: Chapman 7 Richardson 7 Fraser 7 Fieldson 8 Gogic 8 Ramos 7 Carr 8 Mochrie 7 Nsio 7 Sule 7 Phillips 9 Substitutes: Young 6 Donnelly 7 Idowu 7 Thomas 7

Steven Pressley Signs New Dundee Contract

Dundee Football Club are delighted to announce that Manager Steven Pressley has committed his future to the club by signing a new contract. Pressley’s first season at the club ended in an 8th-place finish in the William Hill Premiership. Already this season, qualification through the group stages into the Premier Sports Cup Round of 16 has been achieved, with the Premiership season set to start on Monday with a trip to Celtic Park. Steven Pressley said, “I’m really pleased, for a number of reasons. Firstly, from a football perspective, it brings some stability to the situation within the club, but also from a personal perspective. “There have been a lot of challenges along the way, but I’ve enjoyed building relationships within the club, building those relationships with the players, with the staff, and trying to grow a culture that I hope can serve the club for many years.” Managing Director John Nelms said, “We are delighted that Steven will be staying at the club, and I’m sure our supporters will be as well. “There has been so much progress made in his first year at the club. His ability to develop players, and the group as a collective, is a perfect fit for our vision of the club going forward. Our squad has taken big strides forward under Steven, and we have seen young players come into the first team, develop and excel under his leadership. “You can see from the improvements we made last season that Steven has had a hugely positive impact on the club, and as he has said, there is still a long way to go”

Bennie Ready for Premiership Challenge After Dundee United Switch

Dundee United have strengthened their attacking options after announcing the loan signing of Daniel Bennie from Queens Park Rangers for the 2026/27 season. The 20-year-old Australian youth international began his career with Perth Glory before moving to English Championship side QPR. Bennie has made more than 30 appearances for the London club over the past two seasons and can play anywhere across the frontline. United manager Jim Goodwin was delighted to add another attacking option to his squad ahead of the new campaign. “Daniel will provide another option for us going forward and add real strength and depth as we head into the season,” said Goodwin. “Daniel is direct and pacy and adds real versatility across our front line. I can’t wait to get to work with him.” Speaking to the Dundee United website, Bennie said: “This is such a huge club and it felt like, at this stage of my career, it is the best move to keep developing my game on loan. “I know a few of the lads from the A-League and played with Josh [Rawlins] for a bit at Perth, so I’m excited to see some familiar faces and meet all the other lads.” Bennie has also represented Australia at under-20 level, making 14 appearances and scoring five goals. Dundee United begin their Premiership campaign against Rangers on Friday night.

“Go home and eat some barbed wire” – Johansson Warns Steelmen of Second Leg Test

Alfred Johansson has warned Motherwell against underestimating HB Torshavn, insisting his side must “respect” their opponents despite taking a two-goal advantage into Thursday’s second leg. The Steelmen earned a comfortable 2-0 victory over the Faroese outfit at Fir Park last week, but Johansson is under no illusions about the challenge that awaits his players in the Faroe Islands. HB boast an impressive record on home soil in European competition, and the Motherwell boss believes his side must be fully prepared for a demanding evening. “You have to respect the team we’re going to play, and you have to respect the place where we’re going to play,” Johansson said. “In the last 10 years, I believe they’ve only lost twice at home in European qualifying. “In the last five years, they’ve not lost a single home game in European qualification, and that includes teams like Brøndby, which is a big club in Denmark. It includes Maccabi Haifa and HJK Helsinki. These are very, very big clubs.” Scottish clubs have developed an unwanted reputation for difficult nights in European qualifiers, suffering shock defeats to sides from countries such as Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Gibraltar, and Malta. Johansson believes Motherwell must approach the match with the same intensity shown in the first leg. “To think you’re just going to go there and grab a victory easily is fooling yourself. “I told the guys today to go home and eat some barbed wire and prepare for the battle, because it’s going to be a battle. You’re going to have to be strong and brave to play our way. “The intensity has to be there. Otherwise, there’s no point travelling.” Two stunning goals from debutant Martin Moormann and midfield anchor Lukas Fadinger put Motherwell in a commanding position and a step closer to securing automatic qualification for the UEFA Conference League. Johansson could also be handed a major boost with the return of Tawanda Maswanhise. The forward, who finished as Motherwell’s top scorer last season with 17 goals in the Scottish Premiership, is nearing a comeback after injury. While Johansson confirmed Maswanhise is unlikely to start, he believes having the Zimbabwe international available again will provide a significant lift for the squad. “Hopefully, it’s looking quite good for JT at this point,” Johansson said. “He won’t start the game and he’ll wear protection, but it’s massive to have him back. What a player. “Did you see him last season? What a player he is. It’s a massive boost for everyone.” HB Torshavn v Motherwell Aggr. 0-2: Leg 2 of 2 European Conference League Qualifying Round Two

“Grateful” Schwolow reflects fondly on Hearts stint

Departing Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow has revealed that his decision to leave the Tynecastle club has been extremely difficult. A private family matter has prompted Schwolow to return to Germany after 12 months with the Jambos, though he was full of praise for the support he received throughout his stay. “My family couldn’t settle as I would have liked, so I had to make a tough decision to ask if it was possible to go back home, close to where I’m from,” Schwolow said. “I’ll be forever grateful for the club’s understanding. It wasn’t a sporting decision, just family.” “When I first heard of Hearts, I didn’t know the club because I wasn’t following Scottish football at all,” he admitted. “But from the moment I came here, I felt welcomed. “Amazing atmosphere at Tynecastle, amazing stadium, and amazing fans. That made the decision easy. I didn’t regret it.” Schwolow joined from German giants Union Berlin in last season’s transfer window, making 31 appearances and keeping 15 clean sheets as a stalwart signing for Derek McInnes. He featured in the dramatic final-day title showdown with Celtic as Hearts narrowly missed out on the league championship for the first time since 1960. “From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by everybody. It was amazing, and it was so much fun to play here,” he continued. “I liked everybody, from the dressing room to the fans. “It was a family decision. I’m not only a football player; I’m a husband and a father as well.” Schwolow added that last week’s 4-0 defeat to Sturm Graz was “disappointing,” but he looks set to make one final appearance between the sticks for the Jambos this evening.

Owen Goodman joins Dundee FC

Dundee Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Owen Goodman on a season-long loan from Crystal Palace, subject to international clearance. The shot stopper was recently part of Canada’s 2026 FIFA World Cup squad having first been called up in the November 2025 international window. Goodman signed his first professional contract with Crystal Palace in July 2021 aged 17. He then went on loan to Colchester United for the 2023/24 season. Goodman then returned to League 2 on loan, this time at AFC Wimbledon where he won the League 2 golden glove and kept a clean sheet in the play-off final as they were promoted to League 1. Last season, the 22-year-old was on loan at Huddersfield Town until January, and then Barnsley for the rest of the campaign. Goodman will be at Dens Park for today’s game against Clyde, but will not receive clearance in time to play. Owen Goodman said: “It’s a big league, the Scottish Premiership. There’s some big games. When Dundee came in, it was just something I had to go for. “I’m excited for a new challenge and the next step in my career, and I’m happy to try something new. The pitch looks unbelievable, and everyone has been really welcoming so I’m excited for it all.” Everyone at Dundee Football Club is delighted to welcome Owen and wishes him all the best this season.