Spring when a young man’s fancy turns to love but in tennis love means nothing and nothing gets the heart beating faster than football. I dare anyone to disagree. I’ll be waiting over there 👉🏻 ….
Saturday and what looked on paper some intriguing matches. Potential for failure or the title race blown wide open and so it proved but not perhaps as many predicted.
Aberdeen under new boss, ex St Mirren man Stephen Robinson took the lead finally in the 73rd minute over a resilient Falkirk, and for a while (16 mins at least) it looked like the new manager was to start with a victory. However once again a young man mentioned before in this column, Falkirk's Barney Stewart, had other ideas and levelled in the 89th minute. A share of the points about right in my opinion.
Hibernian v Livingston. I want to tell you this was a great game full of action and controversy but it wasn’t. It was dull, very dull and 0-0 flattered both sides. Instantly forgettable and so let’s not spend too much time on it.
Watching Celtic at 3pm on a Saturday is something of a novelty in Robertson Towers as with Sky now dictating kick off times we often find ourselves playing midday Sunday or 2/3pm the same day so to enjoy Celtic playing at home against what I generally consider to be the best footballing team in the league, Motherwell, I made it clear to all necessary that unless there was a likelihood of an imminent nuclear explosion not to call me between 3 and 5.
I settled back apprehensively and watched the two take the pitch. The pressure immense as a draw or defeat and it would be curtains for the season; a victory and the gap to Hearts would be closed to two points (at least for a few hours before they faced Kilmarnock at Rugby Park). Much to play for and for some especially a way to win back the adoration of the fans, myself included, after some lacklustre displays. Early opportunities for Nygren and Tounekti were dealt with by Well keeper Ward, Tounekti's shot going wide before a bullet from Oxlaide Chamberlain was touched onto the post and squirmed along the goal line without ever actually crossing it. Agony for Celts, relief for the Steelmen. Celtics pressure was relentless and for all the world it looked a matter of time.
Then just when you’re thinking “it’s gotta pay off” you remember it’s Celtic you're watching, and a defensive mix up between Sinisalo and Hatate, the midfielder robbed of the ball and Elijah Just slotted past the big Fin to give Motherwell an early lead. 32 mins and Celtic were on the verge and no less than Motherwell deserved. Once again Celtic's defensive woes were there for all too see. However it wasn’t long before O’Neill's men bounced back and took advantage of some sloppy Motherwell defending and a shot from Yang just inside the 18 yard box slammed home hard past a furious Ward - and the teams were level once more.
Both sides continued to create chances - as you’d expect from these two - Nygren hitting the post when it looked easier to score one of the early second half highlights. Then the controversy, again involving Ref John Beaton. Longelo of Motherwell clearly hauling Maeda to the ground, the ref initially awarded a goal kick. Bearing in mind he had a perfect view of this incident why we needed the intervention to award a penalty had many shaking their heads in disbelief. However eventually after a VAR check Beaton gave Celtic their penalty and a, in my opinion harsh, red card to Longelo. Cometh the man Cometh the hour and up stepped Ibrox hero Cvancara to fire the penalty past Ward into the net and Celtic fans onto cloud 9. A mere 7 mins later and a rejuvenated Yang latched onto a long ball that split the Motherwell defence and fired home for Celtic and a, in the end, comfortable 3-1 victory. The gap now two points as Hearts travelled cross country to Kilmarnock. Hopes high of restoring their lead to five points. Killie though weren’t just there to make up numbers, and so it proved.
Both sides had chances in this match. A shot in the 6th minute from Killies Curtis came crashing off the post much to the relief of the travelling fans. In the 13th minute it looked very much like Hearts' Braga had been clipped in the box but the Hearts striker, to his credit, maintained his balance and chased the ball. Costing his side a penalty perhaps, I’m fairly certain Braga will be made aware there’s no room for sportsmanship in Scottish football by McInnes and you can rest assured, knowing next time he’s hitting the floor. Then the goal, the goal that blew the lid off the title race. An exquisite cross from the much underrated Kiltie was met by the onrushing Larsen, and Kilmarnock found themselves with an unlikely and unexpected lead in the 17th minute. Wave after wave of attack from both sides and superb goalkeeping, poor finishing and excellent defending meant the score remained 1-0 to the home side.
Kilmarnock probably should have had a penalty themselves in the 73rd min when Hearts captain Halkett pushed Kilmarnock's Curtis in the box. However, the offence was deemed to be just outside and that was pretty much that. The gap cut to 2 by Celtic, and Rangers now 6 points behind but with a game against St Mirren on Sunday: a chance for Rohl's men to brush off their Scottish cup disappointment and instead focus on a title challenge.
A Sunday lunchtime game for the boys in blue, I don’t think anyone will chastise me for saying this wasn’t a classic. Rangers did exactly what they had to do, nothing more nor less. An in-swinging cross from Raskin in the 32 min met by Rangers' Rommens bundled into the net gave the Gers, the three points needed to close the gap on the top two. It’s now in their own hands. Sinply put: whoever holds their nerve, keeps their discipline and grinds out results from here on in wins the title. Three separated by three points, Motherwell now looking out of it. The run in looks exciting.
To close the weekends fixtures we had the Dundee Derby. 11,000 plus of the city of discoveries finest descended on Dens Park. However the first half was another easily forgotten 45 mins. The highlight, the single highlight of the piece being a United cross that was headed over the bar otherwise let’s not waste ink talking about it
The second was a totally different kettle of wild haggis as within 5 mins of the restart United were awarded a penalty when the ball was adjudged to have struck the arm of Simon Murray. On reflection it was harsh in my opinion but rules are rules, I guess, and up stepped Fatah to fire the Arabs ahead. The away side were soon to find themselves two ahead when a bullet header from Lewis Stephenson hit the underside of the crossbar and into the net. A special mention to Will Ferry who’s ball in was top drawer and helped create the goal.
It all looked like to be going swimmingly for United as they held onto their lead and with only stoppage time between them and victory what could go wrong? What indeed? I’ll tell you now this match finished 2-2 in the most bizarre circumstances possible. In 90 + 4 a scramble in the box, the ball squirms into the United net off the heel of Hay. Even then despite the commentator on Premier Sports going crazy it looked like a United victory was on the cards. However 90 + 6 and a free kick to Dundee swung into the box and headed home past the United Keeper Maynard - Brewer by tangerine shirted and red faced Graham and the points were shared.
And so closes another weekend of Scottish football and a three horse race to lift its premier prize. Before I go I have to mention Montrose and their crazy 5-4 victory on Saturday night over Alloa in League One. The home side could yet push for promotion. It’s still all to play for.
Til next time …
🐼 Gary Robertson is the TPQ Scottish football correspondent.
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