Saturday 19 January 2008 (all times local)15:00 Celtic 1–0 Kilmarnock
15:00 Dundee Utd 3–0 Aberdeen
15:00 Gretna 2–0 Falkirk
15.00 St Mirren 3-1 Motherwell
12.30 Hearts 1–0 Hibernian
Sunday 20 January 2008
14.00 Inverness CT – Rangers
Celtic 1 – 0 Kilmarnock
The Hoops were dealt an early blow when they were forced into a double substitution after just 18 minutes. Andreas Hinkel’s SPL debut was ended early due to a strain, while big Dutchman Jan Venegoor of Hesselink also came off after a head-clash. Strikers Chris Killen and Derek Riordan were handed rare chances.
Killie goalie Alan Combe wasn’t too concerned about personnel. The veteran was in fine form, including a point-blank denial of a Scott MacDonald effort.
The home side took a little time to regain their early momentum. MacDonald was always a threat in the Killie box. He looked set to hit the opener, but Garry Hay blocked the Aussie’s shot bravely as the half-hour mark approached.
Combe was called into action again with Riordan on the rampage. The fringe player showed great imagination to create space before testing the visiting goalie.
Despite the home side enjoying lions’ share of the possession, Kilmarnock worked every bit as hard to keep the scores level at half-time.
In the second period, Celtic tried to up the tempo. Shunsuke Nakamura’s quality of delivery has been much missed by Gordon Strachan’s men this season. The Japanese was in fine form as he tried time and again to pick out MacDonald.
However, Kilmarnock were beginning to stride forward, sensing that there could be something in this game for them the longer Celtic waited to strike.
It was going to take a moment of genius or a defensive error to beat the impressive Combe this afternoon. Scott Brown (pictured) tried to provide the genius with a fierce drive, but it was stopper Martyn Corrigan who made the latter the reality via an own goal. His attempted clearance was risky and found the back of his own net.
The goal failed to spark the title-contenders, though, and they continued to toil. There would be a nervy finish if Killie could muster a big finish as the
Midfielder Paul Di Giacomo tried to be the hero, but Lee Naylor was on hand to block his effort.
Brown came close to killing off Killie with two minutes remaining, but he fired high after a scintillating run.
With Rangers not in action until tomorrow, Celtic have closed the gap to one point at the SPL summit.
Dundee Utd 3 – 0 Aberdeen
In the battle between the 5th placed Arabs and 4th placed Dons, there wasn’t much goalmouth action in a tight encounter.
However, both sides played some decent football. Steve Lovell is enjoying a starting berth at the moment, but his dithering in the box won’t help him win the new contract he craves.
Gary Kenneth, meanwhile, wasted the home side’s first chance when he fired wide from close range.
It was going to take something out of the ordinary to break this game open. Dons keeper Jamie Langfield would provide it after the break. He kept the ball at his feet too long and the opportunistic Noel Hunt closed him down. Langfield tried to lash the ball away, but the ball struck Hunt and found the net.
Aberdeen would again shoot themselves in the foot less than five minutes later. Lovell atoned for his earlier indecision by winning a penalty for the away side. Barry Nicholson – normally a cool penalty taker – skied the ball into the stand behind the goal.
After breaking on the right, Craig Conway held up the play until skipper Barry Robson arrived from midfield to lash home.
Robson put the game beyond doubt with some marvellous trickery. The set-piece maestro played the ball under the jumping Dons wall to round off the scoring.
United are now back up to 3rd place on goal difference, ahead of Motherwell..
Gretna 2–0 Falkirk
With Hearts winning the lunchtime Edinburgh derby, the pressure was in Gretna to pick up something at home.
After a slow start, ‘Doctor Goals’ Kenny Deuchar prescribed the opener. He treated the ball with his head after a cross by Uruguayan intern Fabien Yantorno. The Borders men were hoping to stay good shape and begin the healing process this afternoon.
Tony Caig continued his good recent form with a fine stop as Carl Finnegan tried to cancel out the opener before halftime.
Before Falkirk could start to work themselves back into the match, Gretna stunned them with a second. Paul Murray got the basement boys off to the perfect second-half start with a close-range volley.
Falkirk went for broke with a four-man attack in the second half. Gretna, though, were up to the task on this occassion. Davie Irons will be delighted to see his side keep their first SPL clean sheet, with the rookies also managing to last the full 90 minutes without collapsing.
St Mirren 3–1 Motherwell
Love Street was treated to a classy early goal. David Van Zanten and Craig Dargo combined to feed Marc Corcoran, who hit the opener with a left-foot strike.
The visitors, though, would show the strong character that has epitomised their fine season. Steven McGarry controlled despite hints of handball and fed the prolific David Clarkson, who hit the instant leveller.
The Buddies would pull ahead again as halftime approached. Ian Maxwell got the better of defender Marc Fitzpatrick in the box to power home a header.
Maxwell 3rd in three games, cutback the most dangerous weapon in football Corcoran.
A wise man once said that the cutback is the most dangerous in football. Marc Corcoran showed why when his found Maxwell, who put Saints on easy street.
Maxwell almost claimed the match ball when his 25-yeard free-kick deflected wide.
This was a very impressive performance from St Mirren – one of their best this term Motherwell slip into 4th place, but after emotional times of late Mark McGhee’s men deserve an off-day.
In the early kick-off, Hearts were beating faster than usual in the big derby match...
Hearts 1 - 0 Hibernian
The early kick-off took the shape of the Edinburgh derby. Both teams needed a reaction after poor recent form has left them in the bottom six.
It was a typically scrappy, passionate affair at Tynecastle. Hearts, though, looked the hungrier and fans’ favourite Andrius Velicka bagged the opener. Skipper Christophe Berra caused havoc in the Hibs box before the Lithuanian hitman nodded past the flailing Yves Ma-Kalambay.
Moroccan striker Abdessalam Benjelloun was the main threat for the away side in the first half, but he couldn’t convert a catalogue of half-chances.
The Hibees were guilty of some poor passing and a lack of quality in the final third as they continued to push for an equaliser after the break.
Thus, Steven Fletcher was brought into the fray after a spell on the sidelines. He did make a positive impact, but an Eggert Johnsson block denied him a comeback goal.
It would be the Jambos who ended the game looking to double their advantage. Right-back Kevin McCann was lucky to see his wayward clearance strike the post and bounce clear.
Hearts stay in 11th place for now, but ended a 10-game winless streak. New Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen, meanwhile, will now understand how fragile confidence is within the Hibs squad at present.
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