Talking Points: The Scottish Premiership

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WITH JUST A WEEK TO GO

HIBS ANNOUNCE OVERHAUL AS PROBLEMS REFUSE TO DISAPPEAR

Hibernian 0 Aberdeen 4

If this game was supposed to be a dead rubber, nobody told Junior Hoilett and his teammates. Perhaps unshackled by the lack of pressure at this stage of the season, with neither relegation nor Europe a possibility, they put on a display on par with those that led them to third last season. It could also be the case that some of the Aberdeen boys are looking to impress their future boss, Jimmy Thelin. Whether or not that will include Bojan Miovski, now on 26 goals this season, will be one of the talking points of the summer (in Scotland at least). Perhaps the highlight of the day was Aberdeen born Fletcher Boyd scoring on his debut at only 16 years of age. The points were wrapped up by then but will he care? No chance.

Hibs meanwhile looked totally bereft of ideas and never looked like they would come away with anything. Nick Montgomery has been under the cosh for a while now despite results picking up not so long ago but his time at Hibernian has now come to an end, with the board announcing his sacking today. David Gray has been named interim boss whilst Malky Mackay has been brought in as the new director of football. There will be question marks over Mackay’s suitability on account of the way his tenure as Ross County boss ended, but more importantly, whether he should still be involved in the game following the leaked text messages he had sent which were ‘racist, sexist and homophobic’. The season is nearly over for the Edinburgh side, but their problems will not disappear over the break.

RUDDERLESS RANGERS RUN RAGGED

Celtic 2 Rangers 1

It was the last chance for Rangers to turn the tide before fate was no longer in their own hands yet on the day, the players showed all the ability of King Cnut to do so. The team’s shrinking under pressure has been a talking point all season and the problem reared its head at Celtic Park yet again. Looking second best for most of the game, two goals were conceded in quick succession and the second came via a tidy finish by John Lundstram into his own net. Lundstram has yet to sign a new contract and is rumoured to be waiting on a call from newly promoted Ipswich. He will be hoping Kieran McKenna was having lunch as he made amends for his own goal by running full steam into Alistair Johnston and landing he studs into the Canadian’s ankle.

Now, Celtic can wrap up the title by beating Kilmarnock on Wednesday. Brendan Rodgers for his part will act like this league victory will come as no surprise but there have been some doubts along the way. Reo Hatate and Calum McGregor’s return have made all the difference in helping secure seven wins on the trot. Regardless, Rodger’s will say, a win’s a win and if it goes their way tomorrow, he won’t care how it was done.

SAINTS FALL FLAT

Livingston 2 St Johnstone 1

If you could pick any team to play to give yourself a push to safety, you could bet that most teams would choose an already relegated Livingston. With the added bonus of a Ross County defeat to Motherwell, St Johnstone’s inability to get any points from this game will sting Craig Levein all the more. The Tony Macaroni is hardly a fortress and yet the Saints somehow made it look like they were at the Camp Nou. Unable to put chances away and kept alive by the golden gloves of Dimitar Mitov is a sight the fans will have seen too often and it has cost them yet again. Regardless of whether or they do stay up, without major changes, it might only be a matter of time before they join Livi in the Championship.

Elsewhere

Motherwell were easy 5-1 winners over Ross County. Hearts beat Dundee 3-0 and Kilmarnock secured a narrow 1-0 win over St Mirren.