Talking Points: The Scottish Premiership

All the most important bits you might have missed from Scotland’s top league

JOY FOR HEARTS AND KILLIE AS THEY SEAL PLACES

Heart of Midlothian 1 – 1 Kilmarnock

Whilst Hearts and Kilmarnock would have wanted to get the three, they will be pleased to have secured 3rd and a top 6 place respectively. Hearts will hope to earn a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds whilst Killie will make a push for the Conference League. It is easy to forget that the Jambos had been in the Championship only three years ago under Steven Naismith and Kilmarnock there only one less under Derek McInnes. Their strong finishes this season is testament to the work that both managers have done since getting their sides promoted

Both teams threatenedd with chances and, despite scoring the opening goal, Kenneth Vargas couldn’t put away a chance from a counter-attack and another from a Lawrence Shankland cut-back. Kilmarnock dominated in the air but could not find the target and it took arguably one of the best goals of the season to draw them level. Marley Watkins did brilliantly to get some distance from Wolves loanee Dexter Lembikisa and curling in a fantastic shot, teaching the 20 year old a lesson in the dangers of easing off an opponent outisde the box. Watkins is now no doubt a contender for player of the season.

LIVI CREEP TOWARDS DROP

Livingston 0 – 3 Celtic

It would seem that David Martindale’s magic touch is nearly exhausted. Under his management Livi have famously punched well above their weight season after season. Since their promotion the Premiership, they have finished as high as 5th in 2019-20 season (under Gary Holt), relying on a strategy of signing players on a free but seeing them leave at the first sign of good form. Whilst the likes of Lyndon Dykes have graced Almondvale Park, this year’s crop haven’t been able to do the job and the astute signing of Tete Yengi in January might have come too late in the season to turn things around as relegation begins to look like a certainty.

Whether or not Martindale stays should they go down is unknown at this time, but fans will worry that the club will not have it in them to fight their way back from the Scottish Championship, which has a fiercely competitve top of the table.

Brendan Rodgers meanwhile watched from the stands as his side were comfortable in victory. The side were in total control, facing only one shot on target as Reo Hatate added the composure needed against sides that defend deep as he made a return from injury. Nicolas Kuhn threatened repeatedly down the right wing as he slid and lobbed balls into the box. Mounting pressure finally resulted in goals with Jamie Brandon turning into his own net before Paulo Bernardo and Matt O’Riley finished the job.

With Cameron Carter-Vickers also returning to the fold, Celtic almost have their strongest line up available ahead of the Old Firm ficture next weekend, as well the upcoming title run-in.

ABERDEEN START PULLING AWAY UNDER LEVEN

Aberdeen 2-1 Ross County

After back to back wins in the league for the first time since December, Dons fans will be wondering why caretaker boss Peter Leven hadn’t been given the role months ago rather than having to suffer through Neil Warnock’s nightmare tenure.

Having slid down near the relegation play-off place that Ross County have kept warm, they have hugely underachieved no matter how the rest of the season goes. However, they can take heart from a good performance as well as Miovski’s goal after 4 minutes, his first in 8 Premiership matches. Simon Murray had equalised for the Staggies before Jamie McGrath returned the leads to home side.

Under Leven, the side have shored up defensively and managed to get the job done at the weekend in a game they might have thrown away only a few weeks ago. This is a squad loaded with talent, and the slow return to form of Duk and McGrath will show fans that should the right appointment finally be made, there is hope for a season as good as last year’s 3rd place finish.

Ross County continue to attempt to fight their way out of the relegation play-off spot. They sit only one point behind St Johnstone and will face the other 5 sides in the bottom half of the table as the league splits in two in a couple of weeks. Interim boss Don Cowie will need more from his attacking players in the upcoming games as he aims to uplift a side disrupted by Derek Adams’ toxic tenure.

MAGNIFICENT TAV SETS RECORD

Rangers 3-1 Hibernian

If James Tavernier hadn’t already cemented his place in Rangers’ history, he certainly has carved one out for himself in Britain’s as he became its highest ever scoring defender with an astonishing 131st goal.

The right-back has been immense for the club, guiding them to a first title in 9 years, a Europa League final and a return to the Champions League. Whenever he does leave the club, his presence will missed not only by Rangers but by Scottish football as a whole.

His side were dominant in the game and despite the captain having his penalty saved early on, blaming in jest the choice to send it down the middle on his wife’s recommendation, the Gers never looked like dropping the 3 points once he had scored the opener. Cyriel Dessers scored a strong header in response to Maolida’s equalizer and Rabbi Matondo continued to show the importance of the Rangers bench in congested fixture list as he curled in a fantastic third for the hosts.

There were cheers all round as Adballah Sima returned from the hamstring injury that had kept him out since the beginning of January. The Brighton loanee has scored in almost half the games he has played and Philippe Clement will hope he can stay fit with a Scottish League and Cup to play for.

Hibs meanwhile will be glad to see the back of Rangers as soon as possible. They have only lost two in their last nine games, with both defeats coming at the hands of the Light Blues. Despite the good run, there will be doubts about Nick Montgomery’s ability to lead the team next season. Recent results will not blot out the dire performances earlier in the season as his now dropped 4-4-2 had looked anything but solid. The side comprises some of the best attacking talent in the league with Myziane Maolida, Martin Boyle and Emiliano Marcondes contributing to the Hibee’s resurgence.

Fans will see their current position of 7th as being well below what the squad’s potential. With only 2 games to catch up with Dundee who are just a point ahead, albeit with a game in hand, fixtures against Motherwell and St Johnston are crucial in securing a top 6 place. Potentially, Montgomery’s job too.

ELSEWHERE

Dundee continued to surpass expectations under Tony Docherty as their 2-1 win over St Johnstone puts them in good stead to secure a top-half finish. Their opponents meanwhile, sit only one point above the relegation play-off spot.

St Mirren are close to securing a place in the top-six as they managed to come away from Fir Park with a 1-1 draw against Motherwell. They missed some good chances and managed to hit the cross twice in just a few seconds but will be glad to have kept their opponents down to just one goal. Theo Bair scored his 12th goal of the season and had been rewarded for his good form with a call-up to the Canadian squad during the Copa America play-offs.