SCOTLA N Do n SU N DAY

SPORT DECEMBER 5, 2004 PREMIERLEAGUE LIVE 3 McCall’s troubles meat and drink to Butcher Partick stung by

DUNDEE UTD 0 significant difference in the cal- Kerchar failed to traumatise teasingly before dropping over Jason Scotland introduced soon ibre of his charges and those of Gordon Marshall while David the line. into the second period, the Ter- resurgent Saints M OT H E RW E L L 1 TerryButcher.Yet the FirPark Clarkson found himself offside Eventually,the hosts began to rors raised the tempo of the pro- Paterson 17 side endeavoured primarily to to waste JimPaterson’s cun- apply some pressure o f their o wn ceedings and although they lived break at speed but, admirably, ning trickery. However, the but were repeatedly the masters dangerously as they pushed for- PARTICK THISTLE 0 was rotten luck that their only MARK WOODS AT TANNADICE opted for patience where it was former Tannadice midfielder of their own downfall, Barry ward in ever greater numbers, chance fell to Billy Gibson, a due. That is where, marginally, never let his shacklers settle all Robson fluffing when set free by Butcher's rearguard was pres- ST JOHNSTONE 4 player not acclaimedfor his RE-INSTALLED at the foot of they set themselves apart from afternoon and it was he who Mark Wilson's subtle pass. surised with increasing weight. McCann 14, Anderson 35, MacDonald 75, Hay composure in front of goal. Gib- the Premierleague, Dundee United, whose breakneck raids gave Motherwell the lead in the As half-time beckoned, Rich- In the closing stages, home 83. son, with time to consider his United’s discomfortcontinues. brought plentiful foraysinto 17th minute. ie Foran skulked again in the hearts pulsated, then sank, options, thumped the ball How Ian McCall must hope that the box without the necessary Howfortunate he was, box but his header was when Grant Brebner liberated RAYMOND TRAVERS AT FIRHILL straight at Allan McGregor the patience of his chairman accompaniment of substantial however, that Paul Jarvie had scrambled away amid a panicked Robson on the left, only for him when he really should have exceeds that of his team’s sup- suppor t . smeared his gloves with jelly. scrum. In its midst, David Clark- to hit the opposite upright. IT HAS hardly been an auspi- picked his spot. porters, who unleashed afeisty As miserable though their Speculatively firing from 30 son tumbled and was stretchered Dundee Utd: Jarvie, Wilson, McCracken, cious campaign for twoof the It became even grimmer for chorus of boos once more yes- form is, one can easily admire metres out when off, only to be followed seconds Ritchie, Archibald, Duff (Dodds, 71), Brebner, pre-seasonpromotion favour- home fans, many of whom were Robson, Kerkar (Samuel, 46), Grady (Scotland, terday at Tannadice as Mother- McCall’s crafted modus but in declined to close himdown, later by Scott Leitch, who was 60), McIntyre. Subs Not Used: Cameron, Innes, ites,but the importance of this audiblydisparaging of players’ well grafted out yet another straits this dire, finesse is, ar- Paterson could not have expec- forced to depart after taking a Callaghan, Hirschfeld. match, particularly for the efforts throughout, when Motherwell: Marshall, Corrigan, Craigan, diligent performance to cement guably, expendable if his team ted to notch a fourth goal of blow to the face as Paul Quinn Partridge, Hammell, Fitzpatrick, Leitch (Quinn, home side, could not be over- Steven Anderson prodded in St their place in the top half. is to haul itself clear of danger. the season when Jarvie got and Kenneth Wright came on to 45), Paterson, McBride, Clarkson (Wright, 45), stated. Floundering precari- Johnstone’s second ten Foran (Fagan, 88). Subs Not Used: Burns, Has the Patter: Jim Paterson’s YetMcCall merits sympathy. Thesides exchanged innoc- handsbehindthe ball but stretch their legs. Cowan, Kinniburgh, Corr. ously close to the relegation minutes before half-time. first-half goal proved decisive Once more, there was no uous threats earlyon. Karim allowed it to spin out, bouncing With Collin Samuel and Referee: D McDonald zone, Thistle co-managers The Maryhill men showed and more application after the re- must have suspected that an- start – Juan Escalas’s first time other trouncing might seri- effort was blootered off the goal ously damagetheir immediate line – but it was St Johnstone job prospects. who continued to look the more Last week Britton and Whyte accomplished side. MacDon- celebrated, if that is the right ald, with a header,and substi- Gough lifts new troops as word, 12 months in charge of tute Chris Hayadded twolate Thistle, and before a quarter of goalsfromclose rangetoun- an hour had elapsed yesterday derline the visitors superiority. they were again confronting No question about it, John Con- adversity. Prior to St John- nolly’s side were not flattered stone’s opener, the match had by the margin of victory. furnished precisely nothing as Thistle? Youcannot fault a spectacle, but there was no them for effort, but they clearly they battle in the basement denying the subtlety ofRyan lack quality, and terracing McCann’s finishing. chants of “What aload of rub- Manofthe Match Peter Mac- bish” will clearly not do much to Donald was the provider, chip- cheer Messrs Britton and L I V I N G STO N 1 ping the ball over Thistle’s ad- W hy t e . vancing defenders into the path McPake 23 Partick Thistle Arthur, Gibson, Dowie, of McCann, who coolly rounded Murray, Madaschi (Milne, 70), Fulton, Wilkinson, Fleming (McLaren, 37), Escalas, Hinds, Ross. DUNDEE 0 KennyArthur beforestroking St Johnstone McGregor, Anderson, Tait, the ball home from 12 yards. Hannah, Webb, Maxwell, McCann, Sheerin, MacDonald (Hay, 80), Moore, McAnespie (Hardy, MARTIN HANNAN Thistle enjoyed decent pos- 86). AT ALMONDVALE session in the first half,but it Referee: J Rowbotham.

WITH signs of his influence already obvious in their play, Livingston welcomed new Rovers dealt harsh manager Richard Gough by hauling themselves off the foot of the SPL with a gutsy display against fellowstrugglers Dun- lesson in dee. It was no classic, as one would expect from two teams in the basement, but the 4,500 crowd that braved the wintry QUEEN OF THE SOUTH 2 Darren Brady's corner was conditions saw plentypassages flicked on by the head of Shaun Lyle 25, Paton 65 of skill among the rubbish. Dennis, but the ball whizzed A scrappy start sawDundee RAITH ROVERS 0 agonisingly across the face of in the ascendancy at first, but the goal, and despite Anthony the visitors sufferedan early STUART FARQUHAR Bartholome's sinew-bulging blow when Iain Anderson was AT contortions, God simply didn't carried offafter an awkward give the Frenchman a neck long landing in the10thminute. IAIN SCOTT'S battling Queen enough to nod it in. “He felt something click in his of the South team earned an- The second half was spiced knee and was in severe pain,” other well-deserved three up by some bruising tackles and explained manager JimDuffy points with an accomplished a more direct approach from afterwards. “It will be Tuesday display against struggling both teams, which saw play ebb before we know how bad it is.” Raith Rovers. and flow from goalmouthto With Stephen McNally on in The Dumfries side's two-goal goalmouth. Raith again began Anderson’s place, man of the win over Gordon Dalziel's men in positive mood, with Moussa match Stephen Adam took full was no less than they deserved Quattara covering more than advantage of his inexperience after they gave the visitors a les- half of the pitch before letting and was the game’s most influ- son in teamwork and determ- fly with a 20-yard shot that flew ential player. At this point it was i n at i o n . low past the post. fairly open, largely because Raith seemed unable to But as in the first half, Gor- neither side could string operate as aunit, and sub- don Dalziel's side seemedto together some passes, and over- sequently failed to hold any gradually lose their direction, all it was amuddling first half sustained possession or control and just after the hour mark, livened only by James McPake’s of the game. the home side doubled their first goal for the club in the 23rd The visitors opened the first leadwith agoal which was minute. Just before that score, half with some glimpses of sublime in its simplicity and Dundee had a clear-cut chance lively playand sharp passing, deliver y. when John Sutton put Steve but the part-timers gradually Gibson wrong-footed the Lovell through, only for the hero found their stride, and broke Raith defence by rolling his of last week’s match against the deadlock after 25 minutes corner kick into the path of Celtic to trip over his own feet. with their first goal attempt. Paton, and the former Hibs and TheLivingston goal owed Willie Gibson's seemingly Clydebank man could not have much to good refereeing by Ian harmless corner was poorly connected with the ball more Fyfe. Along clearance was dealt with by the Raith defence, sweetly, and it flew into the top headed on by Jim Hamilton a nd allowing Eric Paton to fling left corner of the goal. McPake had his shirt tugged by himself into the path of ahalf- Queen of the South: Scott, Paton, English, Burns, Craig, Thomson, Bagan, Bowey Bobby Mann, but after Fyfe im- hearted clearance. The ball (McColligan 74), McLaughlin (Jaconelli 90), Lyle, mediately signalled play-on, broke to Derek Lyle, who found Gibson (McNiven 88). Subs not used: Payne, B a r n a rd . the striker hared away and himself with the time and space Raith Rovers: Berthelot (Pounoussamy 71), calmly picked his spot to shoot to slot the ball into the net. Davidson (Martin 46), Millar, Smart (Young 75), Dennis, Bartholome, Brady, Paquito, Ebanda, low past Derek Soutar. Raith almost hit the home Sacko, Quattara. Subs not used: Mendy, Tagro. Livingston continued to side with an instant reply when Referee: E. Smith. press and Soutar had to look lively to clear a Derek Lilley cross off the head of the leaping Hamilton. Thestriker should Basement battle: Livingston’s Goran Stanic and Steven Lovell of Dundee clash as win forLions lifts them offthe foot of the table. Photograph: Aubrey Washington have scored a minute later when McPake chased a long allowed the midfielder to sling the Lions with three chances in Both managers made with the big fellow –saw him locked down in defence by this All ends Tunbridge clearance, caught it on the a marvellous cross to Hamilton. quick succession. A superb run changes in their attacking per- feed Lilley, but the midfielder point and in the 80th minute, byeline, then turned inside to Thestriker’s header should by Stevie Robb saw the winger sonnel, goalscorer McPake again shot wide. the visitors had what appeared plant a low cross at the feet of have gone anywhere in the feed Steve Lovell, and his pin- suffering a stomach upset and Hamilton was “excellent” in to be adecent penalty claim the inrushing Hamilton, but his goalmouth other than straight point cross to Sutton screamed being replaced by Richie Brit- Gough’s words. “He made three turned down when Robb, in full well for Hamilton snapshot curled overand at Soutar. for the striker to score, only for tain, while Fabian Caballero or four tremendous defensive flight, seemed to be tripped by round Soutar’s left upright. Dundee started the second the Englishman to misfire his came on for Sutton. On one of headers – but I’d rather he was Goran Stanic, though referee Neither team was able to im- half in lively fashion, but it was shot fromsix yards, allowing Livingston’s rare attacks, abal- doing those at the other end,” Fyfe showed no hesitation in ROSS COUNTY 1 category of relegation fodder – pose itself at this stage and both Livingstonwho almost went McKenzie to clear with his legs. letic turn by Hamilton – not an said Gough. indicating a goal kick. they boasted the second-best McGarry 57 defences began to firm up. further ahead in 51 minutes. A As Livingston reeled, agoal- adjective you often associate Dundee had Livingston It was nerve-wracking stuff away form yesterday morning – Dundee began to press forward weak clearance from the head mouth melee ended with Rubio in the final minutes as Living- H A M I LTO N 1 frustration is evident. late in the half but it was a sign of Bobby Mann fell invitingly at hoofing the ball off the line, be- ston hung on for the victory Tunbridge 62 It was going to takesome- of their poor form thatMark the feet of the charging Lilley, fore a fierce shot from Lovell Adam Anderson they so desperately wanted, thingspecial to crack Fotheringham’s usually excel- but the midfielder could only appeared netbound only to Stanic McDonald and, in fairness, Dundee ALASDAIR FRASER Hamilton’s resistance– and lent deadball skills completely slash his half volley just wide of thump into the back of Sutton. Hamilton Lovell created few definite chances. AT VICTORIA PARK Steven McGarry produced it in deserted him as he ballooned a the Dundee goal. From then on At this point, Gough could be O’Brien Fotheringham Gough thanked his players 57 minutes. ADavid Winters Rubio Sancho free-kick over the bar one Dundee dominated, helped by seen desperately trying to urge McKenzie Soutar for their effort and added: “We ALEX Smith spoke this week of ball in from the right was con- minute, and sliced a corner kick the Lions’ tendency to squander his players to calm down and Easton Smith must now build on this.” a kind of collective depression trolled neatly by the former St wide of goal in the next. possession and territory. keep possession. “I asked Arch- Harding McPake Sutton Mann sportingly congrat- shrouding Ross County’s sup- Mirren striker who swivelled Just before half time, Adam As a result, Dundee spent ie Knox (his assistant manager) ulated the new manager port since Caley Thistle’sheady and struck the ball low into the Lilley Robb controlled the ball before feed- most of the final half hour ‘How did you and Walter Smith Dair Hermandez but couldn’t resist adding: success last summer.The rub is keeper’s left hand corner. ing Burton O’Brien, whose camped in the Livingston half. do this for so long at Rangers?” “I expect to see his red hair turn that, with much ready off the Remarkably, Accies hit back slide-rule pass to They eventually carved open Gough revealed afterwards. grey in the coming weeks!” field for the step up,fans had just five minutes later. With always assumed the SPL prize County on the offensive, Mark would fall to them before their McLaughlin’s pass unleashed neighbours. Mark Corcoran down the left. The gloom only deepened Martin Canning managed a yesterday, although, in all fair- challenge but Corcoran re- Even a Leven cracker fails to dampen Dons’ festivities ness, this was a piece of daylight covered and slipped the ball in- robbery on Accies’ part. Allan side to Scott Tunbridge, who Maitland had everyright to forced the ball home from 12 3 possibility. The rejuvenated ston was played in down the with a Kevin McGuire drive, but nately for Alan Combe in the Eventually the pressure told place nine outfield players be- yards. Dons now have 34 points, as right and with ample time and the vastly improved visitors Killie goal, it was the latter. and another three points were hind the ball from the kick-off – Countykept driving at the Pasquinelli 9, 32; Clark 72 many as theyacquired in the space he fired over a superb low were always in the game and it Quite why the Scotland secured when Chris Clark man- the outcome was all the justi- visitors, desperately trying to KILMARNOCK 2 whole of last season, and they centre which was clinically des- was no more than theywarran- squad man dawdled on the ball oeuvred himself into space and fication he required. But this carve a winner, but McGarry’s Invincible 7, Leven 18 have amassed this total before patched by Danny Invincible ted when Peter Leven produced for so long only he will know, cracked a left-foot drive into the was as much of a snatch-and- failure to connectfrom aSean most right-minded people have who had snuck in between two a Christmas cracker to restore but Pasqunielliwasn’t com- far corner. grab scenario asCeltic stub- Kilgannon ball across the face ALAN GALLACHER AT PITTODRIE even looked out the yuletide dozing Dons defenders. the advantage.The former plaining as he knocked home The daycontinued to go bornly toiling their way to a of goal summed up their for- d e c o rat i o n s . What Killie needed now was Rangers kid hoisted a brilliant his second of the afternoon downhill fairly sharpishly for point in Barcelona. tunes. Thehard lesson for the SITTING third in the table, If they can continue with the to bed in and protect their lead, 18th minute free kick over the from six yards having charged Killie, and Colin Nish was red- The Dingwall hosts held com- Dingwall side is that flair and withPittodrieonce morea mixture of pluck and luck they so it would have beenwater wall and past arooted David down the keeper’s kick out. carded for asecond booking plete territorial sway but re- slick passing alone cannot place to be feared, and boasting were bestowed with in equal bottle kicking time in their Pr e e c e . Credit the Argentine with quick with ten minutes to play. peatedly failed to batter apath prosper in the First Division. their best crop of youngsters in measures here, then passports dugout when Invincible’s goal This time Jim Jefferies’ men thinking, but it was a nightmar- Aberdeen: Preece, McGuire (Hart 64), through disciplined and de- Ross County: Stewart; Canning, Malcolm, a generation, there is much for could well be required. was cancelled out within 90 put the kybosh on Aberdeen’s ish error from Combe, and one Anderson, Diamond, McNaughton, Tosh (Foster termined Hamilton ranks. Lauchlan, McCulloch; Cowie, Rankin, Kilgannon 64), Severin, Heikkinen, Clark, Mackie, (MacKay 82); Burke, Higgins (Winters 46), Aberdeen fans to be merry Kilmarnock started like a seconds. Fernando Pasquinelli aspirations of another quick- no doubtearmarked for the Pasquinelli (Stewart 90). Subs not used: Esson, County’s inability to sustain McGarry (McSwegan 84). Subs: MacDonald, about this festive period. team eager to atone for their nodded Steve Tosh's curling fire leveller. If the strangely next football bloopers DVD. Adams, Craig, Morrison. results at home is reaching a G a rd e n . Kilmarnock: Combe, Greer, Lilley, Ford, Hamilton Academicals: McEwan; Fyfe, There isalso much to be woeful performance last week cross over the line despite the lethargic home teamwere to The second period was a Dindeleux, Invincible, MacDonald, Leven, critical stage, with just one win Thomson, Hodge, McLaughlin; Waddell, Ferguson hopeful o f in the New Year, with against Livingston, and inside efforts of Alan Combe. getback on level pegging it was predominately one-sided affair Johnston (Wales 85), Boyd (Naismith 78), Nish. at Victoria Park from eight. And (Arbuckle 77), Tunbridge, Aitken, Corcoran; Subs not used: Smith, Fowler, Hay, Dargo, McPhee (Irons 83). Subs: Walker, Anderson, the possibilityof realising their seven minutes theydeservedly Buoyed bytheir equaliser, going to take a piece of magic or with Jimmy Calderwood’s men M u r ray. while no sober assessment Jellema. UEFACup dream agrowing opened the scoring. Allan John- Aberdeen rattled Killie’sbar acalamitous blunder.Unfortu- in full control of proceedings. Referee: K .C l a r k . would place Smith’s side in the Referee: S Duff