Cheers for nowpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
18:02 BST 28 September 2024
That's all from the first four Scottish Premiership games of the day. I'm sure you'll all be paying attention to the St Johnstone v Celtic game by now anyway.
'Sometimes you don’t get your rewards'published at 17:55 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:55 BST 28 September 2024
FT: Dundee 1-2 Aberdeen
Dundee manager Tony Docherty: "It’s not very often both managers say the better team lost. Fair play to Jimmy, he said after the game that we deserved more.
"I’m disappointed that’s our unbeaten run is done, but if I get that consistent level of performance from our players we will win more than we lose.
"Our level of performance was excellent, especially in the second half. We gifted them two goals. They had two shots on target, we had six. Sometimes you don’t get your rewards in a game. I’m gutted we didn’t win a game we deserved to win."
Robinson not drawn on red cardpublished at 17:53 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:53 BST 28 September 2024
FT: Motherwell 2-1 St Mirren
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson: "I thought we dominated large parts of the game. The disappointment is not creating enough when it went 10 v 10."
He then swerves a question on the second yellow card for Scott Tanser, saying: "We can only control what we are in control of and that is taking our chances."
Aberdeen will 'stay humble' - Thelinpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:46 BST 28 September 2024
FT: Dundee 1-2 Aberdeen
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "We are happy with that. But we don’t think or talk about it. We go game-by-game. It’s still September and the league stops in May, so we need to be humble, keep working and push ourselves and be better.
"Dundee are a really strong team. I am happy with our first half. But they controlled the game a little bit in the second and we defended really well, which is a big part of the game - to defend around our own box. All the players helped each other and the goalkeeper.
"We need to keep the good team spirit. How the players helped each other today was amazing to see."
'The story should have been about David Watson'published at 17:44 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:44 BST 28 September 2024
FT: Kilmarnock 3-3 Dundee United
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "The story should have been about David Watson, who was outstanding when he came on, he grabbed the game. We were so good for 35 minutes, a real Kilmarnock performance.
"Dundee United tried to force the issue and we need the composure to deal with that. At 3-1, we were in control but we let that authority go.
"We can do a lot better with the second goal and, from them being on the floor United think there might be something there for them, then we don't see out the dying embers."
Goodwin conflicted after topsy-turvy drawpublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:38 BST 28 September 2024
FT: Kilmarnock 3-3 Dundee United
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "The players didn't give up. That's what I've got to be most proud of. Yes, we had to adapt and make changes but I always felt if we got the next goal at 3-1 it would be nervous for Kilmarnock.
"If you'd offered me a point before the game, I probably would have taken it because we know how difficult a venue this is, but, leading the game, you've got the feeling of is it two points dropped?
'The players kept going'published at 17:32 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:32 BST 28 September 2024
FT: Hearts 1-1 Ross County
Hearts interim head coach Liam Fox: "We're not celebrating a draw at home but the message I want to get across is that the players kept going right to the end.
'Fair' outcome in Rugby Park thrillerpublished at 17:23 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:23 BST 28 September 2024
FT: Kilmarnock 3-3 Dundee United
Rory Loy Former Dundee striker on BBC Sportsound
If you'd asked me at half-time who deserved to win, I'd have said Dundee United. If you'd asked me after an hour, I'd have said Kilmarnock. Ask me after 99 minutes and I think a draw is a fair result.
FULL-TIME Kilmarnock 3-3 Dundee Unitedpublished at 17:07 British Summer Time 28 September 2024
17:07 BST 28 September 2024
What a game of football!
United were brilliant for the first 45 and incredible for the final 15 minutes.
Kilmarnock had their spells too, led by teenage talisman David Watson, who bagged two. Derek McInnes will feel more aggrieved, watching his side come back from behind only to blow a two-goal lead.
A real rollercoaster of an afternoon in Ayrshire.
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Craig Sibbald's lashed strike was eventually given
Hearts left it late to seal a point against Ross County
Andy Campbell
BBC Scotland
Lawrence Shankland's first goal of the season deep in added time rescued a point for managerless Hearts against Ross County and ended their run of eight straight defeats.
The hosts, who parted with head coach Steven Naismith last weekend and were overseen by caretaker Liam Fox, struggled to break down their stubborn visitors before Ronan Hale netted superbly against the run of play.
Captain Shankland's shot struck the crossbar in one of three big chances for the striker prior to his equaliser, when he bundled in Yan Dhanda's corner.
Hearts move on to two points from seven games and are a point adrift at the bottom. Don Cowie's County are five points better off and just outside the top six.
Two of the big moments in the game typified Hearts' recent experience.
Hale flicked the ball into Connor Randall's path then pounced on the loose ball after Beni Baningime's tackle. Craig Gordon was well beaten by a sumptuous strike.
County found themselves defending deeper and deeper in the second half and the Shankland chance off the woodwork came from Alan Forrest's set up, the frame of the goal rattling before Forrest drew a save from Ross Laidlaw in the aftermath.
But the home side kept going and Gordon joined the attack at the corner that finally yielded a leveller.
Late leveller boosts Hearts for Europe
Hearts face the arduous journey to face opening Conference League opponents Dinamo Minsk in Azerbaijan on Thursday then visit Aberdeen the following Sunday.
Winning this game would have been the ideal boost and though their winless run stretches to a 12th game, Shankland's late goal gives them something of a tonic.
In truth, they should have been in front early on. County goalkeeper Laidlaw could only palm a shot from Forrest and Shankland pinched the ball just next to the byeline to tee up Forrest, whose shot was blocked by Ryan Leak.
And, after falling behind, they carved an excellent chance when Stephen Kingsley found Shankland with a back-post cross and the Scotland forward nodded wide.
Substitute Barrie McKay struck past after a one-two with Shankland and both Jorge Grant and Shankland were denied by Laidlaw as time ticked away. Shankland would have the final say, though.
County almost capitalise in the capital
County appeared to be ready for a Hearts reaction following Naismith's departure. They set up to repel their hosts and restricted them for extended periods.
Going forward, they had to make the most of counters and set pieces, Nathan Chilvers flashing an effort over from a corner prior to the opener.
And, after the Hale goal, the striker elected to shoot rather than play in Jordan White as Hearts were caught on the break again. The eventual shot was deflected into Gordon's hands when White seemed better placed.
Losing such a late goal will be a disappointment but they go into next week's visit of champions Celtic with two draws and a win since the last international break.
What they said
Hearts interim head coach Liam Fox: "We're not celebrating a draw at home but the message I want to get across is that the players kept going right to the end.
"We can do better, we know that."
Ross County manager Don Cowie: "I'm seeing a group of players that are working ever so hard for each other, putting their bodies on the line.
"We see out that last corner, we go away with three points. It's not to be but I'm extremely proud of the group."
Heart of Midlothian have lost just one of their 15 top-flight home games against Ross County (W6 D8), going down 0-1 in March 2017 (P7 W3 D4 L0 since).
After their 2-1 win in March last season, Ross County could win back-to-back top-flight meetings with Hearts for the first time, with this the 30th such clash between the two clubs.
Hearts have just one point from six Scottish Premiership matches this season (W0 D1 L5), the fewest by any side at this stage of a season in the competition since Dundee in 2018-19 (0). The last side to have one or fewer points from their opening seven games in the division were Ross County in 2014-15 (0).
Ross County are winless in their last 19 away league games (D7 L12) since a 1-0 win at Kilmarnock in September 2023. The last side to go 20 consecutive top-flight away games without winning were Dundee from August 2004 to August 2012, while the last to do so without being relegated during the run were St. Mirren from November 2009 to October 2010.
Ross County have conceded more second half goals (8) than any side in the Scottish Premiership this season, with this also accounting for a league-high 73% of their total goals shipped this term (8/11).