Scottish football - Hibs, County & Saints win, Celtic crush Hearts

Summary

Celtic kick off title defence with 4-1 win v Hearts
Griffiths (2), Sinclair & McGregor for Celtic; Goncalves for Hearts
FT: Dundee 1-2 Ross Co (Hendry; Lindsay, Routis)
FT: Hibs 3-1 Partick (Boyle, Whittaker, Murray; Erskine)
FT: Kilmarnock 1-2 St Johnstone (Boyd; Wotherspoon, O'Halloran)
FT: ICT 0-1 Dundee Utd in one of five Championship games

Live Reporting

Clive Lindsay

HALF-TIME ROUND-UPpublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Championship, League One & League Two
Championship
Dumbarton 0-0 Greenock Morton
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 0-1 Dundee United
Livingston 1-0 Dunfermline Athletic
Queen of the South 2-0 Brechin City
St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk
League One
Albion Rovers 0-3 Ayr United
Alloa Athletic 1-0 Raith Rovers
Arbroath 1-0 Queen's Park
Forfar Athletic 1-0 Airdrieonians
Stranraer 0-0 East Fife
League Two
Annan Athletic 1-0 Peterhead
Berwick Rangers 1-1 Clyde
Edinburgh City 0-2 Montrose
Elgin City 1-1 Cowdenbeath
Stenhousemuir 2-1 Stirling Albion
Rodgers defends Hearts commentspublished at 16:01 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
FT: Celtic 4-1 Hearts
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has defended his comments suggested Ian Cathro had been treated unfairly by Hearts in being sacked earlier this week.
He was responding to Hearts interim boss Jon Daly suggesting he should mind his own business!
"I was purely asked a question in relation to the operation there," Rodgers told Radio Scotland. "It is no problem. I thought Jon organised the team well today. They were good and compact.
“My feeling was one of support for young Ian Cathro, who I felt was dealt harshly with. But it is no problem. I hope Jon goes on and gets the job.
“But I will always be open and say how I feel. That doesn’t change. I say and believe what I say 150%.”
Asked if he had broken an unwritten rule by commenting on another club, Rodgers added: "He hasn’t become a manager yet, so wait until he becomes a manager and then he will know the rules of the game then.”
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Jon Daly and Brendan Rodgers have had a verbal spat
'Outstanding' McGregor a 'top talent' - Rodgerspublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
FT: Celtic 4-1 Hearts
Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor pitched in with seven goals last season, including four in his last seven games.
He scored a hat-trick in a pre-season friendly win at Sunderland last Saturday and opened his account this term with a thumping strike for the champions' fourth goal against Hearts.
“He had a big season last year," manager Brendan Rodgers told BBC Scotland. "He quietly goes about his work and is an outstanding player. We don’t sing too many songs about him, but he comes in and trains well every day and can play in different positions.
“He was unfortunate not to have another couple of goals today and he is a top talent. I enjoy working with him. You can see the confidence in his game, he understands how we function and I think this will be another important season for him."
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
McGregor has continued his scoring form from the end of last season
HALF-TIME - Hibernian 2-1 Partick Thistlepublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sport Scotland at Easter Road
Quote Message
Big credit to Hibs. They have shown character to turn this match around. It was a good start from Partick Thistle, but they have fallen away and the loss of Kris Doolan to injury won't help their cause. Hibs have shown character, class and determination to force themselves in front. Martin Boyle has been a constant menace and the assured forward play which saw Swanson play in Steven Whittaker to make it 2-1 was impressive to watch. This will do the home crowd very nicely at half-time.
HALF-TIME - Kilmarnock 0-1 St Johnstonepublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park
Quote Message
Not a huge amount of chances at Rugby Park, but the crucial thing is that St Johnstone have converted one of the few they did have. David Wotherspoon only scored twice last season and already he's off the mark in 2017-18. Dom Thomas, Chris Burke and Adam Frizzell have all impressed for the hosts, who must create something more noteworthy in order to satisfy supporters who have come along hoping for a fresh start. Lee Erwin is on the bench for Killie and may make an impact later.
HALF-TIME - Dundee 0-1 Ross Countypublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Ross County deservedly ahead at the break.
They created the better openings and got ahead through Jamie Lindsay's half-volley.
Image source, SNS
Ouch!published at 15:48 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Hibernian 2-1 Partick Thistle
Nasty collision between Thistle goalscorer Chris Erskine and Efe Ambrose as the defender slides in to win the ball but takes the Jags man instead. Both players are down receiving treatment and Ambrose will also be shown a yellow card.
HALF-TIME - Dumbarton 0-0 Greenock Mortonpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Not much appears to be happening in Dumbarton as this is the game's first mention!
Postpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk
Paul Mitchell
BBC Sport Scotland in Paisley
Quote Message
Craig Samson has put his early error behind him with two saves from Loy & Austin to keep Saints from falling further behind and then the home side drew level with a sweetly struck Stelios Demetriou strike after being played in by Reilly. This is a game living up to its pre-match billing
Postpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Dundee 0-1 Ross County
Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland at Dens Park
Quote Message
The visitors pressure eventually paying off with a crisp strike by on-loan midfielder Jamie Lindsay. The Dundee defence all at sea as they failed to cope with a ball clipped into the box. The home side though almost equalising through Roarie Deacon, but his effort again saved by Fox in the Staggies goal.
GOAL - Queen of the South 2-0 Brechin Citypublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Derek Lyle
Derek Lyle prods in his second of the day as Queens take control against promoted Brechin.
Postpublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Kilmarnock 0-1 St Johnstone
Kenny Crawford
BBC Sport Scotland at Rugby Park
Quote Message
Dom Thomas has been the bright spark of Kilmarnock's team so far at Rugby Park, with some pacy runs and trickery down the right hand side causing problems. But the new dawn to accompany so many new signings has yet to kick in for the hosts.
Postpublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Hibernian 2-1 Partick Thistle
Hibs are edging it against Thistle after coming back from a goal behind.
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Chris Erskine puts Thistle ahead at Easter Road
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Martin Boyle equalised for Hibs
Ouch!published at 15:39 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Hibernian 2-1 Partick Thistle
A sore one for Thistle's Abdul Osman, who has been right in the thick of things this afternoon. The defender slides in to beat Danny Swanson to the ball and the Hibs man seems to stand on Osman as he flies over the top.
GOAL - Dundee 0-1 Ross Countypublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Jamie Lindsay
Jamie Lindsay latches on to Andrew Davies' headed knock-down and with a controlled half-volley finds the net from just outside the box to put County ahead.
GOAL - Hibernian 2-1 Partick Thistlepublished at 15:36 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Steven Whittaker
After returning to Easter Road this summer, Steven Whittaker marks his second league debut with a goal, prodding home Danny Swanson's low cut-back with the outside of his right boot. It's not a great strike, but it rolls agonisingly past Tomas Cerny and into the bottom corner. Hibs lead.
GOAL - St Mirren 1-1 Falkirkpublished at 15:34 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Stelios Demetriou
It's an equaliser for the Buddies with a fine strike by Stelios Demetriou.
HITS THE WOODWORKpublished at 15:33 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Kilmarnock 1-0 St Johnstone
St Johnstone's Murray Davidson tries an outrageous effort from 10 yards inside the Killie half and he's so unlucky as the ball beats Jamie MacDonald but comes back off the bar.
Early change for Thistlepublished at 15:31 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Hibernian 1-1 Partick Thistle
Veteran striker Kris Doolan is coming off for Thistle with what looks like an injury. Kevin Nisbett is his replacement.
CLOSE!published at 15:29 British Summer Time 5 August 2017
Kilmarnock 1-0 St Johnstone
Killie go close to an equaliser as Richard Foster's sloppy defensive header drops to Chris Burke in the box, but his looping effort is saved by Alan Mannus.