Dundee 1-3 Aberdeen

Aberdeen jumped up to fourth in the league after coming back from one down to snatch three points at Dens Park.

Kevin Holt capitalised on some lax defending to fire the hosts ahead inside 15 minutes, but Aberdeen got a quick equaliser thanks to a poor reaction from Scott Bain.

With 13 minutes remaining, and a draw the likely result, substitute Jayden Stockley powered home Jonny Hayes’ cross to give him his first league goal in the red shirt of Aberdeen. Aberdeen then secured the three points as the game came to a close, with Kenny McLean scoring from the spot after Julen’s sloppy challenge on Wes Burns.

The result gave the Dons their first win on the road this season. It also marked just their second win of the campaign as Aberdeen aim to kick-start their stuttering title bid. Dundee, though, are still waiting on their first three points at Dens Park.

Derek McInnes started Adam Rooney alongside Niall McGinn and Jonny Hayes for the first time in the league this season. For Dundee, Darren O’Dea started after recovering from a foot injury.

Anthony O’Connor almost gave Aberdeen a lead within four minutes. The imposing centre-half rose high in the bustling box and nodded the ball back across Scott Bain’s goal. Only Julen’s late intervention stopped it reaching its intended target.

Many of Aberdeen’s early chances were being forged on the left flank. Cammy Kerr struggled against the pacey Hayes, who fired cross-after-cross into the box and continued to get in behind the inexperienced full-back.

But despite controlling the first 12 minutes of the game, Aberdeen soon fell behind to some intricate passing play that sliced the defence open.

Dundee’s first offensive venture proved fruitful. Paul McGowan received the ball on the edge of the D, and he then fed a simple ball into Nick Ross, who had his back to goal. The Dee midfielder took one touch – a slight flick on the inside of his left boot – to send the ball to Kevin Holt, who, unmarked, fired the ball past a helpless Joe Lewis.

It was crucial, though, that Aberdeen didn’t let the setback affect their game. Their reward came just six minutes later.

James Maddison twisted and turned through the crowded midfield to create a little room for himself, and then sent a curling effort towards the bottom left corner. It was a simple enough shot for Scott Bain to stop. However, the goalkeeper took his time getting to ground and let the ball squeeze underneath him to hand the Dons an equaliser.

Aberdeen looked a more energised outfit after recent criticism of their pedestrian attack. Hayes’ sheer pace made him a constant source of frustration for Kerr, and Maddison looked capable of producing something whenever he got on the ball. Other problems, however, were still clear to see.

Dundee’s attacks, although rare, often found huge spaces in dangerous areas. Aberdeen’s defence left noticeable gaps that the Dees exploited.

As half-time approached the hosts were beginning to settle. Faissal El Bakhtaoui kept dropping deep to help his side out in midfield, and his excellent ball control meant the Dons conceded a number of free-kicks attempting to rid him of the ball.

Dundee began the second half as the first had ended. Paul McGowan and Nick Ross stroked the ball about at ease, finding space in the Dons half. The former had the chance to grab a lead after latching on to Andrew Considine’s blind and loose back pass; he reached the ball before O’Connor but rushed his effort and sent the ball in to the side netting.

Graeme Shinnie came within inches of putting the Dons in front soon after. The midfielder drifted through the centre and produced an absolute piledriver that Bain just managed to tip onto the underside of the crossbar.

Although Aberdeen had created the majority of chances, Rooney had a quiet game for the visitors. The striker had taken up good positions but found himself a mere spectator as the game passed him by.

If the game had become more balanced in the second-half, it had also become more niggly. There were a number of bookings after the break for late, albeit unmalicious, challenges.

The contest between Kerr and Hayes had also heated up a little. The young right-back had settled since his early booking, getting the better of Hayes a number of times, and the exasperated Dons winger displayed his frustration with a tackle of his own that earned him a deserved booking.

Bain made a stop that redeemed his earlier mistake on 66 minutes. Maddison got on the end of a nice through ball that eliminated the entire Dundee defence. But as he pulled back his right leg to fire, Bain came rushing out and blocked the ball.

The hosts then had a chance of their own. Mark O’Hara controlled the ball outside the box and hit a side-footed effort that skimmed the top of the Dons crossbar.

One advantage Derek McInnes has is the ability to make changes off the bench. Last season he was often limited to bringing on youth players and second-choice options, something he was able to fix over the summer. That added squad depth had an effect on the result.

With Wes Burns’ introduction, Hayes switched to the right flank. His first involvement on that side was to speed past Holt and deliver a perfect cross to the head of Jayden Stockley, another summer recruit. The behemoth striker had little problem beating Kerr to the ball and thumped it past Bain.

Burns made his impact soon after. He spearheaded a sudden counter-attack and sped past Julen. The Spanish centre-half slid in to rid Burns of the ball and referee Steven MacLean pointed to the spot. Kenny McLean cannoned the ball off the crossbar and in.

Dundee’s afternoon was going from bad to worse. The collapse concluded with the sending off of Mark O’Hara, whose late challenge was deemed enough to warrant a second booking.

Kilmarnock 1-1 Rangers

Rangers continued their stuttering start to the Premiership season with a one-all draw at Rugby Park.

The point increases the Gers’ lead at the top of the Premiership table, albeit with Celtic possessing two games in hand.

Killie, though, more than deserved a point from the game. It was the sort of performance that merited suggestions Lee Clark’s men could survive a dogged relegation battle for a second time.

The game also summarised the main criticisms of Mark Warburton’s side: an unbalanced midfield that lacks invention and yet seems to offer little protection to the defence, and a back-line that looks devoid of confidence, leadership and organisation.

The latter point stood out again when Kris Boyd scored his 250^th goal in British football. James Tavernier produced an outstanding free-kick to equalise, but the visitors couldn’t capitalise on Killie being reduced to ten men after Greg Taylor’s senseless lunge on Joey Barton yielded a red card.

A resilient performance meant the hosts held on to a memorable point.

Kilmarnock should’ve received a spot-kick minutes into the game; Kevin Clancy, however, ignored the protests of the hosts. Clint Hill – a late replacement for Danny Wilson, who suffered a knock during the warm up – turned his back on an effort from the edge of the D, the ball bouncing off his outstretched arm.

Ibrox’s already teetering injury table received another addition not long after: Joe Dodoo couldn’t recover from an early setback and departed on a stretcher. His removal, though, meant the travelling Rangers’ support received their first chance to see the club’s £1.5 million acquisition from Preston North End, Joe Garner.

It was a former striker, however, who looked to make an impact. Kris Boyd benefitted from having a trio of Greg Kiltie, Dean Hawkshaw, and Adam Frizzell behind him. The three attacking-minded teenagers possess the pace and athleticism the veteran lack; and their interchanging movement made them a constant source of danger.

He scuffed a couple of rushed opportunities. The lax Rangers’ defence should’ve heeded these warnings – Boyd wouldn’t miss a third chance.

Kiltie skipped past the hesitant Rangers midfield and threaded a through ball ahead of Boyd. The former Rangers striker hung on the edge of onside; a predator waiting to pounce. Clint Hill and Rob Kieran stood either side of him as Kiltie’s pass came through, yet Boyd soon found himself in a position to fire. He remained patient and picked out a spot in the bottom right corner; Wes Foderingham could do little to stop the ball reaching its intended target.

A rampaging run from James Tavernier threatened to undo Kilmarnock’s good work. Joe Garner held off his marker and knocked the ball to his side as the right-back came charging past. Tavernier burst through the Killie defence and wound back that thunderous left-boot. In the end the shot threatened those in attendance more so than Jamie MacDonald. A sigh of relief greeted the miskick from the hosts.

Half-time brought about a sight that has become familiar during Rangers’ short time back in the Premiership: a frustrated Mark Warburton trudging along the touchline. It marked the third time in four games that the Bears have been behind at half-time.

There were whistles and groans from the intimidating travelling support not long after the restart. Joe Garner tried to get the better of Willie Boyle but came off second best and fell to ground. His theatrical performance didn’t impress the one man whose opinion mattered; Kevin Clancy ignored the shouts and dismissed his claim. Rangers would have to do better than that to equalise.

And it doesn’t come better than a James Tavernier free-kick.

The ball rested 25-yards from the crouching figure of Jamie MacDonald – he wouldn’t catch sight of the ball until it was too late. The term ‘postage stamp’ doesn’t do the goal justice. The ball seemed to curl out and then in as it arced towards the top-right corner.

The momentum had switched: Rangers were in the ascendancy; Kilmarnock just needed to keep calm.

No one told Greg Taylor. The Killie midfielder charged at full pelt and planted his boot in the leg of Joey Barton. It might not have been malicious, but it was certainly extremely reckless. Barton was fortunate not to suffer a serious injury. Kevin Clancy showed no hesitation in pulling out the red card.

The final 20 minutes would be a backs-to-the-wall display from Kilmarnock.

It was a commendable performance from the determined Kilmarnock defence.

Jamie MacDonald produced some crucial stops to save a point for the hosts. He came up with an athletic save to push another dangerous James Tavernier free-kick around the post and tipped Barrie McKay’s misplaced cross over the crossbar.

Boyle and Jonathan Burn – filling in for the injured Miles Addison – did an excellent job keeping the Rangers attack quiet. The Gers snatched at chances as the game reached its thrilling conclusion.

Kilmarnock’s desperate attempts to clear their box often found blue shirts. Boyd offered a lone presence up front but looked bereft of energy, and he was given a deserved standing ovation when he came off late on.

Time ran out on Rangers’ desperate attempts to snatch a winner.

Hearts 1-2 Celtic

Celtic put down a marker. It might not have been a classic performance, and the champions rode their luck at times, but the Hoops ended the afternoon on three points. It’s the mark of champions, and often the difference between them and their challengers. 24 hours before, Rangers laboured inside a packed Ibrox, Hamilton Academical more than deserving of their share of the points. Then, minutes before Celtic kicked-off their bid to add a sixth-straight title, Aberdeen had to settle for a point after struggling to break through a resilient St Johnstone defence.

Hearts, although ending the match with nothing, proved their point. Robbie Neilson has been criticised from sections of the Jambos support for dull and sometimes limp performances – their Europa League qualification exit to Maltese side Birkirkara ticked both those boxes. He couldn’t afford another lame outing against Celtic. The Jambos impressed, though, hassling Celtic and creating more chances than the visitors. Neilson did not set out for a point.

One might have expected Hearts to retreat and reshape after conceding James Forrest put Celtic ahead inside eight minutes, but the hosts refused to relent and got their reward, with Jamie Walker slotting in from the spot. Hearts looked the better side, creating opportunities for a winner, but Scott Sinclair made the perfect debut. He got on the end of Leigh Griffiths’ weighted cross and tapped it past Hamilton to wrap up a brilliant weekend for the champions.

The Hearts manager couldn’t be criticised for not going for a win with an attacking line-up. Both Conor Sammon and ex-Celt Tony Watt started, with Jamie Walker and Sam Nicholson providing the width. For the champions, Kolo Toure made his debut in the famous green-and-white hoops, starting at centre-back alongside the less experienced Eoghan O’Connell, as did Moussa Dembele.

The hosts got off to an ambitious start. Conor Sammon, donning the maroon shirt for the first time in the Premiership, charged at the Celtic defence, focusing on the retreating Kolo Toure, before firing his shot just past the post. It was the start Hearts fans desperately wanted to see.

But the boisterous crowd soon fell silent.

Igor Rossi edged an invading Callum McGregor off the ball but could do little about it rolling to James Forrest. The erratic winger took one touch, a curling effort that evaded the outstretched fingertips of Hamilton. There was an element of offside as Stuart Armstrong, stood behind the defence, might’ve been blocking the view of the Hearts’ goalkeeper.

Hearts didn’t retreat back into their shell, though.

There’s no doubt that Watt should’ve equalised. Callum Paterson produced an excellent cross which Craig Gordon completely misjudged. The former Celtic striker escaped his marker and met the ball at the far post, inches out. His header, though, missed the goal completely. A dumbfounded Neilson dropped to his knees, head in his hands.

Seconds later, Griffiths missed a simple chance of his own – one he would’ve buried at his in-form best last season. A goal-kick from Gordon evaded the entire Celtic defence, Rossi mistiming his header, and Griffiths snuck in behind. The usually clinical striker lobbed Hamilton but sent the ball crashing into the advertising hoardings.

The game turned into an end-to-end, action-packed affair – different from the turgid display at McDiarmid Park – and Hearts were soon rewarded for their willingness to push the champions.

Jamie Walker and Tierney both went for a ball inside the Celtic box, with the former getting there just before the latter. Walker dropped to the ground; the referee pointed to the spot. Whether there was contact is another question, but Hearts fans, after a possible offside influencing Celtic’s goal, were not going to voice their queries. Walker stepped up and coolly slotted it to Gordon’s left.

Celtic almost undid Hearts’ work minutes later. Dembele skipped in from the left and fired a shot at Hamilton. The ball bounced to Griffiths, who lobbed his marker. With the Hearts goalkeeper still recovering and the ball edging towards the goal, Rossi pulled off a sublime clearance. Retreating, with no pace behind him, he fell and leapt at the perfect moment, nudging the ball into the welcoming hands of Hamilton.

Hearts continued to threaten. Watt looked electric, confidence oozing out him. His unpredictable movement, dropping deep to collect the ball one moment, making runs in behind the next, made him a constant source of frustration for the nervy Celtic defence. Sammon offered a different option. He used his size to hassle Toure and co, creating opportunities for the more light-weight Watt, as well as Nicholson and Walker.

As the referee called for half-time, Hearts were certainly in the ascendancy. Celtic, meanwhile, needed to regain their composure.

The second-half brought a slightly tamer game. It was clear that both managers had advised a little more caution. One thing that did increase was the amount of bookings. Hearts picked up seven – yes, seven – individual yellow cards, most coming after the break.

Dembele had another chance to open his account at Celtic: he met a simple cross and drove it at the Hearts’ goal, and if not for a block inside the six-yard-box he would’ve done so.

The introduction of Tom Rogic, a more adventurous midfielder, in place of O’Connell changed Celtic to a simple back-three, with Scott Sinclair also coming on to make his debut. It would be a memorable one.

With ten minutes remaining, Griffiths burst along the left flank, beating Faycal Rherras, and delivered a stunning cross to the feet of Sinclair, who, with a deft outside-of-the-foot touch, pushed the ball past Hamilton. He rushed off into the celebrating arms of the Celtic support, enjoying a moment that must have become a rarity at Aston Villa. Brendan Rodgers also celebrated. Celtic are two games away from a return to the Champions League, and already two points ahead of Rangers, Aberdeen and Hearts.

Scottish Premiership Previews: Hamilton Academical

Last season:

A promising start proved to be fool’s gold as Hamilton’s form collapsed – the Accies claimed 16 points from the opening ten games, but a mere 27 from the next 28 games. Gramoz Kurtaj, Ali Crawford, and Carlton Morris, on loan from Norwich City, all regressed as the season unfolded, and the goals started to dry up – those ten games produced 18 of their 42 goals. For a long time it appeared that Hamilton could be dragged into a relegation dog fight. However, a late spurt of form edged them over the line. Victories over Inverness, Dundee United, and Dundee twice, were enough to guarantee them a place in this season’s Premiership.

 

Manager:

Martin Canning faced the impossible task of replacing Alex Neil, and a 13-game winless streak during the 14-15 campaign did little to earn him the support of the Accies faithful. Their form improved dramatically, though, at the end of the season and at the beginning of the next. That progression soon came to a grinding and miserable halt. The Accies celebrated just two wins from their next 20 – twenty! – matches and suffered an embarrassing 8-1 demolition at Parkhead that seemed to indicate his turbulent tenure would be coming to an end. But Canning refuses to surrender. Form again improved as the campaign came to a close. One would argue that he did alright considering he has the weakest financial muscle in the division; the counter-argument, though, is that most of his signings proved to be duds – names like Kemy Agustien and Oumar Diaby will be impressive Sporcle answers in years to come. Canning has to do better in the transfer market. He has the most limited amount of resources in the league, and that’s why it’s so important he squeezes the most out of his budget he can. Wasting wages on unfit, untried, and uninterested players will see Hamilton relegated. Each summer he spends at the club, another one of Alex Neil’s stars departs, and he must do better to replace them.

 

The team:

Hamilton are in a position that makes it difficult to be positive about them. Michael McGovern produced an outstanding display against Germany in the Euros and has duly earned a move down south; Ziggy Gordon, although not able to replicate his best form, was one of Hamilton’s more consistent defenders last season, and he’s also departed; and Lucas, as mobile as a submarine but strong and dominant in the air, also left the club. Left-back Antons Kurankins and centre-back Jesus Garcia Tena remain wildly inconsistent and unpredictable, and an injury to the latter means Canning can’t even call upon him for the first months of the campaign. Dougie Imrie continues to be one of Hamilton’s most consistent attacking outlets, but at 32 he can’t be relied upon to drag the Accies to the opposition box. Kurtaj and Crawford’s form dropped off a cliff as the season progressed and the pair need to rediscover their best form if survival is to be on the cards. And there’s nothing to be positive about up front. Carlton Morris notched eight goals during his loan spell but it’s unlikely he’ll be returning to New Douglas Park. This would be the perfect time for Eamon Brophy to step up. The striker banged in the goals at development level, opened his account in the 8-1 defeat to Celtic – who can forget his wild celebrations? – and could find himself selected as the one to carry the burden of leading the line.

 

Key player:

It’s no coincidence that Hamilton’s best stretch of form last season coincided with Ali Crawford’s. The mercurial attacking midfielder is the sort of talent no other team in last season’s top six possessed: unpredictable, creative, driven, and able to spark something from nothing. He’s the Accies most dynamic player, and their most inspired. However, his form dipped sharply after the first ten games of the campaign. He laboured, looking increasingly frustrated as the season progressed. Hamilton need Crawford’s invention more than ever; he could be the difference between survival and relegation.

 

Transfers:

For Canning this summer has been about plugging the gaping holes opening up in his already weak squad. Remi Matthews has joined on loan from Norwich and Gary Woods has signed from Leyton Orient to fight it out to replace McGovern in between the sticks. Georgios Sarris arrives from Turkey to fill one of the centre-back positions, and Celtic U20 right-back Jack Breslin could be an option to replace Ziggy Gordon. The most exciting signing has been that of former Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati. The now 35-year-old had a fleeting and rather unimpressive spell at Parkhead, but most Hamilton fans will be hoping he just turns up fit, something that can’t be said for all of Canning’s previous additions.

 

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Verdict:

Unfortunately there’s a feeling that Hamilton’s luck will eventually run out. Another set of key departures – McGovern, Gordon, Lucas – will upset an already leaky defence, and Canning doesn’t have the strongest track record in the transfer market. There’s also the question of goals. Who will score them for a start? It could be a depressing season for the Accies. That being said, Hamilton have upset the odds after being tipped for the drop the previous two seasons.

Ayr United 0-0 Stranraer (3-1 on penalties)

Ayr United will be in the Championship for the first time since 2012 after beating Stranraer on penalties.

Hundreds of Honest Men supporters flooded the pitch after Andy Graham converted from the spot, celebrating United’s first promotion at the ground since 1956.

4,581 had turned out to see who would replace Livingston in next season’s Scottish Championship; it would be over 120 minutes till that question would be answered.

It was a tight affair, and, after no goals and nothing to separate them at the end of 90 minutes, the match entered extra-time. The match continued in the same trend, and it was no surprise to see the game go to penalties.

It was heartbreak for Stranraer, who, after being so resilient for 120 minutes, missed their first three penalties to hand Championship football to Ayr on a plate.

Graham stepped up and converted.

For Ayr, their next summer will be spent preparing for life in the Championship, where they’ll be facing familiar faces in Dunfermline Athletic and fresh ones in Hibernian. For Stranraer, it will be about recuperating from this tough defeat. Either side could’ve progressed on the day, despite their opposing routes to the final.

United had looked to challenge Dunfermline. The Honest Men suffered just one defeat – a 3-0 drubbing from Albion Rovers on the opening day – in their opening 15 matches and claimed an impressive 2-0 win over the Pars at East End Park. But inconsistent form robbed them of that chance. Amazingly, United didn’t draw one of their subsequent 21 games, losing 12 and winning 9, as Peterhead pipped them to second place.

Stranraer, meanwhile, languished at the bottom of the division at Christmas. Brian Reid struggled to replicate the same cohesion his predecessor, Stephen Aitken, had instilled in his over-achieving team. However, a sudden up-turn in form, aided by the return of Willie Gibson, meant Stranraer collected 37 points from their remaining 19 matches, snatching fourth-place ahead of an inconsistent Albion Rovers and a lumbering Airdrieonians.

The clubs also had differing fortunes in their respective semi-final ties. United settled their game against an out-of-sorts Peterhead in the first-leg, claiming a comfortable 4-1 win at Balmoor, before finishing it off 2-1 at Somerset Park. Stranraer’s tie was a much tenser affair. The Blues thumped a shell-shocked Livingston 5-2 at Stair Park, but were then forced into extra-time at the Tony Macaroni Stadium. Goals in the 89^th and 90^th minutes handed Livi a life-line, giving them 30 minutes to save their Championship status. But it was Stranraer who progressed, Liam Dick and Jamie Longworth scoring to send them through to the final.

Stranraer welcomed Ayr to Stair Park on Wednesday evening, when United grabbed an all-important equaliser in the final moments of the game. Marc McGuigan had given the hosts the advantage in the 54^th minute, but in the fifth minute of added-time, Ross Docherty finished a half-volley on the edge of the box to quash Stranraer’s short-lived advantage.

Would it prove to be a crucial moment in the tie?

An anxious roar greeted the referee’s whistle, which marked the end of the minute of silence for Chris Mitchell. The tense atmosphere suited the opening moments of the match.

Stranraer tested Greg Fleming first. Stirling shuffled around two white shirts and rifled the ball at the United net. The experienced Fleming reacted and palmed the ball out for a corner. Then it was United’s turn. Jordan Preston almost punished lackadaisical defending, racing through to go one-on-one with Cameron Belford, but at the final moment Steven Bell put in an excellent sliding challenge to rob Preston of his chance. The striker then forced Belford to produce a quick save, cutting in from the left and firing a driven shot at the near post. The on-loan goalkeeper pounced to push the ball around the post.

After an enthralling opening 15 minutes, the match settled. It became a much tighter affair, both teams searching for half-chances, neither opening up enough at the risk of being caught on the counter-attack. The teams reached half-time of the second-leg in the same state as the beginning of the tie. Nothing could separate Ayr and Stranraer. It would require something special.

The second-half began as the first ended. In a moment that summed up the game, a frustrated Craig Malcolm shouted for more support, fed up at being fed scraps and expected to break the deadlock.

Stirling almost did just that. The Stranraer winger sped into space, left Devlin trailing and cut into the box. A couple of desperate, last-ditch challenges tried to block his path, but he remained calm and dragged the ball around them. With just Fleming stopping him from putting Stranraer on the road to the Championship, Stirling lashed the ball over the crossbar. A dumbfounded McGuigan crumbled to his knees and punched the ground. Stranraer should’ve been ahead.

Despite this setback, Stranraer were ascendant. Ayr were on the ropes. A tense atmosphere surrounded Somerset Park as a desperate United defence tried to clear their lines. A cheer broke out as Fleming rose high to clutch the ball to his chest, ending minutes of bombardment.

United’s best chance since the start of the game came from Preston. The striker pounced on a mistake but failed to capitalise, or test Belford, and fired the ball into the stands.

With ten minutes remaining, the game again came to a stand-still, and soon the match had reached extra-time.

But much like the preceding 90 minutes, there was nothing to separate the sides.

Steven Bell should’ve secured Championship football for Stranraer in the 114^th minute, his header evading Fleming but skimming the edge of post. Patrick Boyle almost punished him for it moments later, the Ayr defender also missing a simple chance.

Gibson had a moment in the final moments, twisting and turning and looking to escape his marker, but his eventual shot missed the target. He put his head in his hands. Andrew Dallas blew the whistle, and the game went to penalties.

Stranraer chose to go first. Paul Cairney stepped up, but his tame effort was caught by Fleming. Preston put Ayr one up. Longworth went next for the Blues, and his effort, much like Cairney’s, also produced a simple save from Fleming. Trouten extended Ayr’s lead.

David Barron needed to score if Stranraer were going to comeback. Instead he produced the laziest shot of the lot. His sluggish shot gave Fleming, who had dived to his right, enough time to stick a leg out to block the shot.

The Ayr fans on the edge of the park, waiting to burst on, had to wait a moment as Ross Docherty’s effort hit the post. But, after Gibson scored Stranraer’s only successful penalty, Graham converted from the spot to send the Ayr fans into a frenzy.

 

SPFL Championship Play-Offs: Alloa Athletic 3-0 Forfar Athletic

Alloa Athletic secured their Championship future, defeating Forfar 3-0 to overcome a two-goal deficit from the first-leg.

Forfar arrived at the Indodrill Stadium with a two-goal advantage, having defeated Alloa 3-1 back in Angus mid-week. That gap, however, was cut seconds before the referee called for half-time in the second-leg.

Michael Chopra brought Alloa within one goal of taking the game to extra-time, after controlling Liam Buchanan’s cross and curling his hard shot past the fingertips of Rab Douglas.

Alloa then levelled the aggregate score after a huge mistake from Douglas and Darren Dods. The keeper and defender failed to clear a ball, Chopra snuck in to set up Buchanan, and the striker shot into a bare net to make it 3-3 from both matches.

After working so hard to equalise, Alloa’s prospects of survival then took a knock as Graeme Holmes’ reckless challenge reduced the Wasps to ten men.

Despite the odds, Alloa kept pushing and stung Forfar for the final time as extra-time approached. Daryll Meggatt, completing a Man of the Match performance in his final game for Alloa, headed home a corner to secure Alloa’s Championship future.

The Indodrill has hosted some spectacular performances this season, results that shall be remembered in Scottish football for years to come; but no game, not even the stunning comeback to eliminate Rangers from the Petrofac Cup, came close to the important of this second leg play-off fixture.

An encouraging cheer greeted the whistle, and the hoops of Alloa were straight on the attack, earning consecutive corners and keeping Forfar pinned into their half.

The Loons broke free from their area and Martyn Fotheringham even managed to test John Gibson’s reflexes; running around the outskirts of the box before releasing a shot straight at the Alloa keeper.

But the Wasps regained possession and remained determined to maintain momentum. Ryan McCord stung the hands of Douglas, charging at the experienced Forfar defence and cutting a driven shot at the bottom left corner.

Aside from a free-kick on the edge of the box – one that resulted in nothing, but nevertheless provoked an eerie silence inside the stadium – Alloa remained in firm control.

In the opening 20 minutes the hosts had managed four shots, compared to the one chance Forfar had created. However, their opportunities had been rushed. Mark Docherty’s rushed shot, rising over the crossbar, summed up their desperate efforts.

Minutes later Danny Denholm carved through the Alloa defence, running past his markers, and cut a short pass through to Dale Hilson; fortunately for the tense home fans, Kyle Benedictus kept within arm’s length of the striker and pushed the ball off him for a goal-kick.

Nerves continued to creep into Alloa’s game. Gibson ran out towards the corner flag, hacking down Denholm, who had beaten the offside trap, and earned himself a booking.

The resulting free-kick led to a period of chances for the Loons, one of which almost brought them a crucial lead. Chris Templeman’s header beat the outstretched Gibson, who stood off his line, and forced a goal-line clearance from Docherty, saving Alloa from a certain goal.

The match quietened as the game closed in on half-time. Aside from Michael Chopra’s long range effort, which snuck past the left post, both sides had struggled to create momentum and chances.

But, with seconds remaining, Chopra gave Alloa something to cheer about. Liam Buchanan’s cross landed at the feet of Chopra, who outmuscled Michael Travis, swung and smashed the ball into the bottom right corner, eliciting a huge, optimistic cheer from the home support as the teams walked back inside.

A roar greeted Alloa as the Wasps emerged from the tunnel for the second-half. Buchanan intended to make a quick mark: he ran along the touchline, darting past a couple of white shirts, before choosing to shoot. Douglas caught the tame effort.

Forfar started to pressure the hosts, and Omar Kader could have equalised if not for some amazing last-ditch defending from Daryll Meggatt. Kader appeared to be one-on-one with Gibson, Hilson’s through-ball having sliced the Alloa defence in half, until Meggatt blocked the Forfar midfielder as he prepared to curl a shot around the Wasps’ keeper. The Dundee-bound defender saved his soon-to-be-ex-club for the certain League One future. Minutes later and their prospects looked so much better.

Douglas and Dods stood idle, stuck in the moment as a long ball rolled towards the box. Neither responded to the danger – a communication breakdown that proved costly. Chopra snuck in, nudged the ball out to Buchanan, and the club’s top scorer curled the ball into the empty net. The positive atmosphere didn’t survive five minutes.

A quick counter-attack, although still inside the Forfar half, ended with Alloa being reduced to ten men. Kader ran at speed, and Graeme Holmes opted to make the challenge. However, mistimed, his boot in the air, and Kader’s speed making the incident look much worse, the referee pulled out a straight red.

Alloa didn’t give up though.

With less than ten minutes remaining, Stuart Malcom made a decisive mistake for Forfar, clearing an Alloa cross for a corner despite the ball almost being in Douglas’s hands. The corner came in and Meggatt, leaving on a high note, rose up to head Alloa into the lead.

Forfar looked exhausted, bereft of spirit; Alloa had completed a remarkable comeback.

Scottish Premiership: Aberdeen 0-1 Celtic

Celtic completed a four-out-of-four winning record against their main title challengers Aberdeen with a single goal separating the two sides.

It was a tight affair, as both sides struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, before Scott Brown pushed Stuart Armstrong’s cross into the Aberdeen net from close range.

The Dons had a couple of chances, the inexperienced Lawrence Shankland’s header should have equalised late on, but Celtic held on and might have extended their lead if not for some brilliant shot-stopping from keeper Scott Brown.

As the champions emerged from the Pittodrie tunnel, preparing to walk through the guard-of-honour, a bitter mix of jeers and hisses greeted them. The match meant nothing for positioning; everything for pride. Hopes of an Aberdeen title push came to a disheartening climax at Parkhead at the beginning of March, as Celtic sunk the Dons and scored four goals in the process, each separating the dominant champions from their inexperienced challengers. It marked three successive league defeats to Celtic – nine points that could have crucial for Derek McInnes’ team. Sunday’s meeting offered them the chance to prove they could beat the champions.

Little occurred in the opening ten minutes, bar a couple of half-chances, before Barry Robson tried to catch Craig Gordon off-guard. The veteran midfielder’s shot had pace, but curled past the far post. It marked the start of a period of dominance for the Dons.

Aberdeen piled on the pressure. The hosts were unrelenting, looking to force an opening through brute force, and Mark Reynolds came within inches of sneaking in an opening goal. Gordon prepared to collect a simple pass, unaware of the roaming Aberdeen centre-back, who nipped ahead of the keeper to reach the ball, but in the process hit it too hard and sent it out for a goal-kick.

Leigh Griffiths, on the other hand, must have come to despise the irritating sound of the referee’s whistle, once again informing him of his failure to beat the offside trap. The Celtic striker couldn’t seem to time his runs, and Celtic in general had failed to test the Aberdeen back-line.

Their best chance fell to Stefan Johansen. The Players’ Player of the Year darted ahead, running onto a well-timed through-ball, and chipped Scott Brown, who tipped the effort over the crossbar. Moments later Darnell Fisher had a chance, but his furious shot refused to dip and also flew over the woodwork.

Nothing could separate the sides as the game reached half-time.

Aberdeen began the second 45 at a quick tempo, pushing Celtic back into their half of the pitch. The results remained the same: the Dons knocked the ball around, searching for a breakthrough, but unable to find an opening. Their lack of ruthlessness came back to bite them.

Scott Brown blocked Robson’s run on the edge of the box, starting a counter-attack that he would finish. The Celtic captain charged downfield as his team-mates continued the move. Stuart Armstrong outmanoeuvred Shay Logan, sending him the wrong direction, raced past another defender, and then cut a cross through the box. Brown, the epitome of a box-to-box midfielder, stuck out his foot to poke the ball across the line and hand Celtic the lead.

Niall McGinn almost snatched an equaliser after the kick-off. The winger managed to break into the Celtic box, surrounded by four hooped shirts, but his shot rose and didn’t test Gordon.

The Bhoys threatened to double their lead with half-an-hour remaining. Scott Brown, the keeper, pulled off two good saves to deny Griffiths, who had finally defeated the offside trap, and Kris Commons with the rebound.

With minutes remaining, Aberdeen should have equalised. A quick counter-attack ended with McGinn directing a curling cross straight into the Celtic box. Lawrence Shankland, prolific at development level, connected with the ball, but his glancing header missed the target and left Derek McInnes in utter disbelief.

As with the match in March, Aberdeen opened up in the latter stages, desperately seeking a late goal, and thus made themselves vulnerable to the counter-attack. Scott Brown, for a second time, had to pull off a couple of quick saves in succession, stopping Johansen and then James Forrest from extending the visitor’s slender lead.

Scottish Championship: Hibernian 2-0 Heart of Midlothian

Hibernian claimed their first Edinburgh derby victory of the season after goals from Jason Cummings and Farid El Alagui sunk the champions.

Hibs dominated the first-half but had to settle for a slender lead. Cummings latched on to El Alagui’s knock-on and pushed the ball past Neil Alexander to give Hibs the advantage heading into the second-half. With minutes of the match remaining, El Alagui finished off a late counter-attack, chipping Neil Alexander, to keep the three points at Easter Road.

The match marked the final time the Edinburgh clubs meet this season. It’s been almost 12 months since a Callum Paterson double dragged Hibs closer to the Premiership relegation zone; mocked by their rivals for their impending drop to the Championship, Hearts would have the final laugh. But after a season in the second tier of Scottish football, the Gorgie club prepare for a return to the Premiership; that might not be the case for Hibs.

With the Hibees going from strength-to-strength, and Rangers struggling, it appeared that Alan Stubbs’ side would be favourites for the promotion play-offs. However, their 13-match undefeated streak came to a crashing end against Rangers, who silenced their influential diamond midfield and cruised to a crucial three points. The result had a knock on effect. A 2-1 loss at Stark’s Park and a 1-0 defeat against Queen of the South made it three consecutive losses, raising old questions.

Stubbs earned plaudits for his revitalisation of Hibs, creating a team that, had he been able to finish his work earlier, some believed would have challenged Hearts for the title. The biggest threat to Hibs’ success, though, is their mind-set. The Hibees crumbled at the end of last season; pessimism crept into their game, nerves brought about mistakes, performances dipped. It appeared that Hibs had arrested that part of their game; recent results have put that into question. Will Hibs crumble when the pressure is on? Claiming all three points against the champions should give them some extra confidence heading into the coming month.

With Hibs place in the Premiership far from guaranteed, their bragging rights from this encounter could last months, or another season.

Perhaps having seen the chaos of the Dundee derby, it was a much quieter start – on the pitch, not in the stands – to the game.

In the opening ten minutes both sides looked a little impotent. High pressure and tight defending left little space for creating chances, with most of the game being played out in the centre of the park. But as the game opened up, the hosts started to dominate.

Martin Boyle, employed as a right-wing back, drove up the flank and cut a pass inside to Jason Cummings. The Championship’s top scorer held up the ball, before releasing a through ball into the path of the onrushing Fraser Fyvie, whose hard effort flashed over the crossbar.

Momentum started to favour the hosts. Paterson was fortunate not to send Hibs into the lead, after his misguided header crashed off his own crossbar. From the resulting corner Liam Fontaine found enough space for a quick shot, which was blocked inside the six-yard-box.

Jason Cummings tested Neil Alexander’s reflexes with a curling shot from the edge of box, directed towards the top-left corner, but the veteran stopper was quick to react and made a comfortable save. The hosts’ momentum soon paid off.

Scott Allan’s corner found itself knocked back into the box, where Farid El Alagui headed it through to the unmarked Cummings. Adam Eckersley, caught out of position – he’d drifted from the striker after the initial clearance – watched on as Cummings nudged the ball over the line to put the hosts ahead.

In the first 30 minutes of the game, Hearts had struggled to make an impact. Genero Zeefuik appeared isolated from the action, while Osman Sow was anonymous. A desperate long-range shot from Kevin McHattie summed up their success in attack. The visiting fans sung ‘championees’; the team’s performance didn’t match the title.

With memories of Alim Ozturk’s late 40-year stunner claiming a point for Hearts back in November, Hibs refused to settle for a one-goal advantage and continued to push to extend their lead. Fontaine came close to achieving that aim, his thunderous effort smashing off the crossbar, but as the referee called for half-time, Hibs had to settle for their slender lead.

Hearts had a better start to the second-half. The Jambos looked a little more settled and dangerous in the opening minutes. Ozturk’s furious free-kick might have drifted wide, but it acted as a reminder that, for all Hibs controlled the first-half, Hearts needed just one goal to undo all of Hibs’ work in the opening 45 minutes.

Mark Oxley, having watched the game as a spectator for the first 55 minutes of the tie, made the most of his first test. Jamie Walker, fed up looking for space, unleashed a strong shot straight at the on-loan keeper, who made an acrobatic save to tip the ball over the crossbar.

Hibs should have added a second with 25 minutes remaining. Jordan Forster’s little lob sent El Alagui through one-on-one with Alexander. Perhaps thinking he’d stepped offside, he snatched a lame shot straight at the hands of the Hearts keeper, before realising he’d timed his movement to perfection.

Chaos erupted as Hearts pressed for an equaliser from a free-kick. The visitors had three shots blocked before Paul Hanlon cleared the ball up the field, opening up a brilliant chance for Hibs. The sudden counter-attack left just one Hearts defender against three rampaging green shirts. In a moment of frustration, Dominique Malonga, who had options through the middle and to his right – both unmarked – opted for a selfish shot that didn’t even test Alexander – Allan looked like he could have throttled his team-mate.

With the game moving from end-to-end, mistakes and miss-placed passes aplenty, Hearts had the next chance to level things up. Sow, who had been quiet throughout, managed to find enough space to get a firm shot directed at the bottom-left corner, which Oxley palmed away.

Tension kicked in as the match reached added-time – four minutes for Hibs to hold on. That soon morphed into euphoria.

A 90^th minute counter-attack sent El Alagui through one-on-one with Alexander. The returning striker lured out the keeper, before chipping the ball into the bare net. Easter Road celebrated a morale-boosting three points.

Scottish Premiership: Dundee 3-1 Dundee United

Dundee claimed a win in the Dundee derby for the first time since 2004, earning themselves a place in the top-six in the process.

Having suffered a 4-1 defeat back in September, ending their undefeated start to the season, and then enduring a 6-2 thrashing around the New Year, the game marked Dundee’s first success in the fixture in ten attempts.

Radoslaw Cierzniak’s mistake gifted Dundee the opener, before Nadir Ciftci converted from the spot a couple of minutes later.

James McPake’s header sent Dundee back into the lead and Paul Heffernan then confirmed the three points late in the second-half.

The points send Dundee ahead of the out-of-form Hamilton as the Dees try to guarantee their place inside the top-six before the split later this month.

For United, the loss continues their dreadful run of form – the Arabs are still without a win since the departure of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong at the beginning of February.

The match started at a furious tempo, with Nadir Ciftci sent crashing to the ground a mere three seconds into the game – this wouldn’t be a mild evening in Dundee.

Dens Park sparked into life as the hosts pressured United, before a counter-attack ended with Paul McGinn picking up the first booking for clattering into Chris Erskine – the first of four the Dees received in the first-half.

United settled into the game, creating a few chances of their own, before a huge error gifted their rivals the lead.

Greg Stewart sent a simple curling effort straight at Cierzniak, who kneeled in preparation to collect the ball. However, the ball slipped through the hands of the Polish stopper, rolled through his legs, and crossed the line as the home support erupted. The celebrations didn’t last long.

Referee John Beaton made a controversial call, deciding that Kevin Thomson had used his arm to block Erskine’s shot and pointing to the spot. The ever-quiet Ciftci coolly sent Bain the wrong way, rolling the ball into the bottom-left corner, before celebrating in-front of the Dundee keeper and earning himself a booking.

Cierzniak, confirming his reputation as the sort of keeper to pull off a preposterous save and make a clanger, then stopped Stewart doubling his tally, pushing his thunderous free-kick around the post. Another free-kick a couple of minutes later, however, proved too much for him to block.

McPake darted into the box, getting ahead of Fojut, and smashed his header at the centre of the net. Despite his positioning, Cierzniak had little chance of stopping the close-range shot and could only push it into the roof of the United net.

The visitors began to create chances again, with Aidan Connolly twice coming close to finding an equaliser. Scott Bain, though, who signed a long-term contract earlier this week, commanded his box with confidence, and neither Konrad nor McPake were letting United find space inside the area.

A reserved cheer greeted the sound of the half-time whistle.

The second-half started at the same pace as the first, despite it being less eventful. United controlled possession, but couldn’t seem to find an opening, with Ciftci looking isolated inside the box – the Turk started drifting outside the box to get the ball himself.

The lack of penetrating runs, pace and movement has been a real issue for McNamara since the departure of Mackay-Steven and Armstrong to Celtic, and against Dundee it stood out as the Arabs struggled to trouble the home defence. The fact that McNamara had to bring on the inexperienced Blair Spittal and Mario Bilate as subs highlighted their sudden lack of depth in attacking options – something once considered a strength for them. The lack of cutting edge came back to bite them in the 67^th minute.

Stewart’s cross cut through the box, reaching the far post where Paul Heffernan awaited. The veteran striker nudged the ball over the line, giving Dundee a 3-1 lead and lifting hopes that the Dees might celebrate their first derby win in over a decade.

With the threat of a complete reversal of the score from their last meeting at Dens, Cierzniak again had to pull off an excellent save to stop United from falling further behind. Stephen McGinn’s strong header tested the keeper’s reflexes, as he just managed an acrobatic leap to tip the ball over the crossbar.

But as the game creeped towards full-time, United’s game started to drag, their supporters began to exit the stadium, and the hope fans cheered each-and-every desperate attempt to test Bain.

Dens erupted as the referee called full-time. While United’s season is collapsing around them, Dundee’s is going from strength-to-strength at just the right time.