by John Reid
Two incredible comebacks, St. Mirren bore their own players and Kenny Shiels had another feud in this week’s round-up.
The most exciting game of the weekend was the 4-4 draw between Dundee United and Inverness. United took a 3-0 lead after 8 minutes, but a hat-trick from the prolific Billy McKay and a goal from Garry Warren amazingly gave Caley the lead, but Jon Daly got United a point with an injury time penalty. Caley boss Terry Butcher was thrilled to get a point but United manager Peter Houston was furious with his time for throwing away a three goal lead.
Motherwell are up to second in the league after coming back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Hibs, in a game in which Hibs boss Pat Fenlon was criticised for taking off his strikers after two Eoin Doyle goals had put Hibs 2-0 up. This lead to Motherwell pouring players forward and after Jaime Murphy got a brace to make it 2-2 Bob McHugh got the late winner.
Celtic won a one-sided game 2-0 against St. Mirren, with St. Mirren captain Jim Goodwin admitting his team’s performance was ‘dull and boring’, as they tried to sit in and not put men forward. Goals from Wanyama and Hooper have put Celtic 4 points clear at the top of the league after their first home league win since October.
Kilmarnock had a controversial 2-0 win at Aberdeen, as Dons goalie Jamie Langfield was controversially sent-off. Aberdeen have announced they are appealing the red card. Two goals from Liam Kelly gave Killie the points, but the game was overshadowed by another dispute between Killie boss Kenny Shiels and the SFA. Shiels is in dispute with referee Andrew Dallas who claims Shiels is ‘fabricating evidence’ against him, as Shiels claimed he was cleared of certain charges after he received a three match touchline ban this week. Clear as mud I know. This feud will run and run.
St. Johnstone and Hearts played out a 2-2 draw as off the pitch Hearts boss John McGlynn has claimed that the Hearts players have been paid their December wages and as such the SFA should now lift the transfer embargo. We shall see if this happens.
Ross County and Dundee fought out a 1-1 draw which keeps Dundee at the bottom of the table, but they will be pleased with a point against County, who are not an easy team to play against.
In the first division, Partick Thistle are two points clear with a game in hand after a 3-2 win over Raith, as second placed Dunfermline were held 1-1 by Hamilton. In the second division Queen of the South bounced back from their first defeat of the season by Alloa to beat Brechin 1-0, whilst Rangers stay top of the third division after a hard-fought 4-2 win at Montrose.
Next weekend’s games – the last before Christmas – see second placed Motherwell at St. Mirren, Celtic taking on Ross County and Inverness playing Dundee.
