Thelin stays calm on title race talkpublished at 22:49 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:49 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: Aberdeen 2-1 Rangers
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin tells BBC Scotland: "First of all the atmosphere was amazing, it was an emotional game. Our first half was really, really strong.
"Then the character of the players was really strong, the players who came on to the pitch gave us extra energy.
"I know how hard the players try and work, but it's also how they react. They believe in each other. I'm so glad for them."
On being involved in a potential title race, the Swede adds: "No, it's still early. We know that. We have to stay focused. We still have to improve things and we know it's a long season."
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Jimmy Thelin with substitutes Leighton Clarkson and Vicente Besuijen
Is Clement losing the players?published at 22:44 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:44 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: Aberdeen 2-1 Rangers
Derek Ferguson Former Rangers midfielder on BBC Sportsound
I think he's starting to lose the players. He's losing me. When he first came in, I was impressed by the way he turned things round but he seems to be seeing a different game from the one I'm seeing.
'One of the better performances from this new squad'published at 22:42 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:42 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: Aberdeen 2-1 Rangers
Rangers manager Philippe Clement tells BBC Scotland: "We started the game well, but when Aberdeen took over and we were struggling, we went behind and I made changes.
"We came out in the second half in a really good way, we were the team pushing for the win all second half.
"We were much more times in their box but weren't clinical enough in the final third. They scored the decisive goal.
"It's disappointing to lose the three points here. On a really lucky night we could have won this game. It's about taking lessons out of this.
"It's one of the better performances from this new squad but it was not good enough in the result, there's still a lot to work on.
"You can't say [the players] played a bad game today, but we need to work on things to make it better.
"Today Aberdeen were not the better team to win, it was a game both teams deserved a point each."
Gray bemoans 'lack of quality in final third'published at 22:37 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:37 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: Ross County 0-0 Hibernian
Hibernian head coach David Gray tells Sportsound: "I think firstly, a point away from home and a clean sheet is never a bad thing, so we need to take the positives from that.
"A bit disappointed with the first half, I thought we were very flat, lacked a bit of energy, a bit of bravery on the ball, and an emphasis to go forward.
"I thought [we] heavily relied on the goalkeeper making a big save at a big time to go in at half-time at 0-0.
"The second half, much more like us in of a bit more on the front foot, a bit more aggressive in the way we wanted to play, with a lot more energy, created a few more chances.
"But if I'm being honest, I think there's a wee lack of quality in the final third from us especially, or the decision-making and execution let us down a bit."
Dundee performance 'merited clean sheet'published at 22:34 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:34 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: Celtic 2-0 Dundee
Dundee manager Tony Docherty tells BBC Scotland: "I was really pleased with the level of performance the players put in. Playing against a top, top opponent like Celtic there's so many things to get right.
"Coming in at nothing each [at half-time] I thought 'more of the same' and we did that.
"You saw the quality of substitutes Celtic brought on and I thought we were unlucky to lose the first goal.
"I felt a little bit hard done by for the second goal, I don't think it was a penalty. I thought the performance of the players merited a clean sheet.
"I'm just proud of the players, the mentality and the work rate was really pleasing.
"We had three academy graduates in the middle of the pitch and I thought they equipped themselves well. For a club like Dundee that's what we're all about, improving and developing players in that arena. That's the most pleasing thing, as well as our team performance.
"If we continue to show that spirit, mentality and quality on the ball then we'll be ok."
'We should have won by more' - Robinsonpublished at 22:31 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:31 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: St Mirren 3-1 St Johnstone
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson tells BBC Scotland: "When you are not winning games, you’ll take anything. We should’ve won by more. We dominated, especially in the second half, we were camped in their half.
"Greg Kiltie epitomised St Mirren tonight. We’ve missed him and his footballing intelligence. I’m singling him out but there were a lot of positive performances.
"We’re playing less around at the back and playing exciting, penetrating football. People running until they can’t run anymore. It is basic but we play a lot of good football around that. We got away from that but we won’t get away from that again.
"It’s easy for the crowd to get on your back but they didn’t because they could see the effort and energy from the players."
Johnston a 'real leader' for Celticpublished at 22:29 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:29 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: Celtic 2-0 Dundee
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is full of praise for right-back Alistair Johnston, who came off the bench to break the deadlock.
"He's got the feeling now of scoring goals so he's hungry," Rodgers said.
"He's top class, he's a real leader, very strong defensively and a tough boy mentally. He's done fantastic for us but tonight was also a good chance to get Tony [Ralston] some minutes."
When asked about where Celtic are after Rangers' loss at Pittodrie, Rodgers added: "My only focus is on ourselves, looking at us improving our performance level as we go through the season.
"We should have won against Aberdeen, we went a bit slack but we'll learn from that. I'm really pleased with the squad, we've been fantastic with lots of improvements to make."
Looking ahead to Saturday's semi-final against the Dons, Rodgers said: "It was a really good game against them here [at Celtic Park].
"We'll be ready for that, we love going to Hampden. We're in a good place, getting players back so we'll be ready."
St Mirren stop the rot in stylepublished at 22:11 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:11 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: St Mirren 3-1 St Johnstone
Jane Lewis BBC Scotland at The SMISA Stadium
A big win for St Mirren.
Pre-match, manager Stephen Robinson said he'd take a poor performance if it meant three points. Well, he got all three points and and an impressive display.
They responded so well to going behind, scored some great goals and stopped a four-game losing streak.
St Johnstone didn't play badly, but they allowed St Mirren to get back into the game and they couldn't wrest back the control they had early on.
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
St Mirren goalscorers Mark O'Hara, Jonah Ayunga and Scott Tanser
Maswanhise fires Motherwell up to fourthpublished at 22:08 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
22:08 GMT 30 October 2024
FT: Dundee Utd 1-2 Motherwell
Kheredine Idessane BBC Scotland at Tannadice
Motherwell are up to fourth thanks to Zimbabwean Tawanda Maswanhise's first goals for the Fir Park side. They are just three points behind Rangers, who they meet in Sunday's League Cup semi-final.
This wasn't a classic. In fact, it was downright poor in spells but Motherwell took their chances and will head to Hampden happy.
As for Dundee United, their manager Jim Goodwin wanted them to be better on the ball but they couldn't do that for any sustained spell, with their opponents similarly guilty.
They need to get some of their key men back, with Ross Docherty, Ross Graham, Craig Sibbald and Louis Moult all missing at the moment and the squad looking a bit thin, with four academy youngsters on the bench.
Image source, SNS
Image caption,
Tawanda Maswanhise celebrates with manager Stuart Kettlewell
FULL-TIME Aberdeen 2-1 Rangerspublished at 21:57 Greenwich Mean Time 30 October 2024
21:57 GMT 30 October 2024
Aberdeen open up a nine-point gap on Rangers as the unbeaten run continues.
That's 16 matches in all competitions under Jimmy Thelin, with 15 of those victories.
The Dons absolutely bossed the first half, with Nicky Devlin on target, Graeme Shinnie hitting a post and Jamie McGrath failing to convert from the penalty spot.
Rangers came roaring back after the break and were well worth Nedim Bajrami's equaliser, but Jimmy Thelin is working some kind of magic with this Aberdeen team and a packed Pittodrie went bananas when Shayden Morris slammed in the decisive goal.
Watch best of action as Dundee Utd host Motherwell
Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland
Motherwell prepared for their League Cup semi-final meeting with Rangers with a hard-fought victory against Dundee United at Tannadice to leapfrog their opponents into fourth place in the Scottish Premiership.
The visitors were on the back foot early on but took the lead against the run of play with a well-worked free kick.
Lennon Miller picked out Dan Casey at the back post, and the centre-back steered a header across goal, where Tawanda Maswanhise was waiting to score.
United persevered and hit back 13 minutes later when Kristijan Trapanovski crossed for Sam Dalby to head in an equaliser.
The hosts should have taken the lead before the break, too, but Trapanovski and Will Ferry had goalbound efforts blocked by the Motherwell defence.
Jim Goodwin's side started the second half better as well, but they were undone by a mistake at the back by Emmanuel Adegboyega.
The centre-back was caught in possession by Maswanhise, who raced down the field and dinked goalkeeper Jack Walton to put Motherwell back in front.
United frantically tried to find another equaliser, but Kevin Holt's close-range effort past a post was as close as they came.
It's been a good start to the season for Goodwin and the team at Tannadice on their top-flight return.
They came close to a draw at high-flying Aberdeen at the weekend and Goodwin wanted the same discipline but with more impetus on the ball at home.
He got that as his team were the more composed in a scrappy game, creating the better chances without managing to properly cut Motherwell open regularly.
Missing four starters through injury in Craig Sibbald, Ross Docherty, Ross Graham, and Louis Moult, United were the better side but could not find the lethal touch they needed.
After equalising, Trapanovski and Ferry had golden chances to put them in front but found Motherwell bodies rather than the net.
Whether they have the necessary quality up front remains the biggest question mark, with Dalby carrying too much of the burden himself in the absence of Moult.
Maswanhise makes semi-final case
Maswanhise was one of three changes to the Motherwell team, and he put his hand up to start against Rangers at Hampden.
His pace and ability to drive with the ball is such a valuable skill in this league, and even aside from his goals he was Motherwell's biggest threat.
Twice he drew bookings by surging forward and forcing United defenders to haul him down in fear of the damage he could do on the break.
His first strike was a calm first-time effort, and the second goal epitomised his threat.
The Zimbabwean was alert enough to close down Emmanuel Adegoboyega, then quick enough to sprint clear. The composure to dink Walton was the most impressive.
Rangers' struggling backline lacks pace, and Maswanhise must come into Stuart Kettlewell's thoughts for the biggest game of Motherwell's season.
What they said
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin: "It's a difficult one to take undoubtedly. It's not a game we deserved to lose. A draw might have been a fair result but the last half hour we played the majority of the game in Motherwell's territory.
"We created some good half chances and get done with the sucker punch of the second goal."
Motherwell manager Stuart Kettlewell: "In the first half they caused us real problems in the wide areas. But I felt the solutions were on the pitch and we made them change in the second half when we dealt with that threat.
"We grew in the second half to be honest and I thought we showed a wee bit more composure. We know that we've got that bit of quality and it was Tawanda that came up with the goods for us."
Dundee United have lost two of their last three league meetings with Motherwell (W1). They could lose back-to-back such matches against the Steelmen for the first time since March 2016, and could also lose back-to-back home league games against them for the first time since April 2013.
Motherwell have only won one of their last nine away league games at newly promoted sides (D4 L4), although that was the most recent, beating Dundee 3-2 in April last season.
Dundee United have won two of their last three home league games (L1), as many as their previous 10 on home soil in the Scottish Premiership beforehand (W2 D2 L6).
Motherwell have won six of their last 10 away league games (L4), as many as their previous 30 on the road beforehand (W6 D12 L12).
Motherwell’s Tony Watt has scored four goals in his five Scottish Premiership starts against former side Dundee United, netting in both of his last two against them.