Steven Thompson presents highlights from the afternoon's fixtures in the Scottish Premiership.
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00:00A huge three points in the survival race. We're up for grabs at Rugby Park this afternoon
00:05as Kelly face Ross County. Alistair MacLennan is your commentator.
00:30Bruce Anderson into the starting eleven. Brad Lyons was due to start but is replaced shortly before kick-off by David Watson.
00:38For Don Kelly he makes two changes in the side who suffered late heartbreak against St Mirren two weeks ago.
00:43Scott Allardyce and Jonathan Tomkinson come in while James Brown and Josh Nisbet make way.
00:52County looking for the first time in their Premiership history to beat the same side four times within the same season.
00:59Starting positively here. Balls crossed in but Dees cuts it out.
01:05It's a decent ball as well from Ashworth right from the kickoff. Slight hint that it came off his arm but Dees had to deal with it.
01:16Amisa goes long. Headed away. Comes now to Ronan Hale who hits the deck in a challenge from Ndaba.
01:27Half-hearted appeals for a penalty from KT. Still have the ball the Staggies but it's then hooked away.
01:34Into safety. Ndaba maybe breathing a sigh of relief here.
01:41Hale cuts inside and Ndaba just steps in front of him.
01:45What kind of contact is there though? Hale thinks it's a penalty.
01:57Amisa with the free kick. Headed away though. Ashworth tries to get it back into the Kilmarnock box.
02:07It's going to come out wide here to Tomkinson. Tomkinson into the box. On it's flipped away by Ndaba.
02:16Lopata will make sure it goes out for the throw in.
02:21But it's good defensive play from Corian Daba here. The delivery from Tomkinson is good.
02:28Daba needs to get the flick on. Achille Wright is lurking in a dangerous position behind him.
02:33It's great play from Wales. He's beaten Tomkinson and Allardyce. Wales on the edge of the box tries to shoot but blocked.
02:50Now Ndaba. It wide to Armstrong. Armstrong cuts onto the left foot and goes for goal but it's well wide in the end.
02:59We've seen that before from Danny Armstrong. He's well capable of scoring from that kind of area.
03:06Picks it up. Goes for goal but always going wide. Not short of confidence though.
03:15After their positive start, Ross County have succumbed a bit to the Killy pressure.
03:27O'Hara from one end of the pitch to the other. As time ticks on to half-time.
03:33Neither goalkeeper has had too much to do up until this point.
03:40Now to Armstrong. He's got Ashworth in front of him. Armstrong hangs one up to the back post.
03:46Andersen's there. 1-0. And Killy have the breakthrough at Rugby Park.
03:54Bruce Andersen moves into double digits for the season.
03:59And what a priceless goal that might be for Derek McInnes' side.
04:05Kilmarnock won. Ross County 0. Bruce Andersen's tenth goal of the season.
04:11Look what it means to the Killy players. It's all about the delivery here from Danny Armstrong.
04:19What a ball that is. A fantastic assist. And credit must go to Andersen as well.
04:26He's in the right place at the right time. He's worked his way away from La Pata.
04:32He's got a lot of work to do from that angle too. But he steers Killy ahead with a clinical head up.
04:40Can Killy find another one before half-time?
04:52Up to the edge of the box. It's going to be played through. Can Andersen get onto the end of this one? No he can't.
04:58Amisa out smartly to stop that one. And he needed to be. Anderson looking for his second in the afternoon.
05:06Just a touch too heavy.
05:10Come to Hale now on the edge of the box. It wide. Hale. Goes for goal!
05:22And that might not have been that far away. Hale grimaces.
05:28He had O'Hara stretching. Comes here. It's always curling away from the back post there.
05:38This angle will show us just how close it was. Hale goes for goal. Just wide.
05:44Ball flung into the box. And Donnelly's there. Falls to ground.
05:51Did well there to get any sort of connection on it. Good delivery from Faser Murray.
05:59Donnelly's shirt seems to be pulled there by Ashworth.
06:02Free kick played short to Armstrong. It's taken a nick off Samuel.
06:10Wales is trying to dance his way through a few county players.
06:16Now it's Armstrong. Goes for goal. But Tomkinson is there to knock it behind from the corner.
06:22Did look like it was on target from Danny Armstrong.
06:27Achille building down the left-hand side here. Watson helps Murray out.
06:35Comes back to Murray. Chops inside. Goes for goal. But he's scooped it over the bar.
06:41Right idea. Wrong execution from Fraser Murray.
06:47Derek McInnes will be pleased with how can he have built back into this game.
06:54Fairly dominant performance thus far. Now it comes through to Ndaba. Ndaba's through! Oh!
06:59Saved well by Yamisa. But Ndaba holds his head in his hands. He knows how big an opportunity that was to extend Kilmarnock's lead.
07:11It's a smart stop but it's too direct at the goalkeeper. And he knows it. He knows it, Corey Ndaba.
07:17Look back. Anderson does well. Head wide now. To Fraser Murray. He's got a fit in front of him. Murray into the box. Anderson's there. But it's half away. Now Don Lee. Oh! That's brilliant!
07:43Killy go 2-0 up. Thanks to a brilliant finish from Liam Donnelly.
07:50It's the Northern Irishman's first goal of the season.
07:55And it puts Killy well on the way to picking up all three points here.
08:01It's a dangerous ball in from Murray. Anderson thinks he should do better.
08:06But it comes back out. And Donnelly is alert. More alert than any defender in the box for Ross County.
08:15The touch is superb. The finish is even better. Liam Donnelly puts Killy 2-0 up.
08:22And could he be putting him on the road to safety?
08:31Misa aiming for White. It's hooked high. Now it's going to come to Samuel. Trying to work some space.
08:41Out to Efeti. Hands one up to Hale. But it's an easy save for Keir Nohara.
08:50Just too direct towards the goalkeeper for Ronan Hale.
08:54And that pretty much sums up Ross County's afternoon thus far.
08:59Decent delivery. Headed too direct to the goalkeeper.
09:02And it's all over. A huge win for Kilmarnock.
09:10Puts them inches closer to safety.
09:13Goals from Bruce Anderson.
09:16And Liam Donnelly have given them a vital three points here.
09:19As Ross County's dismal run of form continues.
09:23It's finished Kilmarnock 2. Ross County 0.
09:25I think the last two home games against Motherwell and Ross County.
09:30Quite similar in the sense that we weren't enthralling.
09:34It wasn't too exciting.
09:35But it was very efficient. Very professional.
09:37Gets the job done. Two clean sheets. 2-0.
09:40I thought we deserved the win.
09:42It has to be said.
09:44Ahead of the game.
09:46When the team lines came in.
09:47There was a wee concern about Ross County's size.
09:50Physicality.
09:51And I thought the players stood up to that side really well.
09:53And made some good moments.
09:54It's something that the coaching staff have been speaking about.
09:57Trying to get a few midfielders on the edge of the box.
10:00More often.
10:01Chipping in with a few goals.
10:03It's been a while since I got one myself.
10:04So I'm delighted to get on this goal sheet again.
10:07We know where we are.
10:08We've got four games left.
10:10It's a case of not feeling sorry for ourselves.
10:13It'll hurt right now.
10:14Tonight.
10:15Long journey up the road.
10:17A lot of time to reflect on the game.
10:20Which I'll do.
10:21And then it's making sure that on Monday
10:23that we are ready for a massive game against Hearts.
10:27Kelly, take a step closer to safety with three huge points against struggling Ross County.
10:32Not a lot of clear chances in the match, Peter.
10:36But when Kilmarnock made deals, they were clinical.
10:39Yeah, absolutely.
10:40You can understand the nervousness of the game.
10:42But you think, Danny Armstrong receives possession of the ball in the wide area for the goal.
10:47You know, and you're looking at the movement.
10:49When he receives the ball here, you think, oh, he's getting defended really well.
10:52Showing him down the line.
10:53I want his weaker foot.
10:54You see Bruce Anderson peeling away in the box.
10:56But it's a fantastic dig out for Danny Armstrong right to the back post.
11:00And Bruce Anderson, great header at the back post.
11:02But it's great movement.
11:03But as I say, you think you've got the right position here.
11:05And he puts a beautiful cross to the back post.
11:08And a fantastic finish.
11:09That's a great goal from Kelly's perspective.
11:11You know, just exactly like Peter's talking about.
11:13It's simplifying the game.
11:15Getting 1v1s in wide areas.
11:16Yeah, getting the ball in the box, yeah.
11:18Going and attacking.
11:19And that's something probably Danny Armstrong's not done as much this season.
11:24This season, yeah.
11:25Definitely as he did last.
11:26You know, Fraser Murray is somebody that has been very effective for Kilmarnock this season.
11:32You know, down that left-hand side in particular.
11:36And then you heard, obviously, Liam Donnelly there talking about the manager wanting to get the midfielders involved in scoring more goals.
11:44I mean, Kilmarnock are an effective side once they've got all their players, you know, fit and rearing and at it.
11:51They've missed a few key players this season.
11:53Finlay obviously at the back has been a big miss just coming back.
11:55I think the wide players in particular with, you know, Matty Kennedy and Danny Armstrong not hitting the heights but missing games as well.
12:01And Vassell at the top end of the park.
12:03Yeah, he's been a big miss.
12:04They need to be able to go and challenge at the top six like they did last year.
12:07They need all those players fit and on form.
12:09Unfortunately, this season, at one time or another, there's been too many of those key players missing.
12:13But, you know, very much like Dundee, I think Kilmarnock are going to have enough to be able to steer themselves.
12:19And they've got a manager as well at Kilmarnock who knows how to win games of football.
12:24And, yeah, obviously you make a very important point about county though.
12:27No momentum.
12:28Okay, another massive game this time at Firth Park as Motherwell take on St Johnston.
12:33And it's starting to feel like now or never for Simo Vallecari's men.
12:37Time is running out for Simo Vallecari and St Johnston.
12:41Five games to go and the five points cut adrift.
12:44You get the sense they need to take something from Motherwell today.
12:47They'll win this in four matches.
12:49And we'll be hurting from narrowly missing out on a top six finish.
12:52Michael Vimmer makes two changes to the side that drew nil-nil with hearts before the split.
12:58Johnny Katrumbis comes in for the injured Kofi Balmer.
13:01Dan Casey is the only recognised central defender available.
13:04Unsurprisingly, Simo Vallecari switches three from St Johnston's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat.
13:09Barry Douglas, Victor Griffith and Nicky Clark drop out for Taylor Stephen, Josh McPake and Mackenzie Kirk.
13:15Kiri knocks one in behind the Motherwell defence.
13:27Josh Pake's going to give chase here as he pulls it back.
13:30And there's Mackenzie Kirk!
13:32Fires it into the roof of the net and fires St Johnston in front.
13:38It's early in this game but it's late in the season and St Johnston need it.
13:49Could be oh so important for their survival bid.
13:53Football from Kiri.
13:56What a finish from Mackenzie Kirk.
14:00An eighth league goal of the season for the Northern Irishman.
14:04It makes it a living in all competitions.
14:12Halliday to swing the corner in.
14:16Johnson don't deal with it and here's Payton!
14:20Just slices it over the crossbar.
14:23Help me! Help me! Help me! Help me!
14:29Just gets his head over the ball but catches it on the side.
14:34Fisher clears.
14:39Sparrow. Slattery takes over. Slattery from the edge!
14:48He's been bright, Callum Slattery.
14:52Testing Fisher there. Strong play, strong effort.
14:59Lennon Miller heads forward for Tony Watt who does well to keep it in under the challenge.
15:15What with the pass for Slattery!
15:18Motherwell have the equaliser.
15:23And it has been coming.
15:33No smiles from Michael Wimmer just yet.
15:35Tony Watt.
15:37A lot of trust put in him.
15:41We've played it so far. Great finish from Slattery.
15:49Here's Creighton.
15:51Halliday.
15:52Lovely pass from Halliday.
15:54Tony Watt threatening down the left-hand side again.
15:57Finds Kudrumas!
15:59Two goals in a minute!
16:01And Motherwell have turned this game on its head.
16:04And Motherwell have turned this game on its head.
16:06Look at St Johnson who got the fast start.
16:19But what about this for a quick response?
16:20Tony Watt with his second assist of the game so far.
16:22Picking out Kudrumas.
16:24I believe that will go down as an own goal.
16:27Defenders' effort certainly going wide of the target.
16:31Captain Sven Sprangler takes one on the face.
16:35Allardy.
16:45O'Donnell sends it forward.
16:49St Johnson trying to get themselves back level before half-time.
16:52McKenzie Cupp battling well.
16:54Goal scorer wins a free kick.
17:0530 yards from goal.
17:0730 yards from goal.
17:08It's not alien territory for Kerry who goes close.
17:16He's scored a few good ones over his time at the club.
17:20Not to be there.
17:27Here's Watt.
17:28Motherwell threatening down this right-hand side.
17:36It just won't fall for Tony Watt,
17:38but Tom Thompson will pick it up.
17:41Good batting from the wing-back.
17:42Keeps possession.
17:43There's Tom Sparrow!
17:473-1 Motherwell.
17:49Wing-back to wing-back.
17:50An award for persistence.
17:57And the Steelmen have started this second period the same way they finished the first.
18:07Great work for Thompson.
18:10Under the challenge.
18:13Knocks it in for Sparrow to finish.
18:15And Piesu, Stramasch in the box.
18:20Nothing comes of it.
18:26That would have been a nice goal to Mark's first league match for St Johnson.
18:32Or be it 11 months after he signed for the club.
18:35Been out for a while with injury.
18:36Elliot Watt.
18:43Elliot Watt.
18:46Nice pass out to this left-hand side for McPeach.
18:50Two defenders on him.
18:52He's found Watt on the edge of the area.
18:54Urged to shoot by the fans.
18:55He obliges and scores!
19:00Oh, we've got a game in our hands now.
19:06Elliot Watt just drives one into the bottom corner.
19:13Dalcom got down in time.
19:15He might hope to do a little better there.
19:26Slattery.
19:28Sparrow.
19:30Substitute.
19:32Luke Armstrong.
19:34He's back to goal here.
19:35Comes for Tony Watt.
19:36What again!
19:41Headed rebounds.
19:42Can't make anything happen.
19:46That would have put this one to bed.
19:48Kirk spreads it out to Curtis.
20:02Carey now.
20:07A little ambitious.
20:11And as I mentioned in the first half, if anyone on this pitch is going to score from there it's Graham Carey.
20:16Carey spreads it out to McPeach.
20:26Tries to find Watt as he did for that second goal, but...
20:31His pass lets him down, whistles, jeers from the crowd.
20:35The Mullerwell fans want this one to finish.
20:38There's Watt, but it's Piezou.
20:41His head all wide of the target.
20:42And it's all over in Lanarkshire.
20:57A big win for Motherwell.
20:59In their winless run of four matches.
21:01Do you really fear for St Johnson now?
21:02Six points, got a drift with just four games to go.
21:07Full time at Firth Park.
21:09Motherwell three, St Johnson two.
21:10The important thing is, you see that they can do it.
21:19That we are ready to do it and that we are able to do it.
21:23And also I want to show them the positive clips where we create chances.
21:27But we also have to speak about the goals we conceded because it was too easy, especially the first goal was too easy.
21:36And yeah, but it's easier to work after a win instead of after a defeat.
21:42They gave everything to us and they are very honest players.
21:45They know as well, you know, that, you know, great goal, good start for the match.
21:49Then we, again, you know, what we have been talking that, you know, nothing changes.
21:53We score one goal.
21:54We score a second goal.
21:55Nothing changes.
21:56Nothing changes when opponents score one goal.
21:57But we are not there.
21:58We are not there still yet, you know, and that's, you know, that's the thing.
22:01But as I said, you know, the players gave everything and that's as they have been doing, you know, all the time.
22:06And they keep doing that because we're still, we're still fighting.
22:12Five goals at Fir Park and three points for the well.
22:15St Johnson started the game well, Peter.
22:17They were 1-0 up and then they had probably a crazy minute, a shocker for a minute.
22:24And it's ended up costing them the game.
22:26Yes, it's bad defending out in the line.
22:27Tony Watt is terrific.
22:28But we're talking about players arriving at the edge of the box.
22:31Lattery gets at the edge of the box.
22:32A fantastic finish.
22:33Great timing.
22:34But as you say, the credit's got to go to Tony Watt.
22:37But for St Johnson's perspective, you've got to defend that right.
22:40Bannon Ball has got to go out the pitch if you're going to get there.
22:42Yeah.
22:43And that's what these moments cost you.
22:44That's what costs you dearly.
22:46Here again, good link play here.
22:48Andy Halliday plays a fantastic ball through here to Tony Watt again, who makes a good angle.
22:52So he's facing in the pitch.
22:53But you watch at the back post, two St Johnson players.
22:57No desire.
22:58Katoombas, great desire again at the back post.
23:01I know he gets a bit of fortune.
23:02It looks as if his shots can buy the post.
23:04But this is the difference why you stay up and other teams go down.
23:07That desire to get there.
23:08And that's exactly what he does.
23:10And he gets his luck at the end of it.
23:11He's not getting that goal, Mikey, is he?
23:12No, no chance.
23:13It's not on target.
23:14OG.
23:15Of course it is, eh?
23:16OG.
23:17I'm glad we cleared that up.
23:18But, you know, that is the important point there.
23:20That, you know, for St Johnston, how often have we, you know, seen games where they've shot themselves in the foot defensively?
23:25Yeah.
23:26They do try and play football well.
23:27And, you know, a good style to watch.
23:29But you need to defend better, otherwise you're going to be getting really good.
23:32Six adrift now.
23:33Six adrift.
23:34Four games left.
23:35Minor miracle material.
23:36Are you not having it at all?
23:37There's no way back.
23:38I mean, a miracle.
23:39But I don't see it happening.
23:40No.
23:41I just think it's too big a task for them.
23:42Especially as we were just talking about when they just don't defend well enough, unfortunately, for them.
23:46Yeah.
23:47And it was a big, actually, win for Michael Verma.
23:49He needed that after four games without one.
23:51Let's have a wee look at the table.
23:53Celtic crowned champions once more following their 5-0 win at Tanadice.
23:58Hebson third on goal difference with Aberdeen fourth.
24:01Motherwell are now up to 42.
24:03And Kelly jumped to 38 with Dundee one behind.
24:07Ross County are in the playoff position.
24:09And St Johnstone are six points adrift.
24:12Lots to enjoy this week across the BBC, starting tomorrow with Off The Ball at 12 o'clock.
24:19That will be followed by Sportsound at 2 o'clock.
24:22Rangers against Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final tomorrow at 2 o'clock on BBC Alpa.
24:28The SPFL Scottish Football Roundup is on Monday online.
24:32Dundee v. Kelly in the Scottish Youth Cup final is on Wednesday at 7.15 on BBC Scotland.
24:37And Falkirk against Hamilton.
24:39Can they clinch the league title?
24:41Friday night, 7.30, also on BBC Scotland.
24:45And that is it for another Saturday.
24:48Thanks to Peter and to Michael for joining me.
24:50Congratulations to Celtic champions once again.
24:54Celtic's quest to ensure that the title of champions remains with them come May 2025.
25:01Starts today.
25:03Tattati with a shot goal.
25:06First goal of the season for the champions of Scotland.
25:10Callum MacGregor wipes one off and that is sensational.
25:13Johnson's going to catch that.
25:18There's a slip in there.
25:19It's Mayda.
25:20And Celtic are in front now.
25:22Oh, that is sensational.
25:23Captain Fantastic.
25:24Don't take pride in my pride.
25:25Don't be afraid.
25:26The way off.
25:27Unselfish.
25:28What a wonderful team goal.
25:29And your lead team, the cross-green takes the time.
25:30And take the ball to the mark of the net.
25:37What a wonderful deep goal.
25:40And you're leaving, the cross-screen takes it,
25:42and takes the ball to the back of the edge.
25:48That's a wonderful finish.
25:54It's Maidat, Celtic back on track.
25:59And there's Maidat, Celtic in front, inside a minute.
26:04It's your turn.
26:07Here's the celebration, the Celtic bounce of fist.
26:11Shoot to get the cross in, he's found it, and he's got another one.
26:20Go for Vickers, Mike's one up, and my goodness, what a goal.
26:26Go for Vickers.
26:27Go for Vickers.
26:29Go for Vickers.
26:31You say you love somebody, baby, tell them every day.