Monday, December 29, 2008

Scottish Premier League week 20 summary

Week Twenty of the Scottish Premier League with Celtic reaffirming a strangle-hold on the title race with a 1-0 defeat of Rangers at Ibrox (match review Celtic - Rangers). With the victory Gordon Strachan's club now has a seven point lead and showing little signs of letting up.

Elsewhere Aberdeen defeated Hearts 1-0 with recently Scottish capped Lee Miller volleyed the lone goal to the back of the net at the thirty-six minute mark. With the victory The Dons move to within a point of fourth-place Hearts.

Dundee United maintained its strong third place position with a close 1-0 victory over Falkirk as Scott Robertson provided the lone goal nine minutes before the half hour mark as he jumped on a poor clearance and slammed the ball home from the edge of the area.

In one of the most thrilling matches of the day Kilmarnock overcame Hibernian 4-2. Danny Invincibile gave Killie the lead only five minutes in with a professional vision from close range as Jamie Hamill fed him a perfect pass to the back post. Only six minutes later Allan Russell doubled the margin as he got on the end of corner and drove the ball past Hibs 'keeper Yves Ma-Kalambay. In a strange twist of events Dean Shiels scored twice from the spot at the thirty-sixth and fortieth minute to bring the match level, with the second penalty seeing off Killie 'keeper Alan Combe. Down a man, Killie found the net two minutes after the restart with the Aussie Danny Invincibile heading home his second of the day. Hibs came close to evening the match but with sixteen minutes remaining Garry Hay returned Killie's two goal lead.

Motherwell defeated Inverness Caley Thistle 3-2 with Chris Porter proving why many clubs are looking towards him this transfer season as he netted three goals on the way to the victory. (Caley Thistle review)

Finally St Mirren edged Hamilton Academical 1-0 as veteran Craig Dargo gave off the bench to net the winner with only twelve minutes remaining. The loss leaves the Accies laying in the dreaded relegation spot ahead of next weeks match against Aberdeen.

Please stop by for expanded coverage of the SPL next week as the action continues with the following matches:

Dundee United @ Celtic
Hibernian @ Hearts
Aberdeen @ Hamilton Academical
Motherwell @ St Mirren
Kilmarnock @ Falkirk
Rangers @ Inverness Caldeonian Thistle (Sunday)



PWDLGSGAPts
Celtic 20 16 2 2 45 18 50
Rangers 20 13 4 3 45 17 43
Dundee United 20 9 7 4 28 20 34
Hearts 19 9 4 6 20 21 31
Aberdeen 19 9 3 7 23 19 30
Hibernian 20 7 5 8 26 28 26
Kilmarnock 19 8 1 10 20 25 25
St Mirren 20 7 3 10 16 22 24
Motherwell 19 6 2 11 20 31 20
Falkirk 20 4 5 11 21 30 17
Caley Thistle 20 5 2 13 20 34 17
Hamilton Academical 20 5 2 13 17 36 17