Steven Thompson introduces highlights from the opening day in the Scottish Premiership. Last season’s runners-up Rangers travel to Tynecastle to take on Hearts, while Motherwell entertain Ross County.
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00:00You
00:30You
00:42You will
00:44It's time to pack away the distance from our holiday memories and welcome in another season of ups downs twists and turns
00:51Though it has been
01:00I
01:12Wanna travel through time
01:30I
01:38Good evening, we've had the euros Wimbledon the open and the Olympics
01:42But today is the one we've all been waiting for and if you're a fan of goals
01:46You may or may not have come to the right place to sports scene stalwarts. Join me Neil McCann and Michael Stewart
01:53The first game of the new season was at Tyne Castle this afternoon plenty of ins and outs at Rangers over the summer
01:59Hearts always an acid test for any side commentary comes from Alistair Lamont
02:05It's a rerun of the final game of last season when these two shared six goals
02:10Hartsley come back denied Rangers a sixth win of the season over the Tyne Castle side
02:15But now it's a clean slate as both sides aim for a winning start
02:20Harts starting 11 includes three summer signings the Costa Rican Gerald Taylor and James Penrith start in the field back
02:28Danda is also in for his heart's debut. Malakai Bhoteng signed this morning from Crystal Palace is on the bench
02:36Connor Barron is the only new addition to Rangers starting lineup as Philippe Clameau continues his rebuild
02:43Kelly Jeff D and Cherney are among the substitutes and could make their debuts this afternoon
02:53We're all set at Tyne Castle
02:58It's the Premiership season under way
03:03Fascinating campaign no doubt
03:08Second from last season
03:14There's Taylor his first taste of competitive action
03:25Okay
03:27It's a pin rice
03:30Dada nodding it down shank with an early sight of gold
03:34Buckland gets
03:36Everything behind it
03:52Okay
03:54The drift pen rice picks up got himself into a good position a really good save from Buckland to keep the scoreline blank
04:04Terrific play from pen rice
04:07Latching on to the ball bringing a top save out of Buckland
04:14Almost marking his heart's debut with a goal
04:25There's Taylor charging forwards
04:29Gerald Taylor slips it to Shanklin deflection and wide
04:36Terrific play by Gerald Taylor. He looks really promising already
04:50Taking the corner short it's Vargas
04:54No, Danda, oh sure lucky for Danda so close to the opening goal
05:05Really good start to this game by the home side
05:12Just takes a slight deflection Buckland was beaten
05:24Oh
05:28Tis
05:31Taylor
05:34Right
05:36All their scope right, but can't make anything all of it. Okay. He's popped up position on a dangerous area Monday
05:47Barring
05:50Opens up for body. There's a shot not too far away from an opening goal for Connor Barrett
05:59No for his goal scoring took that one on that's a good save from Xander Clark
06:04Quickly down to his left to scoop that around the post
06:08Next effort the game by some switch from Rangers
06:11And
06:15He will be over the top
06:18for dancers
06:19And over the bar from surreal dancers first chance of his season
06:25Can't take it wasn't an easy one
06:28As well to create it for himself almost bringing it down, but just wouldn't sit for him
06:35Be looking to get his first goal
06:37as soon as possible
06:42It forwards right it's a tough on here like the suitor
06:48Things right again able to turn
06:51Dangerously into the box comes to DM on D. Who Lawrence?
06:56Past pain rice just keep the pressure on his suit. I helps it forward again
07:02The clearance though
07:06He's
07:07The pressure from Vargas is giving it straight back
07:11To the course the weekend now. It's dander up against Yilmaz
07:17Over the top from barry mckay a decent chance
07:24Good break from hearts looking dangerous
07:30Play there for mckay should have done better not too far away, though
07:34a
07:41Possession just dwelling on it too long
07:44Hearts could punish him here. It's dander
07:48Now a claim for a handball from the hearts fans
07:54Roshan moves
07:59Hands in pretty close to his body
08:04I
08:13Just can't get beyond the tavern here
08:17Trying to hear yilmaz
08:19Cortez outside of all the children as though into the box
08:23Desserts takes one touch on the left could see Xander Clarke
08:26Street, and I'm really
08:29Keep it out
08:32It's a good first touch from this is as the cross comes in looks on side
08:39Shots on target
08:42Easy enough see for Xander Clarke in the end
08:54So it's up for right
09:02I'll come to yilmaz who tries on his right boot is deflected white for the corner
09:12Black which was cleared as far as the Turkish fullback rolls his knee takes it wide
09:19It's
09:29Similar delivery shot one again, it's enough on it to take it over the top
09:37Well as Paris at the other end and play an important defensive role there
09:42Lawrence turns away nicely from Danda, that's a dangerous ball!
09:48So unlucky for Surreal Decessors.
09:50That would have come off the bar and the post.
09:59Surreal Decessors couldn't have come any closer here.
10:02There's just about everything right.
10:05There's a nick there off Rowles who has to take credit,
10:08otherwise that was in the back of the net.
10:13Closing half-hour at Tyne Castle.
10:16The Rangers have this free kick to be taken by their captain, James Tabernier.
10:21Headed away to LAWRENCE!
10:24Good hit, good save from Xander Clarke.
10:32Excellent technique from Lawrence to keep this down.
10:35That was just gonna dip under the crossbar, I think.
10:38Before the glove of Clarke took it away.
10:44And that slides up the corner.
10:48It's into a really good area, and Diamonde really should have done more with that.
10:57Just misses it altogether, I think.
11:00APPLAUSE
11:05It just looks like it might be tiring in there, Lawrence.
11:09It's the break of the ball, but fortuitous.
11:12Brilliant recovery challenge from George Grant.
11:15Perhaps counter here.
11:19Barry Mackay up against John Suter, into Shankland.
11:23Can he find room to get the shot away?
11:25He has done!
11:27And Butland manages to smother that.
11:31Only second time of asking.
11:36Three-on-three there, and Shankland.
11:39Ballaghan committing himself, but Butland doing just enough.
11:45Half-striker is opening goal of the season.
11:48FULL-TIME WHISTLE
11:55Rangers sitting right off the ball just at the moment.
12:03Here's Grant, looks up forwards, looking for Spital.
12:07Butland comes, he can't get there.
12:09Spital! Blocked.
12:11And Diamonde pokes it away.
12:13Confusion reigning in the Rangers' back line there.
12:19FULL-TIME WHISTLE
12:23Butland into all sorts of trouble there,
12:26and Spital quickly closed down.
12:31To deny him a debut goal.
12:37Barry Mackay descending this corner.
12:41It's a dangerous one, it's off Tavernier and over the crossbar.
12:47He knew very little about that, James Tavernier.
12:50Met by the head of Kent.
12:53Kent's always a threat in there, and it's just a swipe by Tavernier.
12:57Very, very fortunate.
13:12Curled in.
13:14Shaqlund.
13:21Stumbling but still in possession, Curls one.
13:24Balligan again, and another corner.
13:29He was willing to make anything of this at all,
13:32Laurence Shaqlund might have been heading on target,
13:35but Balligan couldn't take the chance.
13:38FULL-TIME WHISTLE
13:40From a few minutes at Tyne Castle as Dowell looks for Tavernier.
13:44Watched by Penrite still, Forrester back to help.
13:48He's given the streak to Cherney,
13:50gives it to Tavernier.
13:52Deep delivery, there's Matondo!
13:54And off the line.
13:56Who was royal, who was in the right place at the right time as far as hearts are concerned.
14:02And there's delivery, nodded down by Matondo,
14:05it wasn't going to find the back of the net in its own right.
14:08The Royals head to clear, with Dexters and Laurence lurking.
14:14And fires it into the hearts penalty area.
14:21Time for a goal kick.
14:24And that's it.
14:25A goal with start to the Premiership season,
14:28a hard-fought point for either side.
14:32Both of whom had their opportunities,
14:34both of whom hit the crossbar.
14:37James Tavernier close to an own goal,
14:39Xander Klopp popping up with a couple of good saves.
14:44Laurence Shanklin couldn't find a winner either.
14:50So it's a share of the spoils
14:53in the opening picture of the Premiership season at Tyne Castle.
14:58He finishes. Hearts nil, Rangers nil.
15:04I'm never content with a point because I always want to win.
15:08But it's a fair result.
15:10At the end, I think we didn't play a good first half.
15:13For sure, first half hour.
15:15After we reacted better and for sure when we could speak about things in half-time
15:20and show things, it was a much, much better second half.
15:24But the team needs to recognise these things on the pitch already faster.
15:28So those are working points.
15:30But that's normal in the rebuild that we are doing.
15:33And then you see in the second half, we play more our normal game.
15:37But then you need to finish off also the chances, of course.
15:41But it was first half for Hearts and second half for us.
15:44So it's a fair result at the end.
15:46It was an enjoyable game.
15:47It was an entertaining game for being nothing each.
15:50The headlines are all going to be Rangers have dropped points.
15:52I get that.
15:53But I think a lot of that was down to us.
15:55We performed really well.
15:56First half, we had a lot of control.
15:58We're probably the better of the possession.
16:00What you would class as good possession that creates chances.
16:04I thought we controlled that in the first half.
16:06We had some good chances.
16:08We never took them.
16:09And then in the second half, they changed slightly
16:11and dropped into our back three at times.
16:13They had a lot of the ball, but it was in front of us.
16:15They go a bit more direct.
16:17I think that then, by percentage, they're going to give up chances.
16:21They get some chances and either team could have won it.
16:23But I thought we played really well.
16:25Do you not feel that Hearts possibly dropped points as well then?
16:28Because certainly that first half, when you were on top,
16:31if you'd scored, you could have got the win.
16:33That's how I'm seeing it, yes.
16:34But what I'm saying is the media and everywhere it goes,
16:37it's going to be that Rangers dropped points.
16:39And that is what it is.
16:41But I thought there was a lot to like for us.
16:42There was a lot to like about our performance.
16:44And as you've seen, both teams missed chances.
16:48You're going to see that probably consistently
16:50for the first month of the season with every team,
16:52as everybody gets into their stride with the competitive games.
16:55And I thought the new players come in, they do well,
16:58they contribute, and then the guys off the bench do the same.
17:00So, yes, slightly disappointed we don't get the goal
17:03or goals that we deserve.
17:05But there was a lot to like about us.
17:07As manager, what did you learn about your players today
17:10that you didn't already know?
17:12Not too much.
17:14But I expected some to be much braver
17:17in the first half hour of the game,
17:19in the duels and on the ball.
17:21So that was clearly not good enough.
17:23Do you think Hearts have shown today
17:25that they can pose to be a challenge for the top two in Scotland?
17:29Yes, definitely.
17:31I think that we can go even past the top two.
17:33I think we've shown today how good we can be.
17:35So what's stopping us?
17:36I think as long as we keep believing the talent we have
17:39in the changing room and the togetherness we have,
17:41alongside the staff and the whole group of players,
17:43I think that we can do anything this season.
17:45I think the most important thing is just keep believing,
17:48especially out there on the pitch.
17:49We showed it today.
17:50You came close in the first half, didn't you,
17:52with your shot deflected onto the crossbar?
17:54Yes, the crossbar.
17:56It took a deflection, so maybe if it didn't,
17:58it might have gone in.
17:59But yes, I thought I scored.
18:00But yes, maybe next week.
18:02And finally, now it's off to Poland on Monday
18:04for a game against Kiev,
18:06whose game today has actually been postponed
18:08to give them possibly a little bit better opportunity.
18:11How do you approach this game?
18:14What do you expect from Kiev,
18:16who had a magnificent result in the last round?
18:18Yes, it's a very good team and I know them well
18:21because a couple of years ago with Bruce,
18:23we played also against them, the qualifiers,
18:26and a lot of players are still the same.
18:29They were a few years younger at that moment,
18:32so they gained experience in that way,
18:34also with the national team of Ukraine.
18:36And you see also they postponed the game
18:39to be fresh on Tuesday.
18:41So you see that the league there is pushing hard
18:44for their European teams to help them
18:47to get good results because it's good for the country.
18:50It's something to think about also in other countries.
18:53Do you think we should be doing that here in Scotland?
18:55It depends on the situation.
18:57I don't think we should have played today,
19:00but it can be along the way,
19:02it can be something to help to get more teams
19:05in the Champions League.
19:07Well, as far as 0-0 games go,
19:09it was far from the worst one you'll ever see.
19:11You were both at the match this afternoon.
19:13Mikey, we'll start with you.
19:14What did you make firstly of Hart's performance?
19:17Well, I thought they started very brightly.
19:19I think Stephen Naismith was saying
19:21that there was plenty in the game to be positive about
19:23from Hart's perspective.
19:25Disappointed that they didn't get the first goal,
19:28the opening goal,
19:30that their play probably deserved early on.
19:33There was a little bit of anticipation
19:36that perhaps they were going to have to pay the price
19:39for not taking the lead
19:40because Rangers started to come into the game
19:41and they've obviously got players that can threaten as well.
19:43You're looking at Hart's
19:46and some good acquisitions to the team.
19:49Still feel like they're lacking a little bit extra pace.
19:52They've got Vargas at the top,
19:53but if they could have somebody else
19:54that was able to stretch the game,
19:56particularly in the wide areas,
19:57then they're in pretty good shape
20:00and I'm sure that they'll still be looking
20:02to try and solidify third place
20:04and look to try and close the gap on those ahead of them.
20:06Yeah, it was a good performance from Hart's today, Neil.
20:09What about from a Rangers perspective?
20:14I felt that Rangers,
20:16they didn't have any control in the match.
20:18I know possession based,
20:20they came out on top,
20:21but they never really controlled the tempo of the game.
20:24I agree with Mikey,
20:25I thought Hart's were excellent in the first half,
20:27looked full of purpose.
20:28Rangers, of course, did come into the game.
20:30It's a concern,
20:32Cortez going off injured,
20:34the boy's just back,
20:35feel really sorry for him.
20:36Spent a lot of time out injured last year,
20:38but there's elements of the team
20:40that are still looking soft.
20:44Philippe Coman's talking about it there,
20:46need to be better in duels.
20:47I can only imagine it's the two centre-backs
20:49dealing with the pace
20:50in behind when people are going direct.
20:52Talking about playing with risk and bravery,
20:55need to get people on the ball,
20:56demanding it.
20:57It's going to fall into young Connor Barron today,
20:59starting for the first time
21:00in the Premiership with Rangers.
21:01He's a guy,
21:02I don't think ever anyone would have expected
21:04Connor to come into the Rangers team
21:06and be the main protagonist to start attacks.
21:09So there's lots still not to,
21:11it's not working for me with Rangers yet.
21:13It is early,
21:14they've not won a pre-season game yet
21:16and have not won again today
21:17and thrown away two points.
21:18So they need to get things into traction quick.
21:21Yeah, they certainly do.
21:22Let's get into some analysis.
21:24Mikey and yourself both mentioned Vargas there today,
21:27especially in this first half,
21:28he stretched that Rangers defence.
21:30He did.
21:31On numerous occasions.
21:32And it was a really good tactical switch
21:34of how he played today with Lauren Shanklin.
21:36Lauren, we know his goal prowess,
21:39but he played a slightly deeper role.
21:40And the one thing about Shanklin,
21:41he's really intelligent,
21:43but it's Mikey's talking about pace.
21:45Pace in a team is so important.
21:47I want Vargas to just go now,
21:48shift at the outside,
21:49smash it across Jack Butland
21:51and Lauren Shanklin's going to get a tap in.
21:53I think at times today,
21:55his touch just didn't serve him
21:59with a lot of confidence.
22:00He's got to eliminate Suter there,
22:02he's got to get across him,
22:03get a shot off.
22:04But the actual tactical switch,
22:05having an out ball,
22:07really, really worked.
22:09Unsettled Rangers at the back,
22:10as I said,
22:11that's a wee bit of an element there,
22:13a bit of centre backs not dealing with duels.
22:15Sets that out wide.
22:16Barry Mackay,
22:17encouraged to come in off the line today.
22:19Gets a shot on goal.
22:21Probably should do better,
22:22but that out ball really gave Rangers trouble.
22:24In fact, Ben Davies came off today.
22:26Now, there's a suggestion that he might be
22:28because he's not played a lot of games.
22:29Not long after this.
22:30Yeah, I think it's purely down to the fact
22:32that Mackay didn't deal with the pace in behind.
22:34Balligan comes on,
22:35offers that little bit more speed
22:37in terms of security at the back.
22:39But I thought he was really good,
22:41really effective.
22:42And I think once they start bolting in,
22:45you talk about Danda, Tomo,
22:47talk about Spittle,
22:48who I was surprised didn't start today.
22:50How do you put them both into the same team?
22:52Well, I think the two of them would be perfect in behind
22:54because Spittle is not the type of player to build things.
22:57And I think Naismith went for Grant,
23:00who was good today.
23:01Devlin, who I thought was absolutely...
23:03He was excellent, actually.
23:04Really, really good.
23:05So he went for a wee bit of extra security.
23:07If they get Spittle and Danda into that team
23:09to serve as Shankland,
23:10I think Hearts are in for another brilliant season.
23:12Yeah, I tell you who was good today.
23:14Gerald Taylor.
23:15What a debut.
23:16Man of the match on his debut for you, Mikey.
23:18Unquestionably.
23:19He was outstanding.
23:21He showed right from the get-go
23:23good ability in the defensive 1v1s.
23:26Neil was talking about duels
23:28and Rangers centre-halves weren't good enough.
23:30This was early on
23:31and you just get the sense that
23:33he backed himself physically strong.
23:35This was the wee moment where he did win the ball
23:38and then he gave it away quite quickly
23:40trying to dribble past three players.
23:42This one was pulled up as a free kick
23:43when I think the Hearts supporters were a wee bit
23:46disappointed with that.
23:47But look at this driving run.
23:49Leaves the Rangers players for dead
23:51into the gap.
23:53And this little pass was brilliant for me
23:55because it shows the awareness and the calmness.
23:57You're thinking to yourself
23:59he's going to have a strike here
24:00when Laurence Chant was making that run on the inside
24:02and he was aware and had the ability to play it as well.
24:04And again, defensively
24:06backing himself
24:07complete control of the situation
24:10and constantly causing problems for Rangers
24:12in the attacking sense.
24:13It looks like a very, very good signing
24:14from Stephen Naismith, doesn't it?
24:15Very much so.
24:16You know, physically strong
24:17athletic
24:18good on the ball as well
24:20and he's got a long shy as well.
24:22He's launching the ball into the box.
24:25He really was.
24:26That's been a troubled position for Hearts
24:28for a number of seasons right back.
24:30But certainly with Gerard Taylor
24:32In terms of the whole squad though
24:34I think the squad is very strong.
24:36When you look to the bench today
24:37and the subs that you brought on
24:39that's a strong group of players.
24:40It is and there's a good bit of experience there.
24:42But for me there's a wee bit
24:44there's just two areas of slight concern
24:46is I think there needs to be greater quality
24:48in the middle of the park
24:50and pace.
24:51Vargas is the only one
24:53and Taylor, you know, right back there
24:54showing pace.
24:55But you look across the team as a whole
24:57there's not a lot of pace in the team.
24:59Vargas is quick but not blistering
25:01and Taylor's a right back.
25:03I'd be wanting a wee bit more pace in my side.
25:05You know, Neil's talking about getting Danda
25:07and Spittle in behind a Shanklin.
25:09Technically, very good.
25:11But you need to balance that out with pace.
25:13And I do think there is going to be a wee bit
25:15of an issue as to how you're fitting all them
25:17into the team while you're trying to get pace
25:19because if you're playing a team that is
25:21one paced, it becomes a bit more predictable
25:23and easy to defend against.
25:25A lot of quality there, but you're just trying to get the right balance
25:27and if Steven Nesbitt can find that
25:29then, you know, Hearts will be in a pretty good place.
25:31Neil, Sir Ildessol's had a decent
25:33enough game today, but in terms of
25:35missed chances, we've seen this movie before.
25:37This is what we seem to be
25:39talking about Sir Ildessol's a lot.
25:41Listen, his movement is really good.
25:43I think he's a good teammate because he works
25:45his first touch is absolutely exquisite
25:47here. His second one should just be
25:49poked past Xander Clarke.
25:51I think the keeper's too close
25:53to the goal to lift him. Again,
25:55brilliant movement, super first touch.
25:57He's got to be hitting the far corner there. He's got to be a little
25:59bit more composed about
26:01his finish. You can see
26:03there he's onside, it's a cracking ball
26:05from Neal Mazz. That first touch totally eliminates
26:07his centre backs, but he's got to be
26:09composed enough to get his head up fine in the far
26:11corner. Do you think the Rangers supporters will be
26:13surprised to see him start the season as
26:15the main striker? Well, I think they would be
26:17looking for someone else to come in because I don't think
26:19Danilo's ready. That is a really good header
26:21but an even better defending
26:23header. Kairos does everything there
26:25throws his body in, but for that
26:27deflection we could be sitting here talking about a whole
26:29different outcome for Rangers. But that deflection
26:31just rebounds onto the bar, but
26:33yeah, it's another really frustrating day
26:35for the boy. I was just going to say, you say
26:37are they surprised?
26:39It's a good question. Are the Rangers fans surprised?
26:41Probably not because I think there is
26:43a realisation that the money's not there to go
26:45and find somebody else.
26:47For Philippe Clement, he's going to have to
26:49be imaginative in the transfer
26:51market and they've got no margin
26:53for error. If they bring somebody else in, they really
26:55have to hit the ground running straight away.
26:57Today was the perfect example of Cyril Desos.
26:59Good movement, good play, gets into
27:01good areas, but he doesn't score.
27:03And that's a big problem. Right, let's look
27:05at the Conor Barron handball.
27:07This would have been a penalty last season,
27:09no doubt about it, but not this season.
27:11Without question, this is given
27:13last year. Now, the rules haven't
27:15changed, the laws of the game haven't changed,
27:17but the interpretation
27:19I think has been relaxed a wee
27:21bit here and actually, I'm for one,
27:23I'm pretty pleased about it because too often
27:25we sat on these sofas last year. Oh, I know the guy next to you
27:27is quite pleased about that. But there's too
27:29often that guys are going in and there's no
27:31intent there from John Suter. He was penalised
27:33last year, it's virtually
27:35like for like. Penalty last
27:37year, this year, no penalty.
27:39It's a good decision. Thank goodness. Okay,
27:41we must move on. Just the two games
27:43today and the second was at Far Park
27:45as Motherwell kicked off their season at home
27:47to Ross County, still buoyant
27:49after another climactic playoff
27:51victory.
27:57Well, here we go again.
27:59Judgement Day in Gynwald.
28:01The back post
28:03and Simon Murray.
28:05Who else?
28:11The second would surely kill it.
28:13And they've got it.
28:15And it's Jordan White.
28:19They're cooking now. Simon
28:21Murray.
28:23That'll do it.
28:31Now here's Taylor.
28:33And there is a further flourish
28:35from Ross County.
28:41Don Cowie's Ross County rescue mission is
28:43complete.
28:45He leads his team to another
28:47season of the Scottish Premiership.
28:55A new dawn breaks
28:57for Motherwell and Ross County.
28:59And excitement still exists
29:01for now. So how will they start
29:03the 24-25 season?
29:05Stuart Kettlewell makes just one change
29:07to his Motherwell team that drew with Partick
29:09Tissel in the League Cup last weekend.
29:11Filip Stuparevic has dropped completely
29:13with Moses Ebieh coming into the starting lineup.
29:15Australian striker Postolos Stamath-Lopulos
29:17is named on the bench.
29:21Don Cowie hands league debuts to Achille Wright,
29:23Jack Reeves and Ronan Hale, while
29:25Will Nightingale replaces Ricky Lamy
29:27in defence. Connor Randall wears the
29:29armband after being named club captain.
29:31He starts in midfield.
29:37Four games
29:39between these sides last season produced
29:4120 goals, so surely
29:43they're in for a treat this afternoon.
29:45Either that or I've jinxed it.
29:47Well, here's an early chance for Motherwell. Zach Robinson
29:49in behind. He takes the ball from
29:51Nightingale and slots it past
29:53the post.
29:55He has his head
29:57in his hands. Zach Robinson,
29:59he knows he should have hit the target.
30:01Almost a
30:03perfect start for Motherwell. Nightingale
30:05just gets completely
30:07caught cold. And Robinson
30:09does so well. Gets across the defender,
30:11opens his body up
30:13and then just places
30:15his shot the wrong side
30:17of the upright.
30:25Ball in Jordan White
30:27with the header.
30:29Off target. Ross
30:31County struggled
30:33to create much in this
30:35opening 20-25 minutes.
30:37That was probably just a half chance.
30:41Miller.
30:43Went down there.
30:45Not a free kick, but Motherwell
30:47play on. A BA.
30:49Back out to O'Donnell.
30:51Back to his feet.
30:55This is good passing play for Motherwell.
30:57Trying to fashion a chance. Comes back to Blaney.
31:01That was rather optimistic
31:03from the Irishman.
31:05Good score in
31:07the League Cup group stage against Montrose.
31:09I don't think that was
31:11ever troubling. Ross Laidlaw
31:13in the county goal.
31:21Motherwell
31:23trying a more direct approach.
31:25Comes back to Robinson.
31:27Someone from Dundee
31:29in the summer.
31:31Ewan Wilson.
31:35Drovkovsky tries to find
31:37Ewan Wilson who's gotten forward well. Here's a
31:39BA. Brilliant save. Laidlaw
31:41comes back. The danger
31:43not clear. Wilson goes again.
31:45Not far away
31:47from the 19-year-old
31:49making his league debut
31:51for Motherwell today.
31:53It was he who created this chance with that
31:55cut back to a BA.
31:57Great reflexes from Laidlaw though
31:59to keep the Nigerian striker out.
32:05Wilson just not able to get his shot
32:07on target for a dream
32:09league debut.
32:13Steven O'Donnell
32:15after that. It's a good ball
32:17and a foul. Robinson goes down.
32:19It's not a good clearance
32:21from Ryan Leake. O'Donnell back in.
32:23Almost a chance for a BA.
32:25Couldn't get his
32:27head to it. O'Donnell back in again.
32:29As County
32:31clear their lines.
32:33Motherwell still
32:35locking on the door. Ewan Wilson
32:37well blocked by
32:39Connor Randall as it goes out for a corner
32:41on the far side.
32:43A few
32:45kicks at the cherry there for Motherwell.
32:47O'Donnell puts
32:49a tempting ball in.
32:51And a BA
32:53just couldn't connect.
32:59Halliday
33:01makes a corner in. Liam Gordon's up
33:03there. It's a well over.
33:05Another
33:07of Motherwell's summer additions.
33:09Former St Johnston skipper.
33:11Ronan Hale
33:13into the Motherwell box.
33:15Tries to work the shot on his right.
33:17Comes back to
33:19Victor Latoury.
33:21James Brown.
33:25Flipped it up into the air but again
33:27Motherwell not able to get it away.
33:29Bounce him awkwardly. Here's
33:31Connor Randall. Drives low.
33:33Aston Oxburgh
33:35is well behind it.
33:37Randall pointed
33:39club captain through the week.
33:41That would have been some way to celebrate.
33:47O'Donnell with the captain's armband
33:49today as Paul McGinn
33:51was only fit enough for the bench
33:53as the ball comes in. And Ross Laidlaw
33:55had to look alive there.
33:57Tipping the ball onto the
33:59crossbar and over.
34:01Almost a very
34:03fortuitous goal
34:05for Motherwell to open their account for the season.
34:09Dan Casey with it.
34:17Casey, that ball's come all the way
34:19through to Andy Halliday. Takes a touch.
34:21Tries to pull it back.
34:23And perhaps
34:25a little too patient
34:27from the former Hearts
34:29midfielder.
34:31Maybe a yard or two
34:33more of Pacey would have got onto that
34:35and had a shooting opportunity
34:37but the angle was just a little too narrow.
34:39It was eventually
34:41cleared by County.
34:45Gordon
34:47goes long looking for Wilson
34:49and Brown
34:51is headed back to Laidlaw. Just goes behind
34:53for a corner.
34:55Motherwell would have been confident going into
34:57this game. They've scored 10 goals in the last
34:59two games against County.
35:01They're just struggling to break them down here
35:03at Fair Park this afternoon.
35:07Halliday.
35:09Headed away by Latoury but it's awkward.
35:11O'Donnell was in there.
35:13County able to get it clear.
35:15John Beaton
35:17blows the whistle. Andy Halliday's
35:19corner actually went behind.
35:21That would have been a calamitous
35:23goal for County
35:25to concede. Ryan Leake
35:27somehow doing enough at the back.
35:29Ball was gone anyway.
35:31Leake.
35:33Ball inside to White.
35:35Well laid off to Hale.
35:37He couldn't quite get away from
35:39Shane Blaney.
35:41Eventually fouled his compatriot.
35:45This could be an opportunity
35:47for Ross County.
35:4925 yards from goal.
35:55Roman Hale standing over it.
35:57Three goals already for County.
35:59In the
36:01League Cup group stages. George Harmon is also
36:03an option.
36:05He scored a couple last season.
36:13Leaves it. Hale
36:15curls it round the wall.
36:17And Aston Oxford did brilliantly to tip that
36:19past the post.
36:21He's been at Motherwell since 2022
36:23but today's his league debut.
36:25And he's done brilliantly there.
36:29Randall
36:31picks up in midfield.
36:33He's not closed out at all. He's allowed to
36:35burst into the Motherwell box.
36:37O'Donnell eventually comes and closes
36:39him down.
36:41That was far too easy
36:43for Connor Randall.
36:47And now County
36:49has a chance from the corner.
36:51Motherwell have dominated but County
36:53could sucker punch them here.
36:57Harmon delivers.
36:59It's bouncing around awkwardly
37:01and Ryan Leake almost got there.
37:05He's appealing to referee John Beaton.
37:07He thinks that should be a corner.
37:09I think he might have a case.
37:15Wilson
37:17combining with Halliday.
37:19Back to Wilson.
37:21It's a poor pass.
37:23And County might try and
37:25break forward now.
37:27Dealt with by Blaney.
37:29It's all a bit
37:31sloppy but it ends in a Motherwell
37:33free kick. Moses Abiy
37:35winning it.
37:37County just had a free kick down
37:39the other end. Well saved.
37:41What can
37:43Motherwell do from a similar area?
37:47Halliday and Blaney stand over it.
37:49Halliday to hit.
37:51It's over the bar.
37:53Not too many Motherwell fans
37:55getting out of their seats for that.
38:01Oh, it's going over.
38:05That's well worked.
38:07O'Donnell. Fires it in low.
38:09Drops kindly for Ewan Wilson.
38:11Oh, what a save!
38:13Ross Laidlaw.
38:16Well, this game has been
38:18crying out for a bit of quality.
38:20And we saw it there.
38:22Not necessarily from Ewan Wilson
38:24but from Ross Laidlaw.
38:26That is a phenomenal save.
38:30County going long.
38:32They've got a dreadful away record.
38:34One win in their last 20.
38:36But if they could score here
38:38they'd start the season perfectly.
38:40It's Afeti
38:42who wins the corner.
38:45That's for Don Cowey's County.
38:54Ball delivered in.
38:56Oh, it almost dropped for Will Nightingale.
39:00And maybe for County
39:02it just dropped to the wrong man.
39:04Oh, he's leaning back there, Nightingale.
39:06Goes over the bar.
39:09And John Beaton
39:11brings this one to an end.
39:13It might not live long in the memory.
39:15County might be slightly happier
39:17with the point.
39:19And they've got that man to thank,
39:21Ross Laidlaw.
39:23Finishes it for Park.
39:25Motherwell nil. Ross County nil.
39:27I think I would love
39:29to be standing here in front of you, Jen,
39:31saying that we got three points.
39:33I think the opportunity's created
39:35and I think the saves made by Ross Laidlaw
39:38would suggest that we did deserve to win the game
39:40without blowing it out of the water, of course.
39:42I think the most important thing is
39:44I was looking for a better performance than last week
39:46which we got in application
39:48and energy and that bit of desire
39:50to try and win the game and be better
39:52at what we do.
39:54But that said, we still feel that there's loads of room
39:56for improvement. We still feel that we can
39:58take some of those opportunities that we created
40:00both first half and second half, to be fair.
40:02It wasn't just in a short space.
40:04It was over a sustained period
40:06throughout the game that we carved out good opportunities
40:08and got into good areas.
40:10Without question, we have to be better in that final third.
40:12If I take a real positive from it,
40:14I thought we were pretty assured in our defending throughout.
40:16It was a difficult game.
40:18I thought it was every inch
40:20a first game of the season. A little bit erratic
40:22at times, teams in position.
40:24But overall, delighted to come away
40:26with a point and a clean sheet.
40:28We've not been good enough away from home,
40:30especially last year.
40:32It's about being difficult.
40:34It's important.
40:36Getting clean sheets also gives that
40:38bit of confidence.
40:40It's been quite the opening day.
40:42Another 0-0. You couldn't write it.
40:44Anyway, Neil, you felt County
40:46lacked a bit of a spark in the final third.
40:48We'll try our best to cheer everybody up with analysis.
40:50They're going to have to find a new way
40:52of playing. Ross County lost
40:54big personalities, big players for the team.
40:56Jack Baldwin, captain gone.
40:58Jan Dander's creativity.
41:00The main one for me is Simon Murray's
41:02energy, speed, intent
41:04to go in behind. Ryan Leakey
41:06is looking and he doesn't
41:08see a pass. He doesn't see a longer
41:10ball. He plays a short one.
41:12He invites the pressure
41:14and then they have to just clip one out.
41:16They end up getting a bit fortunate but Jordan White's coming short there.
41:18Again, no one going beyond.
41:20Everything is safe in front of Motherwell
41:22and they end up dealing with it.
41:24I feel that that's an area of the game
41:26that they're going to have to really work on.
41:28Young Ronan Hale here, he's got to bend a run.
41:30If he bends a run, he opens up the channels
41:32for people, he opens up space for Jordan White
41:34to come short, getting midfielders going beyond.
41:36Again, comes across the face of
41:38the opposition, ends up working
41:40back out the other side.
41:42It sort of was an element
41:44of the game that I just felt. Again, look,
41:46this is just another wee one here.
41:48Ronan Hale there, just open it up
41:50and then you've got a more
41:52defined space in front of your back
41:54for, again, Jordan White coming here.
41:56If he's not spinning a channel,
41:58your strike partner needs to be across.
42:00He can go into the channel,
42:02he moves centre-backs and then your midfielder,
42:04instead of coming across the pitch,
42:06he's making a burst into the box.
42:08These are things that Don Cowley will need to work on.
42:10As I said, it'll be an entirely different way of playing
42:12because he's not those types
42:14of players that were very, very
42:16influential for him last season. It was a difficult
42:18season last year. The one thing about Don
42:20is he's very measured, he talks
42:22really well after a game, he doesn't get flustered
42:24too emotionally about things, he knows he's got
42:26a lot of work to do, but
42:28it's only the start of the season.
42:30Ross Laidlaw, he had a good game in goals for
42:32County, Mikey. Motherwell will probably be the better chances
42:34overall.
42:36Obviously, Ross Laidlaw's
42:38been at the club for a while now
42:40and he's going to be an important player
42:42for Ross County, especially if they
42:44defend like that and give
42:46opportunities away to the opposition.
42:48You heard Don Cowley at the end talking about the fact
42:50that their away record's not been good enough
42:52for Ross County and
42:54they've gone away from home, they've kept a clean
42:56sheet and if
42:58they're able to replicate the home form that
43:00Don Cowley had for the club
43:02then picking up points away from home
43:04against the likes of Motherwell will stand them in good stead.
43:06It's a decent start, I suppose. It is, yeah,
43:08on the positive side of things, but Neil's absolutely
43:10spot on with regards to the way
43:12that they're set up and the way they're going to have to find
43:14new ways to play and that's hopefully something
43:16that he'll try to be able to find and implement
43:18over the next couple of weeks.
43:20Thank you
43:22to Neil and to Michael for extracting
43:24as much entertainment as was possible
43:26from today's games.
43:28Let's try again tomorrow. Goodnight.
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