.png)
2 months ago
13
Second-half goals from Ante Palaversa, Topi Keskinen, Vincente Besuijen and Kevin Nisbet put Aberdeen top of the Scottish Premiership with a 4-1 win over Dundee at Pittodrie.
After a quiet first half the hosts took a quick-fire two-goal advantage with a wonderful finish from Ante Palaversa, who struck a laser-like shot into the bottom corner leaving goalkeeper Jon McCracken rooted to the spot in the Dundee goal after 53 minutes.
Four minutes later, Clark Robertson made a mess of an attempted clearance, skewing it into Topi Keskinen’s path and the Finnish winger smashed his shot past Dundee keeper McCracken.
Dundee reduced the arrears with 20 minutes remaining when Scott Tiffoney whipped a wonderful ball in from the left-hand side, inviting Simon Murray onto it, and the Dundee captain moved across Jack MacKenzie to direct a header into the far corner.
Substitute Vincente Besuijen, on the pitch for 42 seconds, restored their two-goal advantage when he finished a floated free-kick from striker Kevin Nisbet. Nisbet, also a second half substitute, then got his name on the scoresheet. The Scotland international shifted the ball onto his right foot and a strong deflection left McCracken helpless in the Dundee goal for 4-1 as Aberdeen bounce back from their League Cup semi-final disappointment with a convincing win. The Dons are three points ahead of champions Celtic, who visit Rugby Park to play Kilmarnock tomorrow.
Hibernian manager David Gray’s job appears to be in jeopardy following his side’s poor performance in their 2-1 home defeat to St Mirren left them bottom of the Scottish Premiership.
Conor McMenamin’s two first-half goals put the home side in control and Ellery Balcombe’s penalty save from Hibs forward Martin Boyle just after the hour was a further setback for the beleaguered hosts.
There was drama late-on as the Edinburgh side scored what proved to be a consolation from a Nicky Cadden penalty before he then thought he had equalised in stoppage time, only for it be ruled out for offside against his teammate Dwight Gayle.
Hibs have now won just one of their 12 league matches this season and none of their last seven, leaving former club captain Gray, appointed manager in the summer, in a dangerous position heading into the international break. The Hibs supporters made their dismay audible after both Buddies strikes as well as half-time and full-time with a chorus of boos.
“I don’t think worried or scared is the right way I feel about it,” Gray said about his own future. “I fully understand the noise and rightly so because of the situation we’re in, where this club is at the moment.
“We’ve talked a lot about it being a new squad and I could come up with 101 excuses but where we find ourselves isn’t good enough.”
after newsletter promotion
Dundee United recorded a fine 3-0 victory over Ross County at Tannadice. After a close first half, the hosts opened the scoring through Luca Stephenson after 57 minutes before Sam Dalby scored his fourth goal in five games with 17-year-old substitute Owen Stirton adding a third goal with a header in stoppage time.
St Johnstone manager Simo Valakari called his team “soft” at half-time but left Fir Park convinced they have the fighting spirit needed to push up the table after a 2-1 defeat to Motherwell.
The visitors went behind to goals from Tawanda Maswanhise and Tom Sparrow at half-time as Motherwell showed a greater striking prowess despite the Saints controlling the greater share of possession.
Nicky Clark pulled a goal back in the 58th minute following a VAR-assisted penalty award and Saints almost claimed a point but Jack Sanders had a stoppage-time goal disallowed for handball.
